Good habits.. and some bad ones too!
- Same Side Equestrian
- Jun 3, 2021
- 8 min read
Updated: Jul 27
The turnout of a side saddle rider is steeped in tradition, with all its weird little quirks and
intricacies. The lack of access to side saddle items in Australia makes following some turnout rules difficult. Sometimes, we have to beg, borrow or make do with what we've got. Our inability to wear top hats or bowlers under most association rules also changes things a little, but we will talk to both kinds of turnout.
Let's start with the main piece of dress: the habit. Your habit consists of a jacket and apron (or safety skirt). It is traditionally made of a heavy wool in a restrained hue/colour. What colour you would wear is dependant based on a few factors. Lets start to dive further in to the intricacies of turnout based on habit, age, breed and headwear choices.
ADULTS WEARING A BOWLER HAT - Habit of a restrained hue with long black boots OR
- Tweed or discreet check habit with long boots. If brown boots are worn, it should be with a brown bowler and black boots with a black bowler (never mixed). (Did you know that traditionally, a black habit was only worn once the woman was married?). - The hem of the apron should be parallel to the ground, and the bottom of the hem should be approximately one hand’s width above the seam of the boot. The right toe should never show under any circumstance. The
habit should be made of sufficient weight to prevent the apron blowing around in the wind. (Lighter weight habits are preferable in our Australian summers. Trust me, pure heavy wool in 35° heat makes a lady sweat in places one never should. Though, we must take care to make sure the apron is properly weighted if using a lighter weight material to avoid the apron flapping around when in motion).
- The hem of the jacket should not touch the back of the horse, and ideally should be just clear of the back of the saddle.
- Breeches of a colour similar to or the same as that of the habit. Light coloured breeches (if worn) must not show at any time.
- The bowler hat should be a safety bowler and be worn with an unwrinkled ideally matching coloured veil (e.g. brown with brown bowler) that does not show above the brim of the hat. The back of the veil to be fastened centrally in the brim of the hat in either a V-shape, or meeting centrally on or crossed over the bun. The veil can be rolled, or cut and re-threaded to fit the wearer if too large. The brim of the hat should be parallel to the ground and just above the eyebrows. (There is a few practical purposes to a veil: they help keep the bowler or top hat on at high speeds across the hunt field, they also assist in cover from the sun, mud, debris and can help hide a ladies 'flushed' complexion that she may succumb to on long, exhausting hunts.) - Hair should be worn in a bun (real or false) no bigger than the size of a small doughnut, and the bun should be high enough to touch the underside of the brim of the hat. Hair should be held tidily, with no wisps, in fine mesh hairnets of the same colour as the hair. - A shirt (either plain or discreetly striped) with snugly fitting collar and tie, the tie securely fastened (tie-pin optional). - Waistcoats/Vests should not be brightly coloured (e.g. red). The fastening of the bottom button is optional. Canary or a restrained shade of yellow, cream or a tattersall check. - Brown, tan, cream, beige, off white leather gloves (NEVER BLACK) or string gloves of similar hue. (Black gloves would only ever be worn by someone in mourning after a death and generally, someone in mourning wouldn't be riding a horse.) - A whip or rigid cane not more than one metre in length will be carried, and must be of sufficient length to be used as a right leg aid. Dressage whips should be of the leather covered type and the end-tassel should not be of a bright colour. (In Australia, most associations that allow you to ride aside require you to follow their normal astride turnout rules. This will include whip length. It's recommended you check the rules of the association you're competing under to make sure your whip is compliant. From my experience, 75cm is generally a safe bet under most associations for showing and 1.2m for dressage). - Where a rider chooses to wear a helmet, the guidelines above apply, with the exception of the veil.
ADULT WEARING A SILK HAT/TOP HAT Traditionally worn after midday OR at events of considerable standard/importance i.e. royal, state or national events.
- Side saddle habit of dark hue with long black boots. (As black boots are correct, a black helmet would be worn. In Australia, a navy helmet may also be acceptable with black boots and a black or navy habit). - Hunting tie or stock made of cotton, cotton mix or silk, worn over a collarless shirt (ratcatcher shirt), and tied if shaped as for hunting, or if fourfold as for showing, both ways pinned with a plain stock pin or hunting tie pin horizontally through the knot. White or off white in colour. - Spur, veil, bun, breeches, waistcoat/vest, whip as above. - Gloves of dark brown or tan leather or cream chamois leather. (NEVER BLACK) - A lady’s silk hat/top hat should measure between 120mm. (4.75”) and 133mm. (5.25”), depending on the height of the wearer. Short 'dressage' toppers/top hats are not considered correct. JUNIORS As above (like an adult wearing a bowler) except: - Helmet must be worn. - Navy habit with black or navy helmet and black boots OR - Tweed habit with brown boots and brown helmet. - In the case of small children, black or brown jodhpur boots are acceptable regardless of colour of habit. Plain gaiters may be worn, but not half-chaps. - A blunt spur or spur band is permitted. - Hair ribbons (if worn) to be plain black, brown or navy, and hair (however worn) should be exceptionally neat and tidy.
- Whip not to exceed 76cms, when riding a pony not exceeding 14.2hh or one metre, when riding a horse/pony exceeding 14.2hh, and of sufficient length to be used as a right leg aid. ADULTS WEARING A HELMET - Where a rider chooses to or is required to wear a helmet, the guidelines above apply with the exception of the veil. Helmet colour should match that of your boots.
