| Dressage is a riding discipline that celebrates discipline, | | | | but they are a sign of respect. The tail should be left |
| grace, elegance, and beauty. It is a riding discipline that | | | | upbraided. The horses hooves should be polished with |
| is made even more beautiful by its simplicity. | | | | either clear or black hoof polish. The horses bit should |
| When is comes to outfitting the dressage rider less is | | | | be a simple snaffle, curb bits are not acceptable in |
| better. A rider competing in the lower levels should be | | | | dressage competitions, the bit can not include any |
| wearing well polished black hunt or field boots. They | | | | copper. The bit should be attached to a plain leather |
| should have invested in a pair of britches. A clean | | | | bridle. On the horses back their should be a leather |
| white shirt should be worn with a collar and ta stock | | | | saddle. At the lower levels of competition the rider can |
| pin. Covering the white shirt should be wearing a dark | | | | choose between a black or brown colored saddle and |
| colored jacket. The riders hands should be covered in | | | | they have the option of using a dressage saddle or a |
| dark colored gloves that will help disguise the | | | | dressage saddle. Under the saddle their should be a |
| movement of the riders hands. If the rider has long hair | | | | saddle blanket, the blanket can be black or white and |
| is should be gathered up and tucked neatly out of | | | | be either a square cut or can be shaped to follow the |
| sight. On the riders head should be a black helmet. If | | | | line of the saddle. |
| the rider is a junior rider, under the age of eighteen, | | | | Once a rider has reached the upper levels of |
| many show committees require that the rider's helmet | | | | dressage competition their are a few subtle changes in |
| should meet ASTM/SEI standards and have a | | | | their show attire. FEI rules require that they wear a pair |
| fastened harness. Unless the rider is aboard a hot | | | | of white britches. Hunt coats are no longer allowed, |
| horse (high spirited horse with an excessive amount of | | | | riders are required to wear the longer, more elegant |
| go) the rider should have a pair of spurs which help | | | | shad belly. Although their is no rule banning the wearing |
| dress up the rider's leg. | | | | of a helmet most riders choose to wear a derby style |
| A rider competing in the lower levels of dressage | | | | hat. Black gloves are replaced with white gloves. |
| should make sure their horses tack follows the same | | | | Just like the riders show clothing there are some |
| simple guidelines as the riders apparel. Before entering | | | | changes made in the horses tack. The bridle must be |
| the competition the horses coat should be clean and | | | | made of black leather, in the horses mouth their should |
| well groomed. Long before leaving for the show the | | | | be two bits in the horses mouth, a snaffle bit and a |
| rider should have pulled their horses mane and on the | | | | curb bit. A whip is no longer allowed in competition. The |
| morning of the show they should have plaited the | | | | horse must be braided. The saddle must be a |
| shortened, thinned mane into several tidy braids, if they | | | | dressage style cut and be made of blackleather. |
| have a horse with a nice steady head set they can | | | | Some riders have chosen to add a jewel encrusted |
| wrap the braids with white adhesive tape, at the lower | | | | brow band to dress up a plain horses head. |
| levels of competition braids are not actually required | | | | |