Are dress code standards falling?

[jinglejoys]

I'm with BrambleandMonty and muffinino
wear impracticle colours like white/cream jods (get your servant to do the washing) but Lawd forbid anyone should have any Hi-viz!
One mans meat is another mans poison.

 

[Scheherezade]

See I am pregnant, lost my job due to pregnancy, and had to put my horse out on loan. I can't afford to have a horse, however I am lucky to have long legs and be able to ride to a decent standard ( ) and so get offered to school and compete other peoples horses.

There is a local show this weekend, I was going to take my friends big black ID in an open showing class. owever as I am one of the paupers this is obviously a heinous idea, as riding should not be open to us streetrats, one dickens novel away from the workhouse

Excuse me whilst I go clean a chimney.

 

[muffinino]

I'm with BrambleandMonty and muffinino
wear impracticle colours like white/cream jods (get your servant to do the washing) but Lawd forbid anyone should have any Hi-viz!
One mans meat is another mans poison.

I get my servant to wash my pale yellow shirt Only heathens wear white with tweed!

Seriously, I think there have to be standards for show/exams, or we would be little more than savages. However, I also think that there should be some leeway for those who cannot afford a jacket - I certainly couldn't when I first got my horse. I turned up to my first hunt in an old, cheap nylon jacket, with a purple velvet hat cover, a borrowed saddle with cover, old jods that barely fitted and garters bought new because I couldn't afford long boots. However everything, clothes, horse and tack, was sparkling clean! I then went on to be on the committee and was a subscriber, so I'm really glad I wasn't turned away for lack of proper dress, as was the hunt.
Even now I rarely wear my boots for anything other than showing and dressage as I cannot affor another pair and don't want to ruin them, so wear my boots and garters. When I can afford a pair of Davies made to measure boots, then I'll wear them for everything else

My point is, as long as the person has made an effort to be clean and tidy, maybe turnout isn't as important as how they ride. I do, however, get really wound up with people going to shows with hair flying all over the place, dirty tack, no jacket/tie/stock, or in those awful bomber style jackets people wear to jump in (I know some people love them, but I think they're hideous ). I was horrified when the Scurry Driving Association voted to wear clothes more in the style of 3DE drivers - polo shirts, combats etc. - and still staunchly wear my show gear whenever I go scurrying. Scruffy beggers, the lot

 

[YorksG]

Re the cost of tweed jackets, I have two! One cost me £50 about twenty years ago, still in perfect condition, the other cost me £1 at the RC tack auction three months ago, it is, I believe, third hand, in perfect condition and fits like a glove There see, not out of anyone's prive range.
I do think it is good manners to have correct turnout, put a hair net on, and be clean. The judge and the organisors, the examiners and the school deserve a little respect IMO

 

[{51248}]

I've never been that interested in dress standards for riding... it's my hobby after all... but I do feel the paramount issue is horse and rider safety.

 

[Magicmillbrook]

I would not allow my child to join this pony club. As long as my kid is clean and smart it's not fair to install ideas of snobbery from such a young age.

It's no wonder that horse riders can be so villified by the general public. Outdated ideas may have worked well at the time, but I think it should be applauded that equestrianism is trying to keep up with changes in social class mobility, health & safety standards etc.

I do agree that people should make an effort to be smart, clean, tidy & safety conscious, but to turn up noses because someones' jacket colour offends you is ridiculous imho.

(still waiting for someone to offer to give me their tweed jacket so I can keep them happy).

Its not about snobbery - why is looking smart snobbery? Its standards and being respectful to the peson who has given up their time to teach/judge/examine you.

My daughter was in a very strict PC. She always had cheap 2nd hands boots/jods/jackets, but still won the cup at camp for turn out two years running (she was going for a hatrick but blimmin pony injured itself for her last Camp).

To my knowledge cream jods cost no more than coloured ones. A dark jersey/jumper is aceptable if you have no jacket - which incidentaly could be tweed or a nylon black/blue one. To my mind if you cant afford a £10-£20 for a 2nd hand jacket you should revise whether you can afford a horse.

