“Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.”

                                                                                                      Mark Twain

At the last Region 3 Arabian Horse Show, I was glad to see that though many of us are “riding over the hill” it is not stopping us from riding and competing on our horses. The large amount of amateurs that enroll in classes divided by age, 35 to 54 and 55 and over, show that for many of us age is not slowing us down.

It is good to see that with better healthcare, 50 is the new 30, 60 is the new 40, and 70 is the new 50. All this means we can ride longer! Thank God since I bought Valerie at age 50. It makes me feel I can keep on riding for a long time.

One of the competitors, who impressed me by her spunk and determination, was a 75-year-old woman who was showing her Arab in the Hunter Pleasure division. This petite woman had ridden and competed on horses all her life, so as long as her health permitted she would continue doing what she had always done. Not only was she comShe gave me hope to continue riding on into my sixties and seventies!peting at this competitive Class A show, she was beating other riders who were twenty or more years younger.

At the last Olympics,  there were three riders aged 60 competing in Beijing. According to The Virtual Equestrian,  Ian Millar, a Canadian rider who is 61, is the oldest show-jumper in Olympic history. However, he is still not the oldest.  Hiroshi Hoketsu from Japan is the oldest rider at the Games at 67-years-old.

Ian Millar

In addition to older riders competing, there were older horses going up against young ones in the show ring. My trainer, Shawna Parks, competed with Crystal Emir, her dad’s 20 something- year-old Arabian, in Hunter Pleasure and in Sport Horse In-Hand. Normally, Emir is used as a lesson horse for Shawna’s students since he is well-behaved and trained. At the barn, he is quiet and low key. Recently Shawna has brought Emir out of retirement to show again and the old guy seems to love it! His whole demeanor changes in the show ring. Shawna’s dad rode and competed on Emir for many years winning many firsts and championships. So for Emir ,it means doing something he remembers and enjoys. At the last show, he beat 13 other younger horses to win third place in the Sport Horse In-Hand class. Good for you Emir!

Shawna Parks on Emir

So the moral is–keep on trucking older ladies and horses. We still have a long way to go!

We all have our vices. Some women collect purses. Some collect shoes. I have a closet full of western show outfits in various colors. For some reason, I have a weakness for them. Maybe because of the Swarovski crystals, the multi-hued material, or because they are related to horses. Either way, I love to spend my money on show clothes. Since there are no local shops that I can  buy show clothes from (see About Me), I have bookmarked online websites that I like (and can afford) that sell western show clothes.

It took me along time to determine what show clothes looked good on my horse and were appropriate for Arab class A shows.  In this post I will share what I have learned with you and what sites I feel have good clothes that are reasonably priced.

Note: This article is for mostly Western Pleasure outfits and possibly reining and trail class. There are no Showmanship or Horsemanship classes in the Arab show world so I don’t buy clothes for those classes.

Four Questions

Before you rush out and start shopping, there are a few questions you should ask yourself:

1. What type of shows will you be attending?
2. What is the color of your horse?
3. What is your age and figure?
4. What is your budget?

Type of Show

When I first started shopping for show clothes, I looked at outfit styles online and read about the current trend in western show clothing–less black and white and lots of color in shirts and chaps. I saw many show clothing sites that featured shirts paired with matching chaps in almost all colors of the rainbow. So I found a blue outfit I liked and bought it without checking to see what exhibitors were actually wearing in the shows I attended.  When I attended my first regional Arab show, I saw that most of the adults wore black or sand chaps and a colorful shirt. No brightly colored chaps. Whoops.  I didn’t consider that most of these outfits online were for the Quarter Horse or Paint circuit, not regional Arab Class A shows. I assumed the outfits would be the same, which was a wrong assumption to make. The lesson I learned was before you buy, go watch a show and study exhibitor outfits–the styles, colors, and if they are custom-made or off the rack.

The Color of Your Horse

When you buy a show outfit, the outfit should compliment your horse.  In a Western Pleasure class, you may be one of twenty people in the ring so you need to have any outfit that makes you and your horse stand out.

