What must show jumpers wear, and what help are they allowed in the arena?
A · Advanced · The competition · 1 of 1A fastened protective helmet whenever mounted, a jacket, white or light fawn breeches, a shirt with a white collar and tie, and boots with a heel. In the arena nobody may physically help the rider once the round has started, and using a phone or earphones there means elimination.
How it works
- Headgear: "mandatory for all persons to wear properly fastened Protective Headgear at all times when mounted".
- Chin strap: a rider who jumps or attempts an obstacle with it unfastened is eliminated, unless stopping at once would have been unsafe.
- A lost helmet: the rider must recover and replace it. They are not penalised for halting, but the clock is not stopped.
- Competing: a jacket of any colour, white or light fawn breeches, black or brown boots with a heel, a shirt with a white collar and a white tie or choker.
- Walking the course: neat dress with riding boots, breeches, a shirt and a white tie or choker.
- Service dress: allowed for members of the armed forces, police and national studs.
- Refused: a rider who is improperly dressed may be refused permission to take part.
- Phones and earphones: never in the competition arena during a competition, on pain of elimination. In the warm-up while mounted they bring a warning.
- Unauthorised assistance: "Any physical intervention by a third party" between the start line and the finish line with the object of helping rider or horse. It means elimination.
- Allowed: being handed a helmet or glasses during the round.
- Air vests: if an airbag vest goes off, the rider may stop and take it off with help from the ground.
- Tack: the equipment rules are in an annex to the rule book and move to a separate document from 2027.
The glossary has the tack, the athlete, elimination, the arena and the judges.
Tricky cases
A rider's helmet falls off after a fence. Can they carry on bareheaded?
No. They must recover and replace it. The clock keeps running while they do.
Can a groom run in and hand the rider a dropped whip during the round?
No. Handing a mounted rider a whip during the round is given in the rules as an example of unauthorised assistance, which means elimination.
Does the jacket have to be red or black?
No. Competition jackets may be any colour.
Can a rider wear one earphone to listen to their trainer while warming up?
No, not while mounted in the warm-up arena during a competition, where it brings a warning. One earphone is allowed at other times while mounted.
Why the rule exists
The helmet rule is the only part of the dress code that is about safety, and it is the only part with elimination attached. The ban on help in the arena keeps the round a matter between one rider and one horse, and the ban on earphones stops a trainer riding the course by remote control.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Competition arena | Phones and earphones mean elimination | FEI Jumping 207.3.2 |
| Warm-up arena during a competition | A warning | FEI Jumping 207.3.1 |
| Children and pony riders | A competition jacket or club uniform jacket | FEI Jumping 207.2.3.3 |
| Dressage | A tailcoat or jacket in a single colour, and no whip in the arena | ../dressage/ set |
From the rule book
Fédération Équestre Internationale, Jumping Rules, 28th edition (effective 1 January 2026), articles 206, 207, 249 and 263.4. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: FEI Jumping Rules 2026 (PDF).