What to wear?

[Fly_High]

Hey everyone. I am really excited that I am going to get to show my trainers mini mare in some driving shows this year. She will be showing her stud and needed someone to drive her mare for a few shows. I am really excited and starting to try to get together a show outfit. I know that i must have long sleeves, a hat, and brown gloves, but other than that I am looking for suggestions. I am not really a fashionable or girly girl so I am not sure exactly what I should get without looking too ridiculous. I mean I show hunters and jumpers so I have formal show attire for that but what would you suggest for a mid twenties maiden driver? Can't wait to hear your ideas.

[49'er]

What kind of driving shows?

[Fly_High]

Schooling mostly and also probably NJPBO All Breed and maybe Sussex. Just working and reinsmanship classes and then cones and obstacles at the schooling shows. No CDEs or anything.

[MunchingonHay]

can you tell us about the harness and cart?
natural or painted wood? black harness or russett? Chrome or brass, but in all honesty, if it is just for fun, a nice lap robe, a nice hat, I like a light jacket and tan pants with comfy non slip shoes. a splash of color around the neck with a scarf is nice if not too hot out.

I dont see any reason why you cant wear your hunt coat with a button down shirt.

[goodhors]

Since it sounds more mini breed driving, rather than Pleasure Driving with all breeds, you might want to page thru a breed magazine to check the advertising and winner photos.

What "the Look" is in a breed show ring, can be quite different than in Pleasure Driving shows. Neither is a "wrong" look in their correct setting. But reversing the settings. Look is probably not going to be the clothing style you want to wear at the other show.

Just a Style thing that seems to happen in our different circles of showing. You can usually tell a Western QH show rider from a Western Arab or Morgan show rider, even if you changed their equines. Just how they are put together.

From what I have seen, the Mini folks don't dress as Traditionally as the Pleasure Driving folks do.

So some more information on where you plan to show would help us.

[Fly_High]

I will show for fun at Delaware Valley Horsemen's association. It is very low key there. Then possibly at NJ Pony Breeder's and Owners All-Breed and Sussex minis and driving day if she wants to take the little mare in the same classes as her stud. If my trainer could clone herself she would drive both her minis at the NJPBO stuff but they don't go as a pair so some else needs to deal with her little mare. I would probably show in the little wooden easy entry and it is a little palomino mare. I am just not sure what style to look for. My biggest concern is looking like I grabbed a bunch of things out of my grandmothers closet or my costume trunk, unless of course that is the look we are trying to create in which case I am set. haha

[Renae]

You can never go wrong with a buisness suit. You could also wear your hunt coat with a blouse and a long skirt or slacks if you do not own a suit. A sewater set with a long skirt or slacks or a sun dress (past knee length) with a sweater is another option. Check with your trainer, in most breed show type driving classes hats are optional. You can always wear your helmet if you can't find a hat you like and have to wear one.

[Drive NJ]

http://www.shootthathorse.com/Orelton08.html

http://www.shootthathorse.com/SaratogaClassic2008.html


The DVHA show series is a really nice local show at a very workman-like show grounds. You will find all levels of people showing there from first-timers to people who will be going to Walnut Hill later in the summer, but that just means that anyone can fit in.

With a palomnio horse and natural wood cart you have an open palette for what YOU can wear. But first, the basics - you need to wear a driving apron and it should complement the rest of the turnout. You need to wear BROWN gloves (its traditional). You need a hat - anything goes from riding helmet to really frou-frou. Driving people - especially pleasure drivers, tend to have a lot of fun choosing a hat. And you need to carry a driving whip that reaches beyond just the horses but. In Pleasure showing it is frowned on to just smack the butt when needed. Current practice is - reaches the horses shoulder.

So with the basics in mind, what else? Generally speaking, long sleeves is the accepted practice. People tend to either wear a coat or a blouse and vest. Color choice is something that will complement the horse and look good on you. Your palomino lets you really open in color because most things go with the gold horse. You want your selection to go with the season (think darker for fall and lighter for spring summer) and be comfortable in the season (ie, no heavy wools in the summer or linen in the winter)

The enclosed links are from 2 New England shows last year that are the kind of turnouts you could also see at DVHA

Look thru them and think of what you might have similar. BUT while looking at the photos look for peoples errors too. There are a couple of pix where everything just seems to blend in with the background - NOT a good thing. If you arent seen, you wont place well. On the other hand, you dont want to be noticed solely for fashion faux pas. That wont help you place either. Simple is better

You can usually find an acceptable hat at Target or Walmart - basic straw or felt fedora type goes with just about anything. Another source can be thrift stores or Macy's/Boscov's etc

I agree with MunchingonHay that some color, like from a scarf, cant really help PoP a turnout and there are some pretty nice ways to tie scarfs for a put together look. Also check the western area of tack stores for some of the easy to use doodads that you see to finish the neck (little bows or rosettes etc)

There are also lots of ways to dress up a really basic hat without needing much skill (new hatband from a scarf, etc)

Put together a nice outfit for the first show and then look at what others are wearing while you are at the show.

Also the first activity is a clinic on May 16. If you go to that you can ask others there about their turnout for the show.

Best of luck and have fun

[KellyS]

Everyone else has the whole "what to wear" covered, but I just wanted to say "Hi" because you're in the same area as my husband and me. :) Our farm is between Quakertown and Hellertown. Do you drive at Bucks County Horse Park at all?

[Fly_High]

thanks for all the advice. I have talked with my trainer, we are very good friends. She gave me the basics, you need brown gloves, hat, long sleeves, and I think I will probably use one of her aprons. I just was curious how far I have to go with the froof and such.

