Extract from ISSO Rules and Standards of Competition

These pages are provided on line as a convenience. This is not the full ISSO rulebook and does not contain all information pertaining to judging side saddle classes nor is it intended to overrule breed standards or regulations where applicable.

The rules posted here are from the 2002 edition of the ISSO Rulebook.

Questions regarding these rules and standards should be addressed to ISSO in writing either through email or regular postal mail.

Hunter Appointments and Tack

Section 5.2.2 – Hunter Class Appointments. See Pertinent USA Equestrian Rules.

Ladies’ Hunter Under Side-Saddle. May be held with or without appointments; however, the prize list must specify if appointments are required. Proper appointments are as follows:

  1. Hat – Black hunting silk top hat, crown at least 4-1/2” high, or bowler.
  2. Veil – Optional. If worn, must be traditional black and fit securely over hat brim and under chin.
  3. Neckwear – Plain white hunting stock neatly tied and fastened with a plain gold safety pin. Pin should be horizontal.
  4. Omitted.
  5.  Habit – Melton or other cloth of black or dark blue color, unless bona fide hunt member of a recognized hunt whose livery color is different; then hunt livery color with hunt colors is permissible. Lining must match.
  6.  Breeches – Same color as habit (Need not be of same material.)
  7.  Collar – Same material and color as coat unless members has been invited to wear the hunt colors, in which case, the color should conform to the livery of the hunt and be worn only on coats of the hunt livery color.
  8. Vest – Of plain white, buff or yellow material.
  9. Buttons – Must conform to hunt livery. Usual specifications are: Brass or bone on vest. Black bone on coat. If member has been invited to wear the hunt button, should be engraved with the hunt emblem, otherwise should be plain.
  10. Boots – Black, without tops, of plain black calf without tabs. Boot garters, if worn, plain black.
  11. Spur – Optional, if worn, must be regular hunting spur without rowels, worn high on the heel.
  12. Whip – Light hunting whip with thong and lash, required.
  13. Gloves – Brown leather gloves or heavy wash leather.
  14. Rain Gloves – White, canary or buff rain gloves. Should be carried fingers forward on off (right) side under billets and just showing in front of saddle flap with the thumbs facing upward.
  15. Jewelry – Except for stock pins, finger rings and small plain stud earrings for pierced ears, jewelry is not permitted.
  16. Hair – With hair net, preferably in but. Must be neat and unobtrusive, and must not touch collar.
  17. Safety Helmets are required in over fences classes.

Tack Appointments

  1. Sandwich case – Must be combined sandwich case and flask. Sandwich case must contain a sandwich, wrapped, and flask must contain sherry or tea.
  2. Bridle – Must be either double or Pelham. All leather must be flat. A caveson noseband must be used. Rubber reins are not permissible. Bridle and reins may be sewn to bit(s).
  3. Breastplate – Flat leather is optional but preferred.
  4. Martingales – Not permitted, except in classes over fences.
  5. Saddles – Must be of plain English type. May have suede seat and pommels. Lining may be leather or linen. Numnahs and saddle cloths not permitted.
  6. Girths – Three fold leather or Fitzwilliam. No elastic permitted. Cannot be shaped. Balance girth necessary.
  7. Iron – Should be regular side-saddle iron with oval eye, or safety stirrup. Should be large, workmanlike and polished without pads.

Judges should give particular attention to quality, condition and cleanliness of tack.


Saddle Seat Attire and Tack


ARTICLE VI

Rules for Saddle Seat Classes

Section 6.3 Appointments.

The following subsections delineate the proper tack and dress requirements for side-saddle saddle seat classes.


Section 6.3(1) Attire.

The particular class and time of day will dictate whether formal or informal habit is required. Check the current breed fashions for shirt, tie, vest and hat for formal an informal wear. A general rule is to wear what you would wear in an astride class from the waist up and add an apron of either matching or contrasting for informal wear. Ruffled collars and cuffs, or scarves attached to the hat are not permitted.

General Turn-Out Requirements

  1. Hair – Should be secured in a workmanlike manner.
  2. Whip – Optional (see breed specifications for length and type.) Hunt crops with a lash are not permitted in saddle seat classes, nor are appointments to be used.
  3. Spur – no rowell type (spur optional use)

Informal Wear. Informal wear is suggested for pleasure classes or classes held before 6 p.m. at most shows.

