So I saw this trend on tiktok talking about what you wear to ride, and it got me thinking….
I’ve ridden many different disciplines in many different barns, so here are my two cents on the matter.
The long and short of it is that, no, it does not matter. If you are there to show up, take your lesson, maybe jump some jumps, and go home…Fashion doesn’t matter.
If you’re there to work in the barn, ride your horse, and go home… Fashion doesn’t matter
If you’re in your own barn… Fashion doesn’t matter
The only place where fashion matters is if you think it does. If you think that looking the part is going to gain the attention of that trainer, then it matters. If looking the part gives you confidence to take on that jumping course, then it matters. If this is the only time that you get to dress up most weeks, than it matters.
With the use of social media, it is so easy to get caught up in the looks of riding that we can forget what the sport is all about. Your horse doesn’t care what you look like. Your horse doesn’t care how much your boots cost, they care that your leg is quiet. Your horse doesn’t care if your shirt matches the saddle pad, they’re still going to slobber on it. At the end of the day, remember what you came to the barn for. Are you there to play NYFW or are you there for the horses and the sport?
Yes, I’ll admit that I like to look the part when working in barns. Yes, I go to lessons with my shirt tucked in and a belt on, but I don’t have to. Unless you’re told that there is a dress code, wear whatever you feel comfortable in. The barn should be a place where you feel safe and content exactly as you are. At the end of the day, we are all there for the horses and the love of the sport….don’t let that slip away.