Reining Attire/Equipment
 

So I know the basic reining attire, but I was wondering about a few things. First, I have a nice chocolate brown felt hat. I wear a peacock feather on the band. It looks SWEET (if I do say so myself):wink: but I'm not sure if this would be acceptible.
Next, do your jeans have to be plain and high waisted? I find higher waisted pants really really uncomfortable, but you know, if I must then I must.
Now for the horse, for bell boots, is black, brown, or white the ONLY colors you can have? Or can you have a *little bit of color or a pattern down there?

Most of this depends on what level you're showing. At local shows around here, people ride patterns in anything from jeans and a flannel to a complete Western Pleasure outfit. Locally and at small open shows, I doubt anyone would care about a feather in your hat or a brighter-colored bell boot, but if you're doing anything more than a small show I would stick to the norm.

The hat I doubt anyone will notice. As long as you have a cowboy hat on you should be fine. Keep in mind though that dark color hats are cold weather hats in the summer you really need a lighter colored hat. That is one thing that people will look at. Not that it will change your score but all things being equil.

As to jeans. Most people use chaps so does not much matter what type you have under the chaps as they will not be sean. I like Wranglers myself.

Boots. This comes down to more about your horse then anything. If you have a good turner you want white. It shows off their legs and leaves a good impresson with the judge. If your horse is a bad turner or slow then a dark color would be best. Past that I have used several different colors over the year. Not a big deal but with the horses I have now I use white or cream colored leg gear. I also for show use Duct tape vs bell boots.

Ohhhh ok, I didn't know that about the boots! It makes sense! I really really like the look of leather splints/skids, but if my horse turns out to be an amazing turner I may just have to put white boots on them.

I am talking about front feet. Backs are usually leather skids.

It's the least trendy discipline. In regards to what you are judged on. That being said, it definitely has its own style. So while you won't be docked points, you don't want to look like a barrel racer or WP and stick out.

Close contact saddles are the thing. Dark oil is starting to show up on a rare few new saddles... but most are med to light oil. I like dark and chestnut, so feel free to help shift the trend!

Saddle pads- match the shirt. Yucca Flats are the in blankets for top shows. At other levels any will do as long as its clean.

Chaps... a must have. Fringed. Usually sand or black, sometimes varying shades of tan or brown.

Hats- black, tan, or straw. Simple is fine. But lately Shorty's Caboy has been pushing some drop dead gorgeous designs ($$$$) for reiners and it's gotten picked up by some top female riders. I'll drool and stick with what I've got. Big thing is shape your hat! It doesn't have to be fancy but it better be shaped and clean.

Shirts- the gals have been putting on the glitz more lately. A classic long sleeve plaid or solid button up is never wrong. But you can turn up the volume a bit if you want. Just don't go all Studio 54 disco ball on it. Unlike WP you aren't competing in a ring with other riders, so all eyes are on you alone anyways. The over the top glitz isn't needed to help draw the eye.

Pants- jeans, or I see gals wearing tan or black to match their chaps.

Your boots- Square toed. Usually sand or black, sometimes varying shades of tan or brown. You can even get away with lacers.

Headstalls- one ear is the norm. Sometimes a two ear. Other than that it can be fancy or simple. Unless riding a younger horse in a snaffle, then it should have a browband/futurity knot. I don't see a lot of crystal conchos. It's more metal or rawhide accents.

Ok, I have a chocolate brown hat so I want chaps to match. I have round toed boots, but they match the brown. Can you just wear normal jeans? I think I might use my one ear (that's kind of a weird darkish reddish brown) but might look ok with a darker med. oil saddle.

For the record, I mostly interested in doing freestyles but I do want to do some normal classes...

If it was a local show you could wear just jeans. Anything beyond that you should have chaps. Your boots will be fine. And as long as your hat is a neutral earth tone color it will pass. For freestyle anything goes for outfits.

Chaps are not required in NRHA. I do not even own a pair. I show at NRHA shows and have for years. Never had a need for them. Do not like them. Probably will never buy a pair either.