Welcome to the Equestrian Outreach Showing Western Attire, Tack & Turn Out Guidelines Page

Western Show Attire Tack & Turnout Overview
(Note: The western show dress code is regulated show to show. Be sure to inquire prior to the competition)

The Exhibitor (Rider): The rider wears a long-sleeved shirt, sometimes with a vest or jacket, chaps, a cowboy hat, and cowboy boots. Gloves and spurs are optional. Shirts and vests or jackets are often brightly colored and sometimes elaborately decorated to mimic popular styles in western wear. Riders at smaller shows usually wear denim jeans under their chaps, while at regional and national competitions, western-styled polyester dress pants that match the rider's shirt or chaps are worn by women, while men tend to stick to jeans. Men usually wear a neck scarf, often of silk, and women may too wear a neck scarf, but in recent years as rules have been relaxed, brooches and necklaces are now also seen on female riders.
The Horse: The horse carries a western saddle, and wears an open-faced bridle without a noseband. While all western pleasure horses are to be clean (generally bathed prior to a show) and well groomed, with legs, bridle path, ears, muzzle, and other areas neatly clipped, grooming details vary by breed. Length of bridle path is usually determined by breed, with longer-necked breeds usually sporting a longer bridle path than the stock horse breeds.

Western Riding Style Apparel – Halter

Halter Rider: Halter is an in hand class (Exhibitors handles their horse from the ground). In halter classes the judge’s entire focus is on the horse; its conformation, turn out (show preparation) and ground manners. Many exhibitors choose to use their showmanship outfit in a halter class as well.
Often people wear jeans and a western style top or jacket. Some choose to wear a specific halter jacket with black pants, the jacket not necessarily matching the pants. The larger the show the better you want to present yourself, but from what we have seen at some smaller shows the rules for western show clothing in halter are a little more relaxed for the exhibitor.
You still want a nice and clean overall picture to present to the judge.

Western Riding Style Apparel – Horsemanship

Horsemanship Rider: Western horsemanship is another pattern class, under saddle riding your horse. In this class the judge focuses more on the rider and the rider's equitation in the saddle.
You want to choose your western show clothing for this class very carefully. Just like showmanship, you want to present yourself neat and clean. It is in your best interest to select an outfit where the bottom colors flow into the top. You want clean, lengthening lines in your appearance. So again black chaps combined with a bright pink top will cut you in half and again draw the judges eye more to one point of your body. Darker based colors will minimize your movement while on the horse. You want to execute your pattern with little distraction by your hands or legs. If your horse presents a sharp pattern, but the judge is distracted by excessive legs or hands, you may place lower than someone with an equal pattern performance and no distractions.
This is more important at larger breed shows. At smaller open shows you will likely see exhibitors wearing a pleasure blouse in both horsemanship and pleasure. This is ok, but at a larger show you may want to coordinate your colors a little better.
You also may not always have to complete a pattern. Typically at breed circuit shows and larger open shows you will see a pattern combined with some rail work or riding out on the rail. At smaller open shows you may only complete rail work.

Western Riding Style Apparel – Western Showmanship

Showmanship: Showmanship is an in-hand class (Exhibitors handles their horse from the ground). Exhibitor and horse execute a specific pattern, and are judged on the performance of that task. The focus of this class is about precision and presentation. Care should be taken in exhibitor in this class should be clean and non-distracting and the horse should properly turned out (groomed) for showing. Ears, muzzle, and bridle path should all be clipped and clean. Your appearance is also equally important as it is as important a component as the horse in the judging this class.

Western Riding Style Apparel – Western Pleasure

Western Pleasure: Western pleasure is a more popular class at most western horse shows and is well known for the bright and shiny western show clothing worn. In the western pleasure class all of the judges focus is on the horse and its movement through all three gaits.

Western Riding Style Apparel – Western Riding

Western Riding: Western riding can be thought of as a western pleasure class with a ton of lead changes. Your horse is judged on smoothness through the pattern during each transition.
We have seen both horsemanship and western pleasure type outfits during this class. Keep in mind you need to choose what will best suit you and your horse. While the overall look is important this is a class where people can show some styling flair.

Western Riding Style Apparel – Western Trail

Western Trail: In a Trail class is a class where you and your horse complete a pattern through and over obstacles. Patterns are typically more precise and technical as the exhibitor is judged on their equitation and the horse is judged on how smoothly the pattern is completed. Attire for this class is not strictly regulated but should not distract from the skill level of horse and rider.