April 14, 2017

10 unique ways to improve your equestrian wardrobe

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I figured that I would write my first piece for this blog in regards to something that I imagine everyone would like to know: In a sport where money gets you just about everywhere, and people can indicate their location on the equestrian totem pole via their wardrobe, how the hell does one save money trying to keep up? Is it even worth it?

There are certainly plenty of riders out there who couldn’t give a fig about what they wear and have probably saved themselves a world of trouble for it. Perhaps this is not the article for them. I admittedly can be spotted riding in garden shoes and a sports bra on our farm. In many cases fashion eludes me too.

As women, we deal with a lot of ‘first glance’ types of judgements. I am certainly guilty of this. This doesn’t mean that one needs to dress to the nines for schooling at home. Some days I go to the barn all dressed up because it makes me feel good. It’s the same logic I employ when I study in the library. There’s something about wearing an outfit that you feel good in and having your hair done nicely that makes you feel like a million bucks. Some of my most productive midnight study sessions have been accomplished in a full face of makeup. However, some days I could care less what I look like at the barn. I have made enough appearances at the barn in yesterday’s makeup and dirty breeches to probably make some people think that I live out of my car.

The point is, do whatever it is that you do looking however it is that makes you feel your best. Studies have shown that looking your ‘best self’ increases confidence and cognitive ability. It explains that extra ‘zing!’ you feel in your show clothes or even when your horse is looking particularly well-turned out one day. And quite frankly, if you feel your best in a chicken costume, well then I can’t tell you that it’s wrong for you to wear it.

You probably already have an idea of what you feel your best in, or what you would like to see more of in your riding wardrobe. So it is now my job to help you put those items in your closet without leaving you broke (and some of these tips may apply to your horse’s closet as well).

1. eBay: It might as well be a crime to buy something online without checking eBay first. There is almost nothing for sale at Dover or SmartPak that you can’t find on eBay. I have purchased Back on Track, Le Fash, Tailored Sportsman, Edgewood, joint supplements, etc. from there. I’ve saved thousands of dollars doing this. Many people have raised concerns about buying faulty or fake products from eBay. This is not an issue at all. I’ve made some six hundred orders from the website in the last four years, and only one or two times have I had an issue. PayPal and eBay both have Money Back Guarantees, so if you are unhappy with your item, and you send it back you won’t be out any money. eBay also has an Authenticity Policy which keeps sellers from listing fake items. There are many tack shops that have opened eBay stores to list their items. Even if you cannot find a discounted version of the item you want, many stores don’t collect tax or they will ship for free, which still puts more money back in your wallet.

2. RetailmeNot. Most of you are probably familiar with coupon websites. This website searches thousands of brands to provide up-to-date discount codes for you.

Here are a couple I found when I typed ‘Dover’ into the search bar:

– $25 off of $150 with code CM17RIDE

– $10 off of $75 with code TENOFF

SmartPak also has at least ten codes listed under their search query. Sites like horse.com, horseloverz.com, and places like Hobby Horse Clothing, and Adams Horse and Pet Supplies are some of the names that appear when you type in “horse.”

3. Buy your summer gear in the winter. This applies to every clothing purchase, ever. Buy your bikinis in the fall when they are all on closeout. Buy your winter coats at a sports shop during the summer. There is no reason to buy something as soon as it comes out, unless you just have to have it. Almost every item you want will go on sale after everyone has had their go at it and moved on to the next thing.

Clarino padded TS belt paired with ten TS breeches.

4. When building your wardrobe, don’t focus too much on the trends. There is a time and a place to buy a Le Fash bomber jacket or a pair of denim breeches. If you are satisfied with your horsey closet then, by all means, purchase away. However, if you are just starting to build your wardrobe, it is better to start small. When I first started taking an interest in my riding clothes, I spent the first year and a half just replacing my old clothes with new staple pieces that would never go out of style AND would last. This meant a couple of nice pairs of tan breeches, a couple of sun shirts (necessary in this Texas sun), a nice black belt, and maybe one or two ‘fun’ purchases. I don’t think any trend will ever outlast the timelessness of a pair of clean tan breeches and a black pebbled leather Tailored Sportsman belt (or an equivalent).

