Here’s a handy compilation of the various equestrian governing bodies rules and regulations for competition dress. Make sure your jacket is compliant under National & FEI rules! If you have any queries or questions please do not hesitate to get in touch!

DRESSAGE

DRESSAGE FEI RULES

Article 427 – DRESS
2. Civilians. The following is compulsory at all CDI3*/CDI4*/CDI5*/CDI-W and CDIOs, FEI Championships, Regional and Olympic Games: a black or dark blue tail coat or jacket, or other dark colours may be worn within in the international HSV colour scale. Colours having a value for β€œV” smaller than thirty two percent (32%) according to the HSV model may be approved through application to the FEI. Contrast colouring and piping is allowed.

Protective Headgear or top hat/bowler**: black or may be same colour as coat
Breeches: white or off white Stock or tie: white, off white or same colour as coat

Gloves: white, off white or same colour as coat

Riding boots: black or same colour as coat

DRESSAGE RULES CHAPTER II DRESSAGE EVENTS 40 Spurs: see paragraph 4 below.
2.1 For Grand Prix Freestyle only, any single colour tailcoat or jacket will be allowed. Striped or multi- coloured coats or jackets are not permitted. Tasteful and discreet accents, such as a collar of a different hue or modest piping or crystal decorations, are acceptable.
2.2 At all CDI1*/CDI2*/CDIAm, a black or dark blue jacket (colours see above) with a top hat/bowler** is also permitted. This dress is also desirable for all other international Dressage Events, unless otherwise stated in any special rules (CDIU25, CDIY, CDIJ, CDIP, CDICh and CDIYH).
2.3 Note**: Top hat or bowler hat is only permitted for athletes that are not obliged to wear protective headgear as defined in Art. 427.1. 2.4 In bad weather, the Ground Jury may allow the wearing of light waterproof coat. In very warm weather, the Ground Jury may allow Athletes to ride without a jacket

BRITISH DRESSAGE RULES

69. Dress
Introductory to Advanced Medium tests (including FEI Junior tests) – uniform, short jacket or tweed coat with correctly tied stock/white American collar or shirt and tie, and protective hat.
Advanced tests and upwards – option of a tail coat with protective hat or top hat, or short jacket with protective hat, both with correctly tied stock or shirt and tie. Uniform may be worn with protective hat or uniform cap.
As long as the core dress rules are adhered to, subtle embellishments and additions to any item of dress are permitted as long as they do not pose a welfare risk to the horse.
70. Coats/jackets/waistcoats/shirts
Tail coats, short jackets and waistcoats may be in any single colour in a muted tone and should not have bold patterns, modest patterns & crystal decorations are permitted. Coloured collars and contrast piping to collar, lapels, pockets and vents. Tweed jackets may be worn but should have bold patterns.

Logos level with the breast pocket are permitted on jackets but must not exceed 80 square cm (9cm x 9cm approx).
Navy jackets with red collar and pockets and white piping may not be used as this style signifies a British Team rider. THIS RULE WILL BE CLARIFIED TO STATE THAT A RIDER CAN ONLY USE IF THEY HAVE REPRESENTED THEIR COUNTRY IN THE LAST 2 YEARS.
In regular competitions, competitors may choose to ride without jackets. Members can wear a fitted waistcoat in any conservative colour in a muted tone and should not be brightly coloured or have bold patterns.
If no jacket is worn, a suitable traditional style long or short sleeved shirt should be worn. A shirt that fastens at the neck with a tie, white american collar or correctly fastened stock must be worn.
This should not be brightly coloured or have bold patterns
In all Championships, Regionals, Area Festivals, Premier Leagues and High Profile shows, a jacket must be worn. At the discretion of the organiser and in consultation with the panel of judges, permission to ride without jackets may be granted. A fitted waistcoat may be worn when permission has been granted not to wear coats. A suitable long or short sleeved shirt of a solid light colour to be worn.
Plain, dark-coloured waterproof coats may be worn in wet weather.
71. Logos and Manufacturers
Marks While in the competition arena and during the prize-giving the name and/or logo of the rider’s sponsor(s) may appear on a surface area not exceeding:
(i) eighty (80) square centimetres on each of the two sides of jackets or top garment at the height of breast pockets;
(ii) sixteen (16) square centimetres on both sides of the shirt collar and of the hunting stock or centrally in the middle part of the collar on ladies’ blouses.
(iii) for manufacturers’ labels, three square centimetres on any clothing or equipment and may appear only once per item.
64. Union flag badges and recognition badges
Only riders selected to represent Great Britain that compete on a team at a Senior or Para European Championship or World Games, Olympic or Paralympic Games or a CDIO are entitled to wear the Union Flag pocket badge on the breast pocket.
Riders competing in a CDI are eligible for a small recognition pocket badge. This can be worn on the breast pocket for two years following the last occasion they competed internationally. Entitlement to wear this badge does not affect their eligibility to compete.
Combinations who ride in the European Championships at Pony, Junior and Young Rider level are entitled to wear their relevant colour co-ordinated Union Flag pocket badge on the breast pocket for the two years following the last occasion they were in the relevant team.
Riders competing at FEI shows are eligible for a small recognition pocket badge for two years following the last occasion they were in the relevant competitions. Entitlement to wear this badge does not affect eligibility to compete.

