1* Dressage - anyone NOT wear tails?

milliepops

milliepops

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Just trying to work out how out of place I'm going to feel! I'm just psyching myself up to do my CCI* entry for Aldon
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There is no way I can affort TH&T on top of the entries so I'll be there in my normal navy jacket and velvet SJ hat.

All of the pics I've ever seen of 1* dressage have had people wearing tails... Has anyone not worn them? Did you feel like a numpty?
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(Suspect I'll feel like a numpty anyway, but that's my problem...)
 
for both of my CCI*'s i didnt have tails and was gutted but then i heard Ian Stark telling his daughter that she wasnt to wear them as it wasnt the right thing to do. I felt much better after that!
just go for it.
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When I did Aldon 1* I did it in normal dress. Blooming good job too as it was so windy, people kept losing their top hats mid-test!
 
I believe it isn't 100% correct to wear tails at 1*, and that they should only really be worn at Intermediate and Advanced.. But as a 3 day event is a such a novel thing to be doing, and many riders will only ever do Novice level, then it is their only chance to get dressed up in tails
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Hi, I have some tails you can borrow if you would like? I havent got a top hat thou, i borrowed that off a friend. You are more than welcome to borrow them, I think we are a simular size?
 
Thanks very much for the offer CF, that's really kind of you. But I think you're a bit smaller than me and I couldn't bear the responsibility anyway!!
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The FEI rules say that at 1* level top hat and tails are not encouraged so in fact you will be correctly dressed in your normal jacket.
 
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The FEI rules say that at 1* level top hat and tails are not encouraged so in fact you will be correctly dressed in your normal jacket.

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Whilst technically you are correct, in practice at most CCI*s (less so CIC*s) the vast majority of riders are in TH&T.
 
I am aware that most riders do wear tails for FEI - for many it is a goal to achieve even if they don't want to ride at advanced level - but I was trying to give Milliepops the confidence that she would be correctly dressed and nobody will look down on her even if she is in the minority. You are much better to wear clothes that you know are comfortable and fit than borrow a coat that nearly fits and a hat that you have to stuff with loo paper and you daren't move in as it feels like it might fall off!
 
I know NOTHING about dresscode for dressage (I'm an endurance rider - though have done FEI 1*!!) but I wouldn't recommend wearing something new at an event, unless you can practice in it at home first. You're going to be nervous enough as it is, never mind whilst wearing unfamiliar jacket and hat. Surely it'd be better to be wearing what you feel comfortable and familiar in - one less thing to worry about.
 
Milliepops I felt a huge numpty in them, virtually had to hammer top hat on (I'd have been fine in a wind) doesn't half give you a headache!!!! If you manage to borrow some wear a NORMAL HAT AND SWAP JUST BEFORE YOU GO IN (bloody cap lock) Whatever you wear though have fun!!!
 
I have done a cic and a cci 1* and didn't wear TH + T for either as I don't have any. At the cic only about 1/4 of the riders wore TH + T, and they were mostly the big names. At cci it was about 50:50, I didn't feel silly at all wearing my black jacket and beagler. Don't get hung up about having to have all the gear, just ride in what your used to competing in, it will probably keep you calmer keeping everything the same, or maybe i'm just too superstitious
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Thanks all
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I'm not worried about wearing my normal stuff, I'm quite well aware that I'll look out of place on a little cob-pony anyway
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TD - might take you up on the offer though, even if it's just for a couple of stationary pictures before the dressage
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Thanks OG - unfortunately I don't know anyone I could borrow any from. Hey ho, looks like I'm not alone anyway
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Depending on ALOT of things, i might be able to lend you mine...
The things being..
a) your size? head and body.
b) what day your dressage is on.
c) the weather.. if it's p!ssing it down with rain, i might not be so keen on the whole lot getting soaked, and then having to sit in the lorry for another 2/3 days...

When i did my 1* at Blair (back when it was long format, so along time ago) i also didn't have tophat n' tails.. and there was only about 3 of us who didn't..
While there's obviously loads of first time'ers at 1* level who don't wear them.. it is nice to
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no you will be fine, I competed 1* without tails, and actually alot of sharp horses ive owned havnt liked the tails of the coat on their back so sometimes its best to ride at home in them a few times to get horse used to the flapping or use safety pins to secure the tails so not so flappy, just for future reference if you ever end up wearing tails! good luck you will really enjoy it im sure.
 
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