What do you and your horse wear to compete?

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elliefiz

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Apologies for the teenage type thread!

Got a firm kick up the bum yesterday from trainer and have been told I need to take my horses competing . Am planning on putting it off as long as humanly possible but the inevitable will eventually happen. No more watching my horses ponce nicely ridden by others, I will have to embarrass myself by getting out there and making a fool of myself in front of a group of strangers. If anyone knows of a dressage class I can do on a lead rein or a first ridden class that will accommodate a 17hh TB please let me know :)

In order to not add to my pain I have decided I must at least look the part. For the most part I have nice things but I tend to buy what I like and haven't a clue of competition fashion. Horses are registered BS and BD so imagine I will be attempting the most basic classes on offer. Might aswell look nice whilst falling off at first fence, galloping out of the dressage ring, etc.

So can I see what you all wear whilst out and about? I've been told my adored cut away jacket is a massive fashion faux pas which is sad as I've never actually worn it! Typical!
 
Why is your cutaway a fashion faux pas?? :confused:

My gear can be seen in my siggy: for anything that takes place in an arena, I wear a brown tweed, a pinkish silk stock, my Ventair with a brown velvet cover, beige breeches, black field boots, and cream or brown gloves depending on discipline. Someday when I have a lot of money lying around, I'll get a navy jacket and more dressagey boots, but in the meantime, this seems to be appropriate for low levels in all disciplines!

For Endurance, well, we go kind of crazy on the matchy-matchy... ;) Blue saddlecloth with pockets on and red trim, blue bridle, red hoofboots, blue hat cover, blue gloves, and usually a blue T-shirt...I have a pair of riding tights with a blue stripe, but haven't quite worked up the courage to wear those yet! :D I'm also still lacking in blue chaps. At the moment, I wear black ones, with brown boots and brown breeches, oh, the shame! :D
 
I can't cope with fashion. So we're a bit confused - blingy pony, but me in tweed :p

1554384_208978419311212_3742382180864143743_n.jpg
 
I wear:

black champion vent air hat (my skull with navy velvet cover for showing or purple velvet cover for jumping)
cream Silk Route ready tied stock with embroidered blue stars
pale blue Kingsland american collar shirt (yes, my stock goes over this, faux pas or not, but ride without a stock when jumping)
green tweed
harry hall creamy coloured breeches
jodhpurs boots and gaiters
fawn or brown gloves as appropriate

Seen below:
ScreenShot2014-05-11at160507.png
 
Lots of v glam people here! NM you and your sister are style icons! If BD did best dressed........

also love the traditional tweed!

Think my horses are suitably blinged up and the 2 dogs have collars and coats to match the horses so it's just me who needs an overhaul. Is BS as blingy as BD? And will I look silly with the crystal plaiting bands which I loveeeeee? ( for dressage obvs as I won't plait for BS, need some mane to hold into ;) )

Anyone wear the dainese breeches to compete? I have them in other colours, wondering g if I should invest in white ones to compete in.

Also what about this jacket which I adore?

http://theclotheshorse-trotontv.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/want-need-must-have-show-jacket-and.html

It is prob a bit much for BD?
 
When I used to groom at BS I would say yes very blingy think crystal encrusted white breeches and belt and patent snake skin boots :P not everyone does obviously but the current fashion seems to be bright lining to your jacket so you get flashes of pink or red when you jump :)
 
Current BS fashion seems to be as much bling as possible and bright colours.

I wear:
Plain black Kep hat
Naxy Pikeur jacket or black Equiport jacket (does have hot pink lining on the vents and pockets ;))
MH or Ariat stock shirt
cream or white breeches
MH long boots
plain leather Mont Blanc belt
Navy Roeckl Sport gloves
 
If I had the cash I would be investing in a pair of dainese breeches for competing. I have some for everyday wear, and I wear them all the time, only wear my normal ones when dainese ones in the wash!
 
This is our dressage get up

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However I will point out that we are eventers and do tend to stick out like a sore thumb - but then again, being a gigantic coloured horse we never really blend in :p

In case can't see its a trad green tweed with velvet collar, green stock (changing soon, its a bit thin) with the toggi stock t-shirt in navy underneath (told you we event! :p) and then beige ariat breeches. In case we don't scream "eventer" enough then I am also sporting long boots, one of which is held on entirely by black electrical tape which is also used to keep horse's xc boots secure. Gloves are tredstep and shock horror, not leather, and hat is a CO velvet peaked hat.

