Attire Tips

By Sarah Gee
©Voice, January 2007

There you are, sitting on the rail at a horse show. On the far rail you see an awesome horse, he’s beautifully built and his form is absolutely perfect. Then as he rounds the turn toward you, you notice his rider. You see the ill-fitting garish riding suit that looks like something from the mid-1970s, the too small moth-eaten hat that must have come from the local thrift store, and the messy hair streaming out behind. All of a sudden, that perfect horse just isn’t perfect anymore. The ill-attired rider has ruined the picture for you, and probably for the judge as well.

While the judge is supposed to focus on the horse in the majority of classes, the total picture of horse and rider does have an impact. A properly attired rider will help their horse look his best; a sloppily attired rider will take something away from even the best horse. Showing is all about presenting your horse in the best possible light and proper attire goes far in illuminating a horse’s best characteristics.

In order to assist riders in making the right attire choices, below are some basic attire tips.

English Attire:

• An English Riding Habit, consisting of jodhpurs, coat, collared shirt, and tie is required. With informal attire, the rider can use some creativity with matching and contrasting colors. It is recommended to keep the bright colors restricted to the tie and vest and not the suit. Formal tuxedos are only appropriate after 6:00 pm in championship or equitation classes.

• Tie downs or underpasses are a must on pants.

• English style riding boots are required.

• If a rider wears spurs, they must be English style. It is recommended to have buttonholes or v-slits constructed into your jodhpurs for the spurs to slip through to keep the bottom of the jods from bunching up.

• Gloves, while not required, give a rider a finished look. They also provide the best grip.

• Hats, such as the homburg, top hat, derby, or snap-brim are recommended for all classes. All gentlemen are required to wear hats except in 11 & Under classes. Top hats are only appropriate with formal attire.

• Long hair should always be styled so that the back number can be seen. For women, long hair should be pulled back and styled into a small and neat bun at the nape of the neck. The bun should be wrapped in a hair net to control flyaway strands. Tradition dictates that no adornment be added to the hair unless it is a small micro bun ribbon, small pin, or small bow.

Western Attire:

• Western style long pants are required unless pants are covered by chaps.

• Western style collared long sleeve shirt is required. It the shirt has an open collar a necktie, kerchief, bolo tie, or brooch must be worn. If a high, non-opening collar is worn, a tie is not required.

• Western style hats must be worn in all western classes.

• Western style boots are required. If chaps are worn, boots should match chaps.

• If a rider wears spurs, they must be Western style.

• Gloves are recommended as they provide both a finished look and the best grip.

• Western style coats, jackets, vests, and chaps are optional but each adds to the overall picture the rider presents.

Fine Harness Attire:

• Men should wear riding suits with hats, formal wear with hats, or business suits with hats.

• Appropriate attire for women includes riding suits, formal wear, or cocktail wear. Women are encouraged to either wear long skirts or slacks or to use lap robes.

• Gloves are recommended.

Halter and Model Attire:

• All model and halter class handlers must wear a collared shirt and tie.

• Hats are optional.

• Attire should be all English or all Western for flat-shod model classes.