Top 5 Show Ready Must-Haves For The Season

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Here’s a round up of our favorite picks ahead of the fall/winter competition season.

Beyond The Track Apparel

There are a lot options out there when it comes to custom embroidery for equestrian-themed tack and apparel. From saddle pads to sun shirts and bandage holders, creating a custom look can quickly become an expensive endeavor. When I was looking to make a matching wrap sling to my Phoenix West show trunk, I turned to Beyond The Track Apparel.

This Ocala-based small business is run by a woman who is just as crazy about off-track Thoroughbreds as I am. She specializes in creating custom equestrian apparel (from monogrammed belts and matching barn logo sun shirts) to fun graphic tees. I bought a few Thoroughbred-themed things first – a tank top and hat – and truly appreciated the attention to detail. The owner, Alexia, offered designs that cater to really any discipline.

So when it came time to make that matching bandage holder, Alexia was the first person I thought of. I had the trunk before the sling, so I coordinated with Alexia to try to match the color of the thread as close to the details of my vinyl trunk as possible. We did this over messenger, and I was so blown away by how detailed Alexia was. She nailed it from start to finish – taking my rambling thoughts and vague idea of a matchy-matchy look and turning it into a sharp-looking reality. I couldn’t be more thrilled. To top it off, her prices were more than fair.

If I can support a small business, especially one that is busy out in the community, setting up at horse shows nearly every weekend, I’m going to. 

Overall rating: 4.8/5 | Quality: 4.9/5 | Price point: 4.8/5

Stock Ties By Outfoxed 

Stock ties, I love to hate them. These complicated, folded pieces of fabric are a staple fashion item in multiple disciplines, from fox hunting to the hunter derbies, to dressage and eventing. Most of the time, they are plain and boring white. As a newly minted amateur eventer, I was delighted to see a few bold riders flash some colorful stock ties in the dressage and show jumping arenas at nearby horse trials. Maybe it’s a new trend, maybe it’s not a trend at all. But I really adore a tasteful pop of color or flair in a rider’s competition turnout. A stock tie is an easy way to do this. 

I decided to be brave and buy a few daring non-white stock ties for myself and I’ve never looked back. I went with Outfoxed (full name is: DogStar and OutFoxed) on Etsy. This local artisan from Pennsylvania makes stock ties as well as handbags and quilts, among other things. But their collection of stock ties is plentiful. The first colorful stock tie I bought was a traditional four-fold black tie with glittery golden horse shoes on it. My trainer and even a few friends advised me *not* to wear it to rated horse shows. They suggested I play it safe, and dress more conservatively. I didn’t listen to them. 

I’ve showed in this black and gold tie several times now, pairing it with my green hunter show jacket (with a matching emerald brow band) and in a black dressage pad and matching black bonnet, both of which have gold accent trim. I was delighted when I got lots of compliments on my turnout at recent horse shows, and better yet, I’ve had my best dressage score to date while riding in this tie, so now it’s a bit of a good luck charm. I purchased my second four-fold tie just recently, a gorgeous chocolate brown tie with a shimmering copper design. It matches beautifully with a chocolate brown Spooks show coat I purchased (are you catching on to this shopping splurge theme?), and I can’t wait to wear it out in the field, either with the fox hunters or in the dressage ring.

These stock ties are beautifully made. I hand wash them at home and hang to dry. They’re affordable, but best of all, they are unique. I stand out for all the right reasons at a horse show when wearing them. And by choosing to forgo the classic, but boring white pre-tied easy stock tie option, I feel like I’m helping normalize a little bit of flair. 

Overall rating: 4.7/5 | Quality: 4.8/5 | Price point: 4.5/5

Eques Pante Performance Underwear

In 2018, the hosts of the Heels Down Happy Hour Podcast set out to find the answer to the longstanding question rocking equestrian sport: which style of underwear is best to ride in? The analysis was inconclusive. The answer, it seems, is complicated.

Of course, every rider has a different preference. But when you’re riding and competing, we can all agree that the last thing you want to be thinking about is your underwear. Riders need a pair of under garments that are first and foremost, comfortable. And secondly, do their job without worry. So I was thrilled to try out a new brand of underwear made by an equestrian specifically for equestrians: Eques Pantes. 

