Which jacket?

[Super*Nuka]

I was in Holmstead at the weekend and there are quite a few bargains to be had! But I was looking at the show jackets, but to be honest, I’m really not sure what am looking at or what I should be looking for in a show jacket or what jackets are ‘acceptable’ in certain disciplines or does that make sense???

I will be joining a riding club in the new year and will need to get myself kitted out for entry into competitions ect, but with the jacket, I'm not 100% sure what I should be looking for!! Is there any 'show jacket faux-paux' I should be looking out for!!! lol

They had a really nice jacket that was reduced from €229 to €29.99!! Couldnt believe my eyes! It was plain black with about four buttons down the front and vented. It was really plain but quite nice. There were other ones with velvet collars that were very nice but more expensive. And of course, they had other colours like navy. I know that tweed jackets are generally for hunting but can you get away with a show jacket? I’m not really concerned about dressage entry cause neither me or Nuka are any good at it!! More concerned about showjumping and hunting!
Help!

[georgie]

Hey!
No way ! that was a great bargin...i could do with a new show jacket...the buttons have already fallen off mine and re-swed...
did they have many of them left ?

a plain jacket is just fine if u just plan on jumping and hunting..the tweed jackets would be more for showing...and they are very hot too ! especially in the summer...u rarely seen anyone buying a tweed jacket for jumping ect..
my jackets just plain black but the inside is lined with gold and the buttons have gold in the middle..

[High_Stepper]

Hi SuperNuka

I was in your situation last year, I wanted one jacket to cover as much as possible.

A black jacket will cover you for Dressage, Show jumping, and showing in a Ridng Horse class (but showing is a whole other kettle of fish so I'm not getting into that minefield).

A tweed jacket will cover you for showing and ridden hunter Show classes and for Showjumping. you can defo wear it when SJ'ing in the RC.

I got a black Eskadron Diana jacket that I wear for everything - dressage and jumping.

For real hunting people wear those heavy wool black jackets for warmth and protection, they weigh a ton and you wouldn't be able to do a sj or dressage in one, you'd boil!

29.99 is a great bargain, and to be honest i like the very plain black jackets.

I'd go black jacket to get started (if you get navy you'll be after a navy hat.. and so the expensive neverending purchasing of rider clothes begins :D)

[Little-Miss-Muppet]

Plain navy or black perfect for showjumping whichever colour matches your hat silk. 29.99 is a bargain. I got one of my jackets in holmestead bargain section too and its lasted years. re sizes if you wanted to wear a BP underneath the jacket you may need to buy a slightly larger size. I have a plain navy jacket for SJ have had it over twelve years it was bargain! My Bp fits under it and it cost me v little.
I have a tweed fitted jacket as well which I wear for dressage and showing where I would not be wearing bp.

You should be able to wear the same type of jacket hunting? If you are hunting regularly only thing I would say is that jackets specifically made for hunting are a LOT warmer. however they are also more expensive too so only worth it if you hunt a lot I think.

[Karnon316]

Same with me . I had a black jacket first to do dressage ,sj etc .

I got a tweed cause we were planning on doing some showing classes when she gets better .

for €30 you couldn't say no

[storm]

I agree with what' already been said...29.99 is a fantastic price :nod:

I have a black jacket which I wore for everything (including hunting and a couple of showing classes). Last Christmas I got a tweed which I now wear for showing and Hunting (the odd time I go). The black jacket did me for a good few years though (and if I'm honest...I only got the tweed because I wanted to enter a good few showing classes)!

[1whitesock]

Just to be the one dissenting voice - first jacket was tweed - you can dressage in it, event in it, hunt & I've never been told I couldn't SJ in it...I like tweed for dressage as it makes you stand out a little bit (though sometimes that's obviously not a good thing!)

[MountUp]

Tweed is fine for Sj and showing, and I have seen kids use them for dressage etc. however I would always use a black jacket SJ and Dressage. Black will be fine for hunting as well.