Riders entitled to wear a Pocket badge from another National Federation (in dressage or eventing), must also adhere to the above rules.
Riders competing privately in international or foreign national competitions are not eligible for a pocket badge. Union Flag saddlecloth badges may only be worn when the competitor is competing for Great Britain in an international (FEI) Competition.
Those selected for friendly internationals are eligible for a small pocket badge with a St George/St Andrew cross/Welsh flag or equivalent. However, these may not be worn in subsequent competitions.

EVENTING

FEI EVENTING RULES

538.2 Dressage Test

538.2.1 Civilian
Hunting dress or uniform of a riding club; white shirt and tie; gloves; white, fawn or cream breeches; long riding boots (or short boots with matching full grain smooth leather chaps); hunting cap, protective headgear or top hat.
At CCIs–S 1, 2&3 star level civilian may also wear a tweed jacket with fawn or beige breeches and black or brown boots.
Please refer to Dressage Rules in regard to use of protective headgear and top hat/bowler, as well as entering the arena with whip, with boots on Horse’s leg or with discrepancy in dress.

538.2.2 Members and employees of military establishments and national
studs
Service dress and gloves, regulation headgear are compulsory for members and employees of military establishments and national studs.
Please refer to Dressage Rules in regard to use of protective headgear and top hat/bowler.

538.3 Cross-Country Test
Body protectors are compulsory for this Test, including when schooling over Cross-Countryfences, at any time.

538.4 Jumping Test

538.4.1 Civilian
Hunting dress or uniform of a riding club; white shirt and tie; white, fawn or cream breeches; boots are compulsory for this Test. At CCI1*-Intro and CCI2*-L and 3*-L level civilian may also wear a tweed jacket with fawn or beige breeches and black or brown boots.

538.4.2 Members of Armed and Police Forces
Service dress are compulsory for members and employees of military establishments and national studs.

538.5 Inspection of Dress
A Steward can be appointed to inspect whips, spurs and item of dress before any Test.
He has the authority to refuse permission to start for any Athlete, whose whip or spurs contravene articles 538.1.3 and 538.1.2. He will immediately report the circumstances to the Ground Jury for confirmation.

An Athlete who competes with illegal whip(s), spurs or incorrect items of dress is liable to elimination, at the discretion of the Ground Jury.

539 Saddlery / Dress
Please also refer to FAQ guidelines on Tack, Equipment and Dress for latest clarifications, published on the FEI website. See also Art. 538.2.1.

Β 

BRITISH EVENTING RULES

DRESSAGE PHASE

Advanced; Advanced Intermediate; Intermediate Championships

  • Protective Headwear, black or dark blue in colour
  • Black or dark blue Tail coat
  • White stock or white tie
  • Gloves
  • Plain black boots or full grain smooth black leather gaiters with matching boots, with white, buff or fawn breeches OR topped boots with white breeches.

Alternatively; Uniform with protective headwear.

Intermediate

  • Protective Headwear, black or dark blue in colour
  • Jackets may be in any single conservative colour in muted tones. Subtle pinstripes are permitted, as are coloured collars and contrast piping to collar, lapels, pockets and vents. TheΒ  red collar and pockets with white piping on Β  Β  Β  a navy jacket may be used only byΒ  the British Team. TweedΒ  jackets mayΒ  notΒ  be brightly coloured or have loud patterns. Competitors may choose to ride without jackets. Competitors may choose to wear a fitted waistcoat in any conservative colour in muted tones. If no jacket is worn a suitable long/short sleeved shirt that fastens at the neck (white or cream or conservative/muted tones and not bright or multi-coloured) must be worn.
  • Tie, American collar or correctly fastened stock.
  • Gloves
  • Plain black boots or topped boots or full grain smooth black leather gaiters with matching boots, with white, buff or fawn breeches.