5. Tee shirts! Polo shirts are so 2012, if you will. Some of you may still like them, but I often find them unbearably hot and tight. No one should ever underestimate the power of a couple of graphic tees in your graphictee2 closet. Not only can you wear them just about anywhere, but they can create many different riding outfits with just one pair of breeches. And they’re cheap! I’m not talking about the thick tee shirts that you lay around the house in. The perfect graphic tee should be a ‘tissue’ tee with thinner and nicer material to keep you cool in the saddle while still ‘dressing up’ the tee shirt look. You can find these types of shirts at Target, J. Crew, Ann Taylor LOFT, etc. My favorite graphic tee brands are Wildfox, MinkPink, and Junk Food.

6. Belts. Okay, lets abandon the black or brown belt with tan breeches imagery for a second. You can

Colored belts add some flair to any equestrian outfit. Pictured here is one from Shop Hunt Club paired with TS Breeches & Hunt Club graphic tee.

breathe new life into a riding outfit with a new belt. Adding just two or three different colored belts to your wardrobe makes for several new riding outfits. Plain white shirts and tan breeches aren’t so boring with a patterned belt. You can get a wide belt at Target for $15. If you have the money to splurge, I also suggest Gucci. I bought my first Gucci belt two years ago, and I wear it almost every week. It looks timeless with a pair of breeches or edgy with a pair of leather pants.

This TS quilted Clarino belt adds some color to tan breeches.

The best riding clothes are the ones you can wear everywhere. And if you decide to go this route, don’t you dare buy one without checking eBay first.

7. Goodwill. I would not be making my mother proud if I did not include thrift shopping in this list. I just want to start out by saying shoutout to the Bellaire Goodwill for selling me a $200 Ralph Lauren crystal pony polo shirt for $10. You can find SO much at Goodwill. Belts, shirts, you name it. I would also suggest donating your old riding gear to Goodwill if you can’t find anywhere to send it. There are many Christian Charity shops in my city that sell all sorts of items, typically donated by their wealthy church-goers. I would advise making the trip to the nicer part of town in your area to go thrifting. These areas typically have a few high-dollar items that have been carelessly tossed into bins.

8. Sell your old stuff. Yes, predictable advice. But here’s a perk to slowly adding nice, albeit expensive items to your wardrobe— they have a high resale value. If I was to list a pair of my Le Fash breeches on eBay I could easily make $200. That’s over 50% of the original cost. This is because they are a trending item. People are willing to spend $300 on them and they’re more than happy to snag them at less than retail. Another example, I sold a pair of Equifit boots that I purchased for $100, for $45. That money goes into my next pair of boots. There is truly something to be said about buying ‘brands.’ What will the resale value be? I advise heavily considering this when buying an item. I have made over $3,000 in the last two years selling my old stuff at leisure. And yes, the money went towards replacing it. (Editor’s Note: Poshmark is another great way to sell used or new clothing items. If you want to give it a try, use my code GRGUR when you sign up for an account. You’ll get $5 to use towards your first purchase!)

9. Make lists. I understand that “setting goals” for your wardrobe may make some of you laugh at the frivolity of my suggestion. But if it’s something you want to improve, then set goals for yourself. Make a realistic list of some items that you would like to buy in 2017. Having it written out makes it easier to track sales for the item. Websites such as Polyvore are designed to help you keep track of what you want and when it goes on sale. You can easily add an item to your Polyvore list by clipping it with their browser tool.

10. Do your own thing. I wouldn’t feel right compiling this whole equestrian fashion list without dropping in a note about how you’re dressing to impress yourself. Seriously. Don’t buy the item because someone else told you to. Don’t go broke trying to impress other people who will judge you regardless. At the end of the day, if you think about it, it’s kind of stupid how horses have blown up into this huge classist society. Do I love Gucci belts? Yes. Do YOU need to wear one because I (or anyone else) am wearing one? No.

April 5, 2017

Finding success by winning the mind games

By Miranda Akins.

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It’s no secret that we all face mental blocks as equestrians. Because honestly, we ride 1200 pound animals and jump them over fences.. some taller than we are. We’re all just a little (ahem, a lot) crazy.

Photo Credit: Miranda Akins Photography.

We can sit a buck, growling and laughing at a animal with the power to kill us and dare them: “Try it again, let me see you try to get me off.” We can throw a 50 pound feed bag over our shoulder like it weighed as much as a feather pillow. We are pretty strong; we can hold on to a galloping animal with the muscles in our thighs.

