Equestrian Clothing

glowgirl_2

My daughter is a keen rider and has just started competing (second show tonight:eek:) for Christmas she has asked for some new riding gear. I already use the usual sites (Robinsons, Rideaway) and we have a decent if small local tack shop. I wondered if anyone knows of any sites that sell equestrian clothing that is a bit well, original, for example she asked for a stock pin, where could I get a nice one? She also needs a show jacket, I know there are certain rules around the clothing when competing but does anyone have any suggestions?

lostinrates

You could check out the showing type outfitters....

Designer Browbands http://www.designerbrowbands.co.uk/Riding%20Wear/jackets.htm

Pretty ponies http://www.prettyponies.co.uk/

The best bet would be to go to one of the very big shows and check out the tradestands for newest fashions I think.

Discipline really will have an impact on things and personally, I really like to stick to the ''appropriate'' ettiquettes and traditional turn out for the relevant disciplines/classes. My exception is that I really love my blingy white gloves, which I school in, I'd happy wear these tasteless things to a clinic, but not to compete in.

My jackets, however, were (I don't compete ATM) vintage. Much better cuts.....but it would be hard if she needs a body protector under one. Also, I have a beautiful old stockpin that I love (I'm guessing antique shops/big carboots might be a good source, or ebay?.)

ETA: I think a lot depends on how old your daughter is. If she's still groing I'd be tempted to look for good quality second hand for jackets: saddleries secon hand stuff is often more interesting IMO. There are so may websites I can't even think wear to start for general riding wear, sonnenreiter or kerrits seem to be the vogue breeches/jods atm http://www.sonnenreiter.de/ andhttp://www.kerrits.com/.

A trip to a larger/fancier saddlery might provide some inspiration. Another of the main stream catalgues is DerbyHouse TBH, I never like many of the main ranges o clothes.

jessbob

Its a bit late now I know, but my daughter picks up real bargains at the Yorkshire Show every year. Brilliant riding gear on their stalls:T

Rest of the year most of her clobber comes from Robinsons.

We are lucky enough to have a local small equestrian warehouse which has some brilliant bargains. They mainly deal with online orders, and is really worth checking it out. Daughter got some brilliant horse rugs in their sale a few weeks ago for a fraction of their normal cost. They also do riding clothes as well.

http://www.ellehoofhorseware.com

the_cat

www.geegeeimages.co.uk might be a good place for the stock pin. They sell a large range of equestrian themed jewellery. I was lucky enough to win a necklace and bracelet set from a magazine competition last year from them which is very nice quality

Katie-Kat-Kins

Derby House are good for competition wear, they have a catelogue as well as stores.

Independant shops can be good too, as can stalls at the horse shows like Burghley. It might be worth a trip to Your Horse Live in November to check out their trade stands.

Another tip is to look in outdoor and country wear shops too. I buy coats and warm clothing from hiking and climbing shops as they tend to be better quality for your money. Country clothing/shooting shops will have good items too such as coloured ties with suitable patterns, and good tweeds and shirts. DH had his tweed hacking jacket made to measure at our local country outfitter.

What you choose to buy for her depends a lot upon what she intends to do and her age. For general use though she will probably get most flexibility from a tweed jacket rather than black or navy, and beige jodhs rather than white. If she is under 16 she should have short boots not long. The only times this wouldn't be suitable would be for certain showing classes where a navy jacket might be more appropriate. Adults should have a solid coloured jacket for hunting too (apart from autumn hunting/cubbing).

Hope that helps!

glowgirl_2

Thank you for the great replies:) I don't have time now but tomorrow I shall go through them. She is 14 and been riding since she was 11 but really stepped it up the past 2/3 months and she rides for at least 2 hours 5 days a week, her first show about 3 weeks ago was the nightmare from hell:( She said today that as long as she gets a clear shes not worried about being placed (she was jumping) and yes, she got a clear:T:TShe's coming back with the rest of the yard so I left after her round, she just sent me a text to say she went around again and got another clear:T:Tas you can probably tell I am having a rather maternal moment;)

Thank again for the replies and links, will let you know how I get on:)

skintlass

Congrats to your daughter, sounds like she's doing well.

Katie-Kat-Kins

Rules on attire for show jumping are about the most relaxed for any discipline so no worries about having the right gear if that is what she is doing but if she might get into dressage or showing or hunting as well best to have kit that will do for both.

At 14 she should have short jodh boots not knee length boots for competition, that is good because they are much cheaper!

A nice velvet hat for competitions will look smart too, but it is worth getting this after the jacket as you might want to get navy rather than black.

It would also be worth learning how to tie a stock properly, they look so much smarter than the pre-tied ones and have a safety function too (they support the neck in a fall and can also be used as a makeshift sling/bandage/torniquet).

There are shirts you can buy with interchangeable collars so you can wear them with a tie or stock, when you know what colour you want (white for dressage but never for showing!) get one (or maybe one white one coloured) of these and it will do for times when she needs a tie (like pony club) and when she needs a stock (like hunting). For show jumping you can wear either or even a continental collar.

