Dressage is a riding discipline that celebrates
discipline, grace, elegance, and beauty. It is a riding discipline that
is made even more beautiful by its simplicity.
When is comes to outfitting the dressage rider less is better. A rider
competing in the lower levels should be wearing well polished black hunt
or field boots. They should have invested in a pair of britches. A clean
white shirt should be worn with a collar and ta stock pin. Covering the
white shirt should be wearing a dark colored jacket. The riders hands
should be covered in dark colored gloves that will help disguise the
movement of the riders hands. If the rider has long hair is should be
gathered up and tucked neatly out of sight. On the riders head should be
a black helmet. If the rider is a junior rider, under the age of
eighteen, many show committees require that the rider's helmet should
meet ASTM/SEI standards and have a fastened harness. Unless the rider is
aboard a hot horse (high spirited horse with an excessive amount of go)
the rider should have a pair of spurs which help dress up the rider's
leg.
A rider competing in the lower levels of dressage should make sure their
horses tack follows the same simple guidelines as the riders apparel.
Before entering the competition the horses coat should be clean and well
groomed. Long before leaving for the show the rider should have pulled
their horses mane and on the morning of the show they should have
plaited the shortened, thinned mane into several tidy braids, if they
have a horse with a nice steady head set they can wrap the braids with
white adhesive tape, at the lower levels of competition braids are not
actually required but they are a sign of respect. The tail should be
left upbraided. The horses hooves should be polished with either clear
or black hoof polish. The horses bit should be a simple snaffle, curb
bits are not acceptable in dressage competitions, the bit can not
include any copper. The bit should be attached to a plain leather
bridle. On the horses back their should be a leather saddle. At the
lower levels of competition the rider can choose between a black or
brown colored saddle and they have the option of using a dressage saddle
or a dressage saddle. Under the saddle their should be a saddle blanket,
the blanket can be black or white and be either a square cut or can be
shaped to follow the line of the saddle.
Once a rider has reached the upper levels of dressage competition their
are a few subtle changes in their show attire. FEI rules require that
they wear a pair of white britches. Hunt coats are no longer allowed,
riders are required to wear the longer, more elegant shad belly.
Although their is no rule banning the wearing of a helmet most riders
choose to wear a derby style hat. Black gloves are replaced with white
gloves.
Just like the riders show clothing there are some changes made in the
horses tack. The bridle must be made of black leather, in the horses
mouth their should be two bits in the horses mouth, a snaffle bit and a
curb bit. A whip is no longer allowed in competition. The horse must be
braided. The saddle must be a dressage style cut and be made of black
leather. Some riders have chosen to add a jewel encrusted brow band to
dress up a plain horses head.