But, what happens when your mind has doubts? That you can’t do it, that you’ll fail?

Your heart pounds against your chest so loud you think someone can hear it; your stomach turns into knots, and it feels like you have butterflies pounding against the insides of your body. Your palms sweat, maybe your legs even shake, and your mind goes into overdrive. Visions of crashing through a fence, your horse spooking and skidding, a stop that sends you over the fence alone. You are melting down on the inside like a nuclear plant as you stare at the course you are supposed to begin. This can happen in the blink of an eye or be ongoing for days, weeks, and even months.

How are you supposed to perform when the part of your body that controls your actions is frozen? How are you supposed to ride when all your mind wants to do is run wild? Fear is an incredibly strong emotion.

Gary Mack, author of the sports psychology book Mind Gym wrote: “The desire to succeed needs to be stronger than the fear of failure”

It’s hard. Riding is an incredibly hard sport. Your teammate doesn’t speak English (okay but I’m convinced they can interpret the word ‘cookies’). You can’t say “move your shoulder over” and poof! Your horse is going to move into a shoulder out. Your body has to do all the talking. Whether you are a hunter, jumper, eventer, dressage rider, reiner, barrel racer, etc., you will have challenges. You will fall. You will get bucked off. You will come in last place. You will get discouraged. You will be scared.

And guess what? That’s okay. That is fine. That is normal. You’re not crazy for being afraid. Everyone – yes, everyone – is afraid at some point. Even Olympians, even Grand Prix riders.. they have been scared; maybe they are scared. And, they even have the added pressure of the media and a spotlight that a majority of us don’t have.

What makes them so successful is not only their talent and drive but their mastery of the mind games. They know how to settle the butterflies, the sweaty palms, and the fears. I’m no master myself, but helping crack the secret to the mind games is finding “your thing.” You have to find your zone, the sweet spot, the happy place. To ride well you need to think about anything but the ride.

Crazy I know.

My zone is in my music. Before I ride, it’s earbuds in, everything else out. I let my mind escape and fill it with lyrics. When I get out of the truck to ride, I have left all my problems and stress of the everyday world behind me. My mind is ready to work. I know that when everything else is gone, all I can focus on is the ride. Sometimes they stay in for a course walk or if I’m humming while cleaning tack. Music isn’t for everyone though… try a few things out and see what works for you. A game on your phone, a book, even sleeping. The goal is to clear your head and have a blank slate to work with.

Once you get your zone, visualize, visualize, visualize. Go through every step of your course, every fence, every turn. Run through your dressage test, every change, every transition. Ride that cross country course, that barrel run. Go through every. single. second. Put yourself on the back of your horse, and think of the view between their ears. Get your plan, go out there, and ride it. Don’t let your mind shut down, don’t let it think of a fall, of a miss, of a crash. It’s all about the plan. Think of the plan. That’s all that is allowed in there until you finish. Let your mind run on overdrive of success not failure.

Your mind is in control. When you step into a show ring your trainer is not there to hold your hand, they’re not the one cantering towards a fence. It’s you, it’s your body, and it’s your mind. They better be working together.

Win the mind games, and you will win the ribbons. Let the crazy horse girl win over human nature. You are capable of winning the mental war between instinct and the crazy passion we have for riding these 1,200 pound animals.

Learn to control your emotions or they will control you. – Edgar Martinez

What have you done to overcome mental blocks? Share below!

April 3, 2017

Up & Coming Young Professional: Geoffrey Hesslink

Geoffrey Hesslink & Canny Windsor Z during the 2014 Platinum Performance/USEF Talent Search Finals East held in Gladstone, NJ. Photo Credit: The Book LLC.

Geoffrey Hesslink was launched into the spotlight when he topped the 2014 Platinum Performance/USEF Talent Search Finals East on Peacock Ridge LLC’s Canny Windsor Z. He impressed the judges throughout all phases of the competition and earned top scores during the testing where the competitors had to switch mounts.

It was Geoffrey’s first national title and a fantastic way to close out his junior riding career. Even now as Geoffrey has continued on to become a budding young professional, the win remains close to Geoffrey’s heart.

