Horse Show Parenting

Clothes, Clothes, Who's Got the Clothes?

This young lady is starting her show career in perfect fashion

Most of the visitors who reach my site TheIngate.com through a search engine are looking for horse show clothes. Western clothes, English clothes, used clothes. Show clothing is obviously one of the biggest needs for most horse show parents—after the horse, of course!

It stands to reason; after all, our rider's outfit is one of the few things we have a great deal of latitude in picking out. We may not get to decide whether Janie's horse goes in a kimberwick or a Dr. Bristol bit, or wears a Circle Y vs. a Wintec saddle; our rider and/or trainer will probably make the final call on that.

But we can darn sure have a say in whether her hunt coat is navy or charcoal, or her Western outfit has a retro or Indian motif. And for horse show moms, shopping for and planning the outfit is usually part of the fun of having a kid that shows horses.

Since so many people are out there looking for clothes, here's a quick primer on what is expected in the Pleasure show ring for Hunter and Western riders, as well as some pointers for finding sources of clothing.

The basic Hunter outfit for boys and girls is a hunt coat in a conservative color, shirt, breeches in beige or khaki, and a riding helmet. Boots vary according to the rider's age. In most associations, junior exhibitors must now wear safety helmets that meet ASTM/SEI standards.

The basic Western outfit is different for boys and girls, and differs a good bit between breeds too. For boys, a long-sleeved shirt with a collar, worn with a neckerchief, jeans, chaps, cowboy hat and boots are the standard. Girls may wear a long-sleeved shirt too, but more often wear jackets, or vests with long-sleeved close-fitting knit tops underneath. Their outfit also includes jeans, chaps, cowboy hat and boots.

For parents of Western riders concerned about protective headgear, it's now possible to find Western-styled hats that are constructed with a protective helmet lining, and these are acceptable for most shows.

Hunter

Several considerations dictate the color of clothing for the hunter ring. It's traditional that coats be conservative colors, and some rulebooks specify which colors are desirable and even which are not allowed. Coats may have a discreet pattern. Navy is the most traditional color.

Breeches are buff, khaki, or canary. Although rust and gray breeches are allowed and you occasionally see them, they are not mainstays in the hunter ring, and in some circles they are definitely frowned on.

Shirts are white or pastel colors. How bright shirts may be, or which colors are worn, varies by circuit and fashion trends. Some judges even have a bias against shirts that are too brightly colored. Shirts may have stripes, but this too is a fashion trend, so check the show ring and catalogs. The most conservative choice is white. Girls wear what's called a ratcatcher shirt with a choker collar and a collar pin; boys wear a collared shirt with tie.

Western

In Western, there is a larger variation of color and style of clothing. Some Western outfits are pretty elaborate, and include silver, beads, sequins and rhinestone trim. Fringe is rarely used except on chaps. While vests and jackets are acceptable, boys usually wear a shirt, perhaps with vest; jackets are more often worn by girls. Shirts must be long sleeved with a collar. Boys wear a neckerchief or bolo tie, while girls often wear a silver concho pin at the neck. Some breed circuits require this neckpiece, while for others it's optional.

Pants and chaps are often colored to match the outfit. Chaps are optional in some associations, required in others. Chaps may be leather, or ultrasuede. Although ultrasuede is a very practical choice because it's cooler and can be machine-washed, some circuits only wear leather.

Styles of shirts or jackets/vests run the gamut. For a most traditional look for boys, you can't beat a white shirt with black hat, boots and chaps. Worn with a black neckerchief or bolo, this is a time-honored cowboy look. Boys also wear solid colors, striped or plaid shirts.

For girls, jackets or vests usually have a Western or Indian motif, and may have contrasting accents across the shoulders and top of the chest, or down the front or back. These accents is designed to accentuate shoulders or create a slender silhouette from the front. If your daughter wears a vest, she will usually wear a simple stretch turtleneck, known in show circles as a "slinky," under it, which creates a fitted jacket lookalike and is also cooler. A plain shirt is fine under a vest too.

Sources

Now, where to find these clothes? The Internet is a great resource in this case, because you can look up a lot of retailers at one time. However, you can also usually find show clothes at your local tack shop, or Western wear store for the Western pen.

After a few years on the circuit, you may find that you want something a little more individual than the off-the-rack clothes. Or your child may be hard to fit. In that case, many parents turn to a custom maker. These can range from a local seamstress who's picked up some horse show business to shops who specialize in a certain circuit or market. Prices vary accordingly, but if you go with the local seamstress be sure she knows the "right" look for your circuit.

The Internet is also a fine source to look for custom makers that you might not find otherwise.

Resale and consignment are excellent choices for keeping the cost down, especially when your children are still in the growing stage. And they're a great place to try to sell your children's own show clothing.

You may find consignment vendors at shows, and on the Internet. You can also ask around among families at your barn or who you see at shows. Our first trainer, who taught a lot of kids, kept a rack of clothes at the barn that were available for sale, loan or short term use.

Finally, don't hesitate to check out eBay or other online auction sites. You can find everything from basic clothing, boots and helmets to native costume specialty clothes.

As a resource to help parents—or riding adults—find a lot of vendors without a lot of searching, I've put together a ResourcEGuide, which is available for a small fee from TheIngate.com, emailed directly to you to speed up your search.

Questions, or a specific topic you'd like to see addressed in this column? Send an email to theingate@yahoo.com.