What to wear for local show

Mellymoo1

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Hi all

Brads and I are doing our first show together on the 3rd June, but I have no outfit to wear! Its only a little local show but I would like to get the right kit as I'm gonna have a bash at showing. I'm intending to do condition and turnout, both inhand and ridden, riding horse, and possibly ridden hunter. What sort of jacket should I go for and do I need to wear a shirt and tie? Should I invest in long leather boots (i normally ride in chaps and jod boots). Do I need to get breeches or jods? What sort of hat looks best? My hat makes my head look like a mushroom!

Also, am I allowed a neutral saddle cloth or do I need a numnah?

Sorry for all the questions, its been 17 years since my last time at a show!

Thanks in advance

Mel
 
Depends on the classes ....

have you a pic of your horse ?


Would think for local showing classes , you would need long riding boots, tweed/navy jacket, shirt and tie . Also cream/canary yellow jods or breeches . Hat ...navy or black with flesh coloured straps , gloves and showing cane .
 
normally for ridden hunters you should wear, beige joddies/breeches, shirt, tie, tweed jacket- long boots or joddie boots and gaiters. For ridden horse classes you should wear shirt, stock, coloured jacket (navy or black) beige joddies/breeches, long boots or joddies boots/gaiters.
In hand you will be fine in your riding gear but normally you would wear trousers instead of your joddies.
In condition & turnout you will be fine with either the tweed or coloured jacket.
Ive got a velvet show jumping hat with flesh coloured leather straps which looks nice.
Normally you dont wear a numnah but if you do i would use one the same colour as your saddle.
 
If you are doing "horse" classes you should also wear spurs to be correct, however, if you are not used to wearing them, then you may be better leaving them off. Your horse should have a plain leather browband for the hunter class and a coloured one for the riding horse class. A nice tweed will be perfect for all those classes.
 
I was in the same predicament as you a few weeks ago! First show in a LONG time is next Sunday so here is a list of the valuable tips I got for each class from the lovely HHOers (most FMM, thanks!).
It's a bit sad lol but never mind!

ps If i've missed anything or I got something wrong let me know and I shall update the list!!
Alot of it is very strict and i'm not sure if I would/could do everything on it, but nice to have a 'definitive' list for myself.


RIDING HORSE

Tweed Jacket
Shirt
Tie
canary or beige jodhpurs or breeches
brown or tan Leather gloves
Brown Show Cane
navy velvet hat.

snaffle or double bridle

Brown Tack
Brown Numnah - if any
Brown Leather Girth or Brown Cotton Girth

Bun and Hairnet
Tie Pin


RIDING CLUB HORSE

Blue Tweed Jacket
shirt
tie
canary or beige jodhpurs or breeches
brown or tan Leather gloves
Brown Show Cane
navy velvet hat.
Tie Pin
Bun and Hairnet

snaffle
it is a popular choice to wear a coloured browband.

Brown Tack
Brown Numnah - if any
Brown Leather Girth or Brown Cotton Girth


WORKING HUNTER


Rider - as above

Dummy Spurs (optional)

Mane and Forelock plaited – with thread!
Tails pulled not plaited. Length of tail should be approximately two inches below the hocks. It should also be well combed...coat shine. (I probably would plait tail)
Feathers completely trimmed. Winter horses can be clipped neatly. Trim inside of ears and facial hair.
Horses should be clean with no stable marks. Use hoods and bandages to keep clean. Oil hoofs before entering ring. Add quarter markers....simple yet effective. A little baby oil around eyes and muzzle highlights facial features.

Tack should be brown. Black is less professional.
Plain flat show hunter bridle fitted correctly. The bridle should suit your horses head. No fancy browbands.
Dark coloured numnahs only along with dark coloured girths

Snaffle Bridle only??



SMALL HUNTER

Rider - as above
Tack - as above
Dummy Spurs (optional)
snaffle or double bridles
 
[ QUOTE ]
For ridden horse classes you should wear shirt, stock, coloured jacket (navy or black) beige joddies/breeches, long boots or joddies boots/gaiters.

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh no! I didn't know that lol. I have that down as a 'tweed and tie' class!
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
For ridden horse classes you should wear shirt, stock, coloured jacket (navy or black) beige joddies/breeches, long boots or joddies boots/gaiters.

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh no! I didn't know that lol. I have that down as a 'tweed and tie' class!

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I would agree with you although I think navy jackets are also acceptable.......never wear a black jacket as they are traditionally a sign of mourning!

This website should help ---> http://rehorses.com/index.html
 
Thanks so much for the tips guys!!

Looks like this may cost me a fair bit!

Does it matter on a local level if my tack is black? My horse is black so brown wouldn't look right. I may have to buy a new bridle, should I get a double bridle?

Also, would it be ok to get a tweed jacket to wear for all the class's? I can't justify buying two different coloured ones!

I'm not intending to do anything other than small riding club shows so is it a big deal if my kit isn't exactly to the letter?

Sorry, one more question - what should I do in my little show for the judge? Horsey has a niceish trot but a lovely canter - should i emphasise this? Do I need to do a rein back or anything?

Thanks so much peeps!!

M
x
 
no never stocks in showing (except evening preformances) and the only ones who wear navy are hacks. black is not correct
 
if your horse has been riding in a double bridle before then should be fine .

Would say black is fine, check with whoever runs the show, they will give you more detailed information on what you need.
But would think that they wouldnt be too strict as its only small shows .
Figure of eights and a nice stretch of a canter should be all thats needed .


Good luck xx
 
[ QUOTE ]
Does it matter on a local level if my tack is black? My horse is black so brown wouldn't look right. I may have to buy a new bridle, should I get a double bridle?

Also, would it be ok to get a tweed jacket to wear for all the class's? I can't justify buying two different coloured ones!


[/ QUOTE ]

Black tack is sometimes still frowned on, but I wouldn't worry about it at local level. M&Ms can use black tack even at HOYS and Olympia level, but some of the more traditional classes expect brown.

As the site I linked to shows, tweed is fine for riding horse so you should be able to wear a tweed for most classes at local level. (Hacks being the exception but I don't think there will be many classes for them at local level).

There's an idea for an individual show on that website too. You basically want to show walk, trot and canter on both reins with some gallop as well if space permits.
 
Never stocks for showing unless in an evening performance!

Some people wear them, but it is absolutely and totally incorrect to wear them with a tweed in the show ring. Tweed is perfect for everything unless you are doing hacks or show ponies. Avoid blue tweed as generally (for some reason) the cut on these is not as good as the other colours. Dark green tweed goes with everything!
 
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