“My biggest accomplishment up to this point is when I won the 2014 USEF Platinum Performance Talent Search Finals. This holds a special place in my heart because winning an equitation final was my ultimate junior career dream,” he said. “I worked tirelessly day in and day out for years to accomplish this goal and when it finally all paid off it really felt like the ultimate dream come true.”

Since then, Geoffrey has clinched some other admirable titles such as earning the 2016 Hallway Feeds Leading Professional Rider Award, being the WCHR regional Developing Professional Champion and Reserve Champion at Capital Challenge, being USHJA year-end regional National Hunter Derby Champion for Zone 5 and overall Reserve Champion in the National Hunter Derbies.

Geoffrey originally was a competitive swimmer; however, after he broke his arm, his father let him begin riding ponies. Geoffrey said he had a love of horses from a young age. He began riding at 10 years old at a local barn, and he said, “the rest is history.”

Geoffrey, well-known as a catch rider, began catch riding ponies and then moved onto horses. Although his parents did supply him with a few horses during his riding career, Geoffrey said his career really took off when he was given opportunities to catch ride by other trainers and professionals.

During his junior career, Geoffrey was a working student for the hunter/jumper/equitation powerhouse, Heritage Farm, run by Andre Dignelli. Geoffrey had nothing but kind things to say about his experience at Heritage, calling it “a pleasure.”

Geoffrey took home the 2016 win in the Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby series at the Kentucky Horse Park and was also awarded the $10,000 Hallway Feeds Leading Professional Rider Award. Photo Credit: Phelps Media Group.

“My riding and working student experience at Heritage Farm was nothing but positive,” Geoffrey said. “The opportunity to learn and be a part of a top program like Heritage’s is such a gift that I will always be grateful for. Andre and his team know how to take any horse or rider and transform them into a champion.”

Another huge accomplishment during his riding career was getting the opportunity to ride in the annual George Morris Horsemastership Clinic in Wellington. Another special thing about his participation was that it was the last year Mr. Morris trained the clinic.

“Getting to learn first-hand from Mr. Morris had always been a real goal of mine and something I had dreamed about since I was a kid. The opportunity to take part in such a prestigious event is something I will cherish forever,” he said.

Geoffrey learned a lot in the clinic, but he said one of the many lessons he learned was that riding is more than just “the technical aspects of the sport.”

“To be successful you have to be a true Horseman and learn how to be a part of the horse and understand how they think. Equestrian sports are unlike any other because your partner is an animal, and learning how to get in tune with another animal is difficult, but deeply rewarding,” he said.

When it came to technical aspects, Geoffrey noted Mr. Morris’ emphasis on lifting the hands and keeping them elevated so that there is always a straight line from the elbow to the horse’s mouth.

Geoffrey is currently freelancing as a professional rider, but he mostly rides a variety of horses for Heritage Farm’s extensive list of clients. While Geoffrey said he is most comfortable in the hunter ring, he rides jumpers, hunters, and equitation mounts for Heritage.

“I think the opportunity to ride such an array of horses keeps me in top form and allows me to constantly improve my riding,” he said.

He considers himself to be incredible fortunate that he is still able to work with Andre and his team.

“…I plan on always having a strong connection with him and Heritage Farm. I am so grateful for the years of support and exceptional training,” he said.

Geoffrey said he loves the hunters because of the “art of it.”

Photo Credit: Diana Hadsall.

“The hunters are all about using your riding to show off your horse[,] and I think there are techniques to doing that which are necessary to success in any ring,” he explained. “I also enjoy the judging aspect of the hunter divisions because knowing you were the best in someone’s opinion is extremely and helps provide me with the confidence I need to do well in every ring.”

Geoffrey absolutely loves the hunter derbies, and he said he feels both the National and International Hunter Derbies have “brought back the excitement and variety to the hunter ring that was missing for some time.”

Although Geoffrey is very comfortable in the hunter ring and enjoys riding in the hunter divisions, he said he wants to expand his riding career and spend more time in the jumper ring – something his experience and success in the equitation ring will help him transition to easily.

In addition to getting some more time and success in the jumper ring, Geoffrey said he would like to have a horse of his own to work with, train and show competitively. Ultimately, he would like to become a successful trainer and rider.

“I want to be able to continue my own riding career while also helping other riders reach their goals. Another goal of mine is to be content and happy with what I have accomplished and what I can do,” he said.