 

[WildRider]

Since when did this turn into a 'smart dress = toffs' statement/debate! Lord knows, I have next to no money, spend every spare penny I have on making sure that my horse is well looked after, BUT I do believe in making sure that my turnout is correct. You don't have to look far to find a decent secondhand jacket, and most people have them anyway. Yes, tweed is the recommended jacket for shows and exams, but I think the original post was about people not even trying to look smart. If all you can get hold of is a black acket, or you can borrow a hacking jacket but have to wear a white shirt, at least you've put the effort in. You wouldn't turn up looking like a scruff (I hope!) at a show, one of the big things about a showing class is presentation!

 

[sidesaddlegirl]

I also see in-hand competitors dressed to ride - i.e., in long boots, jods, black or blue jackets and the horse in a riding bridle with the reins over its' head. Sometimes this can be an adult showing a Sec A or a shetland, which they clearly aren't going to be riding!

I don't think there is anything wrong with showing in hand in your riding show clothing (as long as it is clean and smart) especially if you are coming straight from a ridden class or have a ridden class straight afterwards. At the show I was at on Sunday, I had an in hand class straight after a ridden class in the same ring so didn't have a chance to get changed and did it in my side saddle habit! LOL, I got cat call whistles running around in my apron from the men in the audience, I got 2nd!

 

[Enfys]

When I can afford a pair of Davies made to measure boots, then I'll wear them for everything else

QUOTE]

I have a pair that haven't been out of their bag for almost 5 years, other than for a brush down with a lambswool pad to make them feel loved. I LOVE my boots, OH used to bull them for me the night before hunting and after the horse they were the first thing after a days hunting that got cleaned and dried.

I wore them for showing and hunting, nothing else, I had some custom made black leather half chaps for everyday wear - shame the dog ate one of them. My hunting boots and jacket will live on for years after I have gone...probably in their respective bags because I can't see me ever wearing them here.

I still reel in shock when plaits are done with coloured wool, riders wear coloured shirts and breeches, black chaps are almost de-rigeur, sheepskin half pads are de-rigeur, but it really hurts to turn out for competition like that ... when in Rome and all that though If I turned my daughter and her horse out for a schooling show the way I would do for any show back in the UK we would be way overdressed and would stand out like a sore thumb.

 

[Tnavas]

Just reminded myself of an incident last year. Was writing for dressage at the wintere series - it had been a pretty yucky week, rain etc. A young rider came up the centre line, hanging out of the coat pocket was the wire to her ipod, one speaker was stuck in her ear the other hanging around her neck. HAir everywhere. Then as she turned at C - her pony was covered in mud - you could see where the cover had ended and the mud began.

Judge looked shocked but we thought Oh Well maybe it was a b****r to catch and she had only just made it. A comment was made on her sheet.

An hour or so later the same rider appeared on another horse - and yes just as dirty as the first!

Later I spotted the girl and spoke to her about general competition ettiquette - he comment 'They will go out in the paddock and roll again and get dirty - so why bother' Absolutely no pride in her horses at all.

I still have my lovely blue wool tweed hacking jacket that I wore for my Stage IV in 1980 - I can't get into it now but it is such a lovely cut that I can't bear to part with it. I still dream I will one day fit in it again. Those were the days when yards and training centres had uniforms. The staff always looked smart.

 

[Lolo]

I would not allow my child to join this pony club. As long as my kid is clean and smart it's not fair to install ideas of snobbery from such a young age.

It's no wonder that horse riders can be so villified by the general public. Outdated ideas may have worked well at the time, but I think it should be applauded that equestrianism is trying to keep up with changes in social class mobility, health & safety standards etc.

I do agree that people should make an effort to be smart, clean, tidy & safety conscious, but to turn up noses because someones' jacket colour offends you is ridiculous imho.

(still waiting for someone to offer to give me their tweed jacket so I can keep them happy).

You would probably be pointed in the direction of their second hand shop, where you can part exchange stuff, and where I know there's currently a child's jacket for a tenner... However, if you genuinely couldn't afford one they'd let you off with the shirt and tie and badge... Honestly! Our PC is the most accepting and forgiving in the area (hence why we moved branches when we were younger...) but there are accepted standards. I wouldn't play at a concert wearing jeans and a hoodie, or attend a job interview wearing my yard clothes. The same applies here- you do what is correct within your budget.

Oh, and if you do want a tweed jacket, try eBay. There's a lot of decent ones for under £20 atm... And it's not snobbery, it's respect. The people marking you have got up at the crack of dawn to come and give you hugely discounted lessons for 4 hours a day. Surely looking smart is a way of thanking them and showing your respect for that sacrifice?

