End of Horse Show Season...what to do with all those ribbons?

It's almost the holidays meaning the 2013 horse show season is over. I have done two schooling shows...sigh. Not exactly the big time, but it was a good test to see that my horse has started to trust people again. No spooking and no bad behavior, very happy with him and feel more ready for a few real shows next year.

Regardless, I still have too many ribbons from years before, from other horses, and need to do something with them. It's sad to have them in a box in the attic. Regardless of the level of show they are from, they are memories and deserve a little display.

 

Love this for a little girl's room or guest room. Very pretty.

Arrange and take a few black and white photos.

If you are proud to be an American, make a flag. Nice country touch.

 

Cute ribbon buttons like lollipops in a trophy cup.

Frame some of those ribbons that have a common color scheme, especially if they have the vintage look.

Special ribbons from a special horse, this picture frame helps save those memories.



 

Displayed in a classy frame.

 

The obvious, in the barn.

 

Hanging on the wall, décor around the home.

 

Really simple, just use a flat ribbon as book mark. I do this, but that is not my hand.

 

Horse show ribbon pillows...these look a little more complicated to arrange but worth a shot.

 

Cute purse.

 

In a glass display case.

 

Use for an equestrian themed party!

 

Like colors on a silk back drop. Adds nice texture to your wall.

 

And because Christmas is just around the corner, you could try ribbon wreath and Christmas tree. Would look really cute in a barn to add some holiday cheer for the horses.

 



Watch The ASPCA Maclay This Weekend

The Maclay at the Alltech National Horse Show, Kentucky is this weekend and live streaming is available here.

The entire schedule of the show may be seen here. Key classes include the $250k Grand Prix Saturday Evening and Maclay Nationals on Sunday. I am so excited to watch the Maclay Nationals on Sunday and watch my fellow barn buddy make her rounds! Go Alessandra!

One highlight of the show so far was the 1.5m $100,000 Open Jumper presenting by Double H Farms. The class ran last night and the results are posted below. Beezie Madden took third (I am a fan)! You can find other results on http://nhs.showmanagementsystem.com/

result	entry #	horse / owner	rider	prize
1	347	POLINSKA DES ISLES TEAM HARMONY	FRANCOIS MATHY	25000.00
2	339	QUALITY GIRL CHRIS BREMS	TODD MINIKUS	20000.00
3	249	AMADORA ABIGAIL WEXNER	BEEZIE MADDEN	15000.00
4	213	BARONEZ ILAN FERDER, LOUSTA STUTERI	KIRSTEN COE	10000.00
5	226	UNEX CHAMBERLAIN Z UNEX COMPETITION YARD LTD	TIM GREDLEY	7000.00
6	244	JUBILEE D'OUILLY ALEX LEBON	LAURA KRAUT	5500.00
7	241	ASLAN LJUBOV KOCHETOVA	LJUBOV KOCHETOVA	4000.00
8	270	DENVER VAN T GOEMANSHOT STAL DE KALVARIE	OLIVIER PHILIPPAERTS	3000.00
9	330	PUMPED UP KICKS CHANSONETTE FARM LLC	LILLIE KEENAN	3000.00
10	307	NOUGAT DU VALLET GRANT ROAD PARTNERS LLC	KATHERINE DINAN	2500.00
11	253	ZERLY CANDY TRIBBLE AND WINDSOR SHOW STABLES	CHRISTINE MCCREA	2500.00
12	344	MARK Q KEVIN BABINGTON	KEVIN BABINGTON	2500.00

Courses are available to view as well. Junior A/O Jumper Course:

Please donate to the Kentucky Equine Humane Rescue

Last year, during Rolex, I visited the Kentucky Equine Humane Rescue. I actually went to consider taking a horse to keep my older gelding company. I ended up going a different route and helping out a friend and then, recently, after she left I adopted a more local horse. I didn't get the chance to adopt a horse from KEHR, but I think about them all the time.

When I was there all the horses were so happy. They had giant pastures with wood fencing and green grass and the barn was clean and cozy. It was a wonderful place, the kind of place horse girls dream about. They had many horses that would make beautiful riding horses. It wasn't your typically horse rescue, it didn't feel overcrowded. It felt peaceful, well kept, and professionally managed. The people were kind and happy to show us around.

They need our help. I was able to make a small donation of a few hundred bucks and I plan to donate again next year. They will take any small amount and it is a tax deductible. Please consider donating.

Heck, why not adopt?! Their adoption prices range from $250-$1000. Some really wonderful horses for riding too. Not only would you be saving a horse, but the money adopting one horse will help many others at the facility.

My favorite horses up for adoption, photos from Kentucky Equine Humane Society website.

