Correct get-up for dressage......anybody?

[Monty]

My first real, proper, grown-up RDA dressage test on March 17th!!! Hee-hee! A few things I'm not QUITE straight on. Gloves.....black or white?......Jodpurs......beige?.......cream?......white?. Long boots a must I presume... smart black jodpur boots with smart leather gaiters a no-no?? I don't like long boots, I can't flex my ankles in them. Black/navy jacket. Show hat to match, dressage blousy thing, or one of those cheating front bits in my case, with stock and pin.
Any tips here anyone? White saddlecloth, what colour girth??? Any hints gratefully received. And what's with this smiley bit folks?
Am I REALLY supposed to go round with a fixed grin on my face?? I'll be too worried about remembering the test and wanting a wee, to smile very much!

[Mehitabel]

long boots definitely i think. jods - any of those ok, unless you're going straight in at grand prix! girth, white or leather would be best, but otherwise a neutral colour like brown or black. don't think the glove colour is crucial either. check britishdressage.org maybe?
good luck anyway!

[Monty]

Thank you for that.Oh yes, definitely Grand Prix......in my dreams!!
RDA Dressage goes by the rules of the International Paralympic Committee, not British Dressage, but , in principle, your suggestion was helpful, I could try their web site to see if it says anything about clothing, couldn't I? Glad I don't HAVE to find white jodpurs, they are hard enough to find in ANY colour.I have a strange shape because of my disability.
Thanks very much.

[heland]

For my dressage test in November I wore Long black boots...I know Monty I prefer jodpur boots and gaiters!! I wore cream jods but other people had white & beige. I have a black show jacket and white shirt with high collar, white gloves, stock and pin. I spent about an hour trying to tie the stock properly

If you have long hair the get a hair net.
If you have a jockey skull buy a black velvet cover.
White saddle cloth.
Black Girth.

Enjoy yourself and look happy and when you halt & salute give the judges a smile

I forgot to breathe in my first dressage test as I was so nervous.

Good luck Monty and keep us posted........

[Monty]

Is it true that white gloves draw attention to the position of your hands?? I suppose that makes sense doesn't it?? If so, I think I know what colour gloves to wear!! Eeeeeeek! Thanks for that heland.I've got one of those fake shirt fronts.I'm fairly well endowed, and I quite simply get a dressage /show blouse anywhere.Oh well!! Guess no one will know.....except you lot now!!

[Rachel C.]

The official british dressage viewpoint on jodphur boots with gaiters, is that if the combination is not obvious then it is ok,so yes you could wear gaiters with jodphur boots rather than long boots. I always wear Gaiters for dressage!

Rachel

[Dressage_Luvr]

HI Monty!

hey, that test is on my b-day!! lol! this is what i understand for "proper" dressage tsets-

gloves- white, but maybe not if you dont have great hand postitition, but if you do, take advantage!

boots- long boots, but if gaiters arent obvious go for it

jods- i think id go for white if you have them.

this is just what ive understood form different things, so it may or may not help

good luck!

[Jane.A]

Ok Monty here goes, rule book in hand.....
The RDA rule book states:
that hats must comply with health and safety, silks if used must be black or navy. Boots and gaiters/half chaps are permisssable. Where a riders disability prevents this light shoes may be worn with safety stirrups. Jods and jackets should be worn and must be worn at the Nat. Champs. Gloves should be worn where possible. Ear and nose piercings should NOT be worn. Whips 1 or 2 may be used, but spurs with rounded edges only and only by riders with sufficient control of their lower limbs.

Now the BHS rule book states:

Prelim to advanced: Black, Navy or tweed coat with correctly tied stock, shirt and tie,or white american collar (the ones preferred by showjumpers).
hunting cap, bowler or crash cap ( jockey skull with cover)
Breeches, white, cream or beige,
Gloves must be worn, colour not specified.
Boots black or brown or jodpur boots. Gaiters may be worn providing they are identical leather to the boots and have no decoration.
Another couple of points you may find useful to note: neckstraps are permissable at prelim level, but thought they are permitted for working in they are not allowed in tests of novice or above.
Seat covers are permitted for riding in but not for the test.
hope that helps.