 

[Tnavas]

This is what I hate about the BHS, sorry but does it actually matter what you wear as long as it is clean & tidy. I don't own a tweed jacket, but have a smart navy made to measure or an even smarter Equiport one, so clearly neither of these would be acceptable & I should rush out to buy a tweed for one day. I think the BHS wants to get with the times assess the candidates on their ability rather than what they are wearing.

BHS exams are professional exams and the candidate should turn up for the exam dressed as a professional. Beg, borrow a jacket for the day - accept that if you want to take these exams that you need the equipment required to sit them. After all you wouldn't expect to take a ballet exam in sneakers would you?

I managed to buy mine despite being a poorly paid student - I saved up. Today there are many stores selling cheap riding wear - there is no excuse.

 

[swalk]

I saw on another forum someone complaining about how rude the judge was to her. She was showing an arab in hand at a large mixed show and the judge asked her why she was dressed like a tart in a nightclub.
Who thought judges didn't have a sense of humour?
I remeber seening an in hand arab class at a county show a couple of years ago where one of the handlers was wearing skin tight black trousers and a top with cut out back, sleeveless and gold jangly bits......give me traditional gear any day before the rest of the horse world goes this way!

 

[Tnavas]

I saw on another forum someone complaining about how rude the judge was to her. She was showing an arab in hand at a large mixed show and the judge asked her why she was dressed like a tart in a nightclub.
Who thought judges didn't have a sense of humour?

HAve to laugh at this one - traditional In-hand dress is not the norm in NZ - mother of the bride is what you can describe the costumes that some people wear.

In championship turnout you may see someone dressed in heels and calf length white leather coat (winner some years ago) - hats that would do Ascot proud. It can be very enteraining when horse decides to be cheeky and start bouncing.

I've given up trying to look like a wedding guest and have reverted back to smart trousers and hacking jacket, hair tied back and netted and a simple smart hat.

 

[Onyxia]

QR

I can't afford a tweed jacket, so as OP and other replies on this thread are so outraged that I might wear my black SJ jacket to a local unaff show, I can PM them my home address to they can buy & deliver a lovely tweed to me

Any offers? Anyone? Since you're all SO outraged....

http://www.robinsonsequestrian.com/...show/show-jackets/cambridge-tweed-jacket.html
You really can't save up for that one?
£65 over say, 6 months is what, £2.50 a week?
If you can find money for the fuel and entry costs you could find the money for the right gear...if you wanted to of course
Turnout is at the heart of showing- you asked to be judged on XY and Z so put the effort into getting it right!

For sports classes however, if your kit is clean,safe and comfy then as much as my taste is for traditional turnout, the choice is up to you and won't effect performance.

BHS exams are professional exams,should people wish to take them they MUST get on with the fact that there is a professional dress code to be followed.
I bet you have never turned up to see your GP in a mini dress or school teacher in full on camos


Although I must admit I am torn over the PC issue, a polo and sweat with branch logo can look smart,makes it easy to spot "yours" at a distance and is very practical(esp for after school sessions when time is limited!).

 

[kizzywiz]

BHS exams are professional exams and the candidate should turn up for the exam dressed as a professional. Beg, borrow a jacket for the day - accept that if you want to take these exams that you need the equipment required to sit them. After all you wouldn't expect to take a ballet exam in sneakers would you?

I managed to buy mine despite being a poorly paid student - I saved up. Today there are many stores selling cheap riding wear - there is no excuse.

But thats my whole point, I have absolutely no desire to take these exams, but if I did neither of my expensive made to measure very smart jackets would be acceptable, I should borrow a poo brown itchy scratchy tweed affair, how is this more "professional" than navy blue, & how many professionals do you know who perform their daily jobs in a tweed jacket?

 

[Onyxia]

But thats my whole point, I have absolutely no desire to take these exams, but if I did neither of my expensive made to measure very smart jackets would be acceptable, I should borrow a poo brown itchy scratchy tweed affair, how is this more "professional" than navy blue, & how many professionals do you know who perform their daily jobs in a tweed jacket?

I know quite a few who are paid to compete/hunt horses for people,they obviously wear the correct jacket of course, none do for stable duties,but a tweed coat is not part of the dress code for the HK&C sections anyway.
I have gone to look around many riding schools in the past,and the ones who have smartly dressed staff ALWAYS give a better impression then those without.
We DO judge on first appearance so it is definatly in the intrest of instructers and their employers to present themselves and their yards well.