Anna

 Camella



 Echo

 Senator

Visit their facebook page

Horse rescue at capacity on the news.

SmartPak Leather

A new horse means new tack. Picking out new bridles and determining what color blankets and saddle pads a new horse will be wearing is at least half of the excitement. When Indy came along, I was shopping within 24 hours...could not resist, it is too fun!

Buying Indy was a total stab in the dark, I know nothing about the horse except he desperately needed a home. Not knowing his potential, I didn't want to blow hundreds on a new bridle or halter. I decided to shop around and fell upon the SmartPak brand halter and bridle. A friend told me she was rather impressed with their tack, so I thought it was worth a shot.

I ordered the SmartPak Plymouth Fancy Stitched Bridle for $69.99 and the SmartPak Double Stitched Stable Halter for $44.99.

Both arrived in the mail today! The bridle was a pleasant surprise! Great quality with a soft feel, not stiff like most new bridles. The color was a deep, attractive chocolate brown and the stitching is flawless. Probably one of the better bridles I have owned. To give you an idea; I just had a Pessoa $300 bridle come in the mail and ended up returning it. Comparing the two bridles, I would say SmartPak is the better quality. This bridle is more then appropriate for local shows, schooling shows, or to have a nicer looking schooling bridle. In most cases, depending on show and class, I would say it is good enough for the 'A' shows too.

The halter was also great leather. A little more tough then the bridle, given that it is a halter that would make sense.  Really liked the option of being able to choose my halter color. The only downside was not being able to choose the buckle material. My halter is black with gold buckles, I would have preferred silver. Either way, great quality on the halter. Quality wise, I would say the leather is one or two steps below the Walsh brand halters. If you want a nice halter without spending over $100, I would strongly suggest this halter.

All in all, I thought the items were a great deal and worth the money. SmartPak did not disappoint and I am considering buying more bridles from them for my other horses!

A website every show jumper should know...

World of Show Jumping

This website is really fun, pretty much gives you the show jumping results by the next day at the latest. What I really love about it is how easy it is to read the articles, straight to the point, and they always have rider interviews post show.

http://www.worldofshowjumping.com/.

On Facebook and on Twitter

John Pearce, he wins everything.

I watched the Estes Park Grand Prix last month (I live 20 minutes away!), of course John Pearce won again.  It was kind of a sad turnout though, they ended up opening the Prix to a 1.30m division as well. So the jumps went down, then they went up again.  BUT, I think it was a great way to give the opportunity to some younger riders to be exposed to the Grand Prix ring.

In the long run, it doesn't really matter if no one showed up because John Pearce would have won either way!

And it looks like he won again in the SmartPak $25,000 Grand Prix yesterday too!

John Pearce on Son of Gun $25k SmartPak Grand Prix @ESI Photography.

Can't hate the guy for winning.

Animo, Pikeur, and Spooks Popular And We Can See Why...

If you want to look like you belong in that show ring, consider buying a Spooks, Animo, or Pikeur riding jacket.  Even some of the hunters are wearing them.  Finally, a riding jacket that compliments a figure not make us look like a box.  No overheating and throw in the washer.  Remember when riding jackets only came in like 2 colors and were made of wool, yuck...say good by to those days!

Consider buying from overseas, it may save you a few bucks.  Most of the stuff is cheaper in the UK. For example, a Spooks riding jacket could cost you as little as $300 (see elbow patch below), but at a tack store you could spend up to $450 on that same jacket!

Pikeur Jackets.  Note, you can find some on dover.com in the $200 range.

This is my favorite Pikeur, called the Epsom, comes in 36 different combinations.  You can switch out the velvet collar and piping!  $400.00

Pikeur Irina Show Jacket in Bronze and black.  More affordable options on ebay for $324.00!

Check out more styles on their trailer...

Animo An Italy based equestrian company, they also have golf clothes...and cute pockets!  Some of the offerings are not found in the US very easily so if you find something you really like the best way is to order from a UK based company like Equiporium.

This Animo jacket is my favorite, the Lasal, it's just stylish enough but remains traditional.

Animo Lenny Jacket comes with crystal detailing in black, grey, navy, and red.

Animo Lorely Jacket, with some cute zippers and detailing

Animo has some very pretty color options

The 2013 Video Promo Video.  Besides their jackets, they have the cutest breeches.

Spooks, an Australian based company and really popular in America.  Their jackets run between $300-$500.

One of my favorites, the brown.  This would look so cute with a brown velvet helmet

They tend to stay a little more traditional then Animo, but still have some fun colors.

 Love the pink piping!

If I bought one it most certainly would have the elbow patch!  $308, not bad!