Where to get show shirts (for starter rider)

[fivestrideline]

Hello all! A friend’s daughter has just started showing in local western classes and needs show shirts of the blingy variety. I asked for more details but just got shown a picture - she has a palomino Arab or half Arab looking horse and appears to be doing rail classes. I don’t know what kind, but maybe WP? Her parent is supportive but doesn’t know the lingo.

Is there somewhere I could point them for reasonable show shirts and outfits? Online or in NC? They’re willing to spend money but aren’t doing anything fancy - hence why I, the only horsey person they know, was asked. I’m firmly in H/J land though so I’m not much help. I’m guessing there IS a budget, they just aren’t aware that they should have one yet

Not looking for FB groups or such right now, as they’ve already been scammed. Any help is greatly appreciated!

[saddleup]

For starting out I’d recommend Hobby Horse Clothing. She doesn’t need to be blinged out to start showing. Their rail shirts are shiny and fitted. Fit is key. Most important is actually her hat and chaps. A badly shaped hat is a dead giveaway of “Newbie” status. Doesn’t have to be that expensive, either. But have it shaped professionally.

Show Me Again is a good consignment site. They also have plain shirts, which are totally appropriate for a young person starting out. But even their used clothing will shock someone just starting out.

[fivestrideline]

Thanks! I’ll pass this along!

(Parent says omg thank you, just to have somewhere to start!)

[f0rf31t]

So I never showed western seriously just 4-H at the county fair and most of my show shirts were borrowed and b/c it was just 4-H in a small town we didn’t do chaps either. Usually the shirt was a Hobby Horse shirt (which…frankly even when I was riding western I thought the bling was tacky/hideous. Still remember one black Hobby Horse shirt I borrowed for the fair when I was probably in junior high that had gold-colored chevron stripes, not like, all over the shirt but like a double chevron stripe across the front and a gold and butt-ugly tacky double H logo on the front.) so can second hobby horse as being affordable (the one and only show shirt I owned myself towards the end of HS was also from Hobby Horse).

If your friend’s daughter is younger than 18 - I don’t know about the hat recommendations myself but make sure she’s not showing in something that would require helmets probably before suggesting hat and shaping?

I know 4-H required helmets for western even when I was showing it and I aged out of 4-H in 2011 and the year of the hideous Hobby Horse shirt was probably 2005 or '06.

[f0rf31t]

THESE AREN’T ALL UGLY NOWADAYS? https://www.hobbyhorseinc.com/collections/rail-shirt

Maaan why didn’t they just have nice plain colored shirts when I was growing up? No everything was ugly, or at least everything my then-riding instructor had on hand that I bummed for the county fair b/c that’s all the showing I really bothered with, was ugly. Even the plainest one I remember borrowing the year before the ugly one with the double H on the front was black and had little like, rhinestones, on the end of the sleeves.

EDIT: No offense western people but those collars look like someone looked at '70s fashion and went “y’know what, we need to BRING THIS BACK”

[f0rf31t]

Thanks I just went down an internet archive rabbithole out of sheer curiosity and found the general era of Hobby Horse I am thinking of: https://web.archive.org/web/20030421175219/http://www.hobbyhorseinc.com/03_shopping/girls_sizes/girls_index.shtml

I’m pretty sure the black shirt with little rhinestones on the end of the sleeves was some variation of a Slinky and probably also the black one with the gold chevron and double H logo, both had kind of a turtleneck look. The vest I remember from that year looked an awful lot like some variation of the Zip Me but I don’t remember it having a chunky zipper nor do I remember it being two shades of tan like the tan one pictured, it was all light tan.

Is it me or in hindsight was early '00s fashion in general terrible?

I am very glad the western show clothing world has progressed since the early-to-mid '00s when I was doing 4-H.

[mfglickman]

Try the Pearle and Solstice shirts. They are stretchy, comfortable, and perfectly appropriate for Horsemanship or Pleasure classes on a local or small breed show level. Could add a stretchy blingy vest but not necessary.

Black stretchy pants, a black belt (with or without a fancy buckle) good black chaps that fit properly, and a well fitting, well shaped hat.

[f0rf31t]

I’m not OP and haven’t done western at all since I was a kid but thanks for the additional tip!

[Luseride]

Look at the color wheel on Hobby Horse, it really helps with picking colors that compliment the coat color of the horse.
Bling is not necessary! Personally, when I judge I find it distracting. A starched shirt that fits well goes a long way. If she does want some sequins there are iron on ones so she could do her own.