I also fail to understand why you are getting annoyed by the potential cost of clothing for exams you do not wish to take-your "expensive made to measure very smart jackets" I would assume are the right thing for the activity you do,so why would it matter that they are not correct for other pursuits?

 

[Ladylina83]

Ok so I may have a collection but not a single one is itchy!! (or black) I am also sat here on a sofa I bought of ebay for 12quid in joggers that I got from asda for a fiver about 4 years ago ! If there is a jacket I want I will save for it or eat beans for a month because nothing makes me feel as good as turning out to a high standard and knowing I am showing my horses off the best I can !

Thats why the rest of the time I look like a scruff and hate going out clubbing etc tweeds look crap in nightclubs !!

 

[zoelouisem]

Definatly standards have dropped since i was little and im only 28, when i take my daughter out for shows i can always garentee shell win the tack and turnout class as im such a stickler for turnout and many people dont seem to bother even in turnout classes. And it didnt cost me a fortune to kit her her joddies and shirt were in the sale and her tweed is second hand. But i was shocked when i was competing myself at windsor this year to see many people with boots and gaiters there?? I found that quite shocking!!

Her pony club is actually quite strick rallies its light jods, shirt pc tie hairnet joddy clips and jacket (they are allowd to where blue, black or tweed) which i think is fine and it is insisted on too, if not they have to make an apoligy to the dc with an explanation. They get marked on turnout and theres a prize giving for best turnout in each group at the end of the year.

I remeber when i was little we all used to sleep at the stables and be there all night cleaning out tack and getting up at 4 in the morning before we did the stables to make sure all our ponies were spotless and they all seemed to be white ponies!!!

 

[millreef]

Say what you will about it being snobby or outdated - It is a written standard at BHS exam level and as such it should be enforced in my opinion. The professional exams are just that PROFESSIONAL. It's not about being a snob - it's about following the instructions which were sent to me and all the other candidates. And for goodness sake - if your gaiters are on the wrong leg then perhaps you should resit stage 1 again!?

 

[shortstuff99]

I do think that standards have dropped but there are different dress codes for different discipline. I don't compete in showing so I don't own a tweed. I do compete in dr, sj and be where I wear a blue tweed jacket and I have had many comments from judges on how smart it looks. I think people shouldn't be marked down for wearing proper leather gaiters though, with smart leather short boots they look just like long boots! I can't find long boots to fit me unless I want to pay a huge amount for made-to-measure (I have weird legs!) so I don't think I should be descriminated against for that. I don't think people are saying everyone should wear tweed for all shows just correct dress for the discipline.

 

[Tnavas]

But thats my whole point, I have absolutely no desire to take these exams, but if I did neither of my expensive made to measure very smart jackets would be acceptable, I should borrow a poo brown itchy scratchy tweed affair, how is this more "professional" than navy blue, & how many professionals do you know who perform their daily jobs in a tweed jacket?

At all the schools I taught in in the UK I had to wear my tweed jacket, Shirt & Tie, jods, long boots and hat and hairnet when teaching. When we escorted rides out or rode out the livery horses we wore our jackets. It was expected of the professional status of instructors. My jacket is not itchy scratchy - it is very comfortable to wear, warm & water resistant in winter. In summer we were allowed to teach without our jackets but still had to wear a Shirt & Tie. Shorts and sleeveless shirts were forbidden.

Here in NZ where its a lot less formal I still teach in Shirt & Tie, Navy V neck pullover, hairnet hat, Johds & Boots. When I first went to work at the NZ school, riders wore whatever they felt like - within weeks of me starting there riders started to be better presented. I set an example and they followed.

It takes no longer to dress in appropriate clothing than to get dressed in jeans and a T shirt.

 

[GingerCat]

All my daughter's tweed jackets were used ones from ebay, I never paid more than £25 for any of them and they have all been 'Mears', Caldene' or 'Pretty Ponies'. When she outgrew them I took them to my local tack shop where they all sold for at least double what I paid for them. (And none of them have been 'poo brown and itchy' )
It was only when she stopped growing that I treated her to the 'begged for' made to measure tweed.

The thing about tweed jackets is that they are rarely 'out of place'...except for top level dressage and a few showing classes.
Decent ones (and you can pick them up really cheaply) last for years and look as good as new for ever.
It's not about snobbery, spending or old fashioned values...it's all about making an effort.

