Eventing Showjumping: Rider Dress and Horse Tack Rules Explained
Rider Wear for Eventing Showjumping
When competing under British Eventing, there are a number of core rules stipulating what riders must wear for the showjumping phase of an event.
This handy guide has been compiled to help you get to grips with those rules, ensuring you arrive at your next competition knowing exactly what to wear for eventing showjumping.
Once you've brushed up on this blog, why not check out further articles in our British Eventing series including what to wear for eventing dressage.
Riding Hats
Protective Headwear must be worn and fastened whenever mounted; this includes exercising, warming up or competing (whether or not a competitor), and conform to the following standards;
British/European:
- PAS015 (2011) plus BSI Kitemark or Inspec IC Mark
- VG01.040 2014-12 plus BSI Kitemark or Inspec IC Mark
- BS EN1384:2023
American:
- ASTM F1163 15 or 23 plus SEI Mark
- SNELL 2016 or 2021
Australia/New Zealand:
- AS/NZS 3838 2006 onwards plus SAI Global Mark
The hat must be appropriately tagged with a visible BE hat tag, as checked by an Official.
Browse our range of riding hats.
Inflatable/air jackets are permitted without a body protector for the showjumping phase.
Browse our range of air jackets.
Body Protectors
Whilst a body protector is not mandatory for the showjumping phase of British Eventing, whenever one is worn it should meet the current required standards:
A British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA) approved, manufactured in (or since) 2018 and labelled 'Level 3 body protector'.
View our range of body protectors.
Competition Jackets may be a single muted tone conservative colour. Subtle pinstripes, coloured collars, contrast piping to collar, lapels, pockets and vents are permitted. Conservative/muted tone tweed jackets are permitted as long as they are not loud colours or have bold patterns. If a competitor chooses not to wear a jacket, they can wear a fitted conservative colour waistcoat.
Browse ladies competition jackets or men's competition jackets.
Shirts can be long or short sleeved in white, cream or a conservative colour, and must fasten at the neck.
Breeches should be white, buff or fawn if worn with black boots, and buff or brown if worn with brown boots.
Browse competition breeches for ladies or competition breeches for men.
Riding Boots can be black or brown, and can be plain or topped. If short riding boots/jodhpur boots are worn then over 18’s must also wear matching smooth leather gaiters.
Browse our range of long riding boots.
Spurs are optional at all levels. Spurs must be made of smooth metal, blunt and incapable of wounding a horse. Metal spurs with round plastic, metal or rubber knobs are allowed. Rowel spurs which rotate freely and are round and smooth are permitted but not in the Young Horse Classes. Dummy spurs are permitted with a shank less than 4cm long and point towards the rear and if curved must point downwards.
One Whip may be carried which must not be any longer than 75cm and not weighted. The end of the whip must be padded. Why not check out this Woof Wear Full Grip Jump Bat as the ideal example of a whip that is British Eventing compliant.
Jewellery if worn can increase the risk of injury. Competitors are strongly advised to remove all jewellery especially before the Showjumping and cross country phases. Long hair should also be appropriately secured.
Eventing Showjumping Horse Tack Rules
Tack Requirements
There are certain tack requirements for your horse when competing under British Eventing rules for the Showjumping phase. Here we explain a brief overview of the 2020 British Eventing Rules and Members’ Handbook 2020. In essence British Dressage rules govern the Showjumping tack phase except where modified British Eventing rules apply – Rule 7.19.7.
Saddles
An English or Continental style saddle with a pommel, cantle and flaps. This includes treeless saddles. Side saddles are not allowed. The saddle should be either black or brown, navy and grey in colour.
A gel pad/memory foam or sheepskin seat is permitted as long as it is unobtrusive and matches the colour of the saddle.
Unless a dispensation had been granted, velcro straps from the girth to the stirrup iron or a mechanical means of fixing the rider’s boot to a stirrup iron is not permitted.
