hi guys need an opionon, i am a showie doing some low key dressage saturday and wondering how i should turn out my mares? one is chestnut with a large blaze med build currently clipped with a high trace and the other is a steel grey fine build small park hack also with a trace clip, so should i plait? browband? make up? saddle cloths? sooooo confusing its been a long time since i did dressage what is the fashion out there atm?
also then i have to turn my self out ,what colour jods should i wear and what colour jacket i have 3 to choose from navy with a slight chek through it, boring old black with gold trim and a grey pinstripe one
Hi Gemmy, no make up, white square saddleblanket (if you have one), and no bling (or very little). Def not a huge blingy show browband White jods, and your black jacket if you want to fit in and not look like a showie LOL. I always plait, no matter what the level Good luck!
If its a low key day I wouldn't bother with make up at all. Go plain and tidy. Plain browband, square white saddle blanket, black jacket and white or beige jods. Dressage has always been pretty traditional so the attire doesn't change really. Also it should say in the schedule if plaiting is required or not.
Yea I would take that as optional too! Plaiting looks nice and it shows that you have put the effort in! Makes you feel that you are actually at a show....I went to a ribbon day in the waikato that was no plaiting....felt like I was at an adult ride, fun day though but still!
lol thats funny i know what you mean though i have alot of young horses and take them to ords(mostly not plaiting) and i just want to plait!and when i see a long mane/tail/feathers i just want to pull and trim lol the chestnut is a bit funny she has good and bad days so if i turn her out really well maybe they will turn a blind eye to having her quaters in lol (most likely not but oh well)
Whereabouts are you competing? I only ask as Woodhill Sands has unreg dr on Saturday, and plaiting isn't required. I normally wear beige jods, a long sleeve shirt and a vest.
Bemista I don't think there is anything 'wrong' with a shaped saddle blanket, it's just etiquette to have square. If dressage isn't your main discipline then it wouldn't be worth buying one unless you want to. I would just make do with what you have. Just remember to keep is plain and simple!
You say it is etiquette to have it square - but I think it is just a trend.
My instructor (when I actually get around to having lessons) is Mary Robbins. She is a list 1 FEI judge (if that is the right jargon?) and she wants me to compete my girl in a shaped numnah and doesn't understand why so many people think it has to be square. Most of the square numnahs are massive and if you are competing on a 15.2hh it ands up being too big and gets them in the flanks or sits on their loins. You can buck the trend - you just have to be brave.
I've seen a lot of young riders (and a few of the oldies) competing in mini tails (really mini tails mind you) and looking uber smart in the dressage arena. so a slight move away from total tradition is happening. It is just a bit more subtle than us showies.
They do go for bling too - but it is more the Schaumacher browbands encrusted with crystals and jewels - no ribbon but a lot of bling! Or the V browbands with gold and silver.
Keep the shirt and the jods/breeches light though - that is one thing that wont change it seems - unfortunately!
Main thing is - you can be smart and snazzy - just not colourful! Muted tones with flair.
Etiqutte, common, the norm....what ever you want to call it!
And no it doesn't have to be square but It's like anything there is no set attire for dressage or showing for that fact. It's not like you'd get asked to get out of the arena if you wore a shaped saddle blanket!
Shaped saddle blankets in dressage still look good. Each to their own I think, I personally think square looks good on dressage horses
All for starting new trends!
I know the square saddle blankets can be huge but if you did have a smaller horse you could perhaps go to a pony size if it was square you were wanting.
Personally I prefer a nice white square saddle blanket on dressage horses. It makes the riders legs stand out more so the judges can see the correctness of aids given.
Black jacket, white/beige/cream jodz, light shirt/stock, long boots/gaitors.
No makeup on the horse, but clean socks/nicely groomed etc etc. Plait if you want, I'm too lazy to plait unless it says I have to lol.
Just remember you and your horse SHOULD be judged on the correctness of the movements in the dressage test, NOT on how pretty or ponsy you go around the arena or look
I am a showie doing registered dressage this winter, I have made an effort to blend in as much as I possibly can. Black jacket, white jods and stock. I bought a square saddle blanket but it has little blings around the edges and my black gloves have some bling on them too but very suttle (well as suttle as a showie gets I suppose ) I still put the false tail in and turn my horse out nicley, not to show ring standard but I agree with Rani, nice turnout creates a better overall picture.
I am planning on doing some eventing next season (insane or brave, not sure which) and i think i will just use a shaped saddle blanket for dressage. That would be ok wouldn't it? I just don't like big bulky saddle blankets. I don't own a pair of white jods and i don't plan on owning any To me they aren't the most flattering colour
I agree with blending in. Keep everything subtle. I think everyone should turnout nicely for all events JMHO
For lower level eventing (like PC) a shaped saddle blanket is fine for dressage. Jodz dont need to be white, just light in colour.
I agree everyone should put effort into looking good, not necessarily plaiting and makeup etc etc ... but white socks and a nice brushed out mane and tail and shiny well groomed coat. But then again I can't say I ever put much effort into turnout for eventing, I was one of those slackers that gave the horse a quick brush and threw the gear on and went .
Don't plait for eventing ... unless you have time to take the plaits out for the cross-country phase. Not having a mane to hang onto when things go wrong is NOT fun!
I'd go the Blue jacket. Have a look at the European circut, they are really blinging up their jackets now, Looking very smart. Nicer than boring old black!
I usually dont plait if it says that plaiting is not required - only because no one else does - and I dont want to stand out to much - especially as Im not 'great' at dressage
How did you go were you at the woodhill one today>?
Showie wrote:I'd go the Blue jacket. Have a look at the European circut, they are really blinging up their jackets now, Looking very smart. Nicer than boring old black!
I think blue Jackets look really nice and i prefer them over black. I use my blue jacket for everything. Dressage, eventing and showing till i got my cutaway.
Just an example of a blue jacket in dressage and how it looks nice...
HOME SITES 
White jods, and your black jacket if you want to fit in and not look like a showie LOL. I always plait, no matter what the level 
) I still put the false tail in and turn my horse out nicley, not to show ring standard but I agree with Rani, nice turnout creates a better overall picture.