Geoffrey riding in the annual George H. Morris Horsemastership Clinic held in Wellington. Photo Credit: The Chronicle of the Horse.

Geoffrey is lucky enough to be able to show at WEF. He said he enjoys WEF because it is “so big” and because “there is something for everyone to do.”

“There are enough classes for you to train a horse as well as compete at the top level,” he said. “I really enjoy the show grounds as well and I think Wellington has become a great place to live in the winter.”

Besides riding, Geoffrey likes to relax and spend time with his friends and family. He considers himself to be a very social person. He also thinks it is very important for anyone to sometimes take a break or step back from riding so that they can stay fresh and continue to love the sport.

Currently, Geoffrey is also enjoying the Chainsmokers’ new song, “Paris.” At the time of the interview, he was going to be seeing the Chainsmokers in concert “in a few weeks.”

For the last few summer and fall seasons, Geoffrey has been based out of Kentucky. However, he said he is thinking of being based out of New York this upcoming summer.

Geoffrey is currently partnered with Samshield and with Charles Ancona. He believes both products are top of the line.

Geoffrey sporting his Samshield helmet & Charles Ancona show jacket. Photo Courtesy of Geoffrey Hesslink.

Of Samshield, Geoffrey said, “[i]f you want to maintain safety while being stylish, then a Samshield is the best option.

Of Charles Ancona, he said that their coats have “provided a revolution in show attire.”

“They are flattering, comfortable and the ability to wash them at home is so important,” he explained. (Editor’s Note: We adore Charles Ancona show jackets and have written a review of their apparel here).

Geoffrey said he also likes Equiline and Pikeur because both brands consistently have stylish, trendy and comfortable riding attire.

We asked Geoffrey what his advice was for an equestrian that may not have a ton of money but still has passion for the sport and wants to one day become a professional. He said the key is to work hard.

“Nothing and no one will hand you anything in this sport, so it’s important that you have the desire to work hard and earn it for yourself,” he said. “If you really want to be successful you have to build a strong relationship with your peers and hold on to those connections throughout your career.”

April 1, 2017

Dreams Deferred: Putting college first to enjoy the equestrian lifestyle later

By Mattie Stewart.

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Horses have always been the epicenter of my life. When people ask about my likes and hobbies, it always comes down, in one way or another, to me being an equestrian. My horse and my sport are my primary fuel for nearly everything I do. Without my horse, I wouldn’t be the same person, and my life wouldn’t be

Photo Courtesy of Mattie Stewart.

the same life. In elementary school, all I would do was talk about horses. After school, I would go straight to the barn. I was, through and through, the ‘crazy horse girl.’ In high school, the first day “get to know your classmates” icebreaker games always included the phrase “Hi, I’m Mattie, I ride horses, and my favorite color is purple.” I kept my grades up (mostly) so I could make grades for equestrian team and hopefully get an athletic scholarship. When I was picking out colleges, my horse was a big consideration.

But, even after all my careful planning and dedicated promise to keeping my horse a priority, when I graduated high school and moved to college, everything changed.

I had two top college choices six months before the fall semester. My first choice was an Ohio school with an NCAA division II equestrian team that offered me an athletic scholarship. The second, a closer to home Flint, Michigan school, also offered me a small academic scholarship. Both cost about the same, and both scholarships were about the same. I wanted to go to Ohio. I wanted to take my horse with me. I wanted to be a collegiate equestrian – more than anything. But I had to make a choice when my parents told me they wouldn’t be able to financially support me as much as I’d imagined. The Michigan university offered a much better career outlook and was hours closer to home (only thirty minutes from my driveway). On top of that, the amount of money I would save turned out to be much more than I thought. So, at 18 years old, I had to make an adult decision: Putting my dreams in a box in the back of my closet.

Despite my initial sadness, I was excited for college. I loved, and still love, my second-choice school. I had the opportunity to work half the year in my industry at a leading automotive supplier which would put me ahead of students from other colleges and universities upon graduation. It also saved me a large portion of money as my horse could stay where he was at no cost. Plus, he was only twenty minutes from my dorm, which meant he was even closer than my home. It was a win-win because I was saving money and making money at the same time. On the flip side, my school doesn’t offer athletics. It’s a fully academic, career-based school with a handful of club and intermural sports that stem from Greek life. There are few equestrians on the tiny campus, let alone a group or team on which I could compete.

