What did you wear to ride "back then"?

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feesh

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For competing, but also for hacking and schooling. What was "correct," but also what did you actually wear? What was trendy and de rigeur? What was embarrassing? What was your era's equivalent of matchy-matchy or rust breeches? What did your mum wear? Other than basic black, what boots did people wear?

For my part, in rural Ontario in the 90s, I had one (1) pair of beige cotton jodhpurs that I tucked into one (1) pair of black rubber tall boots, black leather gloves, and my mum's old harnessless black velvet helmet with a nylon harness that slid over top. I eventually upgraded to a helmet with an integrated harness (and rubber chin cup!). Plus my one (1) pair of black leather gloves, and my own plastic-and-nylon crop. And a tshirt or tshirt and sweatshirt for schooling and hacking. For competing (at tiny local schooling shows), I had a hand-me-down white button-up shirt and whatever was the cheapest jacket that fit me from the local tack shop's used section.

(For context, I am hoping to enter some virtual low-level dressage this summer, and the turnout rules are essentially "full show wear, or just tidy, up to you." I absolutely cannot justify the budget to buy actual show clothes for this, but as I was scrounging at the local thrift store for a good-enough blazer, I realized there's no reason I can't entertain myself by putting together a few Vintage-Inspired-But-Mostly-Correct outfits for cheap. Plus I find historical clothing fascinating, and I've been enjoying Tamarack Farm's guess-the-era posts on Facebook.)
 
I wore the same as you in that era.

In the 1980’s, when I was a child/teenager and didn’t have a pony and rarely rode, I did have a pair of jods (putty colour), then the next year I had a pair of long black plastic/rubber boots. I also had a velvet hat with an extra harness over the top.
 
Early 70s, beige jodhs, brown jodh boots, polo t shirt for hacking.

For comps, pale yellow or blue shirt, smart tie, yellow gloves, tweed jacket, hairnet and navy or brown velvet hat.

Late 70s, as a late teen, the same as above for comps except black long leather boots and brown leather gloves. Jacket was then twin vent, not single.
All sparkling as per PC regs....
 
Spotherisk said:
I wore the same as you in that era.

In the 1980’s, when I was a child/teenager and didn’t have a pony and rarely rode, I did have a pair of jods (putty colour), then the next year I had a pair of long black plastic/rubber boots. I also had a velvet hat with an extra harness over the top.
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Go back a little - Bedford cord jodhpurs, velvet hunt cap without any chinstrap and the ribbons sewn up! (Or the DC would cut them off….) always tweed jacket, yellow gloves, shirt and tie for rallies / gymkhanas / meets etc, even the tinies.
Jodhpur boots or wellies if wet, children didn’t wear long riding boots. Jumper and anorak for hacking about, or the most impractical cream riding macs imaginable - it’s a wonder we weren’t all put off for life.
 
Adidas trackies and trainers in the 90s. Not sure if the trend spread further than the North West!
And no I’m not lying 😂 I have photographic evidence somewhere. We were COOL, ok? 😅

Showjumping was navy jacket, white shirt, beige jods and brown joddy boots for me.

80s was corduroy jods and a jumper.
 
Exasperated said:
Go back a little - Bedford cord jodhpurs, velvet hunt cap without any chinstrap and the ribbons sewn up! (Or the DC would cut them off….) always tweed jacket, yellow gloves, shirt and tie for rallies / gymkhanas / meets etc, even the tinies.
Jodhpur boots or wellies if wet, children didn’t wear long riding boots. Jumper and anorak for hacking about, or the most impractical cream riding macs imaginable - it’s a wonder we weren’t all put off for life.
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With a husky jacket for hacking. I still have my slumberdown waistcoat I got for Christmas in 1979 when I was 16, wear it every winter.

Pony club strictly beige jods, no colourallowed, brown jodphur boots, no half chaps, hacking jacket, pony club tie, velvet cap, no chinstrap. Cross country a jumper to match your bandages, no body protector, used to put elastic down to stop your hat blowing off, show jacket for SJ.

Mrs Burbury, the DC, would be turning in her grave with all the colours and bling!
 
Black rubber boots - bl**dy impossible to get off! Beige jods. I can remember my mum realising navy was an option and getting me a pair for less washing.

I had to fit into my hacking jacket for a decade because it was expensive.
 
In the 70's and 80's
For hacking - Quilted jacket (fashionable again) cord jods or breeches, skull cap with chin cup and blue or black silk.

For eventing - tweed jacket with coloured stock. Beige jods or breeches. Very plain xc gear.

And jackets that actually looked ok on a non skinny women. Beautifully cut and covered your bum when on the horse.
 
I had a break from riding. When I stopped in the late 90’s skull caps had chin cups and drawstrings.
When I restarted riding around 2010 ish I got some odd looks when I asked the hat fitter in the tack shop ‘why no chin cups and drawstrings in the hats now?’
I had a pair of burgundy chord jodhs that lasted forever.
I also remember getting a pair of HacTac denim jodhs that were impossible to get on, let along ride in (before the days of stretch denim)
Most of my riding kit came from jumble sales.
I remember my mum bought me a pack of 3 tee shirts to take to pony camp, they were way too big for me, I never did grow into them. In fact I still have 2 of them now (30 years later) that I use as nighties….although they are rather battered.
 
60's and 70's
Beige jods, long sleeved white shirt, smart tie, hair net, velvet cap with elastic under chin, tweed hacking jacket, long rubber boots that linings always peeled out of, and yes the dreaded riding mac if raining.
80's
Up graded to navy everything, jods, hard hat, jacket with scarlet lining, navy ribbon round hair net - and first pair of long leather boots.
90's
Got first decent skull cap with silk, but first body protector looked more like the cork life jackets in old RNLI photos.
 
I’m glad things have moved on from wearing woolly jumpers on the yard- the worse material possible near hay/straw/ horsehair…makes me itch just thinking about it.

Had to explain jockey skull chin cups and hooks to my (much) younger yard mate recently, and body protectors made from strips of foam sewn into what can only best be imagined as a swimming costume- safety first! 🥴
 
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