[SilentSpring]

Originally Posted by honeydoozy

You wouldn't go to a job interview without fixing hair and makeup...

Not if you wanted to make the best impression, anyway.

That is for getting a job...NOT playing a sport.

Athletes shouldn't have to worry about looking pretty or not, IMO

At my school, athletes don't fix their hair and put on makeup, etc, before competing in a tournament...

[SilentSpring]

I guess this post really is more hunter-oriented (as was mentioned in the first post) because relating the equine ports to other sports, you can see some comparison as far as appearance goes.

Hunter - I see it as a sport like, lets say, figure skating. The skaters are judged on technical (ie: say a hunter losing points for knocking a pole down being compared to a figure skater falling) and artistic (ie: how the horse moves and their jumping position being compared to how a figure skater looks doing their routine, and how the whole thing looks). I know that figure skaters buy fancy clothes and do their hair and put on makeup, etc...just like how hunters would braid and wear propor show clothes.

Jumper - I see it more as sports like soccer, football, track and field, etc...where you are judged by time, goals, etc. People in these sports do not worry about looking "pretty" because thats not what matters. So I see no reason why jumpers should even consider it unless they really want to... because it's not a factor in the placing at all, as you aren't even being judged.

Personnally, having said the above about hunters, I STILL don't think it should matter how they dress etc :P

Haha...anyways, I really dont have anything against braiding/show clothes...I think it is perfectly fine and may do it myself sometimes...I judt don't think it should be in any way required to do it, and I don't think it should be frowed upon if a rider does. I see it as their persoanal choice on how they like to look at shows - NOT a factor in judging.

[*Psylocke*]

Originally Posted by SilentSpring

All Im saying is that colour of the horse, riders skin colour, riders hair colour, etc etc shouldn't be judged why are we judging what they wear or how they do their horse's hair

That is comparing apples and oranges. If you dont want to be judged in a hunter fashion, dont show at a hunter show. I think the proper turnout for rider and horse are proper. You wouldnt go to a black tie gala in jeans and a t-shirt! It has nothing to do with skin colour!

Originally Posted by SilentSpring

Athletes shouldn't have to worry about looking pretty or not, IMO

lol well looking pretty is part of it, as your own definition and comparison to figure skating indicated.

Originally Posted by SilentSpring

I see it as their persoanal choice on how they like to look at shows - NOT a factor in judging.

See now I thought (guess I was wrong) that it was part of the rules in showing hunters, but even if not it is proper for the sport. It is part of the package. You keep comparing to other sports so again I will use soccer, would you see it appropriate for a soccer player to show up for a game in their own clothes as opposed to a uniform??? Would that then be their personal choice? I would say not..... but then thats just me!

Psy

[SilentSpring]

Originally Posted by *Psylocke*

See now I thought (guess I was wrong) that it was part of the rules in showing hunters, but even if not it is proper for the sport. It is part of the package. You keep comparing to other sports so again I will use soccer, would you see it appropriate for a soccer player to show up for a game in their own clothes as opposed to a uniform??? Would that then be their personal choice? I would say not..... but then thats just me!

Actually...I am unaware of the specific rules for hunter lol..I have never showed in hunter. I am assuming it requires a jacket...and all I wasy saying is I think it SHOULD be a personal choice as opposed to a rule (like, I don't agree with school uniforms wither...but thats another story)

About the soccer team, yes, you wouldn't show up wearing your own clothes...and you make a valid point about it being mark of the part of the package, and "expected", I agree -- it is part of the package and expected...I just dont think it should be haha lol.

And ,it's just my opinion, that a uniform is a different story completly. I think that if a barn (or team equestrian event) dresses the same, then it is only right for all the members to have the team clothes/uniform. But for individual competition...I think it should be up to completly about what you wear.

[CowGirlUp1833]

Originally Posted by honeydoozy

Well... I'm old. So whatever I say from here on out probably reflects that. (LOL)

Growing up, we didn't have the "option" of braiding or not - not for ANY level of show. If you were going to compete - you braided. They didn't have to look great, but *everyone* got up early and it was part of the routine. It was part of the fun. (well, I probably didn't appreciate it that much then... but I do NOW.)

In my area of the world, braiding at anything but AA shows is rare. In some cases, it's clearly discouraged. At one barn around here, it's forbidden. (I wish someone from there could really explain *that* to me)

I just don't get it. If you're going to spend the big bucks to go out and compete - why do it half-way? You wouldn't go to a job interview without fixing hair and makeup...

Not if you wanted to make the best impression, anyway.

Excellent post...and it was that way when I was showing before as well. A lot has changed since I was last in the show scene.

