Personal presentation

[ridingstar]

Does anyone agree that too many showjumpers let themselves down with their personal presentation, compared to other disciplines?

I'm not a huge fan of high-necked shirts, especially those "personalised" ones embroidered with the rider's name - I much prefer a neatly tied hunting stock. My main bugbear, however, is loose and/or untidy hair. Long hair secured in a net away from the collar looks so much more elegant and comfortable for the rider than just tying it back to flow in the wind.

I guess its just a matter of personal preference, but I wondered if anyone agrees.

[Alli]

I too like to see people put some effort into their appearance for shows. At the same time I believe people should be able to chose how they present themselves. Some people believe appearance is extremely important, while others concentrate more on the horse and riding...

I don't know. I don't do a lot of showing myself but I think a neat, clean appearance is prefered to a sloppy 'straight from the barn' look...

[random2]

I really get the picture that people who don't TRY to present themselves a bit don't care that much about their riding. I know that isn't true always, but it is what comes into my mind when I see people who look like they don't care what they look like. Sure, around the barn I wear jeans and a tee-shirt, but at a show I would try to look presentable, with a my hair in a bun at least. So I agree with you, and I think that people should try to look formal, especially for high-level shows.

[Wally]

I would love to find a hairnet that could keep my hair off my collar!! I am forced to go for a long plait.

I have to say it's my pet hate too, hair sticking out all over the place from under a hat!

I'm the first one to complain about correct dress just for the sake of it, but as you say, for higher levels of competition, it is important to make a bit of an efort.

[LindaAd]

I agree about the hair - I think it looks really messy, and spoils the effect of a well-groomed horse and shiny boots. But more and more people seem to be doing it, even at big competitions. And it's not all women, either. Yuk

Here's a curious thought - they're nearly always blonde. At least I don't remember ever seeing anyone with loose dark hair. Why?:rolleyes:

[rocketman]

Is everyone answering this thread from England? I only ask since I grew up in England (where I show jumped for decades) and then moved (with my horses ) to America. At my first show, I was shocked to see that the jumper riders didn't even have to wear jackets (except in the Grand Prix ring). They mostly compete in short sleeved polo shirts, and although they look quite tidy, it's all very casual. I have even seen teenage girls (yup, mostly the blonde bombshell variety) competing in tank tops. OK, I'm in Florida, but our really big shows take place in the winter when it's not that hot, usually about 80 degrees on an average winter's day. By Florida standards, that's quite temperate, so there's little excuse for the tank tops (except to show off one's cleavage). Their hair is invariably tidy though. The girls wear french braids and put all the hair under their hat AND a hairnet.

[Moonlightrider]

I have long, thick (dark) hair, and for showing, I can't stand it. It's next to impossible to get it into a bun and it doesn't all fit under my helmet. I just do schooling shows with jumping, and I've seen people ride in jeans, although what I do: breeches, clean boots ( :) ), the white shirt that I never remember what to call, is usual.

[rocketman]

My answer to the hair problem was to cut it all off. No more worry about hairnets or braids. It cuts the time down getting ready in the morning too. I just shower, run my fingers through it and go. Hey, I may be a blonde but, at my age, who cares anymore?

[Wally]

No, no, no, no, no, if you cut it off you have to go to the hairdressers to keep it in trim and get talked at and have to stare at yourself in a mirror. I couldn't do that, I'd much rather go to the dentist! If you just ignore it and plait it every morning it's cheaper and you don't have to go into the dreaded pit that is the Salon.

[rocketman]

Even when I had hair (well, I still have some!), I learned not to go to the hairdresser and tell them to cut it in a style that's easy to manage after taking off a riding helmet. The hairdresser would think (I could tell), "Well, she's a country bumpkin that won't know the diffence", and I'd get the world's worst haircut. If I pretended to be a townie socialite (instead of the country bumpkin that I am), I'd get a great style that took 45 minutes of maintenance a day and, once on, I didn't dare take my riding hat off again.

[fionahogg]

Hehe I cut mine all off. Don't even have to bother brushing it!

[louisewatson]

i must be very common, but i just love the smelly horse poo unkempt look, scruffs on and all that, hair all over the place and muddy boots, much more relaxin, after all its what its all about and at least your horse knows when you coming by the pong as you walk toward the stable, i save the dressing up for when i go to the pub

[Jess]

