Ladies And Gents I Need Your Help (Mens Attire)

[warmbloodguy]

I need help in finding out what I will need for my upcoming dressage show. I have done schooling shows in the past and have been doing dressage now for 1 and 1/2 years after coming over from the H/J world. However, this is my first big show and I wanted to make sure I was prepared.

I need to know what men should be wearing in the arena. Normally I wear just my navy jacket, white breeches, and a black tie and gloves....but I am not sure if this is what I should be wearing to a "big" show.

Should I Wear (I am showing Training and First):

1) Navy Coat (or should I have a black coat)?
2) Helmet (should I have a Top Hat or just a Velvet Cap for now)
3) Black Tie (Or should I have a Stock Tie ((and if so what style looks best on men)))?
4) White Breeches (Or can I stick to a darker color for the lower levels)?
5) White Gloves (Or is black ok for the lower levels as well)?
6) and last, Field Boots with Spanish Tops (Or should I get dress boots)?

Thanks For You Help Everyone!

[Coreene]

Navy is fine (I love navy dressage coats), helmet or velvet hunt cap, stock or white tie, and although some will fart out that you must "earn" white gloves, white gloves are correct. Your field boots are just fine for now, though at some point you would want dress boots and - if you are still riding in a hunt coat - one with a dressage cut. Have a blast, you'll look smashing!

[GreyDes]

1) Navy Coat (or should I have a black coat)?
- Navy is definitely fine, unless you just love the black and white penguin look :)

2) Helmet (should I have a Top Hat or just a Velvet Cap for now)
- Approved helmet.

3) Black Tie (Or should I have a Stock Tie ((and if so what style looks best on men)))?
- I THINK your tie should be white, but I'm not 100% sure on this. I'm sure someone will know.

4) White Breeches (Or can I stick to a darker color for the lower levels)?
- White is not technically required (I believe the rule is "conservative color"), but you will see almost everyone in white or champagne, so it's probably worth investing in a pair. Champagne looks nice with navy - what color is your horse? Champagne works well with most colors, but tends not to look good on the lighter greys, or horses with a lot of white.

5) White Gloves (Or is black ok for the lower levels as well)?
- Either is okay at your level. The usual guidance is that if you have good hands (don't bobble, wiggle, etc.) and you want to show them off, wear white. If you're not sure how much they'll shake :) - wear black.

6) and last, Field Boots with Spanish Tops (Or should I get dress boots)?
- As the earlier poster said, field boots are fine.

Ahhh - here's the actual guidance...

Article 1920. Dress.
1. The dress code for Training through Fourth Levels is a short riding coat of conservative color, with tie, choker or stock tie, breeches or jodhpurs, boots or jodhpur boots, a hunt cap or riding hat with a hard shell, derby or top hat. Half chaps and/or leggings are not allowed. Gloves of conservative color are
recommended.

Good luck!

[snoopy]

Navy is fine (I love navy dressage coats), helmet or velvet hunt cap, stock or white tie, and although some will fart out that you must "earn" white gloves, white gloves are correct. Your field boots are just fine for now, though at some point you would want dress boots and - if you are still riding in a hunt coat - one with a dressage cut. Have a blast, you'll look smashing!



completely agree.....:yes:

[hoopoe]

The only basic change I would make is a white tie ( I like a textured fabric) or perhaps a white tie with a small repeated navy pattern, such as dots.

hunt caps and black gloves are fine

[whicker]

We will want a report afterwards from you. I'm delighted that there is another fellow out there. My son wants to follow in your footsteps. You will be dashing! The outfit is sooo great on a gentleman! swoon!

[goodpony]

My husband wears a stock tie or white mens tie (does both dressage and eventing).

Black Jacket *but has worn blue*, Hunt Cap or Top Hat depending on the level and has a pair of Dressage Boots---not required I wear field boots cause I dont have any dress boots and never been penalized.

Sometimes wears white gloves but prefers black because it stays cleaner---white is tough to keep clean.

[goodpony]

My husband wears a stock tie or white mens tie (does both dressage and eventing).

Black Jacket *but has worn blue*, Hunt Cap or Top Hat depending on the level and has a pair of Dressage Boots---not required I wear field boots cause I dont have any dress boots and never been penalized.

Sometimes wears white gloves but prefers black because it stays cleaner---white is tough to keep clean.

[bort84]

1) Navy Coat (or should I have a black coat)?
2) Helmet (should I have a Top Hat or just a Velvet Cap for now)
3) Black Tie (Or should I have a Stock Tie ((and if so what style looks best on men)))?
4) White Breeches (Or can I stick to a darker color for the lower levels)?
5) White Gloves (Or is black ok for the lower levels as well)?
6) and last, Field Boots with Spanish Tops (Or should I get dress boots)?

Thanks For You Help Everyone!

1) Navy is lovely and has become totally acceptable these days.
2) Just wear a helmet if you have one. Otherwise, a hunt cap or a top hat is acceptable (though there are some old school competitors that feel you shouldn't wear a top hat with a short coat unless you've competed at FEI levels)
3) White men's tie is fine (but I think black would look odd at a bigger show, and I'm not sure it's allowed). It can be in a standard silk like a typical tie, or I've seen some that are more like a textured stock tie material. I think you can also wear a stock tie, but I think a regular tie looks better for men = )
4) If you have white breeches, I'd wear those. They're traditional and what most people wear. If you have some that are light beige or champagne, those are okay too (but white is standard and always correct). The rules now state they have to be a light color though.
5) Again, if you have white gloves, wear them. Black is totally acceptable, but most riders tend to wear white in the dressage ring even at the lower levles.
6) Field boots will be fine, but at some point you'd probably want to get dress boots.

You will absolutely not be marked down on things like field boots or black gloves, so wear what you have if you're not looking to buy new stuff. Just take a gander at the rule book to make sure you're not breaking any rules = )