Glad to hear she is enjoying it and getting on well, it is an expensive hobby though, you'll need this site!

lostinrates

KatP wrote: »

Rules on attire for show jumping are about the most relaxed for any discipline so no worries about having the right gear if that is what she is doing but if she might get into dressage or showing or hunting as well best to have kit that will do for both. I agree. Although, whether its still the same I don't know, but hen I was young SJ were very fahion concious. e.g., brown jodpur boots (which are correct) was a give away we were interlopers.:D (I was happy in by brown boots though)

At 14 she should have short jodh boots not knee length boots for competition, that is good because they are much cheaper! Absolutely. I love my ariats, and she could have gaitors if they still fit her in a couple of years time, and wear half chaps with them now. I used to love long boots, but ithout the pressure of competition nd more concentration on imporving at home I've found my short boots actually are better for my riding, and I notice DH is the same.

A nice velvet hat for competitions will look smart too, but it is worth getting this after the jacket as you might want to get navy rather than black. Again agreed, but fashion plays apart: its mainly vebnted hats in SJ isn't it? DH comes off a bit, so he rides in a skull cap at home (cheaper to replace, should be replaced after any head fall) and has a velvet for best (the big thing for me is leather harnesses, I can't stand the feel of webbing harness)

It would also be worth learning how to tie a stock properly, they look so much smarter than the pre-tied ones and have a safety function too (they support the neck in a fall and can also be used as a makeshift sling/bandage/torniquet). Agreed!

There are shirts you can buy with interchangeable collars so you can wear them with a tie or stock, when you know what colour you want (white for dressage but never for showing!) get one (or maybe one white one coloured) of these and it will do for times when she needs a tie (like pony club) and when she needs a stock (like hunting). For show jumping you can wear either or even a continental collar.

Glad to hear she is enjoying it and getting on well, it is an expensive hobby though, you'll need this site!

I can tell KatP and I would get on

Katie-Kat-Kins

Yep I guess we would LiR! Interesting that your husband rides too, mine does and he is always a minority as a man!

I agree about SJ being very fashion conscious, not sure what level she is at but possibly not so bad if she is at unaffiliated shows where people compete in lots of classes.

At our riding club show people typically come straight out of the working hunter class and into the show jumping so there are plenty of navy hats and tweed jackets to be seen, but at BSJA you tend to see black jackets (or even pink, or those blousons! Ewww) with pink shirts and a continental collar, vented hats, and blingy accessories! Yuk!

To be honest if she hasn't been at it that long, I'd be inclined to make do with her every day skull cap with a suitable cover, get a pair of cheap beige jodhs, and a second hand jacket, she may change discipline or loose interest. Especially at her age when boys and exams are just around the corner. It is worth bearing in mind the different rules though so that any kit you do buy will do her for as much as possible.

I think pony club demand a tweed and their club tie with jodh boots and beige jodhs. It would be worth her joining pony club if she is keen, they have lots of competitions and training for teenagers and once a member I think you can now stay in until 25. All the top riders started out in pony club!

lostinrates

KatP wrote: »

Yep I guess we would LiR! Interesting that your husband rides too, mine does and he is always a minority as a man!

I agree about SJ being very fashion conscious, not sure what level she is at but possibly not so bad if she is at unaffiliated shows where people compete in lots of classes.

At our riding club show people typically come straight out of the working hunter class and into the show jumping so there are plenty of navy hats and tweed jackets to be seen, but at BSJA you tend to see black jackets (or even pink, or those blousons! Ewww) with pink shirts and a continental collar, vented hats, and blingy accessories! Yuk!

To be honest if she hasn't been at it that long, I'd be inclined to make do with her every day skull cap with a suitable cover, get a pair of cheap beige jodhs, and a second hand jacket, she may change discipline or loose interest. Especially at her age when boys and exams are just around the corner. It is worth bearing in mind the different rules though so that any kit you do buy will do her for as much as possible.

I think pony club demand a tweed and their club tie with jodh boots and beige jodhs. It would be worth her joining pony club if she is keen, they have lots of competitions and training for teenagers and once a member I think you can now stay in until 25. All the top riders started out in pony club!

My opinion, if I had a child, would be that they'd do SJing in ''correct'' attire, albeit stylishly, making a stylish orrect statement rather than following the herd fashion statement:o I just feel its a little nod to our culture. But then, I'm not a mother, or a teen. I do like to see a well turned out horse and rider: not necessaruly expensively turned out, just stylishly.

DH learned as an adult, and is a lovely, gentle horseman. I'm very proud of him and horses adore him. He never puts too much pressure on (he finds it much easier than I do to give them time and space to respond to him, I'm always fighting the instinct to request perfection to soon).

Its actually jolly hard though, to dress well as a male rider. There is less variety in breeches and men stand ou so much.