[CowGirlUp1833]

Silent Spring..... you said yourself you aren't a hunter. Therefore, its impossible for you to understand why tradition plays such a big part of our sport. But dress and turnout IS a part of it. Hunters aren't judged on time around a course...but more on apperance of the overall presentation.

Hunters is a classy sport....I'd compare it more to ballroom dancing. Its about tradition, grace, class and style. Until you understand those components, you will never be able to grasp why this is important.

[SilentSpring]

Originally Posted by CowGirlUp1833

Silent Spring..... you said yourself you aren't a hunter. Therefore, its impossible for you to understand why tradition plays such a big part of our sport. But dress and turnout IS a part of it. Hunters aren't judged on time around a course...but more on apperance of the overall presentation.

Hunters is a classy sport....I'd compare it more to ballroom dancing. Its about tradition, grace, class and style. Until you understand those components, you will never be able to grasp why this is important.

That is something I can agree on Haha...you are completly right that I cant understand - I can't, and that is that I will NEVER show hunter haha. No offence to anyone...but I'm just not a big fan of hunter (not just because of the whole braiding/show clothes thing). I think hunter riders can be great riders - just like in any equine sport - but from what I've seen of hunter shows and hunter barns, I'm just not really a fan :P

So you are right, it is probably not a good debate having me coming from a non-hunter world :P I also don't go to any shows where braiding or show clothes are required (not saying I never wear them).

My opinion still hasn't changed, but you guys HAVE made me see sides of it that I never would have realized or saw before, coming from a non-hunter point of view...and I really thank you all for that I do understand the whole thing a bit better now, even though I still don't necessarily agree with it all. So thanks

[CowGirlUp1833]

Originally Posted by SilentSpring

That is something I can agree on Haha...you are completly right that I cant understand - I can't, and that is that I will NEVER show hunter haha. No offence to anyone...but I'm just not a big fan of hunter (not just because of the whole braiding/show clothes thing). I think hunter riders can be great riders - just like in any equine sport - but from what I've seen of hunter shows and hunter barns, I'm just not really a fan :P

So you are right, it is probably not a good debate having me coming from a non-hunter world :P I also don't go to any shows where braiding or show clothes are required (not saying I never wear them).

My opinion still hasn't changed, but you guys HAVE made me see sides of it that I never would have realized or saw before, coming from a non-hunter point of view...and I really thank you all for that I do understand the whole thing a bit better now, even though I still don't necessarily agree with it all. So thanks

And it was good to have someone on the other side looking in too.... makes for a healthy debate. Hunters isn't for everyone...but from all the hunters I know, those of us that do show it are passionate about it. To me, its the most beautiful thing. But I also have a great appreciation for ALL equine sports, whether it be WP, Barrel Racing, English Pleasure, Trail riding, EVERYTHING.

To me, horses are a source of joy...and every horse person gets that in a different way. If you can find joy in your horses.....then THAT makes you successful.

[SilentSpring]

Originally Posted by CowGirlUp1833

And it was good to have someone on the other side looking in too.... makes for a healthy debate. Hunters isn't for everyone...but from all the hunters I know, those of us that do show it are passionate about it. To me, its the most beautiful thing. But I also have a great appreciation for ALL equine sports, whether it be WP, Barrel Racing, English Pleasure, Trail riding, EVERYTHING.

To me, horses are a source of joy...and every horse person gets that in a different way. If you can find joy in your horses.....then THAT makes you successful.

Agreed Finally! Hahaha lol...I too believe that whatever makes you happy in riding, do it. Western, English, Saddleseat, Racing, or just being around horses and not riding at all. We all get different things out of different aspects of riding. And if you are a serious hunter who wants to live up to the tradition, then I think go for it There will always be parts of riding that different people wont understand...a western rider may never understand the thrill of jumping, and a dressage rider may never feel what it like to speed around a barrel, and a jockey might never get to experience the closeness and collection of dressage. But they do experience something that makes them happy - and thats all that matters

[DefinitelyADreamer]

Excellent thread!!!
I agree, at hunter/jumper shows (big or small) I always plaited and had my jacket on, I think it creates a more polished look and shows the respect that you have for showing. At open shows I always band and depending on the time allowed between classes will plait for the HUS classes. Jackets are required as part of your show attire at all the shows I attend, unless it's a very hot day and the judge says that jackets are optional (even then I will wear my jacket 99% of the time.

I've never seen a "banded" mane. What is the difference between this and braids?

Here's a pic of a banded mane


The mane is separated into small sections and a banded at the top, this is done for Western pleasure, Western In hand classes and Stock breed HUS.
If you are really good at it you can use a contrasting colour to make your bands stand out more.