[Rummymuffin]

Originally Posted by Mayelix

Are these just smaller local shows? I'm wondering if it's not "lack of attention" and rather, perhaps they cannot afford jackets & boots? I had to borrow boots for my last show, because I didn't have any.

The no braids and colored saddle pad does speak to lack of attention, though...

Anyway, it is a good point... the others look very much more "judgeable"

Hairnets cost a couple of dollars. Tucking in a shirt and wearing a belt costs no money at all. Good grooming, braiding, clean tack and choosing to buy a plain white fitted pad instead of a cute polka dot one is a matter of effort and attention, not money.

At college, we had extremely competitive IDA and IHSA teams. Not only did people remark at how well we rode, but how professional we always looked at shows. It wasn't that everyone was expected to go out and buy GPAs and TS breeches; some girls had never ridden before in their lives and so had no attire. It was an expectation that if you were on the team, it was your responsibility to get the proper attire. And if you had all the best stuff, you were expected to help teammates out and share helmets, old coats, breeches, etc. The idea of showing up for practice with dirty boots and hair flying everywhere was disrespectful; our tryouts usually had 60+ girls riding for 30 IHSA spots and only 16 spots for the IDA team. By not putting effort into appearance and working hard at your riding, you were insulting all the other girls that didn't make it.

...so I learned to take turnout seriously.

Excellent post!

[BayHorseLuv]

What kind of horse turnout do you expect with morgans, arabs, and other horses with longer manes? I know some hunter owners don't chop the main off to make those tidy braids. OP Do you really mark people down just because the horse isn't clipped at a schooling show(or has a winter coat) but the rider is tidy and the horse is groomed? And one other question; if a rider doesn't have a hunt coat but is wearing a white polo will you also take that into consideration?

[Mayelix]

Originally Posted by Rummymuffin

Hairnets cost a couple of dollars. Tucking in a shirt and wearing a belt costs no money at all. Good grooming, braiding, clean tack and choosing to buy a plain white fitted pad instead of a cute polka dot one is a matter of effort and attention, not money.

At college, we had extremely competitive IDA and IHSA teams. Not only did people remark at how well we rode, but how professional we always looked at shows. It wasn't that everyone was expected to go out and buy GPAs and TS breeches; some girls had never ridden before in their lives and so had no attire. It was an expectation that if you were on the team, it was your responsibility to get the proper attire. And if you had all the best stuff, you were expected to help teammates out and share helmets, old coats, breeches, etc. The idea of showing up for practice with dirty boots and hair flying everywhere was disrespectful; our tryouts usually had 60+ girls riding for 30 IHSA spots and only 16 spots for the IDA team. By not putting effort into appearance and working hard at your riding, you were insulting all the other girls that didn't make it.

...so I learned to take turnout seriously.

Excellent post!

For something as competitive as you state, I would agree with you completely.

I just show for fun and not very often - nothing big as I don't have my own horse. I still try to look my best but it is more understandable to me - in those shows - if others can't for some reason. Because even if the things you listed are cheap, the things I listed - jackets and fields boots - are not cheap, and can't always be borrowed. (Though not having the expensive items is certainly not an excuse for not looking your best in every other aspect - hair nets, belt, saddle pad, etc!)

That was kind of the view I was coming from.

[glideride]

Turnout has always been one of my pet peeves, and I could never understand why some people would spend the time and money to show and not put the effort into it.

I realize different types of shows may require a more casual look but you need to be neat and clean also.

The last few shows I have been to one thing I have noticed is that alot of people will put the time/effort into turning out a horse and forget about the feet! I think I probably notice it more since my trainers pet peeve is making sure the hooves are clean and shiney. But I have seen some that look just beautiful until you look down at the mud covered, cracked or in need of a trim hooves?

[Tiffany01]

me

[calypsoscarnivl]

Originally Posted by BayHorseLuv

What kind of horse turnout do you expect with morgans, arabs, and other horses with longer manes? I know some hunter owners don't chop the main off to make those tidy braids.

I have shown a MOrgan or 2 in my day and no, we do not chop their manes.

However, when showing in a non- morgan show (AN even some Morgan shows) A lattice, french or running braid is always a neat looking and acceptable option....

However, my little Morgan woud not be showing at the non-MOrgan hunter level that this would be an issue for!

