Challenging all dressage diva's: turn eventer into one of you

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bgb

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As horse and I have been out this season, it has become apparent that the going-round-in-endless-circles bit is our greatest undoing. Horse is capable but finds it excruciatingly boring, I like it but hate doing it on extremely un co-operative horse. We are getting better with lots and lots of work and marks are coming down slowly but I go in feeling bad about everything from how horse is going, how I am riding and how I look.

I know this is very vain but I am fed up of looking like a dishevelled eventer and wish to be more "dressage diva". Hopefully, but very unlikely, it may make the judge 'approve' and give me higher marks. So, I am wanting to revamp my wardrobe. I need suggestions for:

- A smart navy hat. Skull cap and silk are rather dated.

- A navy jacket which is fitted and not too long as current one hangs off me like a bin bag.

- Long, black leather boots that are good quality and will stand up to hunting too. I have a long lower leg and skinny ankles.

Oh, and the most important bit:

- A dressage saddle. Will get saddle fitter out but wanting some un-biased views. Horse is ISH, long, flat back with large movement behind which tends to push saddles forwards. Want something that is nice to sit on, doesn't slice me in half, but also doesn't restrict me too much.

Budget is reasonable for everything but no £500 boots or £3.5k saddles please. Of course no bling or patent - I am ready for change but not that drastic.
 
Bloody iPad just deleted response!!

I'm no dressage diva but here's my wish list!

Hat -gatehouse conquest

Jacket- just bought v flattering lucinda green navy for £50. Will look for website.

Boots- ariat bromont, insulated for hunting!

Saddle-very impressed with my new kent & masters jump & looking for the s series dressage to match :)
 
hehe, nothing like a bit of shopping to give you a kick up the bum! Very very much doubt the judge will be influenced;) but I know anything that gives me a little more inner confidence helps my riding no end...

I'm an eventer-turned-dressager and I'm a bit traditional in my tastes so would be helpful to know what kind of things you like :)

Personally I'm a sucker for nice velvet hats and plain jackets - I have a Pikeur Diana but I really liked the Epsom too which is a bit shorter and was quite a good cut on me. Can get a washable version which would prob be most practical, though I got the wool.

A little un-exciting but I liked my Bromonts for eventing & hunting as they were tidy enough for dressage and stood up to walking xc courses, plus mud slides off the waterproofing ;) They do shiny ones with a higher top line which are a bit nicer looking than the old ones.
I have fancy dressage boots now but I couldn't jump in them so no good if yours need to be multi-purpose.

Saddle is so, so personal ... but I'm very fond of my Equipe :biggrin3:
 
Have to say the gatehouse conquest has caught my eye too. Do like the pikeur jackets but the price of lg one is persuasive! Yes the shopping is definitely going to spur me on to great things.
 
Nic said:
http://www.hopevalleysaddlery.co.uk...een-Chatsworth-Competition-Jacket--Clearance-

Lucinda green jacket, very flattering.
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I bought one of these from them a month ago and love it! I don't know the exact model name etc. but I have a JTE leather covered modern style hat which I rather like. Don't remember it being particularly expensive. I think I bought it in the infamous Oldencraig rock bottom sale but at full price they're £150-ish.

I'm going to be really boring here, but as an eventer-(temporarily)-turned-BDer the best value for money and score improving investment I've made has been lessons and test-riding clinics. Sorry! :o
 
I have a gatehouse conquest and love it! And also bromonts - love them too.
I'm also in the line of thinking about a better navy jacket so interested to see responses on that one!
And as to saddles, I have an Ideal Suzannah ATM but sadly doesn't fit horse any more, so need to sell that and have a barnsby fitter coming in a couple of weeks as have my eye on the Theoden as recommended by KirstyHen on here!
 
Ooh jut saw some new Petrie boots on eBay for £100 - good deal? Looking to join BD over winter to try and crack it as it is really letting us down. He will jump the moon but we are never going to win with a 40. Sadly I am all to aware that shopping will never really help...apart from the saddle! Bromonts seem popular, will try them on at tack shop this w/end.
 
You need a Pikeur or Kentucky jacket. Boots it depends how much you want to spend. If you're feeling rich Konigs or Petrie are the "ultimate"! If not, something like Sergio Rossi (which I've got) are very nice. Breeches need to be white not cream. Try Pikeur or Cavallo. In terms of hats, the look seems to be for the showjumper style of hat at the moment. Samshield are the top of the range ones, but expensive. Charles Owen and Champion do good, cheaper alternatives.