I ride in hunters, where appearance is part of the judging. Regardless of the size of the show, whether it be a local barn show or an A rated hunter show at Quentin, my trainer will not let anyone on my team show a horse if they aren't wearing a ratcatcher and collar, usually embroidered with initials, a well-fitting hunt coat, khaki breeches and polished field boots. And your cuff had better be showing out of your sleeve. (She doesn't care about color of hunt coat/ratcatcher... as long as they match. I for instance have a burgundy(sp?) and gray and navy striped ratcather and a navy hunt coat. As long as you don't look tacky!) Our hair must be doubled up and under our helmets with a hairnet. And we must have leather gloves and a belt, regardless of whether or not the judge can even tell if you're wearing a belt. That's one aspect that I love about hunters. You have to take the extra time to ensure a good turnout. The same is also true when we show jumpers. We have to have full hunter attire. When we do jumpers, there are usually hunter classes there as well. We only take off hunt coats if the hunter judge waives jackets due to heat. Only the little girls showing on small or medium ponies are allowed to leave their hair out of a helmet. They wear braided pigtails with bows. (The bigger the bow, the better the ribbon!) We affectionately dub these cute and often obnoxious children "pigtail kids". Now I'm getting off-topic. Basically, I think that no matter what ring you're in, you should make an effort to show people that you're really there to show. You recognize that you're not just riding at home and you have made the effort to look your best... for both you AND your horses.

[intouch]

I think its all part of the fun, dressing up. I mean, even football fans have a dress code, it makes you feel part of the game, and it does reflect on your horse.
That's why I think Working Hunter classes are a great training for young people and young horses, you learn very quickly what is acceptable, and if you choose to go your own way later, at least you have made your own decision.
I do think the cavalier attitude of many showjumpers riding without hats or with undone chinstraps is unnecessary and not very clever.

[Wally]

Ratcatcher in Britain isn't half so colourful as the one you describe. Ratcatcher here is traditionally muted earth tones, browns, greys and fawny colours. To be seen out on the huinting field in a burgundy, grey and navy stripe would raise a few eyebrows!

I am ambivalent about turnout! Yes I do love to see a well turned out horse and rider and I, personally, would never attend a show without the full appropriate kit right down to spurs for turnout classes. What I find so galling is at local shows some folk just cannot afford the gear, If you add up the total cost of riding show wear it is beyond a lot of folks pockets. I've saved up over the years at collected a lot of good quality gear that has lasted and I havn't grown out of! They may have a brilliant horse which is up to the mark but they get marked down or not taken seriously if they arn't wearing the "right" clothes. Do 19th century traditions really have a place in the 21st?

I think it can put folk off riding as they see it as a bit elitist with all the etiquette which is hard to come to terms with literally!

I find the Icelandic riding so refreshing as you don't need the gear to compete on the same level as someone with all the clothes. If you cannot aford the kit you can compete right up to national level with a hat, shoes with a heel and whatever else you have! You are judged purely on your ability to ride and your horse is judged on his ability to perform. World championships, folk do tend to make the effort but usually when you get there a sponsor will shell out for the kit!

[floppy]

here (germany) you can wear either a high neck shirt that is sleeveless or one with short sleeves..but you have to wear a show jacket over the top unless you are riding in the REAL novice competitions...which is more like a ehm a little riding school test or something...when i was at a shwo last month girls had their hair flying everywhere and i think it would have been alot nice if they had at least tied their hair up neatly instead off looking as if they just got out of bed!
but i liek the long necked shirts or whatever you call them...espeically in summer because it is just soo hot and to have a shirt plus a tie thingy around your neck would be too much for me in the summer.....
but i definately think that the riders shoudl take better care of their jackets because they usually put them on last thing before entering the ring and afterwards they take their jacket off adn sling it on the floor in the trailer and its gets all dirty and doesnt look good when you got to wear it for another competeiton later on in thed day..

[intouch]

I agree so much that the cost of riding gear is prohibitive, with two teenagers to turn out! Helen wore a tweed jacket which I wore 30 years ago till a lady who was giving up due to starting a family sold us all her gear for £100! and Jenny was given her jacket, and wears what's left of Helen's jods. Granny buys them new boots for Christmas and birthdays and Helen saved up half the money for the GPA she "had to have". We did have a laugh the day Helen won the 153 Open WH Points Cup on a pony dragged in out of the field, wearing my old jacket, against some very competitive and well dressed young people. It can be done!

[ANDREA BOYES]

okay since we are talking about what the rider wears at shows maybe you could be of help Im thinling of being very brave next sunday and attending a show just down the road from my yard one of the other girls kinda talked me into it Im skint for a start and was only going to watch (again) but she suggested the small jumps or handy pony but as the saying goes I dont have a thing to wear! so could I go without a jacket but what if it rains aah the dilema any suggestions
at least my hair is short and brown so no problems there at least!

[floppy]

do you know anyone at the yard that could lend you ajacket, breeches etc?

[ANDREA BOYES]

I knew I should have owned up to being a big girl and everyone on the yard are skinflints size 8-10 thanks though

[hunters4ever]

Wally, in the states ratcatcher referers to the shirt that we wear. It has nothing to do with tweed. That would be a major fashion faux pas.

[MadWoman]

Two coutries divided by a common language (now who was it who said that!).
Ratchatcher over here was originally a tweed jacket and a flat cap (I think brown shoes were involved as well but I wouldn't swear to it).
It would be intriguing to know how a well to do farmer's riding outfit ended up being a coloured shirt - answers on a postcard please!