[Lise]

Originally Posted by farmeress

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

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

To the first comment -- I misunderstood, and saw Silver/Gold.

But I would hope that if there were just those two in a class, and it was acceptable dress code to be wearing neat-casual dress, then you would place the better rider that had the better round. If the more casually dressed rider had the better go round.

Does that make any sense? Sure if they were dead equal then give it to the nicer dressed.

Needless to say, I have gotten ribbons at schooling shows here in casual dress and hope that I continue to do so and be judged by riding merits. Luckily there are next to none who wear jackets at these shows... it is mostly for us poor people that can't do the EC shows.

[Rummymuffin]

Originally Posted by Lise

Needless to say, I have gotten ribbons at schooling shows here in casual dress and hope that I continue to do so and be judged by riding merits. Luckily there are next to none who wear jackets at these shows... it is mostly for us poor people that can't do the EC shows.

I guess my feeling on turnout is that it's not just about fancy braids, coats and expensive boots. If you choose to wear a polo, tuck it in. Choose a sweater that's dark and well-fitted. Hairnets, belts, gloves. You can do "casual" attire without being sloppy. The riders in the pictures farmeress posted were sloppy, not just casual.

[guess who]

I must admit, when you asked who stands out and why I wondered if it was a trick. i thought 'well the pony becasue its about 4 hands smaller than everything else there'.
But jokes aside, I completely agree. I sometimes go to training showjumping shows just in a polo shirt, but then I guess the judges don't have a say in turnout.

When I'm competing in anything that requires any form of turnout to be judged it is always full on braiding, polishing, cleaning. Correct tack for the horse, correct riding attire for me. Even if its dressage where 'technically' it doesn't count. Never hurts to give a good impression, and its respectful towards the judges.

[farmeress]

Originally Posted by guess who

Even if its dressage where 'technically' it doesn't count. Never hurts to give a good impression, and its respectful towards the judges.

Technically...though....it does count......no matter if it is a schooling show in Dressage....proper attire is always required for this discipline....even at permit levels.....and any coach who does not stress this to their students in regards to Dressage Ettiquitte....needs to have them shaken by the shoulders

I would actually apply a comment to the riders page in regards to this....a dirty jacket....usually denotes a mishap....but it is still worn into the ring.

How many people do you see at a Dressage show without proper attire...cause here in Canada....especially pony club....that is an absolute no-no

With the exceptions of in barn schooling shows for first time experience (riders compete with other barn students only and the judge is often another coach trading off services.......)


Hunters....should be the same....and you know what....do not give me the "casual fluff".....You are competing...I do not care if it is for experience or fun....you are in the ring....and a judge is about to sit there in weather/cold/heat/sometimes ill/off......and they are there to judge a competition....you may of came for fun or experience....but the judge came to judge HUNTERS in the RING.......

RESPECT.....that is what it comes down too....

Respecting the competition ring and the codes set out for it.

Respecting the Hunter SHOW ring ettiquitte.....and dressing for that particular division.

Respecting the HUNTER judge and turning the horse out as cosmetically pleasing to his/her eye for the requirements of that division

Respecting yourself/horse enough to put the time/effort into making yourself presentable for the HUNTER SHOW RING

Respecting the fact that this is not a "home schooling" where casual dress is fine....casual dress has its' place....and the show ring is not the place!!

I find it teaches nothing but sloppiness and lack of attention to detail at the beginning of a show career where kids should be learning correct show ring ettiquitte from the start.

And adults.......sorry...it is nothing but laziness on thier behalf....braiding is not costly......show boots....even rubber ones...or....second hand leather ones.....if clean/polished.....are still better than jophur boots.

Breeches.....you better own a pair if you are to the level of open schooling show competitions....same with a jacket.....if you can afford the fees/trailering....you can afford a second hand jacket....I bought a Dressage jacket second hand for $30.00....and a darn nice one too.

And Lise....if the better rider at a schooling show that allowed casual attire was not properly dressed....she would place...but...in a required show/Silver show.....she would not

[Ittakes2totango]

Oh my goodness. Okay out of the whole class at a show i was at a couple weekends ago I was the only with a braided mane and wearing the appropriate clothes in most of my hunter classes and i never placed except in 1 pleasure class. Of course that being said the girl who won eq had her hands up her rear end and was on the wrong diagonal and the same girl placed first in every class. Okay the same people won the same placing the whole entire show. And all of those people I competed in in a hack and daisy was the only that was beautiful on the flat and didnt chip or was on the wrong lead it made me so mad. Lets just say that this judge didnt know what she was doing.