In terms of saddles, I like Albions but also a cheaper alternative are the Ideal saddles, which are very similar to Albions in cut and feel and very good quality. I have an Ideal Roella and Albion SLK and they are very, very similar. Other ones to consider are Amerigo (but expensive new) and Jaguar.

Have a look at some of the specialist online dressage retailers like "Classic Dressage" and "Dressage Deluxe". Have fun!
 
I have skinny ankles and have treadstep long boots ( not sure of the model!). They fit really well and I have always tended to wear boots and gaiters due to my skinny legs. I think its a brand popular with showjumpers (?). I think mine look very smart and where a good price. I bought them at Blair horse trials, which meant I could go round loads of stalls to try find the best pair. I would recommend a shopping spree at a big event as means you can try before you buy and the stalls tend to be more likely to give you a bargin as there is so much competition for them too!
 
Oh dear. This thread just prompted me to buy a half price pikeur Diana jacket online!! On the basis that it will look better than my existing tweed - oops. Hope it helps! Not sure i am quite brave enough for white breeches yet tho, think I will stick with cream for now!
Op you will have to do a 'before and after' thread ;)
 
ecrozier said:
Oh dear. This thread just prompted me to buy a half price pikeur Diana jacket online!! On the basis that it will look better than my existing tweed - oops. Hope it helps! Not sure i am quite brave enough for white breeches yet tho, think I will stick with cream for now!
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:biggrin3:
I still haven't made the transition to white breeches, it's the eventer still within me that resists :tongue3:
 
ecrozier said:
Oh dear. This thread just prompted me to buy a half price pikeur Diana jacket online!! On the basis that it will look better than my existing tweed - oops. Hope it helps! Not sure i am quite brave enough for white breeches yet tho, think I will stick with cream for now!
Op you will have to do a 'before and after' thread ;)
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Will defo log my transformation for the world to see - it will hopefully mark the start of something resembling dressage. I would stick wih beige. Especially when white pikeur breeches are nearly £200 :O
 
Lol yes I think the likelihood of me spending £200 on white pikeur breeches any time this side of oh, never, is pretty minimal!! Think its the inner eventer in me too - even tho I mainly just SJ and dressage these days, I am clinging on firmly to the marginally more flattering beige!
 
bgb said:
Going to Blair later this month so perfect timing!! Thank you all for suggestions
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I intend to do some shopping damage at Blair too. New Ariat Grasmeres, possibly Bromonts, an HS1 & possibly a conquest. Not to mention the obligatory Joules wardrobe update! I can already smell the plastic melting!!
 
Nic said:
I intend to do some shopping damage at Blair too. New Ariat Grasmeres, possibly Bromonts, an HS1 & possibly a conquest. Not to mention the obligatory Joules wardrobe update! I can already smell the plastic melting!!
Click to expand...

Can't wait! Need a new HS1 too as current one has become too big - unfortunately this was discovered on the xc course when horse slipped and I was jolted forwards so hat came over eyes and we missed second fence. My dad found it very amusing however, I did not. If you see me hopefully I will be laden with bags with a dishevelled father in tow (he owes me for getting straight A's in exams though!!) Mwahahaa..
 
I bought a navy Musto performance show jacket which is wind and showerproof and very comfortable. I have some white Pikeur breeches but they go baggy really quickly so I prefer the much more reasonably priced Jeffries Competition breeches or Premier Equine breeches with a full seat and are so comfortable to wear and less than half the price of Pikeurs.
Boot wise I love Bromonts as well as Ariat Devon Pro boots with Sergio Grasso leather gaiters.

I have three dressage saddles but my favourite is a Jeffries Elite dressage saddle which is a really good fit on my ID mare and everyone who has ridden in it really likes it. It's a mid range saddle but very good quality.

I still have a velvet hat with leather straps but have been considering getting a new style hat. I still prefer the look of velvet and although I know it wasn't as safe I still miss being able to wear my lovely beagler.
 
If you're looking for an overhaul and want to keep costs down avoid the big brands for things like breeches.

Rugged do a lovely pale cream full seat at about £68 and have a look at the hkm marlberg jacket, it's short, cheap and washable.

Anothe vote for conquest and bromonts though, can't beat them!
 
Just a word of warning about the LG jacket -my daughter had one and found the Lycra in the material broke down at the edges of the jacket giving a frayed and tatty appearance after a while. She now has a Pikeur Epsom which is very smart and much better value for money than the Pikeur breeches!
 
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