Your Personal Horse Show Wardrobe Stylist.

Today I'm going to be writing about how to put your horse show wardrobe together. Now for some of you reading this your probably thinking "I already have a wardrobe". While true maybe you want to redo it and are not quite sure how to begin. For this blog we're going to be working on your "western" outfit. 

If your new to horse showing then a bit of research is needed on your part.  Being that this is fall and most shows are done for the season, we can still do quite a bit of research with the help of "YouTube" video's.  Go there and check out what folks are wearing in the show pen.  Whether its an open local show, a 4-H sponsered show, a regional breed show or an "A" curcuit show.  Each one has slightly differing styles even though they are "Western".

Also be sure to check what your horses' registered association has to say about attire.  Most will list items to be of suitable, workmanlike condition. These will include a hat, long sleeve shirt with collar, jeans or pants, with a belt, and boots with at least a 1" heel. Ties, jackets, vests, scarves are most often optional.   Nothing in the rules say you have to have "Bling" on your outfit.  Your saying great I can save money.  Well not so fast, while true, the reality is that judging is subjective.
 From the minute you and your horse walk into the arena you are being judge on not only your horses and yours training but how you look.  And how you look will depend on if you and your horse stand out.  So having some of that bright colored bling on your outfit will help the judge "remember" you and your horse.
  Think of it as "Jockey colors", each jockey wears a different bright silk color(s) so that the spectators and the announcer can keep track of who is who, well with judges its the same thing.  I can't tell you how many times I've lost a great horse and rider on the rail because they didn't stand out enough to keep me focused on them or I simply forgot they were in the arena.  So you need to think about that.  Decide how much bling you want. Do you want loud and colorful or more sedate and blingy, think brown, greys, black etc. 

Some other questions to think about, **Budget, how much do you realistically have to spend, since we are starting this now in the fall, you have alot of time to save up some money to make a quality purchase for say chaps, or a 5x hat.  (The more x's on the hat the better the quality, always purchase what you can afford and upgrade later when you can, some items can be found at swap, and tack sales, which will be starting in January and February and into March.)  Keep a list with you and mark off items as you aquire them. Don't over spend and try not to use credit cards too much, if you do use credit keep in mind how long its going to take to pay off your purchase.  Always buy quality classics that will last you several seasons, these are usually your boots, hat and chaps.  You can change up your rail shirt, jackets, and vests.  Try to avoid trends if you can, these can be costly and by the time you get one it could be going "out".  In the western world some things are "in" for a VERY short time. 

**What colors do you like and what colors look good on your horse? How do you want to express yourself?  Pick out one of your favorite shirts that you wear often and looks good on you.  Take it with you out to your horse and lay it across his back. Does that color compliment the horses coloring too? Can it be seen from 50-100 feet away?  If not here's an idea to still get what you want and like.  Use your favorite color as a design element, maybe as crystals or applique`, or as a swirl or paisly pattern.  Look for fabrics that incorporate the color while having  a base color of a neutral that will work with your horses color.  If this is kinda driving you nuts go to "HobbyHorseInc.com" they have a color wheel that will tell you what looks good with what color horse.  Very handy tool. You want to make sure the colors you choose make you feel confident and energized.  I once worked for a company that had a dress code that only allowed you to wear 4 colors, red, black, grey and white, and nothing else, These colors always made me depressed and feeling demoralized, not good for a job in the public.  So I change companies and went to one that had no restrictions on colors, so now I wear alot of purple, it make me feel good, and energized and happy.  Color DOES affect how we feel.

**Another design element to think about is the collar and cuffs of your rail shirt.  Decide if you want a tall (think Elvis) collar, a regular type collar,(think dress shirt) or a manderine style collar.  Same with the cuffs, do you want french and do you want them detachable (this is a good option when one cuff suddenly goes missing or they just don't feel comfortable that day). Do you want just a simple placket cuff with a button, (again think dress shirt), or just a simple turned up hem,(the most comfortable of all, but make sure the sleeves are long enough, they should hit at your wrist bone when bent while holding the reins.) 

This will give you a bit of food for thought and get you started on a new wardrobe or changing up a current one.  Get yourself a small notebook (like a reporters notebook) and jot down ideas and maybe make a sketch or two and keep it with you, you never know when insiration strikes, plus, you have something to show a seamstress if you decide to have something custom made.   Next blog will be about style rules. "Style Rules" in the show arena?  Yes there are! Happy Trails!!!

Disclaimer: HobbyHorseInc.com, did not compensate this blogger for mention in the above article.  I mentioned them because they have a great tool using the color wheel and adapting it with horse colors.  Its an excellent tool when deciding on what colors will work with you and your horse.