Proper Hunter/Jumper Attire

For anyone who rides in today’s hunter and jumper competitions, the requirements and expectations for what is considered “proper” attire can be somewhat confusing, if not contradictory. Still, it has come a long way from the earliest days of those competitions. Since most of the styles evolved as a result of growing interest on the part of foxhunters to develop new and different ways to show off their horses and their own equestrian skills, most of the early standards for riders’ attire grew out of the foxhunting tradition. Over the years, the fashion for the show ring has evolved and adapted to the particular demands of the various disciplines.

Initially, show apparel was casual, featuring mixed tweeds and soft caps or fedoras as head wear for men and bowlers for the ladies. Brown field or three buckle boots were the standard. In “appointment” classes where the judging concentrated on the appearance and turnout of both horse and rider, formal fox hunting attire and hunting tack were the expected norm. Sewn in bridles with flat leather, string gloves under the billets, a sandwich case and flask on the saddle were all popular at most shows until recently when they have been reserved for side saddle and specific fox hunting classes.

International jumper classes require the most formal attire of navy, black, dark green, scarlet team coats or military uniforms. White or lightly colored shirts with white collar and cuffs, white choker for women, tie for gentlemen or hunting stock, and white or buff (for women) breeches, and black dress boots complete the wardrobe for this level of competition. Some have begun wearing special colored coats and embroidered emblems on their breeches and coats representing sponsorship.

Men wear black boots with brown tops when wearing a scarlet or team coat of another color. Otherwise men and women wear black dress boots. An ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials)/SEI (Safety Equipment Institute) approved helmet with a three-point retention harness secured and properly fitted is mandatory. Police officers and military members may compete in their uniforms.

In the lower levels of jumper competitions the attire is a bit different. For several years polo shirts with breeches were customary and sometimes the required dress code in many classes. As of December 2007 the USEF (the governing body for equestrian competitions in this country) ruled that riders competing in jumper classes without a coat must wear a shirt with a collar or a choker, neatly tucked into their breeches.

Formal attire for hunters is a bit different. Women showing in Hunter Classics often wear a swallowtail coat with a white shirt and stock tie, buff breeches and black boots. Safety approved helmets have replaced top hats and bowlers. When a tailcoat is not chosen, a navy, black, charcoal gray or dark hunter green show coat is appropriate.

Adult men may wear scarlet show or hunting coats. It is inappropriate for male junior riders to wear scarlet, unless the rules permit. It is important to honor the tradition. Men have to earn the privilege to wear scarlet in the hunting field; young men and boys in the show ring rarely have the experiences to wear a scarlet coat. Black dress boots with brown tops, white or canary breeches, white shirts with a white tie or hunting stock are proper to compliment the coat.

The equitation division with its various medal classes is looked upon as formal. Riders traditionally wear dark coats with white shirts – white chokers for women and conservative ties for men. Whenever formal attire is worn, black dress boots are correct. Many riders do not have multiple pairs of boots so riding in black field boots as a compromise between a brown field boot and the black dress boot is acceptable.

The USEF rulebook states the following as proper attire for the equitation division: “Riders should wear coats of any tweed or Melton for hunting (conservative wash jackets in season), breeches or jodhpurs and boots. Conservative protective headgear with no additional adornments is mandatory.” This may be surprising to some.

The competition world of hunters and jumpers has had quite an impact on the marketing of proper show attire. Riders on ponies almost always wore jodhpurs, brown jodhpur boots and garters keeping the leg of the jodhpurs from bunching around the knee. Today many of the pony riders are wearing breeches and black field boots.

Riders in the standard hunter classes tend to wear conservative show coats rather than those reminiscent of tweed. Ladies’ shirts and gentlemen’s ties have become places for the riders to show off some personality.

Women generally wear dark gloves in their classes for two reasons. The first is to protect their hands and possibly their jewelry. The second is to camouflage their hands making them blend with the reins and the horse’s neck. When jewelry is worn it ought to be discreet, earrings are to be studs. In English hunter and jumper competitions spurs and stirrups have become items of jewelry. This is a crossover from Western competitors.

Another bit of equipment that has become common to the competitor is that of communication, mobile phone, walkie talkie, pager. None of these is allowed in the show ring. This is a good thing for they can be badly damaged if fallen upon, not to mention what may happen to the human body part, usually the back area.

A properly fitted jacket has a trim silhouette on the body no matter what the dimensions of the rider may be. Along the shoulder blades there is to be enough room to move the arms forward when jumping over a fence. The sleeve length allows for a small amount of cuff to be visible when the arms are bent at the elbow holding the reins. The back of the jacket should fall at the crease in the top of the thigh where it joins the buttocks.

Shirt collars and cuffs should be snug around the neck and wrist maintaining a tidy appearance. A snug armhole eliminates the bat wing effect. This allows the jacket to fit more comfortably and reduces the annoyance of the shirt pulling out of the breeches’ waistband.

Boots should be tall enough to hit just at the back of the knee when the rider’s leg is bent. Zippered boots have become very common, and they offer a tighter leg and ankle than traditional pull on boots. The outside top of the leg can have an extended curve over the side of the knee commonly referred to a Spanish top.

Breeches should be canary, rust or tan, and there are several acceptable shades of tan. Fashion colors and patterns on the breeches are not allowed. Young riders, usually riding ponies, wear jodhpurs and dark brown paddock boots with brown garters.
When weather is wet, rain jackets are acceptable as long as they are tidy. Half chaps representing the leg of a tall boot and paddock boots are a good alternative to wearing show boots, especially when there may not be time for the tall boots to dry out properly before showing the following day. There are rain breeches available, as well.

Whoever said, “Clothes don't make the man (or woman)”? There's no question that when you're as well turned out as possible, it will give you an added boost to your confidence to let you shine no matter what level of hunter or jumper show you compete in.




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