Fashion Etiquette for Riders and their Horse: Eventing Attire

Eventing is one of the most challenging, yet exciting sports in the horse world. There are three stages: dressage, show jumping, and cross country. Although eventing is focused more on riding than fashion, it is always best to try and have the proper attire when competing.

Dressage

In dressage, your outfit should be formal looking, yet comfortable. Unless you're advanced, you'll be wearing a velvet regulation helmet. If you're high up in the dressage circuit, you will wear a formal, black top hat.

At lower levels, competitors wear black or navy jackets. At higher levels, the competitors always wear black jackets. As for the shirt, you will most likely want to stick with white or light yellow.

You will also need a stock tie, which goes around your neck and covers the top of your shirt. However, the tie should stay mostly inside your jacket. Stock pins are great; they also give the rider a customized look.

For lower levels, you can wear lightly colored breeches, but white is the most popular choice. The top level competitors in dressage wear solely white breeches.

As for gloves, you will most likely want to wear black gloves. Why is that? Black helps hide unsteady hands and keeps the rider's penalties lower. However, if you're a top level rider or you have extraordinarily quiet hands, then you should wear white gloves.

You will need black tall boots. Leather is usually better, but some people get by with rubber. They should be comfortable and not too big or small. Boots that are too big can make you lose points and boots that are too small can unsettle you. If needed, you may also want to invest in a pair of spurs for the ring. Don't overdo it though!

Show Jumping

Show jumping attire is very similar to dressage attire. It is somewhat informal, but nice turn out is still important. Not matter what level you compete at, you will wear a helmet. Lower levels allow regulation schooling helmets, while at the top levels, you may want a nicer regulation helmet.

You can wear black or navy jackets; however, some people opt to wear unusual colors, such as red or beige. As for a shirt, you can wear most colors, but many people stick with white and yellow.

Many people wear white breeches, while others wear common colors, such as: gray, beige, khaki, and tan. Those colors are acceptable, but if you want to save money, then just use your dressage breeches as your show jumping breeches.

Black gloves are the most common choice for competitors. You will want a comfortable pair that allows free movement.

Again, you need tall black boots. Leather is still best, but you can get away with rubber or leather look-alike. These boots should be broken in and comfy.

Cross Country

This is the phase where you can show your wild side. There aren't many restrictions, but there's no need to overdo it, either. Many competitors choose to color coordinate all of their tack and gear, which is fun, but not necessary.

You will definitely need a regulation type helmet for this phase. Cross country is the most dangerous of the three phases, but many people find it to be the most fun as well. One thing you need in cross country that you don't wear in the other two phases is a body protector. It keeps you from breaking your neck and back if you have a serious fall. If you're feeling the urge to spend a lot on some of your event clothes, do not neglect this item!

Most people just wear regular shirts and polos under their body protectors. The color of the shirt depends on the person's preference or color scheme, but it's not all that important.

Whatever color of breeches you can find and actually want to ride in, you can wear them for cross country. Do you just love purple breeches? They're too crazy for show jumping, but perfect for cross country!

The type of gloves doesn't really matter, as long as they're comfortable and reliable. If they don't last you one week of light riding, what makes you think they'll last five minutes of hard riding?

For intermediate and advanced competitors, a stopwatch is usually a must. It keeps them from receiving time penalties, but keeping track of the course, the horse, and the time may be too much for beginning eventers. Lastly, never forget your pinny!

Eventing is a deliriously fun sport, and if you're prepared, you will enjoy it all the more.