Alternatively; Uniform with protective headwear.

Novice

  • Protective Headwear, black or dark blue in colour
  • Jackets as for 7.13.2.
  • Tie, American collar or correctly fastened stock.
  • Gloves
  • Plain black boots or topped boots or full grain smooth black leather gaiters with matching boots, with white, buff or fawn breeches OR brown boots, or brown leather gaiters with matching boots, with buff or brown breeches.
  • In ONu18 sections only, Competitors under the age of 16 may wear jodhpurs with jodhpur boots OR plain black or brown half chaps with matching boots.

    Alternatively; Uniform with protective headwear.

BE80(T), BE90, BE100, BE100 Plus and BE105

  • Protective Headwear, black or dark blue in colour
  • Then as for Rule 7.13.3.

In these and BE100 Ou18 sections only, Competitors under the age of 16 may wear jodhpurs with jodhpur boots OR plain black or brown half chaps with matching boots.

SHOW JUMPING PHASE

Advanced; Advanced Intermediate; Intermediate Championships

  • Protective Headwear, black or dark blue in colour
  • Black, dark blue or red coat
  • Stock or tie
  • Plain black boots or full grain smooth black leather gaiters with matching boots, with white, buff or fawn breeches OR topped boots with white breeches.

Alternatively; Uniform with Protective Headwear.

Intermediate; Championships
As in Rule 7.13.2.

All other classes
As in Rule 7.13.3.

In BE80(T), BE90, BE100, BE100 Ou18 and ONu18 sections only, Competitors under the age of 16 may wear jodhpurs with jodhpur boots OR plain black or brown half chaps with matching boots.

CROSS COUNTRY PHASE

All Classes

  • Cross Country Protective Headwear with cover
  • Sweater or shirt (long sleeves are strongly recommended)
  • Body protector
  • Long riding boots or full grain smooth leather gaiters with matching boots, with breeches.

In BE80(T), BE90, BE100, BE100 Ou18, BE105 and ONu18 sections only, Competitors under the age of 16 may wear jodhpurs with jodhpur boots OR half chaps with boots.

Numbers. In the cross country phase of the competition, numbers that are clearly visible from in front and from behind must be worn. In the dressage and show jumping phases, the type of number to be worn is at the discretion of the Organiser. (see also Rule 5.18 for other requirements regarding numbers).

Advertising and Logos – Competitors

Identification of Sponsors – Dress
The following apply to all three phases:-

  • Any sponsor or advertising logo displayed on a rider’s Dress must be that of a Member.
  • Advertising and logos must not contravene any laws, be controversial or socially undesirable or bring the sport into disrepute.
  • No logo may be displayed which the Organiser has stated in the schedule as unacceptable.
  • The design of the logo must have been approved by BE.

Dressage Phase

  • The Competitor may bear the logo of his sponsor:-
  • On both sides of shirt collar. The logo must not be larger than 16sq cms
  • On each side of the two sides of jackets or top garments at the height of the breast pockets. The logo must not be larger than 80sq cms

Show Jumping Phase
As for dressage and in addition the Competitor may bear the logo of his sponsor:-

  • Vertically in the middle of his protective headwear. The logo must not be longer than 25cm or wider than 5cm;
  • On the left leg of his riding breeches. The logo must not be longer than 20cm
    or wider than 4cm;

Cross Country Phase

Subject to paragraph 7.17.1 no restrictions apply to the cross country phase.

Identification of the Manufacturer (Non-Sponsor) – Dress

Dressage and Show Jumping Phase

Identification of the manufacturer (non-sponsor) of clothing and equipment may appear only once per clothing item (breeches, gloves, shirt, headwear or on jackets at the height of breast pockets) on a surface area not exceeding 3 sq cms.

Union Flag Badges. Only members of the teams listed below and nominated individuals are entitled to wear the Union Flag Badge on their jackets.

Please check BE rule 7.18 for detailed table of jacket badges