When you're competing, your shirt probably isn't the first thing you think about. Or atleast it shouldn't be!
You're thinking about your horse, your warm-up, the ground, your draw, and making the run you've practiced for. But the clothes you compete in can affect how comfortable you are, how you move, and whether you're thinking about your clothing—or forgetting about it completely.
That is why we believe a show shirt should be designed for competition first.
Fit Matters
A Western shirt should be fitted without restricting movement.
Our shirts are designed with a feminine silhouette, added length through the tails and sleeves, and stretch built into select fabrics. The goal is a shirt that follows the body without becoming restrictive when you're moving your arms, reaching, riding, or working around your horse.
The difference is in the details.
A sleeve that is too short can be distracting. A shirt that is too loose can bunch under a vest or jacket. A shirt that constantly comes untucked becomes one more thing to think about.
Your attention should be on your run.
The Cuffs Are Designed to Adjust
We also designed our cuffs to give competitors options.
There are three ways to wear them:
1. Fully buttoned for the full sleeve length and a traditional look.
2. Turn-back cuff by fastening the button closest to you and folding the remaining cuff back.
3. Completely folded back to shorten the sleeve further, which is especially useful for our smaller youth riders.
A small design choice can make a noticeable difference in how a shirt fits different riders.
Your Number Should Stay Where You Put It
One of the most important details for a competitor is also one of the easiest to overlook: your back number.
We designed our shirts with a dedicated back-number attachment system to help keep your number in place through movement. It eliminates the need to constantly adjust or worry about where your number has shifted during a run.
You should be thinking about your horse—not whether your number is still where it belongs.
Fabric Matters, Too
Different competition environments call for different fabrics.
That is why our collections aren't made from one material. We work with fabrics ranging from cotton to stretch performance materials and satin, depending on the purpose of the shirt.
For competitors, things like stretch, weight, breathability, durability, and how the fabric moves with the body all matter.
A beautiful shirt is important. A shirt that functions when you actually need it is more important.
Confidence Comes From Being Prepared
Confidence in the arena doesn't come from a shirt. It comes from the work you put in long before you back into the alley.
But there is something to be said for wearing something that fits properly, stays where it should, and doesn't distract you.
That is the standard we design for at Anna Wayne Clothing Company.
We pay attention to the fit, the sleeve length, the cuffs, the fabric, the buttons, and the back-number system because those are the details a competitor notices when something isn't working.
A show shirt may seem like a small part of competition day.
When it is designed correctly, you barely notice it at all.
And that's exactly the point.
