Last week I poked a little fun at what western dressage riders are wearing for both schooling and show. This week I want to bring you the reality of the situation from manufacturers who give us the products that will ultimately be seen in rings around the country. Last week I showed you the proposed North American Western Dressage rules for WD show attire. Since the requirements state that riders must wear a long-sleeved shirt with a collar and pants of conservative style and color, I wonder where dyed-in-the-wool western show girls will be able to “bling it up” a little? Reading on in the rules, we find that chaps are optional and that there is a whole category for “Accessories.” That sounds like the place for sparkle to me! While the belt is required, a necktie, kerchief, bolo tie or pin, a vest, jacket or coat, and conservative hair accessories may be worn.
Of curious mind, I contacted several manufacturers. The first was a small company called “Western Dressage Wear” based in the little town of Deming Washington. Owner and seamstress Susan Adrian showed on the Quarter Horse circuit and is now actively showing her QH in Western Dressage. She says she found Dressage clothing “so boring” and wondered what she should wear when she and a friend went to attend the western dressage classes at the Whidbey Island Equestrian Center Dressage Schooling Show. Susan describes the experience: “Kirstin showed in her "regular" show clothes that day. A bright blue sparkly, stretchy top, blingy belt, black chaps and black helmet. The reaction was to the belt. "Too bright", they said. So we hiked up her chaps that day to try and hide the belt. After the show I went home and made myself the black vest, later to be called my Signature Vest, and brought it out to the barn I boarded my horse at. "Wow! I want one!" were the comments. So I made Kirstin a vest in which she wore at the 2nd Whidbey Island Dressage Schooling show and the same people that commented on the "bright" belt said "Perfect! That's better! You need to market that!" Today, her custom styles, influenced by that feedback, retain the dressy, sparkly effect that she valued from the western show world, but respect the conservative styling appreciated in the dressage world.
Susan says of her styles "The longer body styling of the vest covers the belt slightly and slims the waistline, as well as keeps a neat appearance. I am experimenting with different fabrics right now but do like the slightly heavier imitation leather fabric. No fringe either because it is very distracting. More forward movement is going to make that fringe move more so all our designs are in keeping with the idea of bringing everything in close to the rider.” Susan’s creations can be seen on the website at www.westerndressagewear.net. She reports good reactions to the style at the shows, noting the “…wow factor especially to the original creations.” She has brought the bling with buttons and rhinestone necklines to retain the sparkle western riders have come to adore. As far as colors she states: "I like to color coordinate my outfit with the horses I show. That's the fun of showing! We are a new business so we are excited to see what people really want to wear.” To express your thoughts on Western Dressage attire, email her at [email protected].
Next, I asked Mary Cobey, Director of Sales and Marketing at Kerrits in Bingen, Washington if Kerrits had any plans to develop a line of western dressage products. She answered: “At this time Kerrits does not offer apparel specific to western dressage, however our boot cut Microcord riding pant is very popular in many disciplines. If there is a sizable interest Kerrits would be open to seeing what we could develop for the discipline.” Doesn’t that sound awesome? Questions that Kerrits needs to have answered before embarking on a mission to develop WD apparel, are “What kind of fabrics do you want to try?” “What colors?” “What style, pull on or zip front?” “Belt loop or elastic waist or both?” “Knee patch or full seat?” “Will WD riders be satisfied with a faux denim fabric that looks like a jean but performs as a technical tight? It is very light weight, has no inner leg seams, wicks and breathes, with four way stretch and comes in a boot cut style.” To help Kerrits manufacture specific apparel for WD, answer the questions above or make suggestions and email Mary at [email protected].
Shop for Kerrits Breeches at SmartPak.
Kerrits Denim Boot Cut Breeches
Finally I contacted Suzi Vlietstra, President of Hobby Horse Clothing Company, the popular western clothing manufacturer whose apparel options have become the standard in the western show world. I asked her if Hobby Horse has any plans to develop a western dressage line. Like Mary at Kerrits, she was excited about the possibilities opening up for manufacturers to fulfill the needs of riders in this new discipline. Suzi assures Western Dressage riders that “We are definitely watching the development.” She also recommends that competitors look at the existing line of products as some of the products will already be appropriate for western dressage. What excited me was her admission that Hobby Horse is currently developing a fringed riding pant. How cool is that? Suzi wants WD riders to know that “Our line of products is geared toward the female rider who rides and shows their own horse so we are excited to see where the discipline goes and to have the opportunity to meet the apparel needs of those show girls.” You can be part of the development of Hobby Horse’s Western Dressage clothing line by emailing your comments and suggestions to [email protected].
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Michelle Binder is the founder of the Relational Riding Academy. Relational Riding is a program that utilizes dressage as fundamental training for all horses performing in all disciplines. She has been an ARIA certified Instructor since 1989. She is currently working on her second book “Relational Riding: A Horsemanship Tutorial,” and has completed work on two professional video productions, “Any Horse, Any Rider: Relational Riding: A Universal Foundation.” and "Understand Riding From the Ground Up."