Horse Show Competition Outfit Guide

Everything You Need to Know About Horse Showing & Hacking Competition Clothing
Whether you're entering your very first local agricultural show, competing in an EA Show Horse class, or preparing for a prestigious Royal Show, knowing what to wear for Horse Showing can feel overwhelming.

Unlike many equestrian disciplines, Horse Showing (also known as Hacking) places enormous emphasis on presentation. Judges aren't simply assessing your horse, they're looking at the complete picture. A beautifully turned-out horse paired with a neatly presented rider creates the polished impression this traditional discipline is famous for.

This is an easy one for me, this is the discipline my daughter competed in.

There's no need to spend $400 or more on a custom-made jacket when you're starting out. Designed to suit most body shapes with little or no alteration, our Georgina (girls) and Ava (ladies) Open Navy Jackets offer timeless style, while our Alexis (ladies) and Romy (girls) Hunter Jackets provide a more, traditional look. Affordable, competition-ready and proven in the ring, our jackets have helped riders of all levels look their best and win ribbons across Australia.

Hot Tip:

Young riders grow quickly, so a custom jacket isn't always the best investment. Many families choose one of our jackets slightly larger than needed and have it professionally altered. As your child grows, the alterations can simply be let out, extending the life of the jacket for several seasons.

Horse Showing Competition Clothing Checklist:-

Most Australian Horse Showing riders will require:
✔ EA-approved riding helmet - Check out the latest EA helmet regulations here
✔ Competition shirt - either a traditional collared shirt with a tie OR a ruffle neck shirt offer that traditional look judges love
✔ Navy, black or tweed show jacket. Navy is the most popular by far, Tweed for Hunter classes
✔ Beige, cream or canary breeches or jodhpurs. Breeches for with tall boots and jodhpurs for with short boots
✔ Tall riding boots or short boots (depending on age). 18+ can wear tall boots
✔ Gloves to blend in with your jacket
✔ Hair neatly secured
✔ Traditional showing accessories
✔ Clean, correctly fitted tack

What is Horse Showing (Hacking)?
Horse Showing, often called Hacking, is one of Australia's oldest equestrian disciplines.
Unlike Show Jumping or Dressage, Horse Showing isn't about jumping fences or performing movements. Instead, judges assess:
• Manners
• Movement
• Horse Conformation
• Way of going
• Overall presentation of horse and rider
Because presentation forms part of the overall impression, what you wear matters.
Neat, traditional clothing allows the judge's attention to remain on the horse while demonstrating respect for the discipline.

What Jacket Should You Wear for Horse Showing?
Your show jacket is arguably the most important item you'll purchase.
The three most common choices are:
• Navy (most popular)
• Black
• Tweed (primarily for Show Hunter classes)
For most riders, a classic navy jacket is the smartest investment. While some riders competing at Royal Shows and National Championships choose custom-made jackets, they're not essential.

Our traditional Georgina Open Navy Jacket has been a favourite for years and is easy to alter for a great fit, while our Alexis Hunter Jacket offers a more tailored, modern look. Both are affordable, competition-ready options that prove you don't need to spend a fortune to look your best in the ring.

What Colour Breeches or Jodhpurs Should You Wear?

Unlike Dressage, Horse Showing traditionally favours warmer, natural colours.
Most riders wear:
• Beige
• Old Gold
• Canary
• Cream

White breeches are generally associated with Dressage and Show Jumping rather than Horse Showing.

Choose breeches or jodhpurs that:
• Fit snugly
• Aren't too long
• Sit comfortably in the saddle
• Don't bunch around the knees
• Allow complete freedom of movement

Oversized breeches can spoil the rider's silhouette and create unnecessary bulk beneath boots.

Should You Wear Breeches or Jodhpurs?
The answer usually depends on your age and footwear.

Children
Most younger riders wear:
• Jodhpurs
• Jodhpur boots

Older Riders
Generally wear:
• Breeches
• Tall riding boots
Always check the schedule for your specific competition.

