proper schooling show attire for 8-year-old girl?

[oharabear]

I competed in Saddleseat until I was 14, so I have no idea about youth attire in the hunter world besides what I've seen in catalogs....

It's just a local schooling show, but I'd like to teach her about being well turned-out and having good preparation for shows.

I love the look of jods and garters (adorable!), but what are the age guidelines for that?

Also, her hair is short (chin-length) so... Put it up? Leave it down? She currently just tucks it behind her ears before she puts her helmet on and it stays out of the way and only peeks out from under the helmet.

Also, (sorry-so many questions!) we're on a budget and she's growing like a weed, so super-expensive/fancy isn't what we're looking for, especially for just a schooling show.

And lastly, I don't want her to feel out of place. ;)

Help! I will now defer to COTH collectve wisdom....

[Pirateer]

If its a schooling show (and no coat is needed) I'd wear jods/garters and a cute polo shirt in a conservative color.

Since her hair is short, you can't do braids so up in "Hunter Hair" with hairnets. No earrings on a kiddo (personal opinion).

[TeamBrickman]

I agree with Pirateer. 8 is still plenty young for paddock boots and jod straps, and you can't go wrong with a neat, clean polo shirt, tucked in. Although I have to tell you, I've seen kids in button down, long sleeve oxford shirts at schooling shows (if it's not beastly hot), and they look really, really sharp. A bit of a different look, and very tailored and upscale.

A nice finishing touch is a belt to match her paddock boots (black or brown). Don't forget gloves!

Hunter hair if it's too short to braid, and she should be good to go!

[FatDinah]

Definitely don't go with the tall boots, I think it looks absurd on children.

My daughter wore jods and garters and paddock boots and they were not only less expensive and age appropriate but they were far more comfortable for her to be in all day than tall boots would have been.

If you go with a polo or oxford shirt in a color, get a saddle pad piped in that color.

[Janet]

If you go with a polo or oxford shirt in a color, get a saddle pad piped in that color. I wouldn't use a saddle pad with piping at a hunter show, even a schooling show.

[evans36]

I wouldn't use a saddle pad with piping at a hunter show, even a schooling show.

Me neither, but I TOTALLY second what she said about tall boots being absurd on children. Don't think you should graduate to those until you're finished growing - at least finished growing in crazy spurts.

[Wizard of Oz's]

She's definately not too old for jods and garter straps and I would go with hunter hair since her hair is too short for braids. If you're not doing a show shirt or show shirt and show coat, then I'd go with a white or black polo and a fitted white fleece pad like you would normally use in hunters.

[oharabear]

Awesome, that's exactly what I needed to know! That's kind of what I was thinking, but wanted to double-check.

And yeah, it'll probably be hot then. The show is at the end of June and it's already hot here.

Thanks so much! :yes:

[Hunter Mom]

She sounds like mine. DD wears jods/garters/paddocks and will for several more years. Short hair - up in a hairnet under the helmet. The little flat magnet hair clips are great to help keep it under, too. For schooling shows... Nice polo (not expensive nice - walmart, target and I love clearance!) but that is clean and collared in a simple solid tucked in to jods. Belt and gloves. She does wear a shirt/coat when at larger shows.

On a side note - our trainer hates bows & pigtails, so we keep threatening to braid the Hannah Montana wig and have DD wear it to the gate with enormous bows!

[Vandy]

Agree that jods and garters are totally appropriate. However, you might also contact the show management and ask about attire. I've been to even very local schooling shows where *everyone* was in ratcatchers and jackets - in this case, even if you don't want to spring for a jacket, a show shirt would be much more appropriate than a polo. There are tons of kids' shirts (long sleeved but cool material) on sale at Dover for $19.99, so no need to spend a ton of money.

[CenterStage123]

Ditto Vandy... Everyine in the schooling shows around here wear showshirts and jackets. You might want to check about that.

[Go Fish]

Definately a long-sleeved shirt in the hunters. A polo would not be appropriate, even at a schooling show. Jods, garters, and paddock boots, and a fitted fleece pad and she's good to go.

Do your local tack stores carry used items? It's worth a look.

[Hunter Mom]

OP - I would check with your trainer or call the show secretary to find out if most people wear coats or polos at this show. In our area, polos are quite acceptable - even the norm - at schooling/barn shows. At our local circuit shows, coats & shirts are the usual. A quick phone call should clear it up and ensure your child is dressed similarly to everyone else.