[Rummymuffin]

Originally Posted by Mayelix

For something as competitive as you state, I would agree with you completely.

I just show for fun and not very often - nothing big as I don't have my own horse. I still try to look my best but it is more understandable to me - in those shows - if others can't for some reason. Because even if the things you listed are cheap, the things I listed - jackets and fields boots - are not cheap, and can't always be borrowed. (Though not having the expensive items is certainly not an excuse for not looking your best in every other aspect - hair nets, belt, saddle pad, etc!)

That was kind of the view I was coming from.

I completely understand. There are varying expectations depending on the show you are at; I don't bother with a coat at a schooling show, when it clearly states jackets are discouraged. Several recognized events in SC discourage braiding, so I don't braid. But I don't compromise on cleanliness, neatness, and showing off my horse.

As far as boots and jackets go...I guess I'm just the sort of person that sees them as investments; unless you are a very odd size, you can find some reasonably priced boots and coats on Ebay, or consignments at tack shops. My first pair of field boots were $25, and my first show coat was from my trainer's closet. Yeah, I was showing for fun and not often, but it was important to wear jackets, and back then no one had half chaps. If I'm going to spend money on a show, I might as well have the right stuff, is how I see it. It doesn't mean blowing the bank if you're patient and prioritize.

[Lise]

From the amount of people in that class I have to wonder as well if that was a particular show that was encouraging to this??

I do not own and cannot afford proper show clothing, therefore I would only participate in shows where this is allowed (pony club sponsored shows, schooling shows, etc.) From your pictures that is what that looks like to me. When I do these schooling shows I hope to be judged more on my performance and not on the fact that I am only wearing a polo shirt rather than a jacket.

If that is truly a Equine Canada Silver or Gold level show then they should have been excused from the ring! Absolutely no one here would be allowed to participate in a Silver or Gold level show that wasn't properly attired according to the rulebook. Absolutely not!

Straight from the rulebook:

ARTICLE G109 DRESS
1. All competitors must be properly dressed in the confines of the arena. This
includes the inspection of the course and at the presentation of prizes.
2. Competitors should be neatly and suitably dressed in coat, shirt and tie,
choker or stock, breeches or jodhpurs and boots. Black or brown smooth
leather half chaps are permissible providing they match the boot colour.
Note that breeches and boots (not half chaps or paddock boots) are
mandatory in FEI Children's Jumping classes. Only approved helmets (see
Article G102) of a conservative color are allowed.
3. If competitors are not suitably dressed, the judge may refuse to allow them
to compete.
4. In hunter competitions, in extremely hot weather, coats are optional at the
discretion of the Competition Committee.
5. In jumper competitions, in extremely hot weather, riders may, at the discretion
of the Competition Committee, be permitted to wear dress or riding
shirts with or without chokers and ties or open-neck polo shirts without
jackets; no sweatshirts, t-shirts, tank tops or other similar dress will be

permitted. Shirts must be neatly tucked into riding breeches.

[farmeress]

Lise....if you read my post...I stated that these were schooling shows held at Silver/Gold show barns.

The show I was at where the pic.is taken is one of CE top placing barns on the Silver curcuit.

That was the first class of the day...the walk/trot division which had seventeen entries that were spaced across the sandring.

The 2'9" division had 23...they are well attended and each division has over ten.

It was not an EC sanctioned show.

Trust me...I know the rules and code of the Judges as laid out by EC/OEF.

It really does not matter to me the level or entries....the difference is.... if there were just these two in a class....













Or twenty....those who braid...clean their tack .....where proper show clothing to a horse show is the real ettiquitte difference.

If you have a good round and are dressed like this.....




or like this.......(just as an example and not offensive...big kiss)...





or this......






This competitor....







and you were equal in a money class....how sad is it to lose out to proper show clothes/ring ettiquitte??

I would be placing them pic. 1-3rd pic.2-2nd pi3-1rst....and all because the effort was put into turnout.

[tbtrainer]

I agree that turnout is important... here at the local level, braiding has gone by the wayside. And if your going to braid, you'd better get all you changes, distances, etc or you just look silly. Also, proper hunter attire is a long sleeve shirt, a bit of cuff showing under your jacket sleeve...hunter hair is a plus, along with proper fitting boots (a huge pet peeve of mine)..short boots, too wide boots is a proper attire killer!