A show coat is the single most important item of your competition apparel.
Children’s horse show jackets are a traditionally cut men’s suit coats used in judged equestrian competitions.  Based on old European jacket designs, the horse show coat had 3 front buttons a double vented back.  It is tailored with a narrow waist and a bit broader in the shoulders for ease of movement. Made mostly from wools, children’s show coats are available in a range of colors.  Most equitation riders show in a dark navy jacket. The idea is that all competitors will look the same.  They are then judged on how well they ride.

Properly fitting a children’s jacket can easily improve your equitation.  Coats that are too long will make your child appear short.  It the jacket lays to far down their thighs when they are riding their leg will look short. Square fitting shoulders and a narrow waist is the key. Most of our manufacturers horses show coats are available in a huge range of sizes.  RJ Classics and Wellington Collection are available in short, regular, tall, and a child’s plus sizes. We fit children’s show coats from the shoulders down.  When you put on your child’s jacket and button it, we should be able to pinch fabric at each shoulder.  The outside of each shoulder of the coat should be about ½” wider than the rider.  That way, when they put their arms forward to hold the reins and jump, you will not rip out the back of your show coat.

Make sure the waist of the coat actually hits you at your child’s waist. The waist of the jacket from behind should fit well, but not pull. Extra fabric across the back will cause their jacket to bunch when you tie on a horse show number.  Have the back seam taken in by a tailor if the coat is baggy.  The length of the show jacket is extremely important.  It should just pass the bottom of your child’s bottom.  When seated in a saddle there should be 1 1/4” of extra fabric lying on the saddle.  Another way to check length is to stand sideways at a mirror and bend at the hip and go into jumping position.  Your child’s coat needs to cover their bottom, but not flop over it. Horse show jacket sleeve length is measured at 1” below the wrist bone. After you put on their show jacket, about 1/4” to 1/2” of shirt cuff should show when your child’s hands are in the rein holding position.  Shorten or lengthen sleeves accordingly.

Be sure to color coordinate your junior rider’s ratcatcher with their coat.