Side Saddle - No habit - what to wear

J

jaxz85

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Hi all,

I started to learn how to ride side saddle at the end of last year. I bought a saddle from ebay, had it flocked properly and have been practicing hard since then! Now that I am more stable when cantering on the left rein I would like to go to a local Side Saddle show and take part HOWEVER I do not have a habit. I have been trying to find one but they are hard to come by, especially in a 14! (and I dont have a fortune to spend!)

So the class that I have entered is

Novice Equitation


Open to Adult and Junior competitors not to have been placed first in any previous Novice Equitation class, or first or second in any Open/Junior Equitation class. Habits are not required to be worn for this class.



As you can see habits are not required to be worn, but what should I wear insted? Im confused as to whether I would be better in tweed, cream jodpuhrs, a black jacket, black jodphurs? My main issue is that my hunting coat is green, so not really suitable.



My saddle is so old (1870s) that a normal numnah is a close fit and it is brown, and he wears a brown bridle.



Anybodys thoughts would be appreciated!



Thanks!
 
Vetwrap said:
Don't know on the etiquette as regards colour, but if you know anyone who is good with a sewing machine, there are patterns here:

http://users.tinyworld.co.uk/sidesaddlelady/Catalogue - dressmaking patterns.html
Click to expand...

I made mine from that pattern

habit1.jpg
 
Jodhpurs should match jacket colour so green jacket, green jods. Long boots with a spur (dummy spur if your horse not used to them), shirt and tie if wearing a normal riding hat and hair in a bun (bowler = shirt and tie, top hat = shirt with stock and double reins). Brown gloves. They will mark you on turnout and give you a comment sheet so you'll get feedback.
Good luck
 
If you are not wearing a habit in the Novice eq class, just dress smart as if you were entering a normal astride showing class so a shirt with tie (make sure the collar it not too big as the judge will comment on any space showing between your neck and collar!!), brown hat, brown or tan gloves, creme/beige and brown jods/boots + spur or dummy spur, long dressage whip or cane.

You can wear a normal velvet hat in the Novice class, you will not be marked down for it, the SSA says that an approved hat can be worn without penality. The one I was in, had a lady wearing a skull with black velvet cover.

I use a brown fitted numnah with my side saddle in shows so that is ok but it has to be CLEAN and fit your saddle to a T. A brown bridle is fine. I rode in my eq classes in a snaffle and placed above people who rode in a double or pelham so you won't get marked down for that either.
 
I have no advice sorry I just want to say good luck!

I watched one of the side saddle classes at the Derby County Show and it was wonderful to watch...so elegant :)
 
Don't wear cream / white / beige jods or breeches. Agree that they should match jacket. Side saddle turnout is 'understated elegance'. I would go for black jacket & jods/breeches, hat & long boots if I was you. What colour is horse?
 
Mari said:
Don't wear cream / white / beige jods or breeches. Agree that they should match jacket. Side saddle turnout is 'understated elegance'. I would go for black jacket & jods/breeches, hat & long boots if I was you. What colour is horse?
Click to expand...

That is fine if one has an apron but it may present an odd picture if the rider is wearing dark clothing from head to toe without an apron to break up the "long dark look". The OP would be allowed to wear that do but personally, I think it would look odd without an apron.

For the Novice class where most riders are beginners or novices who are just starting out their side saddle showing career and may not have their own habit yet, it is also appropriate to dress in a smart astride showing outfit like what a man would wear when showing in side saddle classes (yes, there are rules for men's attire in the SSA rule book too! :D ).

On the other hand, if the OP can find an orphan apron (either a modern or a vintage one) on Ebay or one of the side saddlery sites, that matches the color of a dark show jacket she already has (doesn't matter if the fabric is the same or not, just get it as close as you can to the color of the jacket), then that would be an easy and cheap way to have a "habit" for the time being to wear in the Novice eq class :)

The judges are looking at your riding firstly in the Novice class and turnout second. My friend did her first Novice class last Sunday and came first with a habit she cobbled together herself and hadn't had time to hem the apron (LOL, she promised to do that for the next show upon penalty of death :D ).

For the Novice class, as long as everything is CLEAN, smart and fits well (you and horse) and you look like you are enjoying yourself, then you will be fine :) The judge will give you feedback (like with me in my first one to get a smaller shirt and neaten up my numnahs) so don't worry about it.

Have fun! :D
 
I got my daughter all of the gear to do sidesaddle and had a habit made for her.

I wouldn't say I can sew (straight lines on the machine) but I could have run the apron up myself. The good thing is you can make it to fit your leg length.

If you have a navy jacket just find some similar fabric and have a go. Or find a family member who can help :D :D
 
If you find/beg/borrow/steal an apron that more-or-less matches your dark show jacket (and it doesn't have to be in perfect condition, just clean - side saddle judges are surprisingly laid back about things like moth holes as so many habits are vintage), you could also try pinning / tacking back the corners of the front of your jacket at the bottom to create more of a 'cutaway' look of the jacket from a habit.
 
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