Bridles
The horse must wear a conventional bridle with a bit, noseband and browband. The reins are to be attached to the bridle via the bit. The bridle colour is predominately black or brown (again navy and grey are also permitted). Discreet padding on the noseband and headpiece/poll area is permitted. Padding is not permitted on the cheek piece area or the front of the noseband.
Bits
A snaffle bridle can be worn in the showjumping phase for all levels. Permitted snaffle bits include:
- An ordinary plain straight bar or jointed centre snaffle
- Ordinary snaffle with double-jointed mouthpiece including French link and with a lozenge
- D Ring Racing snaffle
- Egg-butt snaffles with or without cheeks
- Snaffle with upper cheeks only
- Rubber, leather, plastic or steel unjointed or jointed snaffles
- Hanging cheek snaffle
British Eventing Rule 7.19.7 allows competitors to use any normal jumping bit, Pelham, American or continental gag, hackamore and any form of bitless bridle. Reins may be attached to leather ‘D’ rings. Competitors may not use a Market Harborough or a curb rein which passes through the rings of a running martingale. Stirrup leathers must hang outside the flap of the saddle.
British Eventing has produced a table which defines the saddlery that is permitted, not permitted or compulsory at each phase.
| Riding In Exercise Areas | Lungeing | Dressage Tests | Show Jumping & Cross Country | |
| Bit guard & tongue guard | Y | Y | N | Y |
| Nose net | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Ear covers *1 | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Ear plugs | N | Y | N | N |
| Fly fringe | Y | Y | N *3 | N *3 |
| Face masks *5 | NOT PERMITTED | |||
| Snaffle bridle/ Micklem multi-bridle/ST-Zaum/Freeflex/Stubben Freedom/PS of Sweden High Jump/ PS of Sweden Jump off/ Collegiate Comfitec/ Jeffries Gentle Bridle/Grackle. Bridles must be used with a permitted bit, without bit clips and with a throatlash | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Double bridle | Y | Y | N *4 | Y |
| Running and Irish martingale | Y | Y | N | Y |
| Bib martingale | N | Y | N | Y |
| Side, running reins and chambons | Y | Y | N | N |
| Neck strap | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Seat covers | Y | Y | X | Y |
| Boots, Bandages | Y | Y | N | Y |
| Equiboots/Hoofboots | Y | N | N | |
| English style saddle | COMPULSORY | |||
| Flash, crossed (incl. grackle/Mexican) or dropped noseband only with snaffle bridle | PERMITTED | |||
| Cavesson noseband | PERMITTED *2 | |||
| Breast plate | PERMITTED | |||
| Blinkers | NOT PERMITTED | |||
| Tongue Strap and/or tying down the horse’s tongue | NOT PERMITTED | |||
| Draw reins | NOT PERMITTED | |||
| Standing martingale | NOT PERMITTED | |||
| Any other form or martingale or gadget | NOT PERMITTED | |||
| Sheepskin cheekpieces and any other attachment fitted to the cheek pieces that may affect the horse’s vision | NOT PERMITTED | |||
| Sheepskin noseband *6 | ||||
| Coloured stirrups | ||||
| Body bandage/spur pad | ||||
| Stirrups which can be attached by magnets or other means to riders’ boots | ||||
Source: British Eventing Members Handbook
*1 Ear Covers / Protective Fly Hoods are permitted and may provide noise reductions. The ear covers should be discreet in colour and design. Ear covers may not be attached to the noseband.
*2 Compulsory with a double bridle
*3 Only permitted if specially authorised for all competitors in exceptional climatic conditions by a BE Steward
*4 Double bridles are only permitted at Intermediate Novice and above for dressage
*5 Equivizor is permitted for warming up on the flay with clear lenses
*6 Sheepskin shall not be used on a Grackle/X noseband other than on the crossover section.
At Eland Lodge, we host British Eventing dates throughout the year - why not check out our events calendar and get signed up, whether it is your first BE event or you are a seasoned pro!