Top Hats and Tails

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ajf

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Hey,
Um basically I need to buy a Top Hat and Tails coat for dressage, but basically don't know what to get!
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What colour, lenght, hat height etc and where to buy from!!!???
Thanks
 
depends on your build, which ones suit you, really. depends what sex you are too! i think it's a case of going somewhere that stocks quite a few makes, such as Inch's, and trying them all on. the tails need to be the right length, etc etc. lucky you, it's very exciting wearing them for the first time, feels like a real privilege!
 
I would get a hat new as it is important it fits. Whatever type of tails you decidee on if in no desperate hurry jkeep an eye on ebay I got mine there.
 
Thanks, well I'm female, 5'8"ish and bout a size 10. Not needed tell eventing starts up again, so got a while, but christmas is coming!
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I managed to do it the cheap way.. on ebay
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I would advise the Sarah_Jane way, and get a top hat that you know fits.. but i was lucky and managed to get a great fitting on on ebay for £25, and i got a tail coat for £100
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the tails i'd tried on in a shop first, so i knew the exact make and size i wanted, then i just waited for it to turn up on ebay (size 10 pikeur) and the top hat i just got lucky with (i thought for £25 i can't go far wrong)..

Good Luck
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where/when is the first event you have planned to wear it all at???
 
if you're size 10, then pikeur and kentucky are very nice. i think my tails are mears, they fitted me much better than pikeur.
the top hat has to be the exact right fit, otherwise it either gives you a splitting headache (like mine) or flies off in the wind.
 
mine gives me a splitting headache.. but there are two reasons for me not minding this.. 1) it only cost £25 and 2) it makes me sit tall with a still head during sitting trot
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haha
 
I opted for Pikeur and have never regretted it. As kerelli suggested, go somewhere with a good selection and try lots on (incidently, do remember to wear a thinish shirt underneath as you would if you were competing
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I went to a saddlery local to me tbh that have a huge selection of competition wear.

Somewhere like Inch's id imagine are good also. Its always useful if there is someone there who is knowledgeable enought to help you mind!
 
If your in devon like me you are very limited. Shame you couldn't have gone to the equine fair at the weekend as although there prob wasn't many there would have been a few in some of the stalls I would have thought.

Badders a good bet or a long drive as no where south of Bristol that I know of that carries a decent selection of 'tails', actually change that to any at all!!
 
I got my top hat from TDS sadllers. Excellent service and were happy to keep sending me hats until I got one that fitted! Hats were cheapr too £60 something. Got my tail coat second hand from a friend who had semi-retired.
 
I borrow a pikeur one from a friend who is the same size - i'm a 10 too and it fits very well. Then got my top hat from ebay for about £50. I knew what size beagler i had, and measured my head again too so went for that size thinking i'd always be able to sell it if it didn't fit. It was fine!!

I have navy hat and tails, unless you're v tall the standard height top hats are fine. If you're going down the made to measure patey route they'll do it in proportion to your height but thats not essential for a few tests a year! I think though if you're a real traditionalist top hats should only be black?!

Morgan Equine have some Christy seconds which are good value, but mine was a Christy on ebay too and they had a lot in stock.

The Patey Hat Jack is amazing, just stretches them enough to stop the headache, remember you want it snug enough not to fall off!!
 
Wow thanks, yeah just let me know times/dates and i'll see what I can do!
Well if i'm still not sorted by Jan (probably won't as am useless!) will def take u up on your offer!
 
haha, i don't know times/dates yet.. if you look in the 'soapbox' forum, there's a post in there titled 'Devon Christmas Meet Up'

If you're ever traveling further afield for 2*s etc. then it might be nice to meet up and share travel, i'm from South Molton area.
 
There used to be someone on ebay selling Pikeur jackets from near Okehampton, may be worth doing a search, she was always happy to tell us we could try them at her house. ps we are near Moretonhampstead, (CCJ and me) Lucybruckner owns our local feedstore and Bosworth is near you so there are plenty of H and H members around!
 
I got a lovely top hat from a friend and bought my tails last year - there pikur and there lovely! went for the shorter length even thou im 5ft 7 as the long looked silly according to the others in the shop when i was trying them on!! Lol

heres a pic

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