  1. Jacket or coat – Conservative pattern or solid colors are required, (Patterns such as herringbone, pinstripe, or other solid-appearing patterns.) Solid colors include black, blue, grey, burgundy, dark green, beige or brown jacket. (White or contrasting color day-coat may be worn in season, if appropriate.) Coat may be of one, two or three button style with one or two vents. A slight cut-away at the waist is desirable, to allow coat to lie nicely across right thigh. The jacket length should be to thumb length when standing. An astride saddle coat is also acceptable though not preferred.
  2. Apron – Proper side-saddle apron to match or contrast with jacket. Matching apron strongly preferred for equitation. Apron length must cover the right foot and may be longer than acceptable hunter length but must not cover left foot. The lining must be close as possible to apron color.
  3. Vest – Optional. Of matching or contrasting color.
  4. Shirt and collar – See breed specifications for colors and styles acceptable.
  5. Tie- Mans’ four-in-hand. (Tie bar, tie tack, and or collar bar is optional.)
  6. Gloves – Brown or black leather.
  7. Hat – Derby or soft hat. Color to match or contrast with outfit. Brim must be worn horizontally to the ground. Protective headgear with harness may be worn without penalty.
  8. Veil – Optional. Only to be worn with top hat; no hat guards permitted.
  9. Flower – Optional, to be worn on left lapel. Must be small and inconspicuous, without ribbons or extra decoration.
  10. Breeches – To match color of apron. Kentucky jodhpurs, although not preferred are considered acceptable but must match the color of the apron.
  11. Boots – Hunter style of either black or brown. Kentucky jodhpur boots of either black or brown if Kentucky jodhpurs are worn.
  12. Jewelry – None permitted except finger rings and small stud earrings.

Formal wear. Formal attire is more conservative than informal. Coat, apron and breeches or jodhpurs MUST match, in dark conservative colors (Dark grey, dark brown, dark blue or black.) Formal wear is not to be worn before 6 p.m. and is not mandatory after 6 p.m. except in such classes as Concours d’Elegance or Turnout where formal attire and appointments may be judged. Format attire is considered to include both semi-formal (i.e. tuxedo style coat, tuxedo-style shirt with dark bow tie, top hat, cumberbund, and dark boutonniere) and strictly format attire (coat as above, wing collar, with pique bow-tie, cummerbund, white cloves and white boutonniere.

  1. Jacket – Dark tuxedo type jacket is preferred with collar and lapels of the same color.
  2. Apron – Color and material to match jacket.
  3. Shirt – Tuxedo style (semi-formal) or wing-collar (formal).
  4. Tie – Dark bow tie to match coat (semi-formal) or white pique bow-tie (formal). Should not touch lapels.
  5. Gloves – Brown or black (semi-formal) or white (formal)
  6. Cumberbund – Matching color preferred or contrasting color (semi-formal only).
  7. Hat – Top hat must be worn with semi-formal or formal attire.
  8. Veil – Optional but not preferred, (only worn with top hat). No hat guards permitted.
  9. Flower – Optional. Dark with dark tie (semi-formal). White with white tie and gloves (formal)
  10. Breeches/Jodhpurs – Match Jacket and Apron.
  11. Boots – Black or brown hunter style or Jodhpur boos; patent leather is usual but not required.
  12. Jewelry – None permitted except finger rings and small stud earrings.

Section 6.3(2). Saddle Seat Tack.

  1. Bridle – A full or double bridle of fine show type is required, except where breed specifications differ. (Non-leather brow bands and cavesons are permitted according to the fashion of the individual breed).
  2. Saddle – A park type side-saddle with a narrow off-side flap is preferred, but any English side-saddle is acceptable. A plain leather or sued seat and pommel with leaping head are required. No Western or Victorian Side Saddles are allowed.
  3. Girth – Optional style according to breed specifications or current fashion, but a threefold leather or Fitzwilliam is recommended.
  4. Balance Strap – Optional, but must be leather if used.
  5. No hunting appointments, including sandwich cases are permitted.
  6. Breastplates are optional. (See breed specifications)
  7. Martingales and tie-downs are not permitted.