What Colour Show Jacket for Show Jumping? (And What Dressage Riders Wear)

Short answer: In show jumping you can wear a show jacket in almost any colour. The FEI Jumping Rules allow any colour with outward-facing buttons, and most national federations follow. Black and navy remain the safest choice for every level. Dressage is different: at advanced levels riders traditionally wear a tailcoat, and the short show jacket belongs to the lower levels.

Show jumping: colour is almost free

Show jumping has the most relaxed dress rules of the Olympic disciplines. What matters is a tailored competition jacket, a shirt with a white collar, light breeches and a correctly fastened helmet. The jacket colour is largely your choice.

FEI Jumping (international)

The FEI Jumping Rules (2024 edition, Art. 256) state that competition jackets may be any colour and must have outward-facing buttons. Civilian riders wear white or light fawn breeches, and shirts must have a white collar (long-sleeved shirts also need white cuffs). In very warm weather the Ground Jury may allow riders to compete without a jacket.

British Showjumping

British Showjumping Rule 101 (as amended in 2013) allows tailored jackets in any colour except British team colours. In hot weather riders may compete without jackets at the judges' discretion. Check the current BS Members' Rule Book before you compete.

United States

US hunter/jumper shows follow the USEF rulebook and the class schedule. In jumper classes, conservative dark jackets are the norm; hunter and equitation classes are stricter about traditional colours. Always read the prize list for your show.

Germany (FN, LPO)

National shows in Germany run under the FN's Leistungs-Prüfungs-Ordnung (LPO). Retailer summaries of the LPO describe light breeches (white or cream) and a jacket in a dark colour, such as black, navy, grey, brown or green, as the standard turnout. The individual class schedule (Ausschreibung) can add requirements.

Dressage: jacket or tailcoat?

If you searched for a dressage jacket colour, the first question is not colour but cut. At advanced levels dressage riders traditionally ride in a tailcoat. A short show jacket is the standard at lower and medium levels and in many young-rider classes.

• FEI Dressage (Art. 427, 2021 edition): at CDI3* to CDI5*, championships and Games, a black or dark blue tailcoat or jacket; other dark colours within the HSV scale may be worn. Breeches are white or off-white.
• USEF (DR120): at national levels any single-colour jacket is allowed; tailcoats are permitted only above Fourth Level.
• British Dressage (Tack and Equipment Guide 2026): any single-colour tailcoat or jacket; coloured panels and accents are allowed.

So for a lower-level dressage test, a dark single-colour show jacket works well. For Grand Prix-level dressage, look at tailcoats.

Summary table

Which colour should you choose for show jumping?

• Your first or only jacket: black or navy. Accepted everywhere, easy to pair with white or beige breeches.
• A second jacket: any colour your federation allows. A colour jacket stands out in photos, but check the schedule first.
• Summer shows: construction matters more than colour. A dark, breathable perforated jacket ventilates better than a pale, solid one. See our guide to choosing a competition show jacket.

Our Brilliance show jacket is black, with a fully perforated, breathable stretch shell, a button front and two zip pockets, built for show jumping and suitable for lower-level dressage tests. At €270 it sits under a typical €300 show-jacket budget (see the product page for your local price and current sizes). Pair it with white or beige competition breeches.

FAQ

Can I wear a coloured jacket in show jumping?

Yes, in most cases. The FEI Jumping Rules (2024, Art. 256) allow competition jackets of any colour, and British Showjumping allows any colour except British team colours. National shows may set their own rules, so check the schedule.

What colour jacket for dressage?

At lower and medium levels, a single-colour show jacket is allowed under USEF and British Dressage rules, and black or navy is the safe choice. At advanced levels riders traditionally wear a black or dark blue tailcoat.

Can I compete without a jacket in hot weather?

Only if officials allow it. In FEI jumping the Ground Jury may allow riders to ride without a jacket in very warm weather.

What breeches go with a show jumping jacket?

White or light fawn under FEI Jumping Rules; white or cream at German national shows. Beige breeches are a common choice for national classes where allowed.