Help! Hunter rider going to Dressage show

[immigene]

So heres the story.....Young horse going to be my Hunter/jumper and me(rider) adult over 50yo Re-rider of the last 3 years. Wonderfull Hunter mare died of complications of colic surgery, so young horse moves up. Currently taking lessons from trainer who does jumping and Dressage. Trainer having 1st schooling Dressage show at her barn, so I enter in Intro A and B with young horse, this is his very first show ever, just wanting it to be a positive experience :)

Since I ride in a jumping saddle and dont own a dressage saddle trainer says ride in the jumping saddle and bridle (Herm Sprenger french link D ring). Check.

Now for me......thinking of wearing my navy hunt coat, white shirt with stock tie, beige breeches and field boots. Probally dont need to wear coat but want to look my best because of show being at trainers barn :) Oh, of course a helmet, black.

What do y'all think? any helpful hits? Trainer having 2 dressage shows a year, so those will be the only ones I ever go to.

Thank you ahead of time

Pam and Matinee

[Beasmom]

Oh, you'll be just fine! Your turnout is perfectly appropriate for a schooling dressage show. In fact, you may be the sharpest dressed person there!

Have fun with your youngster, and report back!

[IrishWillow]

You'll be fine! My young hunter's first shows were also Intro and Training Level dressage tests :)

[hoopoe]

You are turned out beautifully for a recognized show, let alone a schooling show. If I was going to add anything I would suggest gloves. You almost never see riders without gloves in Dressage.

The USEF rule book is very well written. Usually schooling shows in this area wave the rules about leg wraps (boots) but the bit rule is usually applied.

Have a good ride. You will love having your own ride time

[blueeyepaint]

When I went to my first schooling show (coming from a hunter background). My instructor said the only thing she DIDN'T want to see at a schooling show was White britches! You'll look great. Have fun and remember to breath.:yes:

[Beasmom]

Ooh, forgot about the gloves! Yeah, no gloves is a definite faux pas. Having assigned ride times will indeed spoil you! Dressage folks quickly learn to plan their day down to the minute based on ride times. It's great!

[SillyHorse]

When I went to my first schooling show (coming from a hunter background). My instructor said the only thing she DIDN'T want to see at a schooling show was White britches!
I think I could fall in love with your instructor. :lol:

I have to take a little bitty issue with Beasmom's "faux pas" comment regarding gloves. There are no faux pas in dressage attire. Things are legal or they're not. According to the rule book, gloves are recommended, but they're not required. No one should care whether you wear them or not.

[JRG]

Once you show dressage..you will never go back. Ride times are awesome!! I can't imagine the hurry up and wait anymore.

[Beasmom]

Perhaps no one SHOULD care if gloves are worn, but gloves contribute to the "finished" look. Faux pas does not equal "illegal".

[Equibrit]

I show my youngsters at schooling shows in a polo shirt, coloured breeches, brown boots and Plainsman gloves. We only get scored for our performance!

[Peggy]

Sounds fine to me. As I have written several times on these boards, I showed thru 4th level in Vogel field boots.

[SillyHorse]

Perhaps no one SHOULD care if gloves are worn, but gloves contribute to the "finished" look. Faux pas does not equal "illegal".
No it doesn't . But "faux pas" means a social blunder. I don't know how that would apply to riding without gloves. :confused:

[Trevelyan96]

I did my first schooling show in white breeches, dress boots, a white show shirt and a dark brown 1/4 zip fleece top. I brought my coat and the collar for my shirt, but it was just so informal that I felt overdressed, so I didn't bother with the coat or collar. (For some reason the correct term for collar is escaping me tonight... help!)

I thought we were going to score in the 30's, but we got a 61! Judge's only comments were on my horse and my riding, and yes... having a ride time was the most awesome thing I've ever experienced! You will love it. Have fun and learn. That's what schooling shows are for. Your turnout sounds perfectly appropriate.

[immigene]

Thank you all for your insight and ideas. I forgot to add that I have some nice leather show gloves that I'll use, but thanks for reminder ya never know I might have forgot them in all the activity. Ride times is a very new thing for me! I'm used to waiting for classes all day, before its your turn. This time however I will be there all day because I'm helping my trainer with the show but, I'm using it as a learning experience :) Your morale support has been invaluable...

The show is Sunday so I'll try to get some pics and let you all know how it went :))

Thanks Again

Pam and Matinee

[esdressage]

You'll look great, and how wonderful that you're also going to be helping your instructor with the show for the rest of the day! Have lots of fun and yes, we love photos!!!

:D

[Janet]

I rarely wear gloves, competing through second level. I have never had a comment on it.

You sound great.

[immigene]

I thought I'd let you know how the show went since you all gave me great support.

To start...it started snowing the night before. Ugh! but luckily it didnt stick on the roads, so off we go...Get to show site (Trainers Barn) try to saddle my horse and my pad flies off because its sooooo windy, get horse saddled. Horse wild eyed because now its started to blow harder and SNOW....get to indoor arena to warm up and there's a million (ok not a million but it seemed like it ) horses in the arena. So riding friend who helps me with horse decides to warm him up while I change :) Well horse is very frisky, doing a nice half pass across the arena without being asked :( Friend (who's younger and much better rider) asks if its ok if she rides horse in first class Intro A....I cant say yes fast enough because now its seems like its a blizzard, but snow still not sticking. I should also add that there are 4 large flags along the side of the arena flapping...OK

Friend takes horse in first class, flapping flags dont phase him at all, does his test a little tense but makes no errors, bucks or spontaneous half passes....
He gets a 61% and sixth place out of thirteen!!!! This is his first show, first class ever!!
I'm so happy I could cry...friend and I discuss next class Intro B and decide that she will ride him in that class also...Horse much more relaxed but I wanted it to be a positive experience so let friend ride in Intro B.
He gets 60.5% and third place out of seven!! HOOOOOray

Horse is now very relaxed with surroundings and hustle/bustle of show.

So even though I didnt ride I'm very pleased with how everything went and how my horse even though nervous at the begining settled down and did what was asked.

Next month Hunter/jumper show.....hoping for better weather....

Thanks to all

Pam and Matinee Idol

[Peggy]

Congratulations on great first outing. Sounds like he definitely had a good first experience, due in part to you having the sense to have the friend show him once you realized you had a bit more horse than you expected.

[Beasmom]

Eeeexcellent! And a good call, considering the conditions!

[JRG]

Dispite the snow...sounds like a positive experience. Good for you. Even better that your friend knew the tests!

[SillyHorse]

Yeah, yeah, but WHAT DID YOU WEAR? :lol: