“Dressing for Success” is Relative

Dressing for… success

One of the most dividing aspects of the horse world is also the silliest: outfits. Yes, that’s right, what you wear to go play with 1000 lb dirt beasts is apparently a necessary topic of conversation and a defining characteristic of a rider. Over the years I’ve been online, I’ve seen this a lot on personal blogs, various social platforms and most unfortunately, mainstream equestrian news sources, thus perpetuating the problematic idea that you’re automatically less of an equestrian or should be taken less seriously just because you do not opt for a more polished look at the barn.

None of these comments or articles really stress safety. They’re not typically about wearing helmets, wearing a heel when riding and otherwise appropriate attire around the farm. Quite literally, they’re about who is tucking their shirt in. Who changes into shorts after riding on a hot day (apparently you shouldn’t, guess I’ll just get heat stroke as a heat sensitive person because if you wear shorts to the barn apparently you’ll be viewed as less trustworthy than someone in breeches and a Gucci belt). Oh, and of course, then there is the age old justification of “what if a big name trainer walks into your barn right then?” Which frankly, is a hilarious attempt at trying to justify what is a judgmental and elitist stance and one of the most out of touch claims I’ve ever heard. It singlehandedly proves how far removed these people are from the average horse barn and what most equestrians are dealing with.

How many of you guys actually have big name trainers walking into your barn unannounced? I bet those of you who do account for the 1% and I would still be shocked if they were walking in and out announced on any given day but with that said, I’d assume your barn would have a different dress code than the vast majority because of it. A big name trainer walking into most peoples farms unannounced is not a reality, so why make people feel they need to uphold a certain ideal for something that isn’t even going to happen? If you’re attending clinics or shows, yes, attire is more important and you should dress out of respect for your clinician. This still doesn’t mean you need expensive things but you should typically dress more polished than you would in schooling. But, in schooling at home, where most people are at private barns or public lesson barns that don’t just invite outside trainers in unannounced? Wear whatever is safe to ride in, whatever you’re comfortable in. If your barn has a dress code, then obviously follow it but you should also have the tact to realize that your reality isn’t everybody’s.

People really need to think before they publish these weird, guilt trippy articles because when you put them on mainstream platforms, you’re putting them out there for everyone including the ambitious lesson kids who excitedly show up for their once a week lesson and like do not dress in the manner stressed in these articles. In reading them, they’re probably made to feel like less of a rider than those who “look the part” even when “the part” is relative. On top of this, we fail to consider people with sensory issues, with body image issues and other personal issues that are, quite frankly, none of our business, that may affect whether or not they want to wear fitted, tucked in shirts with a belt. Provided what they are wearing is safe to ride a horse in, why do we care?

The focus on aesthetics is something so prevalent in the horse world that often times its talked about more than important things like horsemanship and rider conduct. Why are we more worried about what we are wearing “if a big name trainer walks in” rather than what we are doing? You could be wearing the finest equestrian brands and looked like you walked straight off an equestrian fashion shoot but if you’re bullying your horse, practicing poor horsemanship or riding in an abusive manner, that should all reflect more poorly on you than your outfit and any big trainer worth an ounce of respect should be more taken aback by that conduct than fashion.

another outfit AT THE BARN… MORE POLISHED.. BECAUSE I FELT LIKE IT,

The sport is changing. Not everyone who rides is in it to show. Many people ride for the simple enjoyment of horses and they seem to have the right formula because it’s about the enjoyment of the horse for them, NOT what others are wearing or other incredibly shallow viewpoints. I think a lot of riders on the circuit could take a page out of the pleasure riders’ book and stop being so hyper focused on aesthetics and making blanket statements about what’s right to wear to the barn as though everyone is living in the same reality as them. Also, people not yet in the sport seeing this ridiculous opinions on what to wear are a lot more likely to feel pushed away and out of touch with what they “need” to be to be apart of equestrianism. They’re the very same people who often reach out to me, saying that they feel like less of an equestrian because they don’t own a horse, don’t dress like this, don’t do this, don’t do that. Or, people who want to ride but are afraid to because of the mindsets they witness. They feel like it’s too late to start because “everyone is better than them”. They’re not contacting the people who push the idea you need to look like a beauty queen at the barn because they’re not comfortable confiding in you.

So, what’s right to wear to the barn for your ride? Boots with a heel, a shirt of some sort (probably not best to go half naked), a helmet (please and thank you) and riding pants if you don’t want to destroy your legs from saddle rubs. That’s it, that’s the bare minimum. If you want to wear nice breeches, a sun shirt and tuck your shirt in, all the power to you. If you want to wear makeup because it makes you feel good, all the power to you. If you don’t want to wear make up because you’ll be getting dirty and sweating it off, all the power to you. If people judge you because you look like you’re “untidy” after working outside in the dirt with horses all day, I’ll judge those people a lot harder for expecting anyone putting in work with farm animals to stay immaculate with no hair out of place because that is so ridiculously unrealistic.

And if the barn you choose to ride at has a dress code, obviously follow it but don’t enforce it on other people without the same expectations as you. If you’re going to write and put things out on line for the masses, I think we have a responsibility to realize how what we say could be taken and how elitist the dress code mindset of so many equestrians is… we really shouldn’t be making people feel poorly or openly admitting to judging people’s horse expertise based off what they wear. Stress safe outfits and safe footwear around the barn but beyond that it’s merely personal preference, not a right or wrong.

Also, for the record, most experienced horse people walking into a new barn the first time are probably a lot more focused on the care and maintenance of the horses, how they’re being handled and the overall setup of the barn for the horses… not what the people at the barn are wearing. And if they’re really more concerned about outfits than if horses are getting treated well and their basic needs met, then we are failing our horses and outfits are still the least of our issues.

I have never once felt shamed or left out for wearing “polished” outfits to the barn. It doesn’t happen anywhere near to the same extent that we shame and guilt trip the people who do not do that. People are not out there in masses making fun of those who dress nice at the barn because frankly, those with money riding at fancy barns that tend to promote these ideas are out numbering those who aren’t. You aren’t a minority for dressing nice, don’t act like one, especially if the views you perpetuate (ie: if you don’t dress like me, you look bad and are less trustworthy to judge at face value as a horse person) are so very damaging to the other side that already has enough barriers to overcome in the horse world.

Wear what you are comfortable and feel good in. Wear what is safe. It is totally okay to have different ambitions than others and to take a less serious approach to barn attire or even if you do have the same ambitions but ride at a barn that doesn’t require fancy dress, do YOU! You will ride just as well in jeans and a t shirt as you will in a sun shirt and breeches, trust me, I’ve done it. I also feed my horses in slippers and pajamas and it’s never affected how I care for them in comparison to when I “dress nice”. Those whose respect you actually want to earn should understand outfits and aesthetics aren’t the be all and end all and at the end of the day, we’re working at a barn with dirty farm animals so it’s a little silly to always expect beautiful, clean dress if you’re doing work with farm animals. And if you can stay clean, beautiful and polished all day when working with numerous horses, then you’re a superhero and all the power to you to make your own decisions in attire at the barn.