Attire Do's and Don'ts

There is protocol and tradition in every sport. The Walking Horse show world is no exception. The tradition of attire goes back centuries with fox hunting. Today’s English show ring attire has changed little in the last hundred years with the exception of a few flamboyant deviations along the way. Proper attire should blend you with your horse and not make you stand out in a negative way. As one tack shop keeper said it, “I have never had a trainer come in and ask for a bright coat so the judge will see them.” Keep this thought in mind when shopping for your next attire ensemble.

DON’T let the function of an unsightly and poorly placed radio, messy hair style, and drop earrings ruin your form.

DO place your radio properly to continue the sleek form that your attire started out with. The best place to conceal a radio is on your belt in the front just on either side of your button or on a special inside front pocket that Marsha’s On The Square sews into its coats. The best look is to use lapel speaker hidden under the coat. If you must wear an earpiece, do as shown here and paint the wire and ear plug flesh color. Jill Derickson reported that flesh color nail polish works best. Also, run the wire up your back to conceal most of it and pin to your hair just under your hat. This will lessen the gravity on the ear plug and eliminate the need for unsightly tape.

DON’T pile hair on top of your head or use large jewelry or fake hair extensions. Do not wear your hair down and let it cover your back number. “If I can’t read your number, I leave you off my card,” Herbert Derickson, Master Judge, said.

DO have a neat bun at the nape of the neck with a micro bun ribbon.

DON’T show with a messy shirt collar.

DO show with a shirt collar constructed with either a British tab, snap tab, or eyelets with a collar bar pin.

DON’T show with messy fly away hair, drop earrings, or a mis-placed and shaped hat.

DO show in a neat show bun at the nape of the neck, a properly fitting and shaped hat, and small stud earrings.

FACTS TO CONSIDER:

Not sure about wearing a hat?

All trainers wear hats and 89% of all the winners
at the 2005 Celebration were seen in the winner’s
circle in an appropriate riding hat.

Think you have to wear a radio?

Riders from David Landrum Stables won 22
world championships and 10 reserve world
championships and none of them wore a radio.

-Richard Hudgins
rhudgins@twhbea.com