ASOD, volume 2

part 2

CHAPTER 8

MILITARY EQUESTRIAN DRESS 8

General 8.1

8.1 The wearing of equestrian dress by members of the Army maintains the tradition of the
Australian Light Horse. This tradition is fostered by Heritage Troops sponsored by Royal Australian
Armoured Corps units, riders of equine mascots and soldiers participating in Equestrian sports. It is
essential that high standards of dress and appearance and historical authenticity are maintained by
these members on ceremonial parades and other formal occasions.

8.2 Royal Australian Corps of Military Police (RACMP) members, when mounted, are to conform
with these orders of dress.

Responsibility for provision of technical advice 8.3

8.3 The Committee of the Australian Army Equestrian Association (AAEA) is responsible to
provide advice to Army Headquarters on historic and technical aspects of equestrian uniforms and
equipment.

Wearing of military equestrian uniform 8.4

8.4 A commanding officer may authorise a member to wear an order of equestrian dress for unit
ceremonial parades or other appropriate occasions.

8.5 The Committee of the AAEA may authorise a member to wear equestrian orders of dress when
representing the Army in equestrian sports.

Saddlecloths and equipment 8.6

8.6 Saddlecloth. The Army saddlecloth colours are red with white trim. The Army Badge is to be
mounted on the lower rear panels of the saddlecloth. The Army saddlecloth is to be used on all
occasions, unless otherwise authorised by the Committee of the AAEA.

8.7 Heritage colours. Units with approved heritage saddlecloth colours may display these on
single unit ceremonial parades which do not include other Corps or Services. If parades do include
representatives of other Corps or Services, the Army saddlecloth is to be used.

8.8 Equipment. Other items of equipment, such as horse show rugs for example, are to
incorporate the Army colours and badge.

Entitlement 8.9

8.9 Members who wear equestrian dress do not have entitlement to additional items of dress and
are not to be issued with items of dress, such as breeches, to which they are not otherwise entitled.
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Orders of dress 8.10

8.10 Military equestrian dress is based on standard orders of Army dress. The order of dress to be
worn is determined by the nature of the activity. Certain items of dress are essential to conform with
internationally agreed equestrian protocols. The orders of military equestrian dress are detailed in tables
as follows:

Dress Code Dress Order Title Table

ME1A Ceremonial Equestrian Dress 8–1

ME1B Ceremonial Equestrian Service Dress 8–2

ME2 General Duty Equestrian Dress 8–3

ME3 Field Equestrian Dress Disruptive Pattern Combat Uniform 8–4

(DPCU)

ME4 Heritage Light Horse Dress 8–5

Dress Order: Military Equestrian One A—Ceremonial Equestrian Dress 8.11

8.11 This order of dress is to be worn by riders of equine mascots, members mounted on horseback
(other than Heritage Troops) on ceremonial parades and other occasions when ceremonial dress is
ordered.

8.12 It consists of the following items of dress:

Serial Item of Dress Remarks

1 Belt black and belt hooks Other Ranks

(OR)

2 Belt Sam Browne, shoulder strap and belt hooks Officer and
Warrant Officer
Class (WO1)

3 Boards shoulder khaki Officer/Officer

cadet

4 Breeches fawn

5 Emblems of unit awards and individual commendations

6 Gloves leather

7 Hat KFF Note (a), brim

worn up

8 Lanyard

9 Nameplate

10 Orders, decorations and medals

11 Sash scarlet Entitled

personnel

12 Shirt polyester short sleeved

13 Shoulder titles, metal, corps/regiment

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Serial Item of Dress Remarks

14 Socks khaki

15 Spurs, Prince of Wales As directed

16 Top boots black

Note

(a) Hat KFF may be replaced by an Australian Standard (AS) approved safety helmet. To conform
with equestrian discipline regulations this helmet is to be covered in Service Dress material. A corps/
regiment badge is to be fixed centrally to the front of the helmet.

Table 8–1: Dress Order: Military Equestrian One A—Ceremonial Equestrian Dress

Dress Order: Military Equestrian One B—Ceremonial Equestrian Service Dress 8.13

8.13 This order of dress is to be worn by riders of equine mascots, members mounted on horseback
(other than Heritage Troops) on ceremonial parades and other occasions when ceremonial dress is
ordered.

