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| aside from RIBBONS! |
So let's get back to the horsey stuff:
If I had a magic wand, there are a few items on my wish list for the 2015 show season. Now, I fully acknowledge that even I, an accomplished impulse buyer, might have to adjust my irrational horse spending upon the arrival of Baby Girl, but that doesn't mean shit when I'm window shopping or day dreaming (thank god).
1) A new show helmet.
Yes, the GPA Speed Air is in great working order. I haven't crashed on it (yet), and I love it for schooling, and it's still within it's recommended lifespan. but it doesn't ooze Hunter. And since I have every intention of making into the rated divisions, I sort of think we might need something with velvet. (ooooohhhh ahhhhhh). The industry leader in this (under represented) style would have to be the Charles Owen - who has a couple velvety options to choose from. Their tried and true option remains the Hampton - I still see this hat on a lot of amateurs (though usually ones over 35) at the shows. And while it lacks the modern styling of all the JR8/V8/AYR8 helmets... I sorta love it?
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| it has a BOW. I haven't had a helmet with a bow since the 90's |
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| The Fiona - CO's slimest safety helmet |
2) New Boots!
I know, I know, shoot me now. How many times have I talked about boots! (the answer is almost as many times as I've bought boots... as evidenced, here, here and here ((and maybe here and here too)) ). But, much to my dismay the Treadsteps have dropped more than I hoped (though I sorta thought that would happen) and while I still really enjoy their look and style, 100% custom, they are not.
Much like the GPA, I am thrilled with the comfort and function... but if we're being super picky about appearance... I could make a couple improvements. Shallow, I know. but BOOTS. God, I love boots. Any excuse to shop for boots....
I'd probably go with Konigs, which I have a deep fondness for. My Konig Dressage Boots have served me well, as have the super-sale-field-boots I snagged a couple years ago. I just love the traditional lines, and the quality of the leather. Plus our local tack shop carries them, so I don't have to go show at WEF to get a fitting :). If we're really aiming for the stars, I'd go Der Dau and never look back, but... well. Since I know myself and any "forever" solution really only seems to last 2 years for me at this point - the Konigs seem like a prudent splurge (oxymoron?) and they would do just fine.
3) A New Coat.
There are so many beautiful coats out there and so many wonderful ways to order a unique (yet traditional!) jacket that I'm just drooling over the opportunity. I suppose the silver lining of potentially not losing the baby weight right away would be that I might "have" to get a bigger coat. oh darn. My Grand Prix that I found on sale held it together in Thermal at 22 weeks preggo, but if boobs or belly are any larger than that benchmark when I want to show again... we'll be on the hunt.
Clearly I'm on a traditional kick, but there are some fun options out there to sneak in if you have the time/money/inclination to go semi-custom. I saw some beautiful coats by both Grand Prix and Pikuer down in Thermal that I thought looked tasteful, yet modern. I think my next coat color is Navy, and I'd be tempted to get some piping on the pockets or possibly the collar in a matching satin. Most bold contrast is too much for the Hunter Ring (IMHO), especially for an Ammy doofusing around the small ring.
Contrast collars and too much flash with piping or stitching or buttons can come off as pretentious to me. Sort of like when people put hunt colors on their boots without having earned them.
Disrespect.
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| Still a tad too much contrast for me... |
4) Show Pad! I like Prair's half fleecey pad, and in fact I think she looks simple and classy in it - but unlike my old saddle, the new CWD actually fits most contour pads and I'm sort of tempted to order an Ogilvy pad to show in.
Necessary? god no. But you know what they say.. No Back, No Horse... or something like that.
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| mmm, fleecey and foamy! |
Prair's back is so touchy - and it's wild, curvy shape is so hard to fit - that the squishy, squashy Ogilvy pad has been a god send. I'll wait to see how the new saddle finishes breaking in before really pulling the trigger on this thing, but I can see it being the "smartest" buy of anything on this list. Maybe because it's the only thing that would be driven by function rather than just a wardrobe upgrade?? (oops...details).
But, like everything else, this is just a wishlist, a current collection of whims as I watch Miss Prair work from afar.