- If wearing a helmet and riding in a snaffle bridle, rider should follow the above rules of an adult wearing a bowler hat.
- If wearing a helmet and riding in a pelham or double bridle, rider should follow the above rules of an adult wearing a silk/top hat.
MALE RIDERS - Gentleman riders to wear traditional ratcatcher. Bowler (or helmet), collar, tie, tweed coat, breeches, boots and spur. - When ladies are permitted to wear top hats, they may wear one also, collar, tie, black tail coat, waistcoat/vest, close fitting trousers, spur, brown, fawn or tan gloves.
TALKING ABOUT TWEED - Tweed with long boots. If brown boots are worn, it should be with a brown bowler and black boots with a black bowler (never mixed). You will find most riders who choose to wear tweed, do so with brown accessories. - Tweed is most acceptable for a junior rider under 18 or an adult rider on a native breed of pony or horse.
Under some associations, most of these turnout rules go ALL the way out the window!! If you have a valid gear exemption for compete side saddle in Pony Club, a member competing in a side saddle would wear their Pony Club uniform (As pictured). It's also worth noting that there are some associations in Australia (like the Arabian Horse Association of Australia) that carry their own set of side saddle turnout rules/guidelines. These should be observed when competing in classes under those associations.
The biggest difficulty for side saddle riders in Australia lies within finding yourself a habit or an apron (as an astride jacket of the appropriate colour can be used if needed). If you're handy with a sewing machine or know someone who is, it's certainly doable to buy an apron pattern and make your own! Habits do pop up for sale occasionally on Facebook in the showing and side saddle pages. You can also buy second hand or new made-to-measure from overseas (if funds allow). If you were looking to invest in a habit or apron it would be wise to learn how to measure yourself correctly for an apron first. Or alternatively like I mentioned earlier: beg, borrow or HIRE! Same Side Equestrian have habits available for hire.
MY TOP TIPS AND TRICKS FOR SIDE SADDLE TURNOUT So you've forked out all this money for a saddle and habit, what about everything else? Most of the equipment required for astride turnout is very much transferable to that of a side saddle rider, which can make side saddle turnout more accessible and affordable. Buying new isn't required, you'll be amazed what you can find second hand! While the overall turnout is considered restrained, you can absolutely still have some fun 'dressing up' your look! Things you can have fun with include: - A printed or patterned tie. - A restrained blue, check or striped shirt with a navy habit. - A light yellow shirt often compliments a tweed habit nicely, as does a check or striped shirt, with a tie featuring dark red or burgundy accents.
- Ties and vests/waistcoats can often be found quite cheaply at op shops or similar, as can tie clips/pins and stock pins. You may also find a tie floating around your Dad or Grandads wardrobe! If you happen to find a suitable colour vest but it's too big, you can either have it altered to fit or cut the tails off and pin or sew these onto your habit as a 'false' waistcoat. This also helps reduce the bulk and layers under your habit for summer showing.
- A tight shirt collar gives a much nicer picture than a loose and baggy one. Look for school shirts in a small size and chop off the sleeves if required to fit. Kmart, Big W, Target, Lowes, Op Shops, etc. are all great places to purchase cheap collared shirts in basic colours at an affordable price.
- Too much hair for a bun? Separate your hair in half, with half up inside your headwear and half down in a bun. This can also help the fit of your headwear and overall polished look of your bun.
- The jacket of a habit is typically "cutaway" to reveal part of the waistcoat/vest underneath. If you're using an astride jacket, you can easily create a false cutaway by pinning back the front of the jacket.
QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE TO TURNOUT TABOOS Here is a short summary of things to avoid when putting together your side saddle turnout. - Black gloves. - Navy or black habits with brown boots and brown bowler or helmet. - Tweed habit with ratcatcher shirt and stock. A shirt and tie is always correct for tweed. - Black gloves. - Bright, untraditional colours for ties and waistcoats/vests like pinks, purples, etc. - Hair out/loose, in a pony tail, long plaits, etc - especially as an adult rider. - Brown veil with black top hat or bowler. Black top hat or bowler with brown veil. - Over the top decorative or ornate stock pins. A simple, straight stock pin or bar is correct. - Did I say black gloves?
So, do you think you're ready to tackle the tasteful turnout of side saddle riding?? Let me know what part of these guidelines you found the most interesting or if you have any further questions in the comments below!! Showtime Tailoring in the UK have fantastic resources available for measuring yourself for a full habit: https://showtimetailoring.com/how-to-measure-guide/side-saddle-habit/ My recommendation for side saddle stock ties in Australia: https://www.facebook.com/Stunning-Stocks-Riding-and-Horse-Attire-160767950689331 An interesting article in regards to side saddle appropriate gloves by Amy Cattell Magee of Black Diamond Designs in the US: https://www.facebook.com/sidesaddletack/posts/1171359643277427 To note: the US has slightly different turnout guidelines in what they call 'appointment classes'. These are a whole other kettle of fish in their own right but it is still an interesting read regardless. First Published 2021. Revised 2025. © Same Side Equestrian
Wonderful! Love reading this. Australia and New Zealand is on my bucket list! Thank you so much. Pie Truono