Horse and Rider Equipment

What do horses wear in the show ring?



It is the final product you see when a horse walks into the show ring, and, although it may be picture perfect, it takes a lot of time, thought, and effort to reach that perfection.  Beginning with the grooming.  A horse has to be shiny and crisp when it enters the ring, so there is plenty of time and products devoted to reach this outcome. The horse's coat, mane, hooves, and tail are all key points which must be in flawless shape before any tack even goes on.  Now comes the complicated descriptions...the variety of tack. Firstly, a showjumping horse usually wears boots on all four legs for support and protection. Equifit's T-boots are quite popular these days. A saddle pad is put on first, which contains the number and embroidery of either the rider's barn or sponsor. On top of that, is a gel pad or wither pad to absorb shock and prevent any sore spots between the horse's back and saddle. And next, of course, comes the saddle. The saddle stays on the horses back over the big jumps all because of the girth, which fit's snugly around the belly. It attaches to the saddle's billets, and, in the big classes, a belly girth is used to prevent the studs in the horse's hooves from knicking his belly. Now, attached to the middle of the girth, you will find a piece of tack called a running martingale. This crafted leather contraption leads from the girth to the reins, and its purpose is to retain the horse's head, keep it from getting too high.  Rubber reins with stoppers to keep the martingale from getting caught on the bit  are used in every jumper class. A bridle is used, oftentimes with a figure eight piece to keep the horse's mouth shut. Bits can vary from horse to horse, and that is where you need to experiment. A popular bit for the jumper ring is a full cheek snaffle. For stronger horses, there are types of gags many like to use, and there are always the rubber bits for horses with a softer mouth. And don't forget, those hats you may see on a show horse's head are called fly bonnets. They are used to keep flies off of their ears, to keep earplugs in, or even just for good looks.

What do riders wear in the show ring?
First things first... We must wear an approved helmet. Some popular brands include GPA, Charles Owen, and Antares. Seen at shows are the traditional looking helmets as well as the fashion-forward/high tech helmets. Moving down, a rider has the option of wearing either a collared polo shirt or a show shirt and a show jacket. Breeches are worn, usually tan colored.  The jumper classics and Grand Prixes require formal attire, which includes white breeches and a show jacket, and, for the guys, that means a tie too! For the footwear aspect of a riders wardrobe, tallboots are worn. These leather boots are typically black (although sometimes riders get fancy with a brown top or flashy diamonds) and they fit snug around the rider's leg, giving a slimming look and allowing the closest possible contact between horse and rider. Accessories to a rider's wardrobe may include gloves (usually black), spurs, and a stick.  If you're looking for somewhere to buy a "rider's outfit," we recommend you visit doversaddlery.com, smartpakequine.com, or beval.com.