If you’re getting ready for the show season and you’re not sure what you need to wear, this blog is here to help. With different classes, it can be tricky to make sure you’re in the correct show attire, but hopefully you’ll get all you need from our guide! Keep in mind that this blog is written with a focus on British showing, and we would always advise you to double check with the show rules before you leave for the show.*
Let’s start with headwear – we’re very passionate about safety at RB Equestrian, and we believe this should extend into every equestrian activity. For showing it’s important that you look neat and tidy (most people will wear some kind of velvet hat and navy is the most popular colour). However, the rules for headwear are varied and all shows and/or show societies will have different requirements for the hat safety standards you’ll need to adhere to. We strongly recommend you check in advance to make sure the hat you’re planning to wear (or buy) is what you need.
For hunters and cobs, Arabs, riding horses, and hacks, a bowler hat or hunting cap is suggested. For side saddle, a bowler or silk hat with a veil is required. For evening performances in the hunters and cobs, top hats or hunting caps are part of the suggested attire. For under 18, an approved riding helmet is required for Arab classes.
Carrying on the safety focus, there are some classes where body protectors are needed too. These include hunters and cobs in BSPS working hunter classes and working hunter pony classes. Air jackets, however, are not allowed.
Moving onto legwear. You’ll need fawn, cream or buff breeches for hunters and cobs, riding horses, hacks, working hunter ponies, and Mountain & Moorland. For plaited ponies, jodhpurs can be worn in beige, corn, white, canary or cream. For Arabs, breeches or jodhpurs can be worn in cream or beige. And, for side saddle, you’ll need a habit!
Now, let’s focus on show jackets. For hunters and cobs, working hunter ponies, and Mountain & Moorland, you’ll need a tweed jacket for the day. For riding horses, tweed is also acceptable but women may opt for blue or black instead. For hacks, ladies should wear black or blue and men should wear tweed. For plaited ponies, if you’re showing show ponies you’ll need black or navy, and tweed is required for hunter ponies. For Arabs, tails with top hat, or a formal jacket is required.
Moving down to boots. Long boots in black or brown with garter strap fixings are recommended for hunters and cobs, riding horses, hacks, and Arabs . For plaited ponies, jodhpurs boots in black or brown with jodhpur clips are required. This footwear can also be worn for working hunter ponies and Mountain & Moorland, depending on the age of the rider and the breed of pony. An alternative is long boots in black or brown.
Spurs can be worn by adults in hunters and cobs, riding horses, hacks, and specific spurs worn for Arabs. For side saddle, only one spur can be worn. For BSPS classes with riders under 16 and horses under 148cm, spurs are forbidden. For Mountain and Moorland, spurs are also forbidden.
When it comes to gloves for showing, they’re a must for hunters and cobs, riding horses, hacks, working hunter ponies, and Mountain & Moorland, and should be in brown, fawn or tan. For plaited ponies, gloves are also required, but there are more colours available to wear including the brown of the other classes with the addition of black, cream, white and beige.
Finally, let’s look at whips, crops and canes. Some classes such as hunters and cobs, riding horses, hacks, and side saddle, stipulate a show cane. Plaited ponies and Mountain & Moorland allows whips up to a certain length, working hunter ponies recommends padded whips under 75cm for BSPS WHP classes.
Trying to work out exactly what to wear isn’t easy when it comes to showing as there’s a big variation across the classes and even the time of day. The above is a very good guide, but we would also advise checking the rules of the specific class at the show you’re attending to ensure all your equipment is correct before you leave the yard and head to your competition.
* This blog was written in May 2025 and rules may have changed since then.
