As the largest visual element in your western show outfit, its always fun and important to take the time to make your western show chaps uniquely yours with details like the fabric, trim and fit.

Women’s show chaps today are almost exclusively made from ultra suede, which comes in a myriad of colors, is washable (without the trim) and molds to the body better than hides.

Men, on the other hand (as well as reiners and cutters), use hide chaps – suede side out. Men’s chaps also employ tooled yokes with various patterns and stains for the yokes.

After determining the fabric of your chaps you can move onto trims. Ladies almost always frost their chaps in some form with rhinestones, crystals and metallic leather for eye-catching dazzle in the ring. Most want to match the yoke design, color and leathers of the shirt or jacket. Overall, though, each design is created to enhance different rider’s body types.

Although everyone has their own preferences, here are a few pointers:

– Silver draws attention. Put it where you want onlookers eyes to travel – for example, a single concho in the small of your back – and avoid putting it where you might want to minimize movement – such as on your heels if your horse requires a lot of leg aids.

– Silver shows best on dark colors, creating a dramatic contrast.

– Silver requires care. Be sure to remove silver from your chaps before cleaning so you don’t transfer tarnish or silver polish onto the chaps.

Remember, you never get a second chance to make a first impression, so strive to create a winning look/impression the moment you trot into the ring!

FASHION ALERT!!

Pantone – the global color authority – has named “Radiant Orchid” the Color of the Year for 2014!!

An “enchanting harmony of fuchsia, purple and pink undertones,” Radiant Orchid is described by the Pantone Color Institute as “a captivating, magical, enigmatic purple” whose “rosy undertones radiate on the skin, producing a healthy glow when worn by both men and women.”

Translate this dazzling attention-getting hue from the runways and red carpet to your show outfit this season!

For those who were there, a definite highlight of the 2013 US Nationals has to have been when Amateur rider, Jessica Medved, went against the professionals and won in the Open Half Arabian Park with SA Sophisticated Lady (not to mention their win together in the AAOTR Park as well).

But her horseback riding journey began long before her partnership with Sophisticated Lady – throwing her leg over her first horse at the age of 6. “My sister, Ariel, is the one who really wanted to learn how to ride, and once she started taking lessons I soon began riding as well. What got me really excited to started showing was picking out my very first show outfit, which was a sparkly pink western outfit.”

Show Season: Describe your riding fashion style.
Jessica Medved: I like tone on tone materials for the actual suit, and a little pop of color for vest.

SS: What is your favorite head-to-toe riding outfit?
JM: My favorite outfit is my Show Season Blue paisley tux! The shirt, bow tie and vest are a cream rosette pattern with little pearl buttons on the shirt. I love this outfit because it looks very classy, but still has some subtle yet fun patterns!

SS: Do you wear anything for good luck in the show ring?
JM: I use to have a lucky frog lapel pin but I recently lost it.

SS: What is one thing you never go in the ring without?
JM: When I am riding Sophisticated Lady I never forget my spurs! In general, I try to always remember to wear lipstick in the ring.

SS: How would you describe your non-horse show style?
JM: My non-horse style would be simple for the most part. I like classy and simple pieces.

SS: What has been your biggest accomplishment as a rider?
JM: My biggest accomplishment as a rider would be this year winning the Open Half Arabian park as an Amateur rider!

SS: What are your riding goals for the future?
JM: For the future my goals would be to ride and show some of the horses that my family has bred. Being in school I have also not been able to go to as many shows, so another goal would be to make it to more horse shows this year!

SS: Who has been the most influential in your riding career?
JM: A few people have been influential. Shannon Beethe is the one who taught me how to ride when I was six years old. I have also learned a lot about riding English horses from Jim Stachowski.

One of the most recognized traditions of the hunter riding discipline is the dress…dress that has become deeply rooted in tradition, having survived for over 200 years now.

This attire, while traditional, evolved from fashion to practicality: coats were nearly waterproof, tight fitting britches were worn to protect riders from getting tangled up in branches, and tall boots were fashioned to shelter riders’ legs from scrapes. The stock tie (traditionally fastened with a plain gold safety pin), too, was designed to double as a bandage for rider, horse or hound in case of emergency.

Have you ever wondered, though, who designed the first hunt coat? Or what the origin of the riding jacket is? Well, the short answer is no one knows for sure. But what can be said for sure is that the coats worn in the hunter discipline evolved from the jackets worn by fox hunters. And we can also be reasonably sure that the hunt coat was born in England in the late 1600’s and began to become commonly worn in the early 1700’s.

Early EARLY History –
From Ornamentation to Minimalism

From 1750–1795, fashion in European and European-influenced countries reached a height of fantasy and ornamentation in their dress. However, a long-festering movement toward minimalism and democratization of dress under the influence of Jean-Jacques Rousseau and the American Revolution led to the triumph of British tailoring and an entirely new mode of dress following the French Revolution.