Photo Courtesy of Mattie Stewart.

I am currently six months into my freshman year of college, and after months and months of telling myself “I’ll figure it out, I’ll settle into this new routine and make time,” I’ve finally accepted the truth – things won’t be the same again for a while. I work three months on and three months off when I go back to school year round, so I won’t have a summer vacation dedicated to horses and horse shows. I have an hour commute where I work 7 am to 4 pm five days a week. While this doesn’t make having school in the summer impossible, it presents a challenge to beat sunset and get enough rest. Without an indoor, it can be a little more trivial during the wintertime.

During my school term, I am involved in Greek life and Collegiate DECA, so I have many meetings and events I am responsible for attending. I still have hope that I will make time, especially in the summer, to dedicate to schooling and showing my horse, and I will continue to spend at least four horses a week at the barn, cleaning, grooming, or feeding, even if I cannot ride. But, right now, and for the next four years, I have to step back from the sport I’ve been consumed with since I was six years old. I have to put my passion on the back burner in order to focus on creating a career for myself which will allow me to support my expensive hobby. My horse is my number one, and he always will be, but for now, he gets to spend a little more time being a horse and a little less time being an athlete.

While I love my school, my job, and my friends here in Flint, every now and then when I’m scrolling through Instagram or driving by expensive equestrian facilities, I get a little sad. My experience at my current school is wonderful, but I can’t help but wonder if I would have been happier down south with my horse and with me focusing all my after-class energy on being an athlete. I have to tell myself, financially and as far as my future goes, I made the right decision, and I am on track for a bright future filled with beautiful horses.

Photo Courtesy of Mattie Stewart.

I think it’s important to remember that it’s normal to have to take a step back from our sport. Whether it be for college or other reasons, many of us make that choice every day. Riding is a rich man’s sport, and it is no secret that the richest seem to be the best. It isn’t typical to make this sport a number one priority. It can be discouraging to see students put post-secondary schooling off to pursue an equestrian career and show at WEF or HITS for weeks on end when you yourself can’t chase such dreams. I, for one, feel my heart break a little when I find my Tiffin University acceptance letter or my signed Letter of Intent that was never sent. It makes me sad seeing my saddle bag get dusty when all I want to do is work my tail off, but I have to remind myself not everyone can afford the luxuries of this sport. I am fortunate enough to have a place to keep my horse with little expense. I recognize not everyone is that lucky, and I count my blessing. More people than not have to work hard outside of the arena to be able to afford to be on the inside. You aren’t any less of a rider and you aren’t alone, so don’t let the pictures, the tweets, or the picturesque farms and arenas get to you. It’s not always as glamorous as it seems it should be.

The sacrifice I am making now will reward me in the future with a great career so that I can afford the luxury equestrian life I want so badly right now. Remember: It’s okay that you aren’t in the arena as much as you want to be right now. This struggle with be worth it five or ten years from now. I promise, and I am right there with you.

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Mattie Stewart is a freshman at Kettering University studying Business Administration. She owns an Arabian gelding, Winchester, that she shows first level dressage at first level and hunter seat on the Arabian circuit as well as at local shows. She currently works as a student co-op in sales at an automotive supplier and hopes to pursue her MBA and a career in automotive marketing.

Mattie can be found on Twitter here and here. She can also be found on Instagram.

March 20, 2017

10 equestrian trends for 2017

My Miss Shield with rose gold trim/blazon.