The 'real' hunting jackets are very thick and heavy and they protect you very well from the cold and the briars! Just be careful bringing a light jacket out as it may get torn to shreds after a few hunting sessions.

[bob1984]

Black or Navy is fine for what you want to do Karon;
I think in most cases the colour of the jacket worn really only comes into play the more serious you get;

I have a navy jacket which I wear for SJ and Dressage sometimes; currently on the lookout for a new tweed jacket as I finally returned my loan one to YO after about 4 years; I wore that for everything from Showing, WH, to Dressage and SJ in some cases;

You sound like you have come across a bargain, so if you like the jacket and its comfortable, go for it!

[Napoles]

Just to throw another spanner in the works - personally I would prefer navy to black for a girl... I dunno - I just think it's more feminine. Of course it does depend on what colour hat you have already.

I have a navy Pikeur lightweight wool jacket with silver buttons that I use for dressage and eventing mainly. I have a navy heavier wool Caldene for hunting and showing (when the class calls for hunting dress). I also have two tweeds for showing (Alexander James and Pretty Ponies :blushing: ).

The 29.99 sounds like a fantastic bargain - I firmly believe that you get what you pay for with riding jackets and have always waited to get just the right one before buying - even if it means trying on loads of different ones and saving up until you get the one that has just the right fit. If that jacket started out so expensive, than it is most probably wool rather than polyester and should be a better quality.

Personally I wouldn't go for one that I could get a back protector under - that way you end up with a big, baggy jacket - put the BP on over it maybe, but that's just my feeling. I think there's nothing worse than an ill-fitting jacket.

Lastly - if you do spend a bit on your jacket, take really good care of it and it will last you for years! I have had all of mine for years and only had to buy a new tweed one this summer because my other one got ruined in the monsoon at the RDS. (I do prefer the new one though! :D )

[Little-Miss-Muppet]

Personally I wouldn't go for one that I could get a back protector under - that way you end up with a big, baggy jacket - put the BP on over it maybe, but that's just my feeling. I think there's nothing worse than an ill-fitting jacket.

)

I hate an ill fitting jacket but I really hate seeing a back protector worn over one :nod:. I just think it ruins the look and you cannot see the jacket at all.
Thats why I bought my SJ jacket in a size too big and my BP fits under it. Thankfully its a small bp so you cannot see it at all under it. But you are right I wouldnt go putting a bp under an expensive one, a cheapish SJ jacket is better as you wont mind as much then.


I have another inexpensive tweed and a black jacket in a smaller size that is fitted and thats for dressage or showing anything I dont wear a bp for.

[xxkarenxx]

I agree with Napoles on the navy front, but that is mainly a personal choice. If you like black go for that, but navy always seems much smarter to me.

Just for everyone saying tweed for dressage....that is a big no no!! The only time you can wear tweed for dressage is if it is at a ODE. Black and navy is the correct dress for pure dressage and wearing tweed can be seen as disprespectful.

[High_Stepper]

I totally prefer black to navy, navy reminds me of my primay school uniform :puke: horses for courses!

[Napoles]

I hate an ill fitting jacket but I really hate seeing a back protector worn over one :nod:. I just think it ruins the look and you cannot see the jacket at all.
Thats why I bought my SJ jacket in a size too big and my BP fits under it. Thankfully its a small bp so you cannot see it at all under it. But you are right I wouldnt go putting a bp under an expensive one, a cheapish SJ jacket is better as you wont mind as much then.


I have another inexpensive tweed and a black jacket in a smaller size that is fitted and thats for dressage or showing anything I dont wear a bp for.

Out of curiosity - do you have to wear a BP for showjumping in RC? I actually only ever wear my BP going cross country, so never have the issue of wearing it with a jacket.

[High_Stepper]

Out of curiosity - do you have to wear a BP for showjumping in RC? I actually only ever wear my BP going cross country, so never have the issue of wearing it with a jacket.

Yea the old bp for sj! I used to but wouldn't now. I also watched a lot of Primary RC riders a while back doing dressage tests with BPs on. I couldn't understand the logic at all in that.