Drive NJ you are so helpful. Do you show at DVHA? I ran rings at almost all of the driving shows last year so I have an idea of what people wear. This is actually what made me nervous. I am not really a fashionista. Haha I would wear jeans and my hoodie every day if I could (can't cause I am a teacher). I will have to get a hat and outfit. I do a lot of theatre (in fact I am choreographing a show right now) so getting and embellishing a hat is definitely something I could do. I have been to Sussex as well. Last year I just hung around with my trainers mini stud on driving day because she had to bounce around and help her jr and novice students with their draft horses. It resulted in most of Sussex county taking pictures of her little stud and me. haha He is just so cute kids want to pet him all the time. Thanks for the links. It is good to get some ideas. I don't want to be rushing around at the last minute.

Kelly S - I live in Bethlehem and work at Saucon Valley HS. I actually train in Pittstown, NJ. We did do the driving day last year a BCHP in the pouring rain. I again was just the babysitter. haha I drive my trainers stud around while she is in with her jr and novice clients. I also was navigator for her jr students cross country again in the pouring rain. What a mess it turned out to be. You should consider showing at DVHA sometime. It is very nice.

We are sort of doing each other a favor this year. I will show her mare for her in the NJPBO show when both minis need to be going at the same time, and keep the mare in work. She will teach me how to drive for real rather than just having me jump in her cart to take care of Riot and figure it out on my own haha and I will get to show her little mare for fun at DVHA. We both get something out of it so it is nice.

[Drive NJ]

SO from your further info, sounds like you are working maybe with Sue H-B over on Pittstown Rd/Rte 615 ????? And the drafties are with Mark W and his son?

we board with a friend over on 519 near quakertown (you see the carriage signs on the road by her drive) But right now we are wintering at another firends indoor by Pattenburg

We dont show anymore - did it a while back and now we just drive for fun
Hoping to get the boys out into the parks this summer We'll have to come on down to one of the shows and meet all you guys - finally!

Soooo My recommendations for putting together a show outfit
First find a jacket or nice blouse that really fits and you can move COMFORTABLY in while driving - risk getting it dirty and go for a real drive wearing the top you are considering. You dont want it to gap in the front or pull (or bunch up) across the back. If you are not comfortable in the clothes YOU WONT DRIVE WELL!!!!!

Once you find the top/jacket/blouse you can pair it with some comfortable pants so the color complements. Find an apron that goes well with the jacket and the horse. Then try to get the hat to coordinate with all that you've put together.

You are mostly doing summer/early fall shows so you can stay with lighter weight fabrics but you want the apron heavy enough so it stays in place and doesnt blow around (messy looking) a great idea is to have a double sided apron(reversable) so you can make 2 looks and its automatically heavy enough to not blow

You want the hat to fit so you are not grabbing for it while you drive - again makes you drive not so well

You want your clothes to look nice and make a good picture and then forget about them. A good idea is to put together you look and wear it driving - and have someone take pix - LOOK at the pix for anything that jumps out bad and see what you need to do to fix it
If you see it as bad - so will the judge. But overall, judges really arent fashion police and are looking more at the horse and overall performance and not at how wide the lapels of your jacket are

send a picture link here and we'll all have fun critiqueing - in the nicest way possible (of course)

[Drive 1 Two]

Hey everyone. I am really excited that I am going to get to show my trainers mini mare in some driving shows this year. She will be showing her stud and needed someone to drive her mare for a few shows. I am really excited and starting to try to get together a show outfit. I know that i must have long sleeves, a hat, and brown gloves, but other than that I am looking for suggestions. I am not really a fashionable or girly girl so I am not sure exactly what I should get without looking too ridiculous. I mean I show hunters and jumpers so I have formal show attire for that but what would you suggest for a mid twenties maiden driver? Can't wait to hear your ideas.
Mattering on the color of the cart...You could wear your hunt coat with a man's button up shirt with a cordinating tie and your hard hat. My daughter has shown in Welsh Breed Classes and won many championships. Looks very smart.

[Drive NJ]

Forgot to say
We are working with Amie Baumann who is helping to get our young draftX boys to be the horses we really wish for. Several of her other students show over at DVHA

And based on how Alex and Tricia worked this weekend - HE is going to be wearing the driving hat. He is soooo bored with working in the indoor that his percheron molecules are coming out and he's ready for wearing the old straw hat with the flower sticking out of it! Something like these - - >
http://www.matterhorn1959.com/blog1/trolley1.jpg

http://ranchette.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/pf120298.jpg

[Fly_High]

SO from your further info, sounds like you are working maybe with Sue H-B over on Pittstown Rd/Rte 615 ????? And the drafties are with Mark W and his son?

You nailed it. I train for the jumpers with Sue, but she lets me use her horse for equitation and dressage as well. I went along to help whenever they needed last year and then when she was talking about someone driving Peach I said I would love to learn. The drafts are Marc and Jim(although Jim is the dad and Marc the son). You should definitely come out and do a show at DVHA even it is just for fun. We are all about having a good time there (a least at driving and jumpers, I can't speak for the other disciplines hahaha).

[KellyS]

Kelly S - I live in Bethlehem and work at Saucon Valley HS. I actually train in Pittstown, NJ. We did do the driving day last year a BCHP in the pouring rain. I again was just the babysitter. haha I drive my trainers stud around while she is in with her jr and novice clients. I also was navigator for her jr students cross country again in the pouring rain. What a mess it turned out to be. You should consider showing at DVHA sometime. It is very nice.


We mainly do just ADTs/CDEs, and Devon for fun. :) I've never been to a driving show at DVHA, but have heard good things about them. Hope to see you around!