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.