Miss Shield: This is probably the NUMBER ONE trend for 2017. The Miss Shield is Samshield’s version of the GPA First Lady. In my opinion, it fits better; is more comfortable; and has less break-in time. The Miss Shield comes in Premium or ShadowMatt versions and is fully customizable. I totally splurged on mine and got rose gold trim & blazon. It cost me a pretty penny, but it was so freakin’ pretty that even my non-horsey mom dropped her jaw when she saw it. I love riding in this helmet. It fit me comfortably from day one, and it didn’t give me that typically head-squeeze feeling you normally get from new helmets. The brim is wide but not too wide. It is also line with a leather piece, adding an extra accent. I purchased mine from EquestriLifeStyle. SmartPak and other retailers now carry it. You can customize what you want here to get an idea of what your helmet will look like, as well as price.. Just a warning, it is SUPER shiny just with the trim & blazon so for those of you that want the Swarowski crystals – be forewarned!
Grey Parlantis: I have not seen these around at all, but I had quite a few followers tell me that a lot of equestrians at their barn own them. I personally don’t care for Parlantis, but maybe I would consider them a. in another brand and b. depending on the shade of grey. I’ve also seen grey tack as well. This isn’t really a trend for me, but it is something popular right now. These were actually super hard to find at a retailer, and this was the only place I could find them for purchase.
Rose gold: See item 1.
Brown apparel/helmet: Brown has been trending for a few years now, especially in the pony hunter ring with brown paddock boots and brown helmets. However, I’ve seen brown pop up more and more in the dressage ring, the jumper ring, and in schooling tall boots for any discipline.
Hunter green coats: Again, this is another trend that has been making a comeback for some time –
Gia Rinaldi in a Charles Ancona (one of her sponsors) hunter green show coat.

brought on by Lillie Keenan. I personally am a huge fan of hunter green show coats. My next show coat is going to be hunter green, and I own a Charles Ancona training jacket in hunter green as well. This color is traditional yet still stands out in the show ring and gets the rider noticed.
Tall boots with “untraditional” tops: Many equestrians, even hunters, have been getting tall boots that have “untraditional” trim at the tops, such as
Lizard trim. Photo Credit: DerDau.com.

crocodile/alligator, snake skin, or the like. It adds a little pop and unique-ness to one’s boot, but it isn’t SO crazy that a judge would dock points in the hunter or equitation ring… unless they had like, laser vision. I have not seen it make a huge appearance in the equitation ring, but it definitely has shown up in the hunter ring and lets a rider add a personal touch to their riding boot.
“Tech” show jackets: Jackets that are made of more technical fabric are making a big scene in the hunter, jumper, equitation, dressage, etc. ring. They’re easier to wash, less heavy, softer, less hot in the summer, and overall have a cleaner, sleeker look. Some are not a fan of the “tech” fabric jackets, but I happen to really like them, ESPECIALLY when showing on a very hot, humid day. These jackets tend to be more flattering, softer, easier to wash, and less thick than the traditional wool-based jackets of the past. If you can find a technical fabric jacket that you like, that fits you well, and that is acceptable for your discipline, I would get it. Charles Ancona is a great brand to try for tech fabric and a flattering fit.
Big visors on helmets a la First Lady/Miss Shield/Samshield Premium visor: Much like the Miss Shield’s big visor, these size visors are starting to make a huge appearance in the show ring. GPA
GPA First Lady in black. Photo Credit: SmartPak.

started it off with their First Lady model, which had a wider brim and was designed for a woman’s face. Samshield followed suit with it’s clip-on visitor for its Premium model (I have a black one for my helmet. I love it. It’s easy to put on, and it doesn’t come off easily, if at all).
Rust colored breeches: Rust colored breeches were once a huge thing in the past. They are making a comeback; maybe not in the show ring, but I’ve seen A LOT of equestrians schooling in them. My favorite rust-colored breech is the NoHo City Breech by Le Fash. It’s a bit more brown than the traditional rust color, but I love the color of it. Le Fash also just released a more rust-colored breech for their spring line. It’s still on pre-order mode, but it is the Times Square breech and comes with tan or black knee patches. Tailored Sportsman makes a true rust colored breech, and I am sure other brands do as well.
Denim breeches: Denim breeches are not REALLY denim, but the fabric pattern will make you look twice. In my experience, though, not all denim-like breeches are made alike. The first pair I owned, I ended up selling because they were too stiff and not comfortable. Le Fash also makes denim-pattern breeches. I find theirs to be much more comfortable, but that’s my personal preference. Currently, I have my eye on the Williamsburg City Breech, a new addition to their breech line this season. They also made the
Downtown Denim City Breech with navy knee patches. Photo Credit: Le Fash.

Downtown City Breech two seasons ago, which was light denim, and the Uptown denim City Breech, which is a darker print. The Uptown & Downtown, I believe, came in a knee patch and full seat version. Additionally, last year they release the Flat Iron City Breech which is black but has a denim print to it. I personally own this one, and I adore it.