BRAIDING:
HORSES ARE TO BE BRAIDED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE NECK FOR HUNTERS AND
EQUITATION.
THE BRAIDS SHOULD BE SMALL NEAT AND TIGHT . THE YARN SHOULD BE THE COLOR
OF THE HORSE .
IF YOU CANNOT BRAID WELL, HAVE A FRIEND HELP YOU, OR PAY A PROFESSIONAL
TO DO IT FOR YOU ! IT MAKES A GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION TO HAVE PERFECT
BRAIDS!!!
HORSES ATTIRE:
HORSES SHOULD WEAR A ’HUNTER TYPE’ BRIDLE-NO COLORED BROWBANDS OR NOSEBANDS,
NO DROPPED OR FIGURE 8 NOSEBANDS (EXCEPT IN SOME EQUITATION CLASSES
--- ASK THE MANAGER OR SHOW STEWARD).
NOSEBANDS ARE TO BE ADJUSTED ½ INCH BELOW THE CHEEKBONES AND
NOT CRANKED TOO TIGHTLY -- JUST TIGHT ENOUGH TO FIT 2 FINGERS INSIDE
THE NOSEBAND.
BROWN IS THE COLOR FOR A HUNTER BRIDLE WITH LACED LEATHER REINS. NO
RUBBER OR OTHER FABRIC ON THE REINS EXCEPT IN SOME EQUITATION CLASSES
AND ALSO IN CASE OF WET WEATHER --- ASK THE SHOW STEWARD OR MANAGER.
BITS FOR HUNTERS:
SNAFFLES : D- RING / FULL CREEK / EGG BUTT / LOOSE RING ARE OK. MOUTHPIECES:
PLAIN METAL / COPPER / FAST OR SLOW TWIST / EVEN DOUBLE TWISTED WIRE
ARE ALL ACCEPTABLE. ALSO FOR A STRONGER HORSE, TOM THUMB PELHAMS WITH
BROKEN, MULLEN OR RUBBER MOUTHS ARE FINE. BUT NO GAGS – PLAIN CURBS
– DOUBLE BRIDLES- KIMBERWICKES - HACAKAMORES OR FIXED SNAFFLES WITH
REIN & BRIDLE LOOPS .
STANDING MARTINGALES:
A BREASTPLATE WITH A STANDING MARTINGALE ATTACHMENT OR A REGULAR STANDING
MARTINGALE IS CONSIDERED NORMAL HUNTER ATTIRE FOR OVER FENCES CLASSES
-- DO NOT ADJUST TOO SHORT OR TOO LONG --- ASK FOR HELP IF YOU DO NOT
KNOW HOW TO ADJUST A MARTINGALE!
RUNNING MARTINGALES:
ARE NOT USED IN HUNTERS BUT THEY ARE ALLOWED IN SOME EQ OVER FENCES
CLASSES SUCH AS THE USET MEDALS — JUST ASK THE HORSE SHOW MANAGER OR
STEWARD!
FLAT CLASSES :
NO MARTINGALES ARE ALLOWED IN FLAT CLASSES EXCEPT SOME EQUITATION MEDAL
CLASS WORK OFFS --- CHECK WITH THE SHOW MANAGER OR STEWARD. A BREASTPLATE
IS OK.
HUNTER SADDLES:
SHOULD BE A ‘HUNTER TYPE’ OR A HUNTER SEAT EQUITATION SADDLE SUCH AS
A CROSBY PRIX DE NATIONS OR A NICE CLOSE CONTACT SADDLE. ALL PURPOSE
SADDLES ARE NOT AS ATTRACTIVE AND DO NOT BALANCE THE RIDER THE SAME
( NO DRESSAGE SADDLES).