 

[hairycob]

All this talk of "you can get cheap/2nd hand" does rather assume that the rider is female as I can assure the same does NOT apply for male riders. When my son was still growing I used to be trawling the 2nd hand shops/ebay for 2 sizes ahead & often still failed to find anything. Poor lad had to wear womens show jackets/jods on many occasions! Also there are now NO secondhand shops around here that I know of Both the ones I used have closed.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Here is one to make you all cringe

Either last year or the year before, at the Royal Highland Show no less, a young lady took a shetland pony into the in-hand class wearing ... A white blouse that was open past her chest, a black tartan mini skirt, black tartan knee high socks, high heeled shoes, her hair done up as though she had made half an attempt at a style then given up and she had more make up on that a the whole of the Max Factor factories!

I would neber dream of turning myself or my horse out for the showring in anything less than perfection. Ok I have done 1 in-hand class in my long boots and breeches as it qas quite literally straight after my ridden class and the judge was being narky about time. But I would never dress like that for in-hand given a choice!

 

[Arabelle]

I think dress standards have evolved, largely for the better.

As long as your clothes are smart, clean and practical who cares if, for instance, you are wearing white jods with tweed? Surely arcane 'rules' such as those serve no purpose but to exclude people. Some Pony Clubs do still pick children up on that sort of thing and I really disapprove. Pony Club should encourage and support all children, especially those from non traditional horsey backgrounds, not flourish arcance rules to make them feel silly and excluded (can you tell I have had experience of Pony Club Old Trouts in action )

I am so glad I am endurance rider - practicality and comfort for horse and rider is king - no one would ride a good 160k in tweeds

 

[Tnavas]

I think dress standards have evolved, largely for the better.

As long as your clothes are smart, clean and practical who cares if, for instance, you are wearing white jods with tweed? Surely arcane 'rules' such as those serve no purpose but to exclude people. Some Pony Clubs do still pick children up on that sort of thing and I really disapprove. Pony Club should encourage and support all children, especially those from non traditional horsey backgrounds, not flourish arcance rules to make them feel silly and excluded (can you tell I have had experience of Pony Club Old Trouts in action )

I am so glad I am endurance rider - practicality and comfort for horse and rider is king - no one would ride a good 160k in tweeds

Would you turn up at a cocktail party wearing a ball gown, or your trackpants and trainers? No you wouldn't there are certain types of clothes you wear to certain types of functioins. Same difference. There are ettiquette rules that the 'Old Trouts' as you so kindly describe those of my age - strive to maintain. If there were no rules you would never know what you were expected to wear or do. White jodhs do not look good with anything to be honest - but show jumpers have taken them on as their dress code. Show Hunter (American) like riders to wear a collered shirt with no tie. There kids wear garter straps just below the knee - its an american tradition.

Pony CLub is a good place for kids to learn all the traditional clothing and the ettiquette associated with riding. I've never owned anything but a tweed jacket and cream jodhs and long boots and have shown succesfully at County level in UK and at A & P level in NZ. So they definately don't exclude you.

For the person with problems buying a jacket for a boy - you can always change the buttons to the otherside and work new buttonholes.

 

[tinap]

Dress standards have definitely dropped! At PC we have a very high standard when the kids get inspected, as they get points for turnout - but if its a show day, there isn't a hairnet in sight, shirts are untucked, ties tied sloppy! I always try to get my daughter to wear her hairnet (hair always hangs out of hat!) but its like trying to get her to eat sprouts!! & such a simple thing makes such a difference!!

 

[tinap]

Although saying that, she does wear an electric blue showjacket for jumping which looks very smart, just modern! Although would never even attempt to wear it for anything other than jumping! she has a black one for dressage & VERY rare showing, she hates tweed - an age thing I think!

 

[Arabelle]

Would you turn up at a cocktail party wearing a ball gown, or your trackpants and trainers? No you wouldn't there are certain types of clothes you wear to certain types of functioins. Same difference.
.

There is no comparison between wearing trackpants to a cocktail party and a child wearing their white jods with a tweed jacket - the fact you think there is suggests a serious lack of perspective.

There are ettiquette rules that the 'Old Trouts' as you so kindly describe those of my age - strive to maintain. .

I am probably older than you - but I have been happy to move with the times