Stewarding...

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catwithclaws

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Hi all

I'm really excited as I've been invited to steward at my local county show this summer.

I've plenty of experience stewarding at local level and wearing dark jeans and a polo shirt with country boots has been fine.

However I figure the rules for stewards at County level are probably different and this is where you lot come in!!

Have any of you stewarded at County level before and can tell me what to wear? Or even those of you who show yourselves, can you remember what they wore in the ring?

Many thanks in advance :) xxx
 
I'd ask your show society whether they have a specific dress code. I used to show my Sec D a long time ago and can't say I remember any particular "uniform" other than a lot of tweed.
 
You will have lots of fun but it will be hard work!

Ideally you should wear a skirt unless the weather is awful,in which case a trouser suit would be ok. If weather good, a skirt and smart jacket, if bad you can wear a smart overcoat or shooting jacket. You must wear a hat at all times in the ring, appropriate for all weathers, rain and wind. Wellies are fine if the grass is long and wet, otherwise, sensible comfortable shoes, you may have a very long day on your feet!

You should be given classes with more experienced stewards to help but make sure you read the prizes etc before the class, familiarise yourself with that society's basic rules and be sure to fill out the result sheet correctly. Anything you are unsure about, ask the chief horse steward.
As a steward you are in charge of the ring and the safety of the judges. Any concerns you have about any horse, do not be afraid to voice them. If you are short of time and have 2 judges you can strip the bottom few for conformation before the ride judge rides. If you do this be very careful to check the girths of the horses that have been stripped first.
Good luck, you will love it.
 
TBH, it is only in more recent years that we, as stewards at an agricultural show, (not county) have been 'allowed' to wear trousers. We are always expected to be smart, no jeans ever, and expected to wear a hat except in the very windiest of weather. There is another similar level show locally where I always feel that the stewards let the side down. The judges are, of course, smartly dressed and the stewards are there in jeans and no hat - they do look scruffy.
 
Thanks everyone - what kind of hat do I need? I have a black trouser suit that I wear for job interviews etc - will that do? I don't even own a skirt - not a single one. Don't mind buying one if anyone has an idea of what style to go for?

shame Google imaging 'county show stewards' doesn't bring up anything of any use!!
 
Great Yorks Show provides all its Stewards with matching hats (and Blazers, I think). The best thing would be to ask the Secretary, OP. I would expect a briefing meeting, pre-show.

ETA, Lead-rein mum is a bit over the top for stewards, imo.
 
Charity shops are a great source of cheap smart clothes that you would never wear any where else. No denim, I have a long skirt so if its cold you can put leggings underneath, the trouser suits sounds ok but will you be hot if it ever gets sunny, I also have a long skirt for summer so I do not offend anyone with my Persil white legs. You should always have a hat, and test it for wind resistance, the one I chose last week promptly blew off so I had to buy another one. Flat shoes or boots, I take two pairs, that you know will not rub, a mac that covers you from top to bottom and a jacket with pockets for odds and ends. I have a old smart bag that I leave in the stewards box with water, sun screen and a spare pen, calculator if you have mark sheets.
 
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