| Horse show shirts are only one part of the overall | | | | Showmanship shirts are usually one half of a two |
| clothing picture. There are many other details that | | | | part outfit that comes with matching pants. In a |
| come into play when creating your overall look for | | | | showmanship class you are judged somewhat with |
| the show ring, but for the purposes of this article we | | | | your horse. Therefore, you want to take a little |
| will be focusing on the shirts you wear for different | | | | more care in how your clothing fits. |
| classes. | | | | Your showmanship shirt typically consists of a base |
| There are different shirt or top types for both | | | | color of fabric which blends with the pants. This base |
| in-hand and under saddle classes. Below will be taking | | | | color can be just about anything you want it to be. |
| a look at the different shirt types you will find in | | | | Over this base color most shirts have some pattern |
| in-hand and English discipline classes. | | | | of other colors and crystals forming a design over |
| In-Hand Classes: | | | | the base color of the shirt. |
| When we talk about in-hand classes at a horse show, | | | | English Classes: |
| we are referring to halter, showmanship, and even | | | | The horse show shirts you see in English discipline |
| lunge line classes. For this article we will focus on the | | | | classes are much more traditional. You may have |
| halter and showmanship classes which are typical | | | | likely noticed some recent fads among other |
| classes you may encounter at most open or breed | | | | exhibitors, but it is your choice whether you want to |
| shows. Between the two classes you may have | | | | follow some of these trends or stick to the classical |
| noticed some variations in how people are dressed. | | | | look. |
| Halter: | | | | You will mostly see English attire in the under-saddle |
| In a halter class, exhibitors have a few more options | | | | classes, but there are some that opt to perform |
| in choices in shirts. You may notice most exhibitors | | | | some in-hand classes dressed in their English clothing. |
| opting to wear their showmanship outfits while | | | | The English look consists of a button up shirt with a |
| others opt for something slightly different. | | | | high neckline. An English horse show shirt can have |
| If you decide against the full showmanship outfit you | | | | long or short sleeves and should only be visible over |
| can easily put together a button up shirt alone or | | | | the chest area, under your hunt coat. |
| with a blazer/jacket. No matter what you choose to | | | | The traditional look is a white shirt under a dark |
| wear you want to make sure it is clean, fits well, and | | | | colored hunt coat. Recent trends include the addition |
| pressed. Even though a halter class is judged solely | | | | of color to these English horse show shirts from soft |
| on the horse, you still want to present yourself in a | | | | pales to deeper and bolder shades of color. |
| neat and clean manner. | | | | Again you must make the decision of what look |
| Showmanship: | | | | works best for you. |