Help with showing wardrobes please

[pipstar]

Hi All

Sorry to bore you with this one again, I know it comes up on this forum often. I have looked on the net but I am even more confused now so hopefully you will be able to help me.

We have just bought a trailer so are enjoying the freedom of being able to hack out and going to shows!

Over the weekend we attended 2 shows where we just did clear round jumping whilst sussing out the showing scene. Both of my girls are now desperate to do some local showing classes such as 'Best mane & Tail, prettiest mare etc'. We don't have showing ponies just want to do it for fun and for my daughters confidence. So after watching I have these Horse and rider wardrobe questions! We want to look smart but not like we have all the gear and no idea!

Daughter 1 has a brown hacking jacket and canary jods, she wants a velvet hat what colour goes best with her outift or is best suited?
Pony 1 Grey Welsh x Shetland is a white numnah needed?

Daughter 2 Navy blue showing jacket cream jods and a black champion hat is this ok?
Pony 2 Dartmoor x ? Bay, does she need a brown numnah?

Me, owner of a Charles Owen skull cap! what can I wear that goes with both ponies and looks smart?

Husband (just incase both girls want to enter the same class he is gonna have to help!) He owns a navy champion hat.

All ideas very very welcome.

As mentioned before this is all for fun for my girls to get ponies and themselves ready and to collect rosettes which are the biggest confidence booster in the whole wide world!

Tunnocks tea cakes and a G & T for anyone who can help!

thanks very much

x

 

[frazzled]

At local level it doesn't seem to matter too much if it is a bit mix and match. I would always go for a blue velvet hat or silk for showing especially with canary jodphurs. Numnah/saddlecloth should be a plain colour preferably black or brown or no numnah at all. White is more for dressage.
I found that when I did those classes with my daughter we started off with slightly odd outfits and gradually honed the look after seeing what other people wore.
Go and have loads of fun and don't worry to much

 

[MissSBird]

First of all, at local level they are flexible on turnout. I'm going to answer your questions with what is correct, but please don't rush out and spend hundreds on new stuff. As long as things are neat and tidy it'll be fine, and you can purchase the 'correct' outfits over time if you want to.

Daughter 1 has a brown hacking jacket and canary jods, she wants a velvet hat what colour goes best with her outift or is best suited? - Brown would match her jacket perfectly and does look very smart. They are very expensive to buy, however, and it means should she out grow the jacket but not the hat you will need to replace with a brown jacket. A navy hat with flesh harness will probably be your best bet as it will be much more flexible in regard to future jackets. You can then use a navy tie with her jacket so it tones in with the outfit.

Pony 1 Grey Welsh x Shetland is a white numnah needed? - No. Use a black or brown one depending on your saddle. White will just make your pony look dirty

Daughter 2 Navy blue showing jacket cream jods and a black champion hat is this ok?

Navy blue showing jackets are for show pony types only. Now I've not seen your pony so cannot be sure, but with dartmoor blood he's more likely to be a SHP type. In this case a tweed jacket would be the correct option to go for in the future. Cream jods are ok, but canary a little more popular for pony classes.

Black is a real no no in the show ring, so when the time comes to replace the hat go for a navy one with flesh harness, as advised above. But again, don't worry about it - I took quite a few 1sts and championships wearing a black jacket and black hat, before I could afford to buy the right gear.

Pony 2 Dartmoor x ? Bay, does she need a brown numnah? - If her saddle is brown then yes, black if black saddle.

Me, owner of a Charles Owen skull cap! what can I wear that goes with both ponies and looks smart? - I assume you mean as a lead rein handler, as thats the only time you'd need to go into the ring with them.

With both the girls in different jackets this becomes a bit more difficult. What you would ideally wear would be a matching brown tweed jacket, with a toning in skirt, blouse and if necessary silk scarf, gloves and smart shoes you can run in. You'd also have an elegant but 'functional' hat that matches. You would then have a second outfit in navy to match daughter number two. But how impractical is this!

I suggest you perhaps try a navy skirt and navy ladies hat (not your helmet) and a cream blouse. You could then purchase a navy waistcoat and brown waistcoat to switch over as appropriate. Or even full jackets. Charity shops are really good for finding outfits for lead rein handlers. You can find some cracking jackets there.

For your husband, a matching tweed jacket with the brown tweed and neutral trousers, with shirt and tie and a bowler or flat cap. Same idea with blue jacket, only with a navy suit.

Really, you and your husband should look more like you're attending a wedding, not a horse show.

This website: http://www.prettyponies.co.uk/ might help to give you some ideas. It has a 'what to wear' section which explains what is right for the different types, and also does lead rein outfits for women which will give you an idea what is appropriate. You can then put together what you can from your current wardrobe/charity shops.

Again I stress as long as you look neat, smart and tidy, what you wear at local level is not going to matter too much.

Good luck, and I hope that's been of some help.