HUNTER SADDLE PADS:
SHOULD BE ‘FITTED’ (OR CONTOUR SHAPED), WHITE ONLY. THEY ARE ALSO CALLED
‘CLOSE CONTACT’ PADS ( NO SQUARE PADS ALLOWED). POMMEL PADS OR LIFTER
PADS ARE ALLOWED UNDER THE SADDLES AS LONG AS THEY ARE NOT LOUD COLORS
AND ARE WELL FITTED.
LEG BOOTS:
ARE NOT ALLOWED ON HUNTER HORSES. BUT EQUITATION OVER FENCES OR MEDAL
HORSES ARE ALLOWED TO WEAR LEG BOOTS IN SOME CLASSES. ASK THE STEWARD
OR MANAGER OF THE SHOW.
ATTIRE FOR RIDERS OF HUNTERS AND
HUNTER SEAT EQUITATION :
HUNT COATS:
THE BEST COAT COLOR IS STILL NAVY BLUE FOR BOTH DIVISIONS AND NOW THERE
ARE SEVERAL NEW COLORS OF HUNT COATS THAT ARE NICE FOR THE HUNTERS,
INCLUDING BROWNS, PATTERNS, AND DARK GREENS ETC.
SHIRTS:
LONG SLEEVED RIDING SHIRTS IN COLORS TO GO WITH JACKET.
GLOVES:
BLACK GLOVES THAT MATCH THE BOOTS AND HELMET MAKE A POLISHED LOOK! A
RIDER WITH BARE HANDS LOOKS UNPROFESSIONAL!
BREECHES:
THE BEST COLOR IS THE TAILORED SPORTSMAN ‘GREENISH BEIGE’ (TAN OR PLAIN
BEIGE IS OK TOO). WHITE BREECHES ARE FOR CLASSIC EVENTS ONLY AND NO
NAVY /GREEN / GREY / BLACK / TAN / BROWN/ OR BRICK BREECHES --- EXCEPT
FOR SCHOOLING!
BELTS: NARROW LEATHER
TO FIT INSIDE BELT LOOPS, NO LOUD COLORS OR GAUDY SILVER BUCKLES.
BOOTS:
SHOULD BE TALL / BLACK / WELL FITTED / POLISHED AND WELL BROKEN IN !!!
DO NOT TRY TO SHOW IN NEW STIFF BOOTS --- IT IS AGONY !!! BREAK THEM
IN BY WEARING AT LEAST A FEW MONTHS AND ALSO A LITTLE WETTING WITH A
SPONGE AND WARM WATER ON THE ANKLES -- HELPS BEND THE LEATHER ! ****USE
A TINY BIT OF RUBBER CEMENT ON THE INSIDE OF THE BOOT - THE SIDE AGAINST
THE SADDLE! THIS WILL IMPROVE YOUR GRIP AND GET RID OF THAT SLIPPERY
FEELING !!!
PONY RIDERS SHOULD WEAR JODHPURS
AND PADDOCK BOOTS.
SPURS:
SHOULD BE SHORT ‘PRINCE OF WALES’ STYLE WITH BLACK LEATHER STRAPS. SPURS
SHOULD BE SET LEVEL ON THE SPUR REST --- NOT POINTING UP OR DOWN.
HELMETS:
SHOULD BE ASTM APPROVED AND BLACK VELVET WITH CHIN STRAP & PROPERLY
ADJUSTED.
HAIR:
SHOULD BE PLASTERED UNDER A HAIR NET WITH SPRAY OR GEL, NO STRAY HAIRS
WAVING IN THE BREEZE. HAIR NET SHOULD BE SECURED TIGHTLY WITH SNAP CLIPS.
EARRINGS SHOULD BE TINY!
MAKEUP: --- LESS IS BETTER
!!!
STICK OR WHIP:
A SHORT ONE SHOULD BE CARRIED.
**** BE SURE TO HAVE CLEAN TOWELS
TO WIPE YOUR BOOTS OFF RIGHT BEFORE ENTERING THE ARENA. BE AS SPOTLESSLY
CLEAN AS YOU CAN, IT MAKES A GREAT FIRST IMPRESSION !
