Unaffiliated dressage query

[ButY]

Hi all, total competing newbie. Do you need to be a BD member for Intro unaffiliated dressage and is full plaiting/ show gear etc required? Thanks in advance.

Unaff no to BD
Turnout depends on the show. It will usually say if it’s being run under BD rules in which case you’d need to to follow their turnout rules.

Def don't need to be a BD member, some RC shows/classes want you to be a member of that RC but for the most part you just enter in advance, pay your entry fee and rock up on the day, simple as that.

Turnout, the 'rules' will vary from show to show, some run to BD rules and some are considerably more relaxed. There's a huge range from very informal 'yard' based shows with a lot of child competitors where people basically rock up as they are to quasi-affiliated shows run at big competition venues with leagues and qualifiers etc where people are basically as smart as they'd be at a BD event. For the most part though you will usually see people wearing show gear and fairly smartly turned out but it's rarely absolutely required and unless you turned up in fancy dress or football strip or something I doubt you'd be turned away.

But in order to feel comfortable and as though you fit in, I would probably try as a minimum to have a jacket or waistcoat (tweed is fine if you don't have a black/navy show jacket), a collared shirt and tie or stock, long boots (or gaiters/chaps) and white, beige or cream jods/breeches. And of course your hat and gloves. All that can probably be picked up pretty cheap second hand online or borrowed from friends if you don't already have, don't feel obliged to spend £££ certainly. For the horse the most important thing is they are clean and comfortable, check all their tack is BD legal (or whatever rules the show is running to re bits etc) and give it a good clean. Plaiting is an interesting one, most people do but I generally try and turn out to type so if your horse/pony is a native or cob it may be perfectly correct to leave them au naturel, but obviously make sure they are tidy. If not then plait if you are able but again do what feels comfortable, it would be better to show a nice neatly pulled and brushed mane and tail loose than badly done bulging plaits coming undone all over the place and a stressed out rider.

Good luck!

It really depends on the competition and how it is billed. My RC runs "stressless dressage" and so long as people have the correct tack, hat and boots we don't bother too much about anything else! Hardly anyone plaits up.

If its a competition venue then correct turnout would be expected and a plaited mane. Unless, as PP pointed out, you have a cob or native. In which case just make sure they're clean.