8.14 It consists of the following items of dress:

Serial Item of Dress Remarks

1 Badges qualifying parachutist, trade and military skills

2 Belt black OR

3 Belt Sam Browne, shoulder strap Officer and WO1

4 Breeches fawn

5 Emblems of unit awards and individual commendations

6 Gloves leather

7 Hat KFF Note (a), brim

worn up

8 Jacket Service Dress

9 Nameplate

10 Necktie khaki polyester

11 Sash scarlet Entitled

personnel

12 Shirt polyester long sleeved

13 Socks khaki

14 Spurs, Prince of Wales As directed

15 Top boots black

Note

(a) Hat KFF may be replaced by an AS approved safety helmet. To conform with equestrian discipline
regulations this helmet is to be covered in Service Dress material. A Corps/Regiment Badge is to be
fixed centrally to the front of the helmet.

Table 8–2: Dress Order: Military Equestrian One B—Ceremonial Equestrian Service Dress
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Dress Order: Military Equestrian Two—General Duty Equestrian Dress 8.15

8.15 It consists of the following items:

Serial Item of Dress Remarks

1 Badges qualifying parachutist, trade and military skills

2 Belt khaki

3 Breeches fawn

4 Emblems of unit awards and individual commendations

5 Gloves leather

6 Hat KFF Note (a)

7 Lanyard

8 Nameplate

9 Orders, decorations and medals

10 Shirt polyester short sleeved

11 Shoulder titles, metal, ‘AUSTRALIA’

12 Socks khaki

13 Spurs, Prince of Wales As directed

14 Sweater lightweight khaki Optional

15 Top boots black

Note

(a) Hat KFF may be replaced by an AS approved safety helmet. This helmet is to be covered in Service Dress
material, to conform with equestrian discipline regulations. A Corps/Regiment Badge is to be fixed
centrally to the front of the helmet.

Table 8–3: Dress Order: Military Equestrian Two—General Duty Equestrian Dress
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Dress Order: Military Equestrian Three—Field Equestrian Dress Disruptive Pattern Combat
Uniform 8.16

8.16 This is the general duty order of dress which is to be worn by riders of equine mascots and
members mounted on horseback (other than Heritage Troops).

8.17 It consists of the following items of dress:

Serial Item of Dress Remarks

1 Badges qualifying parachutist, trade and military skills

2 Breeches fawn

3 Coat field/Japara Optional

4 Emblems of unit awards and individual commendations

5 Field Hat Notes (a) and (b)

6 Gloves leather

7 Lanyard

8 Nameplate

9 Ribbons of orders, decorations and medals

10 Shirt Disruptive Pattern Combat Unit (DPCU)

11 Shoulder titles, metal, corps/regiment OR

12 Spurs, Prince of Wales As directed

13 Sweater field khaki Optional

14 Top boots black Note (c)

Notes

(a) Except when involved in equestrian training or exercising in public view, the field hat may be DP Bush
Hat.

(b) Field hat may be replaced by an AS approved safety helmet. In this order of dress the helmet is not
required to be covered.

(c) Top boots black may be replaced by specialist footwear during endurance riding.

Table 8–4: Dress Order: Military Equestrian Three—Field Equestrian Dress Disruptive Pattern
Combat Uniform
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Dress Order: Military Equestrian Four—Heritage Light Horse Dress 8.18

8.18 This order of dress is worn by riders engaged in field exercises or training activities.

8.19 This order of dress is to be worn by members, mounted on horseback representing Light Horse
or Mounted Infantry troops on ceremonial parades, displays and other occasions when ceremonial dress
is ordered. When this order of dress is worn, it is essential to ensure that historical accuracy is
maintained.

8.20 It consists of the following items of dress:

Serial Item of Dress Remarks

1 Hat KFF Note (a), brim

worn up

2 Tunic, Service light drab Note (b)

3 Breeches, khaki RACMP issue

4 Leggings, leather brown

5 Boots, leather brown

6 Spurs, Prince of Wales

7 Waistbelt, leather brown

8 Bandolier, leather brown

Notes

(a) An Ostrich or Emu Plume is to be fixed behind the Australian Army Badge.

(b) To preserve authenticity, no rank is to be worn, irrespective of the ranks of the participants. If a Heritage
Troop parades as a troop, one member acting as Troop Sergeant is to wear the appropriate badges of
rank.

Table 8–5: Dress Order: Military Equestrian Four—Heritage Light Horse Dress