We did attempt to "blend in" with addition of the bling browband, but unfortunately it was cancelled out by the lack of boots or bandages on horse while warming up as well as the fact we do affiliated dressage in a grackle :o i will also add that we lack the dead sheep that are ever present but I have my eye on the gel pad with dead sheep, as that would be handy for xc to prevent any slipping and a good shock absorber. It also could be dual purpose and be used for dressage too i suppose :p

Afraid we dont do registered jumping, but I would imagine it would be the same attire as above, only with a jumping saddle :p
 
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I wear;

Navy Dublin Arista Helmet
Navy & Black Roeckl gloves
White Equitech show shirt with lace on the back
Navy Dublin Show Jacket
Off white, blue and green stock tie
White Dublin full seat breeches
Ariat short boots with Ariat chaps

1_zpsbf35848c.png
 
Hi everyone! I'm from Hong Kong and this is what my horse and I wear showjumping (and dressage - minus the boots and replace a dressage saddle and saddlecloth)


(Apologies for the grumpy face)

I wear:
GPA Speed Air Evolution helmet
Jacket made by Zhus with sponsor's logo and in sponsor's colours
Felix Buhler Blue Show shirt
White Sarm hippique rebecca breeches with blue stitching/ Horseware competition breeches
Brown leather belt
Brown Roeckl chester/sport gloves
Kingsland show socks
Tredstep Donatello Boots

Horse wears:
Sponsor's saddlecloth
Equipe jumping saddle
bridle put together with pieces from different makes - FSS, jeffries, kincade (this is also our everyday bridle and I just replace the browband with a waved blingy turquoise crystal one for shows)
Veredus vento tendon boots and projump hind boots

OP your jacket is gorgeous! I'd say go for it, nothing is too blingy these days :D
 
I love all the photos, everyone looks so smart! I'm really being inspired :)

So let me get this straight- I need a stock for BD but BS I can get away without one? Does anyone show jump in the collars anymore with their initials on them? I grew up madly wanting to wear those, but think they would be another faux pas. Although the 90's could always make a cone back!

Nibbles360 I adore your jacket, I love the colours of it! Is that a HK based brand as haven't heard of it?

Naenae87 I love the different colours of your stock!
 
elliefiz said:
I love all the photos, everyone looks so smart! I'm really being inspired :)

So let me get this straight- I need a stock for BD but BS I can get away without one? Does anyone show jump in the collars anymore with their initials on them? I grew up madly wanting to wear those, but think they would be another faux pas. Although the 90's could always make a cone back!

Nibbles360 I adore your jacket, I love the colours of it! Is that a HK based brand as haven't heard of it?

Naenae87 I love the different colours of your stock!
Click to expand...

Hi elliefiz, thanks! and yes Zhus is a small HK based company that also supplies the jackets for the national team

EDIT: re the initials on collars - I think they look nice although I don't see that many people with customised collars. Ben maher has his clothing sponsor's name on each side of his collar, so what could be worse? :P
 
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You don't need a stock for BS.. most people wear collared shirts, although some (eventers) wear stocks.

For BS,if you really want to fit in, you basically need to look as if you have rolled through Animo
Equiport saddlecloth in your colours with your initials on with matching fly veil
LAS/KEP/PROtector hat
More animo... maybe a show jacket, stock shirt.
White breeches with crystals and logo emblazoned down the leg in block capitals.. think Animo/Prestiatie
Veredus boots
Grackle bridle with a long shanked bit, if you use a pelham, roundings are your friend.
Prestige/butet/equipe/devoucoux saddle
Elastic breastplate (that does absolutely nothing) with a martingale attachment.
Stud girth, even indoors.
Absolutely do not plait or pull. You must straighten your horses mane with GHD's and then scissor it.

I wear:

Prestatie Vittoria jacket
Whitaker velvet hat
Pikeur breeches in white with suede seat
Roeckl gloves
Eurostar stock shirt with blingy buttons!

Horse wears:

Whitaker flash bridle with aforementioned breastplate/martingale attachment
Hand me down saddle from my other 2 horses. She will get her own when she's finished growing, as she's only 4yo!
White saddlecloth
White eskadron fetlock and tendon boots
 
I went to an endurance event once dressed basically in my xc gear minus BP. Did I stand out a mile!
 
montanna said:
You don't need a stock for BS.. most people wear collared shirts, although some (eventers) wear stocks.

