What are the opening hours?

Monday 8am - 6pm Tuesday 8am - 6pm Wednesday 8am - 6pm Thursday 8am - 6pm Friday 8am - 6pm Saturday 8am - 6pm Sunday 8am - 6pm

Uphill Dressage LLC, monroe, Monroe, WA (2025)

11/27/2025

Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃🍁🍽

11/26/2025

Handsome Icey Boy 🧊

11/24/2025

It is truly magical putting your tail coat on for the first time. So thankful that I got to wear it with the best girl and we had a successful show weekend at PSG. I so wish I got to wear that tailcoat through I1 and GP with miss V, but life had different plans 😄 I will cherish that memory forever!

Putting the Tail Coat On

There comes a moment in every rider’s journey that feels almost ceremonial - not marked by a rosette or score, but by a garment. Putting the tail coat on for the first time is more than simply changing jackets; it’s stepping into a tradition that has shaped equestrian sport for generations.

The tail coat, with its unmistakable silhouette, resembles a kind of armour, an outward symbol of discipline, dedication, and having reached a certain level of refinement in one’s riding. For many, this moment feels like a rite of passage. It signals that the hours of schooling, the setbacks, the triumphs, and the quiet resilience have amounted to a level where one is ready to enter a new chapter of the sport.

And yet, the tail coat is not without debate. Some argue that it’s not the most practical or optimal piece of clothing for performance. Modern sportswear has evolved to prioritise freedom of movement and technical fabrics, while the traditional coat can seem restrictive or antiquated. It’s a fair question: Why hold onto a garment that seems to belong to another era?

The answer lies in the delicate balance between progress and respect for heritage. Equestrianism is one of the few sports where tradition is woven directly into its identity. The attire, the etiquette, the formality - all pay homage to the sport’s long and storied past. Wearing the tail coat is a quiet nod to every rider, solider and military fighter who has come before, a symbol of continuity in a sport built on partnership, discipline, and deep-rooted customs.

But the significance isn’t only historical. There is undeniable psychological power in donning the tail coat. Many riders describe feeling a shift the moment it goes on - a heightened sense of focus, purpose, and professionalism. Much like a uniform or costume, it marks a mental transition: I am here to perform. I am ready. The tail coat becomes a cue, signalling to the mind and body that this is a moment of importance and that the standard has been raised.

Putting the tail coat on is, therefore, both practical and symbolic. It reflects a level of achievement while anchoring the rider in the sport’s heritage. It motivates, elevates, and unites all who wear it in a shared tradition.

And so, while debates will continue about modernisation and performance clothing, the tail coat remains an emblem of something larger than fabric and seams. It is a milestone in a rider’s journey - one that honours the past, elevates the present, and inspires the future.