Topic: Show Clothing and how it relates to weather conditions.
According to the USEF Rule Book - Dressage (DR 120), "the dress code for Training thru Fourth Levels is a short riding coat of conservative color, with tie, choker, or stock tie, white or light colored breeches or jodphurs, boots or jodphur boots, a hunt cap or riding hat with hard shell, derby or top hat". For all tests above Fourth level, the dress code is "a dark tailcoat with top hat, or a dark jacket with a bowler hat or hunt cap, and white or light colored breeches, stock or tie, gloves and black riding boots".
A few things to take away from this:
- It doesn't matter if you wear a "hunt coat" or dressage coat, as long as it meets the above description.
- A cutaway coat (the flashy modified tail coats) are permitted.
- The new Kerrits 24K coat also meets above description.
Hot Weather Conditions:
We have all been to a show in oppressive heat, where show management has "waived" the coat requirement. What exactly do you do in that situation?
In this situation, according to the USEF Rulebook, "competitors must wear a regulation hat and solid white or very pale colored long or short sleeved shirt, without neckwear". So....
- No sleeveless white shirts
- No t-shirts
- No bright blue shirts that you cover with your jacket and stock tie
- No chokers, stocks ties, stocks with bibs, or ties.
What about rain you ask??
"Competitors will be allowed to wear a hat cover and a transparent or conservative color rain coat in inclement weather".
Answers to many more questions regarding attire and equipment are addressed very well in the Dressage:Dress section of the USEF Rulebook or from the Dressage Attire and Equipment Supplement found on the USEF website.