[GGsuperpony]

OP - If your daughter is average for her size, I might have clothes I could send you.

I know at least that I have a pretty lavender coolmax show shirt, size 8 or 10 I think, that's just gathering dust. I'd love to see it get some use! I might have other stuff too. I'll check on it if you're interested - just PM me.

[lcw579]

On a side note - our trainer hates bows & pigtails, so we keep threatening to braid the Hannah Montana wig and have DD wear it to the gate with enormous bows!

I think I love your trainer!

OP - if you do need to spring for a coat check with your local pony club, they may have an outgrown shop which is a great resource for all kinds of clothes/boots for the growing kiddo.

Good luck at the show! Remember, a smile is the most important thing she can wear. :)

[superpony123]

You don't need to buy TS jods for a little girl. Have a nice clean pair of tan jodphurs that fit her, garters (which are the most appropriate for children under 12 yrs of age as long as they don't have spider legs and as long as they're on a pony) and brown paddock boots (technically this is how it's supposed to be, but really, if she has black paddock boots right now, don't worry--it's not a huge deal. she can use her black paddocks.) make sure the boots are cleaned and shined :yes: you should go to the local tack shop and look around the consignment area--you can find a cute little show shirt and jacket for fairly cheap. make sure your girl is there to try the shirt/jacket on!! every brand fits different. try to go for something on the larger side (but you dont want her to be swimming in it. just have it be on the loose side, and definitely on the longer side--kids seem to grow straight up before growing wider. this way you might get some longer use out of it) however, if your daughter is only going to be going to one or two shows a year, i wouldn't even bother with a hunt coat if these are very very small schooling shows. just find her a nice conservatively colored polo (black, white, navy) and tuck it into her breeches, complete it with a nice brown or black leather belt (if her boots are brown, get a brown belt. if her boots are black, get a black belt.)

as for her hair, i'd go ahead and stick it in a hair net and pin it up into the helmet. if it's as short as it sounds from what youre describing, it should not affect the fit of her helmet. even if you decide not to put it in the helmet, still get a hairnet or some pins to keep her hair tucked behind her ears and in the helmet. nothing poking out on the sides ! tie her hair at the back with a cute little ribbon (LITTLE. nothing huge like some of the short stirrup kids we see nowadays)

:)

anyway, about the polo vs show shirt: depending on where you are, it may or may not be out of place to wear one of the options. i know that at all the local shows around here (zone 2) it's very out of place to see anyone in casual attire. everyone has their hunt coats on. not thejumpers, but absolutely in the hunters. but, like i said, if you are only going to one show a year, there is no reason to buy her a coat/shirt. but, if she plans on going to several, absolutely get a coat and shirt.

[Kementari]

This is my best friend's seven year-old daughter showing my horse (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/TwBlwcZ9Z1OpRID4MNDBxQ?feat=directlink).

We did her hair in ponytails instead of braids, and it's short enough that that worked (there's no more hair sticking out at the ends then there would be if she had longer hair and braids, essentially). But, then I (and she and her mom) like kids in pigtails and (tasteful) ribbons. ;) She's wearing jod boots, of course, though you can't see it in the pic. (Here's the same kid at an event (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/4lZfpipbnO7TB21HkvcVsA?feat=directlink) - the bottom half is the same as she wore for hunt seat. ;))

At this particular show series - despite being a super low key little open show in general - a rider of any age would have been very out of place without a coat (and in fact I think the rulebook required one, though I can't remember for sure). Even her two-year-old sister (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/-KW7NnLNxMxs1niCejSxcQ?feat=directlink) wore the same for leadline.

Neither of their outfits cost over $100 (not including the helmet); the younger one was less than $50. Consignment and clearance are your friends! :winkgrin:

[Kristen]

I agree that garters and jods would be much much much more appropriate than tall boots, unless your daughter looks freakishly tall/old for her age haha. I also agree that in my area, even at the smallest of schooling shows every kid is turned out in a long sleeve show shirt and jacket, NEVER a polo. So yes, call and find out on that. In some areas she'd be fine in a polo, in others she will stick out like a sore thumb. If she needs a jacket, check out consignment sections at your tack shop. You can get some GREAT deals and they usually have a lot of kid's stuff for sale since kids outgrow everything so fast.

[Quin]

Do any slightly older children board at your barn or train with your trainer? If so, ASK about hand-me-downs. Consignment racks at the tack store are good, but an informal parents' network in your own barn is even better.