Dress Code for All Mounted Rallies
The following is a guide to what members should wear to rallies. The basic aim is to look clean and tidy, but above all to be safe!
There are a few rules which we need to enforce to ensure safety, and these are in bold – unfortunately we won’t be able to let you ride if they aren’t complied with.
If you buy a new hat and need it tagging, please let a member of the committee know in advance of the rally so that they can arrange to do this for you.
For you – the rider
- Hat compliant with current standards and tagged with current (pink) tag. For XC the hat must not have a fixed peak. Hat cover dark blue, black, brown or PC hat silk.
- Hair tied back securely, or in a hairnet.
- Gloves.
- SOHC pony club polo shirt or sweatshirt (but not hoody); or white shirt and pony club tie. SOHC or other dark coloured coat if weather dictates. Plain dark clothing is fine if you haven’t yet got SOHC kit. As a minimum, shoulders must be covered.
- Solid single colour jodhpurs, or jodhpurs with dark seat (but not patterned).
- Black or brown jodhpur boots and chaps or long riding boots (NO wellies or trainers, and no fringes or tassels). Boots must be correct size for stirrups, allowing 7mm (¼” ) clearance on each side.
- Earrings or jewellery are discouraged but you may wear small stud piercings at your own risk. Any necklaces, bracelets or any pendulous jewellery (including piercings) will need to be removed.
- A body protector is compulsory for cross country and recommended for SJ. It must comply with the PC standards.
- If you have a medical condition that may impact your care in an emergency, it is compulsory to wear a medical armband for cross country. They are not compulsory if you don’t have such a condition.
- Spurs if worn may be no longer than 4cm and must be fitted with the curve pointing downwards. They must be blunt and without rowels or sharp edges. If any instructor is unhappy with a member riding in spurs, they can remove them.
- Whips may be carried – schooling whips for dressage and padded whips for jumping.
Your Horse or Pony
- Well fitting saddle and bridle in black or brown (no coloured bridles or reins please!). Do check the leather and stitching is safe, as otherwise you can’t let you ride.
- Saddle cloths or Numnahs in any solid colour (contrast piping is fine); no big logos.
- Girth in dark colour or white/cream. Humane girths (having non-independent straps that will loosen if one were to break) are not permitted.
- Stirrups must allow 7mm (¼” ) clearance on each side of boot. Stirrups which connect boot and stirrup magnetically, or interlock boot soles and stirrup treads are not permitted.
- Pony’s boots in black, brown or white.
- If your pony wears a running martingale, you must have martingale stops.
The ponies need to be well turned out, but not showing smart and definitely no need to plait for normal rallies! Clean tack in good order, which is well fitting is important as the instructor will check it.
Dress Code for dismounted rallies
- Pony Club sweatshirt, hoody and/or polo shirt with jodhpurs, jeans or other long trousers. SOHC or other dark coloured coat if weather dictates.
- Wellington, yard or riding boots
- Hat compliant with current standards and gloves (if you will be handling ponies/in the yard environment).
- Dress Code for the various disciplines, team events and competitions.
Buying SOHC clothing
We have a range of SOHC Branch clothing which is available from gggear including SOHC logo saddlecloths which we encourage for PC competitions. There is also sometimes good quality second hand clothing available through the branch – please contact Ruth Duffy 07917 110310 ruth_duffy@hotmail.com.