For BS,if you really want to fit in, you basically need to look as if you have rolled through Animo
Equiport saddlecloth in your colours with your initials on with matching fly veil
LAS/KEP/PROtector hat
More animo... maybe a show jacket, stock shirt.
White breeches with crystals and logo emblazoned down the leg in block capitals.. think Animo/Prestiatie
Veredus boots
Grackle bridle with a long shanked bit, if you use a pelham, roundings are your friend.
Prestige/butet/equipe/devoucoux saddle
Elastic breastplate (that does absolutely nothing) with a martingale attachment.
Stud girth, even indoors.
Absolutely do not plait or pull. You must straighten your horses mane with GHD's and then scissor it.
Click to expand...

You've forgotten the parlanti/petrie/expensive custom boots! :P
 
I wear the same boring outfit for everything. Doesn't look too flash, doesn't look too all-the-gear-no-idea, neither do I look stupidly scruffy. Everything purchased second hand or super discounted.

400841_10150518005931355_1169053054_n.jpg
This picture is out hunting. But I wear exactly the same for hunting/dressage/showjumping. Only change the set-up when I go XC!

I do all phases in my AP McCoy Charles Owen helmet, which is the same one I wear for several hours a day at work, riding my own horse, riding in p2ps... the lot!

Hat cover is a cheap velvet pull over one. Often use the hat cover that I ride out in every day as its plain navy.

Stock was my mothers from the 1970s, pin is a cheap one bought on ebay for <£10.

Shirt is a dublin white short-sleeved one which I have been using since 2003. Missing a button, but otherwise still going strong.

Tweed jacket is a Moss Bros one which probably originates from the 1980s, but is a classic design and a good fit. I got it through a swap with another person on a livery yard I was on - I had a horrible blue tweed jacket that was too big for me, and they had outgrown this one, so we swapped - have now been wearing this jacket since 2004!!

Some cream gloves that I got from badminton a few years back on sale.

Cream jods from Derby House in a 2 for 1 offer.

Boots in the picture are cavallo ones, inherited from my dressage instructor back in 2003, and they were already ten years old then! Sadly they have now gone to the boot graveyard in the sky, so now I have some toggi short boots with ariat chaps (again, found on ebay!)

After reading this I might set up a justgiving campaign to create some money to buy some nice show gear, as obviously I am well behind in this respect!!!
 
RachelFerd said:
I wear the same boring outfit for everything. Doesn't look too flash, doesn't look too all-the-gear-no-idea, neither do I look stupidly scruffy. Everything purchased second hand or super discounted.

400841_10150518005931355_1169053054_n.jpg
This picture is out hunting. But I wear exactly the same for hunting/dressage/showjumping. Only change the set-up when I go XC!

I do all phases in my AP McCoy Charles Owen helmet, which is the same one I wear for several hours a day at work, riding my own horse, riding in p2ps... the lot!

Hat cover is a cheap velvet pull over one. Often use the hat cover that I ride out in every day as its plain navy.

Stock was my mothers from the 1970s, pin is a cheap one bought on ebay for <£10.

Shirt is a dublin white short-sleeved one which I have been using since 2003. Missing a button, but otherwise still going strong.

Tweed jacket is a Moss Bros one which probably originates from the 1980s, but is a classic design and a good fit. I got it through a swap with another person on a livery yard I was on - I had a horrible blue tweed jacket that was too big for me, and they had outgrown this one, so we swapped - have now been wearing this jacket since 2004!!

Some cream gloves that I got from badminton a few years back on sale.

Cream jods from Derby House in a 2 for 1 offer.

Boots in the picture are cavallo ones, inherited from my dressage instructor back in 2003, and they were already ten years old then! Sadly they have now gone to the boot graveyard in the sky, so now I have some toggi short boots with ariat chaps (again, found on ebay!)

After reading this I might set up a justgiving campaign to create some money to buy some nice show gear, as obviously I am well behind in this respect!!!
Click to expand...

It's ok, I'm in a similar boat!! Handmedown breeches, 2nd hand gaiters, jodh boots from a closing down sale, everything else has been slowly collected in sales when old things have needed replacing... Even hat and tweed where less than 90 each, and my stock and shirt I got cheap at Blair! My stock pin is an old uni society brooch ;)

Horses gear is where all my money goes... He is much better dressed than his mum ;)
 
Paddymonty- your grey outfit is fabulous!