What Shirt Should You Wear?
Competition shirts should look neat and professional beneath your jacket.
Popular options include:
• White
• Pale blue
• Cream
• Soft pastel colours

Look for shirts with:
• Moisture-wicking fabric (our Blue Ribbon shirts are perfect for this)
• Stretch panels
• Breathability
• Comfortable and well fitted collar and stiff white cuffs so a polished look

Our Blue Ribbon shirts are a perfect choice for this purpose

Australian summers can be extremely hot, making technical fabrics far more comfortable than traditional, bulky, cotton shirts.

What Boots Should You Wear?
Boots should always be clean and polished.

Most riders wear:

Younger Riders
• Jodhpur boots
• Matching gaiters where permitted

Older Riders
• Black tall riding boots
Choose boots that fit correctly without restricting movement.

Should You Wear Gloves?
Absolutely. Although gloves may seem like a small detail, they:
• Improve grip
• Protect your hands
• Complete your overall presentation

Traditional colours include:
• Brown
• Black
• Cream

How Should You Wear Your Hair?
Hair should always be neat.
Most riders wear:
• Hair net
• Bun
• Decorative scrunchie
Loose hair can distract from an otherwise polished appearance.

Can You Wear Riding Tights to Horse Showing?
For most official Horse Showing competitions, traditional breeches or jodhpurs remain the preferred option.
With so many high-quality options now available, many riders are choosing competition riding tights. When worn in the correct colours, it can be difficult to tell the difference in the ring.

For a more traditional look and feel, jodhpurs or breeches with a zip front and top button are still the preferred choice.
Some local club competitions may be more relaxed, but always check your schedule before competing.

Common Horse Showing Clothing Mistakes:
One of the biggest mistakes new competitors make is buying clothing that's several sizes too large in the hope of getting extra years of wear.
Unfortunately, oversized competition clothing affects both comfort and presentation.

Other common mistakes include:
• Dirty boots
• Wrinkled shirts
• Poorly fitted jackets
• Dirty tack
• Hair not secured
• Fashion belts instead of riding belts
• Bright colours that distract from the horse
• Forgetting gloves

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is the difference between Horse Showing and Hacking?
In Australia, the terms are often used interchangeably. Hacking generally refers to Show Horse classes where the horse's movement, manners and overall quality are judged.

Can I wear black breeches for Horse Showing?
Generally, no.
Most riders wear beige, cream, old gold or canary breeches or jodhpurs for traditional Horse Showing classes.

Can I wear a black show jacket?
Yes.
Black is acceptable and remains popular. However, navy continues to be the most versatile and widely worn choice throughout Australia.

What colour show jacket is best?
If you're only buying one jacket, buy navy.
It suits almost every horse colour, works across multiple disciplines and will never date.

Our Georgina (girls) and Ava (ladies) Open Navy Jackets offer classic style and an affordable price.

Do I have to wear gloves?
Yes, gloves are strongly recommended and expected at most competitions.
Hot Tip: If you don't want to draw attention to your hands, use a colour that blends with your saddle and reins.

Can children wear jodhpur boots?
Yes.
Most younger riders compete in jodhpur boots before progressing to tall boots as they get older.

What should I wear to my first Horse Showing competition?

Start with the essentials:
• Approved helmet
• Competition shirt - collared shirt with tie or ruffle neck shirt
• Navy show jacket
• Beige or cream breeches or jodhpurs
• Polished boots
• Gloves
• Hair neatly secured
A simple, well-fitted outfit always looks better than expensive clothing that doesn't fit properly.

Final Thoughts:
Horse Showing is a discipline built on tradition, elegance and attention to detail. While your horse is naturally the centre of attention, your presentation contributes to the overall impression you create in the ring.

Investing in well-fitting, quality competition clothing means you'll not only comply with competition expectations but also feel confident every time you ride through the gate.

A classic navy show jacket, beautifully fitted breeches, polished boots and timeless accessories will serve you well from your first local show right through to Royal competition.

Our Hot Tips:

Keeping your child's show outfit clean before their class isn't always easy. Our Coveralls are designed to be worn over competition clothing, helping keep riders clean, comfortable and competition-ready until they enter the ring. Restocking soon!
Ride every corner as if the judge is standing in it. The best show riders know that classes are won in the corners, not on the long sides. A balanced, purposeful corner sets your horse up to travel straight, light and in self-carriage, creating the polished picture judges love.
If you don't want to draw attention to your hands, use a glove colour that blends with your jacket.