[farmeress]

Originally Posted by Ittakes2totango

Oh my goodness. Okay out of the whole class at a show i was at a couple weekends ago I was the only with a braided mane and wearing the appropriate clothes in most of my hunter classes and i never placed except in 1 pleasure class. Of course that being said the girl who won eq had her hands up her rear end and was on the wrong diagonal and the same girl placed first in every class. Okay the same people won the same placing the whole entire show. And all of those people I competed in in a hack and daisy was the only that was beautiful on the flat and didnt chip or was on the wrong lead it made me so mad. Lets just say that this judge didnt know what she was doing.

IMHO...this exhibits poor judging where turnout is a side issue....sigh....not all judges are like this....and some need to get more knowledge with experience...and some.....some need to clean up thier "political" ettiquitte more than the riders do with turnout

But judges like that....are a whole other little "vent thread" all on its' own

[Berlunz]

Personally I dont accept the "I dont have enough money" excuse. If you have enough money to show your horse you have enough money to get decent clothes for the show ring. You can get breeches for $5 on ebay and if you go to a local thrift store you can probably find a nice coat about the same. Your options for blouses are not limited to the ones sold on horsie websites. I used to wear school uniforms that looked nicer than some of the button down shirts I see for sale as english blouses. I have seen things like 8 white fleece pads for sale on ebay for $10. It doesnt take much -money- to get a decent turnout look but it might take some -effort-. Helmet covers are like $5 and I have gotten really nice hairnets for $2. So for under the cost of a few classes in a schooling show you can have your entire outfit.

For me I dont always dress to impress. But I always check out the rules. Things are a bit more awkward here, in Az. The heat makes jackets unbearable and your likely to be covered in sweat stains if you take off the jacket. If its an inside show with cooling of some sort I have no problem with jackets and button down. If its a schooling show in an open arena and the rules say polos are allowed, then polo's it is. I will still make sure my shirt is tucked, belt is on and helmet cover/hair net are in place. But I am not going to suffer through a whole day in Az heat in a jacket. Its not to offend the judge its so I can do my class without feeling like I am going to pass out at any second from being too hot. Whenever polo's are allowed in the rules I wear them (unless its inside with a cooler of some sort). If its a winter show when its cooler out I will do the jacket and button down, but we have also had 85 degree Christmas days before so sometimes the cold winter mornings can give way to warm afternoons

[red00jeep]

My trainer is an absolute turn out Nazi, and I love her for it. We are not to come to the ring for a lesson unless we are wearing clean breeches, a tucked in polo or solid, well fitting sweater, clean boots and tack, as well a clean white saddle pad. Hair must be in a hairnet or in a low, tight bun on the base of your neck. Your horse had better be clean or your butt will be marching back to the cross ties. Well wrapped legs for flat work, clean open fronts for jumping.

All of this just for LESSONS. I love that my trainer is like this, it has taught me that looking professional makes for a more professional environment. Respect for the trainer/clinician/judge and respect for the discipline must be paid. Showing up looking sloppy is ridiculous, and speaks volumes about the barn those kids came from. Do you think that cutting corners in turn out will not raise questions about cutting corners in training? It does.

When we go to shows we are dressed to impress the judge. Everything is clean polished, well groomed and pressed. Horses are clipped and braided, unless it is a schooling show, then are turned out just as well, expect manes are simply pulled instead of braided. Our results reflect how much our attention to detail pays off .

[Kat&Ashton]

I am learning to braid right now and I use the schooling shows as a chance to practice. My braids don't always look polished but I have to practice...

I just started doing the hunter hair thing. I had no clue how to do it and find that it is rather easy and I get peeved when I see hair not in a net. Hairnets are cheap and easy. I need to find some pictures of me with my long ponytail hanging down. I feel bad now for the jduge.

[Kirsten93]

I just want to point out that not everyone has the money for tall boots or a nice jacket. I've only been to one show on a horse that wasn't mine (don't own one) so I was not going to go out and spend close to 1000 dollars on boots and a jacket that I was never going to use again.
That being said, I did make sure that my half-chaps were clean, my helmet was black, and my hair was tucked in. This is what I looked like:



I probably should have braided his mane, but he's not my pony so I didn't have the time to go out and make sure he was all spiffy. I did, however, spend about two hours just making sure that little afro of a mane layed flat

ETA: It was a schooling show and about 104 in the shade that day, so a jacket really wasn't necessary anyway, in fact they told us to please not wear them as they didn't want any of us to die