But really, would it be responsible to show up to defend our Circuit Championship at Thermal with anything less??? I think not. (oh, did I mention that I'm already thinking about Thermal? which The Boy consistently reminds me was "sold to him" as a "one time only" event?? Did I say once in a lifetime??? I maybe meant once a year....)
As for everything else, I've got plenty of breeches and... um gloves? to see us through another year, so clearly I'm not thinking about a totally new wardrobe (what? gloves totally count...) because that would just be ridiculous. Come to think of it, no need to hunt for new shirts either since I have my (favorite) FITS show shirts, from TOTD...
We clearly have time to change our minds here, so don't be too surprised if this list changes/doubles in size/becomes a monster, but these four items have been rolling around in my brain and are fun to keep an eye out for...
I'm with you. Really can't handle contrasting collars in the hunters! New stuff is fun, although I'm not a fan of velvet helmets anymore ever since I had to retire my lovely faded to a beautiful brown velvet one.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure the only reason a velvet helmet sounds like a great idea is because I haven't had to bother with one in so long. sort of like white carpet or cream colored anything. I think "oooohhhh how chic" then I promptly spill ice cream down my front or lob a glass of red wine across the room.
DeleteI can totally dig the more traditional look. And don't worry -I'm firmly on the Ogilvy bandwagon too, and I got pulled onto it kicking and screaming so it's fair to say they reeeaaaally had to win me over.
ReplyDeleteoh that does make me feel better actually. Sort of legitimizes my less thoughtful, less rational decision :)
DeleteI just could NOT wrap my head around what made a memory foam half pad so great, and was annoyed to death at the lack of "science" to back it up. At least Equifit and Thinline try to squish M&M's with hammers and stuff. I didn't buy into it until I had mine for a week or so. Now I get it.
DeleteI have a Charles Owen AYR8 and love it. I really want to try on a Samshield again but I'm pretty sure the CO just fits me best.
ReplyDeleteI have custom La Mundials in the make and will do a review when my boots get here- for custom boots you can't beat the price tag! L Williams has some and loves them.
As for the ogilvy show pad! If I venture into the hunters or Eq again you can bet that I will be putting my grubby hands on one of those. I think L Williams ordered one as well. Not sure that hers has arrived yet but I look forward to the review!
Oh I should do a post like this!
ReplyDeleteI have an AYR8 too and love it!
I plan to get custom boots after baby and the weight is gone :)
I so love your posts, they make me so jealous and eager to purchase at the same time. I am starting to think maybe I need to join in on this Ogilvy thing...
ReplyDeleteTotally off topic, but those orange and black ribbons catch my eye.
ReplyDeletethey catch my eye too, but in a bad way, that show does Orange/Black ribbons for their regular tri-colors and it totally messes with my ribbon wall :)
DeleteOMG. I literally laughed aloud and the dogs looked at my funny. Prudent splurge indeed.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, Thermal is once a yea. I thought that was made clear to the boy...
It's funny that you bring up the traditional helmets- I was perusing the Dover catalog and the Hampton caught my eye- sort of a "if I could have two" moment.
ReplyDeleteQuite a restrained list, I think. ;]
ReplyDelete"Sort of like when people put hunt colors on their boots without having earned them.
Disrespect." Can you explain this for me? I don't know anything about hunt colors on boots.
I am *far* from an expert on Hunt Colors, but I do know that the process of earning your colors varies from hunt club to hunt club, but essentially, active, proficient, and capable members of a club are often bestowed with their clubs colors and the honor to wear a colored collar, buttons and sometimes boot tops. Many clubs allow male members to top their boots with brown, and women to use patent or a secondary color (totally varies by club). Scarlet coats can also be awarded as a sign of rank, though often they are limited to the hunt staff themselves.
DeleteI love when I see folks in the H/J rings displaying their colors, I think it's a great tradition and I'm always impressed to know that someone's "Hunter" might actually hunt.
BUT that's also why I sometimes roll my eyes at contrasting collars that are fashion based and I want to CRY when I see people with brown boot tops that weren't awarded by a hunt.