The Eques Pantes knickers resemble the “bike short” look and feel with sleek, soft and stretchy material that covers the waist, buttocks and thighs generously. The first time I slipped into a pair I couldn’t stop touching the material, it’s just so soft. I put the pantes to the test on a brutally hot and humid spring day in Florida – the test was really to make sure they could hold up in really sweaty conditions and that I didn’t feel “trapped” in them (ladies, you know what I mean). Two-plus hours at the barn later, after a hard ride and bath time in the wash rack, I was quite impressed with my underwear. Next up I wore them a horse trial, where they kept me chafe and rub free all day, both in and out of the saddle.

The Eques Pantes wicks sweat and dries fast. There are no panty lines or bunching to gawk at under tight breeches. There’s a seamless crotch made for added comfort (really, they thought of everything) and the underwear comes in cool color combos that never show under a pair of white breeches. What I like best about the the Eques Pantes is they are supportive and stylish enough to wear as just straight workout shorts. Even better, the Eques Pantes are made of sustainably-sourced materials. 

Overall rating: 4.5/5 | Quality: 4.5/5 | Price point: 4/5

Alicia Dressage Breastplate by Lumiere Equestrian

Do I really need a breastplate to ride dressage? Absolutely not. But do I want one? Of course I do. 

I was smitten with the look of a polo-style breast collar from the moment I saw eventers using them for the flat. I don’t know when this trend began or resurfaced again, but I’m glad it did. I thought the simple style of nice, padded leather across the chest and over the neck added a sharp look to most athletic-built horses. I began envisioning what one would look like on my own horse.

My quest to find a well-made but affordably priced breastplate ended up being more challenging than I anticipated. I could only find one company in the U.S. that made the style of breastplate I was looking for at the quality I wanted, but the price was very high for just a couple of straps of leather. So I kept searching. Eventually I came across a company based in Australia called Lumiere Equestrian.

First off, the website is beautiful. The company is known for their customizable collection of high-end dressage bridles. I was intrigued.

The Alicia breastplate by Lumiere was droolworthy in the photos. It’s made of padded Italian leather that is just as buttery soft as it looks. My horse is quite wide in the chest and neck, and I worried about sizing. But Lumiere made it easy to measure and accommodate larger horses with a specific “warmblood” sizing option. They also made international shipping quite easy. While it did take longer to get to me, it was worth the wait. Not to mention the cost was half the price of the other U.S.-based company I mentioned.

The breastplate fit my horse perfectly. The quality of the leather is impeccable. It already feels broken in, and I’ve only ridden in it a few times. I get compliments from all my fellow barnmates on how sharp it looks. It really pulls together our turnout. I can’t wait to take it for a spin in the show arena.

Overall rating: 4.5/5 | Leather quality: 5/5 | Price point: 4/5

Tipperary Windsor Helmet 

After an unexpected fall while schooling my horse at home, it was time to invest in a new helmet. My horse ducked out from a fence at the last minute and I fell ungracefully to the ground where along the way, I gave my head a good crack. 

Luckily, the fall was minor in the grand scheme of things. I was sore for about a week and didn’t have a concussion. But the mishap was a good reminder that these kinds of accidents do happen, and it was time to invest in a new helmet. 

I’ve been loyal to Charles Owen since I was a wee kiddo. But there are so many more options these days for a well fitting, ventilated and above all – safe – helmet out there. So I took the opportunity to learn more about all my options. Safety was my biggest priority – I’m getting too old to be so lackadaisical about protecting my noggin. So right off the bat, I knew I wanted my next helmet to come with MIPS technology. 

MIPS, or the “Multi-Directional Impact Protection System” reduces rotational force to the head during impact. It’s a safety feature backed by research. I found a few equestrian helmets with MIPS technology, but it was the Tipperary Windsor line of helmets that caught my eye. 

The Windsor helmet is also equipped with high-impact resistance, crush-resistant banding, and is ASTM/SEI certified. It checked all my safety boxes, and also came in sleek designs. The Tipperary helmet has a dial in the back to adjust for fit, which I wasn’t sure I was going to like at first. As a rider who tends to put her hair up in a helmet, the dial actually allowed me the flexibility to fit it properly to my head with my hair up or down.

I opted for the wide-brim option in rose gold, and get compliments on this helmet everywhere I go. I put my helmet on and then don’t think about it again at all during my rides – whether I’m going down centerline in the sand box, am galloping around cross-country, or am in the hunter ring. I think that’s the best endorsement I can give. The Tipperary Windsor helmet does its job. And for the price point, I couldn’t be more pleased. 

Overall rating: 4.8/5 | Quality: 4.9/5 | Price point: 4.7/5