1750’s Riding Jacket

1760’s Riding Jackets

By the late 1790s, as fashion became more and more minimalistic and simplified, the traditional hunt outfit was made up of a tailored men’s coat inspired jacket, a high-necked shirt, a waistcoat, a petticoat, and a hat. Later on, the hunt jacket and waistcoat were even simplified into one (creating a false waistcoat-front), as well as a simpler riding jacket and petticoat (without waistcoat) could also be worn.

1790s Riding Jacket

These coats could be seen in a wide range of colors. If the coat was worn primarily for riding or hunting, it was typically red, navy, or green. On the other hand, coats designed for more fashionable wear were also seen in other colors, such as blue, brown, beige, yellow and white. Fabrics were typically wool or a wool/silk blend. 

1920’s Riding Jacket

Modern Riding Coats

So how does this translate in modern equestrian dress?

Classic attire for hunter classes consists of beige, tan or gray breeches, a white or light pastel shirt, and a black, navy, gray, “hunter” green or dark brown hunt coat.

In recent years, patterns such as pinstripes, plaids or herringbone are growing in popularity, as riders strive to honor traditions, yet to stand out in the show arena.

Show Season Riding Jackets

“As a little girl, I just wanted to ride a horse. I had no idea what I was getting into,” rider Amanda Purdin Standish tells us. Now, 20 years later, Amanda has closed out another show season at US Nationals, ending her year on a high after great wins: a National Championship in Half-Arabian Country Maturity, a Reserve National Championship in PB English 18-39, and Top Tens in both Half-Arabian English 18-39 and Half-Arabian Country 18-39.

Aside from being a top rider, Amanda also has top show ring fashion…

Show Season: Describe your riding fashion style.
Amanda Purdin Standish: Sparkly but classic…I have simple styles and colors with hints of sparkle!

SS: What is your favorite head-to-toe riding outfit?
APS: A new burgundy that Melissa designed for me this year. I love that the color is a little different and the vest that goes with it is very fun!

SS: Do you wear anything for good luck in the show ring?
APS: I lose most of the things that I think are lucky throughout the year! I have a tie tack right now that I think is lucky. I’m very superstitious about who does my hair. Believe it or not there is definitely a lucky bun!

SS: What is one thing you never go in the ring without?
APS: I prefer to never go in the ring without my husband, Rhein on one side of the arena and my trainer Joel on the other.

SS: How would you describe your non-horse show style?
APS: My non horse show style is normally very simple.

SS: What has been your biggest accomplishment as a rider?
APS: I’m not sure I have a biggest accomplishment as a rider. I would say one of the moments I am most proud of was being National Champion Half Arabian country 18-35 in 2012 on a 4 year old since he was not allowed to compete in the Maturity. This year, I showed the same horse and was able to win the maturity. To be able to win two years in row on such a special horse meant a lot to me!

SS: What are your riding goals for the future?
APS: I would like to continue to be successful on the horses I have bred and raised.

SS: Who has been the most influential in your riding career?
APS: My parents have supported me so much in my riding career. They are always on the rail and at the shows to help me with anything I need. Without them, I would never have been able to accomplish what I have.

Be Prepared I love the simplicity of The Girl Scouts motto, “Be Prepared,” as it provides the perfect reminder for all situations, including horse shows. And no other horse show requires more need for preparation and readiness than Nationals….which starts in FOUR DAYS (!!!).

But preparing for Nationals can be stressful. The last thing you want to be doing is scrambling around the morning you are leaving (or, worse the morning you are showing) to gather last minute items.

So, to help prevent that, I decided to make my life (and hopefully yours) a little easier this year by making a horse show checklist containing anything and everything us riders will need to get us through the show. Hope it helps!

Hair:

• Hair Brush
• Elastic Hair Ties
• Bobby Pins
• Hair Pins
• Hair Nets
• Hair Spray
• Bun Bows and/or Sparkle Hair Pins (optional)

Make-up:

• Make-up brushes & sponges
• Q-tips
• Foundation
• Concealer
• Pressed powder
• Blush
• Eye shadow(s)
• Eyeliner
• Mascara
• Lipstick
• Lip gloss

Show Clothes:

• All of your show apparel (i.e., shirts, ties / scarves, jackets, vests, pants / chaps, etc.)
  ☆ Be sure to have an idea of what you are going to wear for each one of your classes. & try them on ahead of time! If you have lost or gained weight you want to head over to Show Season ASAP to see if alterations can be made in time before you show!
• Show hat(s)/helmets(s)
• Gloves
• Boots
• Spurs

Finishing Touches:

• Tie bar
• Tie pin
• Lapel pin
• Number pins or magnets
• Earrings (preferably kept small; i.e., pearls, diamonds, colored stones, etc.)

Miscellaneous:

• Make-up remover wet wipes (these little gems are perfect for touching up make-up smudged collars or removing slime from your jacket if a horse decides to sneeze on you)
• Assorted safety pins
• Sewing kit
• Electrical tape (for taping boots)
• Lint roller
• Felt hat cleaning sponges