[galadriel]

been reading the various rules on the AHSA site--not that it exactly applies to you, but still.

http://www.equestrian.org/rulebook20...20Rule%20Book/

If it helps, at least in the eventing section it says that black or white gloves may be worn for the dressage element. Personally, I'd wear black--unless I had a shadbelly and a top hat! (grin)

[myEllie]

For your horse, you should use black tack. I hate brown for dressage even though at the lower levels it is permitted. Also a square white saddle pad. For the rider, black jacket, white breeches with full seat, white shirt and stock, black dress boots and white gloves, although if you don't have steady hands, wear black, it will blend in better and won't draw attention to any shortcomings. You can wear cream breeches, but then they will look dingy against a white saddle pad, so you have to get a creme saddle pad and maybe a cream shirt. It is just easier to get white breeches. Always go for full seat, a must for dressage. If your horse is steady on the bit, use white tape on his braids, but do take time and make sure they are even. I hate sloppy braids. That is probably my biggest pet-peeves. I cannot smile while I am competing. I'm not nervous, just concentrating on getting my horse to behave herself. After I won a big eq class, the judge even said to me, "You can smile now," and my friend's dad is always threatening to kiss me if I don't smile.

[intouch]

Smiling helps to relax your shoulders. And if you grin at the judge at the end as if to say "That was a great test!" s/he might believe you!

[Monty]

What stars you all are!! Thank you for your contributions.I think it's definitely black gloves.My hands are fine, until I get to a worrying bit, then UUUUp they come!! Can you you please explain to this ignoramus what you mean by full seat jodpurs??? Don't quite understand. Also thanks, Jane for the extra bit. Where DID you get the rule book. RDA Headquarters???? See you on 17th March??
So relieved about the gaiters.All I need to do now, is learn to do up my stock!

[snuggly_elf]

Monty- quite a lot of replyies so I didn't read them all therefore you might already have been told this...

In 2000 I went to the RDA National Championships as a groom with three riders from the center that I volunteer at. I can tell you that they all wore jodphur boots (no half chaps) black jackets, white shirts, pre tied stocks with pins, beige jodphurs, jocky skull hats with black silks and black gloves. Team Drum looked very smart and everyone came away with rossets, one rider even came first in her class. As to tack for your horse, ours worw there usual bridles and saddles, but bridles had nose bands on. (RDA ponies, usually wear a head collar under there bridles so they can be lead , therefore no nose band - that was to those who arn't RDA riders or RDA helpers or who just didn't happen to know that!)
White saddle cloths- not numnuhs. And white girths. We took tow cobs so they were gogged. (they are usually but they had there forelocks taken off too this time)
Is your test your the qualifier for the nationals? I was speeking to my friend about it yesterday as I couldn't remember what month we have our qualifier in. She thought it was the end of May. I thought it was more spring time than that- say the end of April. Oh well, guess I'll find out soon enough. Hopefully we'll be going to the nationals again this year. We could have gone last year but didn't.

One of our riders has been picked to represent great britain in Dublin next year! How cool is that!

Good luck with your test.
Snugs

[Monty]

Thanks for that Snugs,Yes, qualifiers are in May,usually towards the end of. This is just an area competition, but I shall be just as terrified.Perhaps I'll meet you there! You are actually allowed gaiters with jod boots for RDA, I'm told, as some people have problem with ankle flexion even in those, but find it impossible in long boots. (Like me!) Hope to meet you somewhere along the RDA trail!! Where ARE you based?

[snuggly_elf]

I'm a faithful (6 years this september!) volunteer at the Drum in Edinburgh. where abouts is your center?

[Monty]

Clwyd Special Riding Centre,North Wales. Been riding there for two and a half years now. Great stuff. It's volunteers like you who keep these places going, so keep it up, and thank you.

[Wally]

Tying a stock is just a reef knot, right over left and left over right. nothing fancy just a simple reef knot. Make the knotty bit neat then cross over the ends.

[myEllie]

Full seat breeches have leather over your bum and the back of your legs. It looks a lot nicer and it grips more to the saddle. Although if you have a mighty big booty, I might avoid them as they can make it look even bigger.