Rachelferd and khalswitz- see I used to be so like you both. I would have had a heart attack paying more than 20 quid for jods. I still have the jods I wore as a kid and still wear them. My hunting jacket I inherited from a friend when I was 12 and she was 40- it had been hand made for her as a 16th birthday present. That makes it 44 years old and actually apart from a bit of dodgy stitching to fix bramble tears etc, it's still fabulous and weirdly enough still fits! I spent my youth in rubber riding boots using plastic bags as a liner to keep me from getting frostbite! So I am from the real old school and our horses didn't fare much better- nothing was ever new and as I paid for it all myself from a young age I never had a lot of money to spoil my ponies. Was super jealous of my more glam friends who always looked amazing :)

Now I work hard and am making up for my "deprived" childhood. ;) Plus whilst my previous old school irish hunting way of thinking was sickened by bling, I'm now abit bling mad! Must be something in the water over here.

Horses kitted out in top to toe prestige, amerigo, antares and devoucoux. Don't do matchy matchy as can't be bothered bandaging but saddle cloths always same colour as my breeches. Lots of hats as they have to match my breeches aswell. Completely loosing the run of myself I think!

Montana the rolling myself in animo made me laugh. I would like to be a bit different and not wear animo just because everyone else does. Though why I want to stand out when I'm going to fall off in the warm up and never make it into the ring is beyond me ;)

Can imagine GHD-ing the manes, too funny. The big horse used to event, he finds the whole bling thing so undignified, he is the ugliest horse ever to wear a patent bridle poor thing.

I think I may need an intervention- I've just emailed a western company in the USA to ask will they bling me up some spurs if I send them over. At least when I'm planted head first in the sand because the horse has dumped me, people will be able to admire my sparkly spurs ha
 
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PS I do it all on a horse that cost £200, ridden in a saddle that I bought for £150, arriving in a borrowed trailer, towed by a car that cost £500!

I could spend ten times that on all these things, but I'd never be any better. Doesn't stop me lusting over butet saddles though!!!
 
RachelFerd said:
PS I do it all on a horse that cost £200, ridden in a saddle that I bought for £150, arriving in a borrowed trailer, towed by a car that cost £500!

I could spend ten times that on all these things, but I'd never be any better. Doesn't stop me lusting over butet saddles though!!!
Click to expand...

I completely agree. Looking the part won't make me ride any better. I'm definitely on the path of the all the kit, still poo type of person. And horses tack cost far more than horses did.

I know there are always stories that people rock up in their grandmothers riding clothes on a horse that they found wandering in the woods one day after hacking 50 miles to the show and shame everyone in their expensive clothes on their expensive horses by winning everything. Well I was that person growing up although never shamed anyone because never won a thing and now I want to be in with the cool kids :) I'm sure a therapist would have a field day with me :)
 
I would love to buy entire tack shops. Trouble is working my fingers to the bone working with horses, instead of having them as a hobby paid for by a sensible job!!
 
I really like white jods, and those pikeur olympic breeches sound fab NM, I'm always let down by eating chips and dropping a splodge of ketchup...

But I wonder if I still have an ass and legs that are acceptable to be seen in public in white jods?! I also always wondered if navy went with white, as really I think I want a navy jacket next as that will go best with BS/dressage/eventing but I thought it might look odd, didnt know if navy went better with cream, looking at these pics, I can see it looks great with white. I've not done BS for 3 years now but I wear grey jacket, white or cream jods (depending on which are clean/'cleanest - some stains are impossible!!) with bog standard stuff really. I also want a new hat before competing again, but can't justify spending £400 on one! This outfit has seen me for at least 10 years now, so I do need an overhaul..
 
I really like navy with white. I've always found black too harsh!

For BD/SJ I wear:
White Breeches, these will need replacing soon as they're looking a bit tired!
Navy wool jacket. Bought by my grandmother for my mother and it's now over 35years old. Fits like a glove and is superb quality!
My bargain Sarm Hippique boots. It pays to have stupidly small feet with long lower legs!
Charles Owen Fiona hat.
Stock Shirt with a white stock for BD and a collar for SJ.

Scan00032_zps83e20390.jpg


My eventing/hunting getup is:
Beige breeches
Caldene Tweed, although when I'm feeling rich I'll replace it with some better quality.
If it's cold I wear a yellow woollen waistcoat underneath.
The same boots and hat.
A navy stock with small yellow dots.

Scan0001_zps8ddd0a9f.jpg
 
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