You’ve put the work into preparing your horse. Your shirt should be ready for the job, too.
A western competition shirt needs the right construction for the arena. It also needs to fit comfortably when you reach for the reins, sit deep or bend down to wrap legs. Looking polished is easier when you aren’t constantly tugging at your sleeves or adjusting your shirt.
At Frank & Rio, those details come from experience. Our brand began through a friendship formed while hauling and showing cutting horses. We knew what we wanted in a show shirt because we’d spent plenty of long days wearing them.
A western collar that stays sharp
A collar is part of the traditional western competition shirt. Ours is structured to stand up and keep a polished appearance through a day at the show.
It’s a small detail you notice every time you put the shirt on, especially when you finish your outfit with a scarf.
Longer sleeves for reaching and riding
Long sleeves belong in the arena. But sleeve length needs to work when you’re riding, not just when you’re standing in front of a mirror.
Reach forward for the reins and a sleeve that looked long enough can suddenly come up short.
Frank & Rio shirts have extra sleeve length for that movement. Finished cuffs give them a clean appearance, and the added length helps maintain coverage when you reach.
For competition, wear your sleeves down and fasten your cuffs as your event requires.
A full button front, with extra buttons to help prevent gaps
Our shirts have a full button-front closure, a feature specified in several western competition attire rules.
We also pay attention to what happens between those buttons.
Unwanted gaps at the bust can make an otherwise beautiful shirt uncomfortable to wear. Frank & Rio’s extra buttons and thoughtful placement help prevent those gaps, so you can concentrate on your ride.
Choosing the right size matters. The goal is a flattering fit with room to move through your shoulders, arms and bust.
A longer shirttail designed to stay tucked
Your shirt should have enough length to stay tucked when you sit in the saddle, reach forward or bend down.
We give Frank & Rio shirts longer shirttails to help them stay put through those movements. It’s a practical detail that helps keep your outfit looking finished without constant adjustments.
Where your competition requires a tucked shirt, start your run with it tucked and check it after warming up.
Built for western competition
Frank & Rio’s collared, long-sleeved, full button-front western shirts have the construction described in the competition shirt requirements covered by our guide.
Whether you’re choosing a cutting horse show shirt, a reining shirt, or a shirt for cow horse, barrel racing, breakaway roping or goat tying, you can see how those features relate to your event.
Our Western Show Shirt Attire Guide includes association-specific summaries and official rulebook links.
Thoughtful fit, from women who know the life
The collar, sleeves and button front get a shirt ready for the arena. Extra sleeve length, thoughtful button placement and a longer shirttail make a difference to the woman wearing it.
That’s where we put our attention.
Designed by horsewomen and handcrafted in Texas, Frank & Rio shirts bring together show-pen polish and practical fit for riding.