[bob1984]

I also watched a lot of Primary RC riders a while back doing dressage tests with BPs on. I couldn't understand the logic at all in that.

Confidence issue I would think;
If it makes them feel secure and happy, let them at it;

[Little-Miss-Muppet]

Out of curiosity - do you have to wear a BP for showjumping in RC? I actually only ever wear my BP going cross country, so never have the issue of wearing it with a jacket.


Hi Napoles, no in Riding Club its only a requirement for XC. Theres no rule that you have to wear one for SJ. I just do because with my back problems it would be silly not to I can easily injure myself.

I have a proper standard one (that feels like a cage) that I wear XC. For SJ I just wear my old comfy one that fits under my jacket. Its not current standard but I can move, flex and re act in it and sure its better than me not wearing one :D

[Napoles]

Hi Napoles, no in Riding Club its only a requirement for XC. Theres no rule that you have to wear one for SJ. I just do because with my back problems it would be silly not to I can easily injure myself.


Ah, ok. Yep, it's definitely better to be safe than sorry. I'm as bad with my thumb supports!! :D

[High_Stepper]

Confidence issue I would think;
If it makes them feel secure and happy, let them at it;

Yep, totally, good point. We've all got different margins for how to feel secure.

Sure when I went to go hunting and stuck my BP on I felt like a baby with a big bib on, I was the only person about putting one on. But no way was I going without.

ETA: for sj i feel very uncomfortable with jacket under bp so I don't wear it anymore (it doesn't fit under jacket).

[1whitesock]

I agree with Napoles on the navy front, but that is mainly a personal choice. If you like black go for that, but navy always seems much smarter to me.

Just for everyone saying tweed for dressage....that is a big no no!! The only time you can wear tweed for dressage is if it is at a ODE. Black and navy is the correct dress for pure dressage and wearing tweed can be seen as disprespectful.

Not to argue the point but from the Dressage Ireland rulebook:
22a) Dress.
Advanced Medium and above: Uniform, Tailcoat with Top hat or; Black / Navy Blue coat, correctly tied white / cream
stock, with hunting cap or bowler hat or crash cap. Riders should note when competing in England that Top hat and Tails
are only allowed at Advanced level and above.
N.B. At the discretion of the Organiser, competitors may be permitted to ride without coats in excessively hot weather, but
a suitable shirt that fastens at the neck, with at least short sleeves (not bright or multi-coloured) with a tie or correctly
fastened stock must be worn.
Other tests:
Uniform or Black / Navy blue or tweed coat with correctly tied stock, white American collar or shirt and tie, hunting cap,
bowler hat or crash cap or dressage topper. Only white / cream stocks with Black / Navy coats, or coloured stocks with
tweed coats are correct.A plain, dark coloured waterproof may be worn in wet weather.

[xxkarenxx]

Hmmm we were always told not to wear tweed for pure dressage as it is seen as disrespectful. My etiquette is obviously outdated now!!

[lizamatiz]

Seen a real pro at killossery on sunday wearing twed but everyone eles was wearing navy

[Karnon316]

super nuka is the brand of the jacket eurostar ?

[Super*Nuka]

super nuka is the brand of the jacket eurostar ?

Oh yes I think that was the one! did you see it up there? What do you think?

[Karnon316]

one of the students bought the same jacket a few weeks ago .

They needed to get it for their exam .

Really nice jacket and a good brand . If it fitted me I'd get one :nod:

[clairel]

So I have just last month bought a navy pikeur jacket WITHOUT a velvet collar... can't stand a velvet collar!!! I have only ever had a tweed jacket which is correct dress for eventing up to novice level (I wore mine all this season, only bought a navy jacket as I'm planning on doing a few 1*) and dressage to novice level. Although I don't do affiliated sj, I have competed at the RC SJ champs in a tweed jacket!
Personally I would buy a tweed before a navy/black jacket!
But for RC competitions either would be fine!