Hobby Horse clothing company has a chart on their website that shows what colors flatter the coat and tail color of your horse. Basically the chart shows these coat colors:

• Black
• Redhead (Chestnut, Sorrel, Liver Chestnut, Red Roan, Dun)
• Brunette ( Bay, Black, White, Silver Gray, Blue Roan)

Think of it from a fashion point of view. Most women’s magazines say, cool or jewel-tone colors look good on brunettes or dark haired women (red, blue, green, etc.) and warm colors (yellow, orange, etc.) look good on blonde’s. Valerie is a dark bay so I choose outfits with strong  jewel tones, like blue or red. I also find that outfits highlighted with a small amount of black look really good because of  her black mane and tail. However, because she is a very dark bay, I can’t wear too much black because it does not offer enough contrast.

I also believe because Valerie is small that I need to choose patterns that are not overwhelming for her small frame. I stay away from fabrics with a small pattern.

Age and Shape

As older women, unfortunately we must dress more conservatively. What does that mean? Well, if you look online it shows kids show outfits in bright colors like red, blue, pink, purple, etc. with cute little flower or stars. We can wear bright colors but the pattern and style cannot be over the top loud or wild.

You must also consider what shape you have. If you are on the larger side darker colors look more slimming and so are certain patterns and styles. Some designer special in plus size show clothing.

Cost

Once you get to the last question, you should have a good idea if you will be needing custom or off-the-rack show clothing. Off-the-rack show clothes tend to be less expensive then custom-made. I say “tend to” because I have found some designers whose clothing prices are comparable.

If you are only going to local or schooling shows you can probably wear non-custom show clothes. The down side with non-custom is that it is not one of a kind so someone else may be wearing it in your class. Hobby Horse and 1849 Authentic Ranchwear offer inexpensive but nice off-the-rack clothes.

If you have decided to buy custom, there are many designers to choose from and each prices their clothing differently. Prices climb if you choose expensive fabric, loads of Swarvorski crystals or leather, or ask for an intricate design. One warning I would give is this: you get what you pay for. I have seen some cheap show shirts on EBay but they don’t look well made (patterns don’t match) or are made with inferior material (thin bathing suit type fabric that looses shape or snags).

My Wardrobe

My wardrobe is a mix of custom and off-the-rack and new and used items. I have a pair of black slick leather custom chaps made by Deb Moyer,  which I love. They fit well, are easy to clean and are very durable. However, my shirts are a mix of  Hobby Horse and custom-made and range in cost from $300 to $125.00. There are certain high-end designer shirts I drool over but can’t afford new so I look and wait until I see them online used.

The List

Here is a list of some of my favorite shopping sites:

*Hobby Horse

*The Wire Horse - offers Hobby Horse, 1849 Authentic Ranchwear and custom shirts

*Final Cut – I bought several shirts from her. Nice lady and love her clothes.

*Deb Moyer – bought my chaps from here

*Karen’s Kustoms (U)

Kris’ Kustoms

*Show Me Western

*Painted J Western Show Apparel – made a very pretty shirt for me very quickly

The Tami Dern Collection

3 Gems Tack

Show Me Again (U)

*Tack Trader (U)

*EBay (U)

Clotheshorse Connection (U)

Beautiful but Out of My Price Range

Showtime Show Clothing (U)

Connie’s Customs

Show Diva Designs

*Purchased clothes from these stores.

(U)=offers used clothing

Note: If you want to look at a more comprehensive list of show clothing sites, go to the Boot Lady’s website http://www.thebootlady.com/links.html.

Have fun shopping!

First photo Pink Sherbet Photography, second photo cj berry 2009

Tell me about other online stores that you like.

Do you know that saying “It is like trying to fit a square peg in to a round hole?” Well sometimes we horse owners do that to our horses. We try to force our horse to do something that it doesn’t like to do. Let me give you an example.

I have been showing Valerie for about two years now in Class A Arab horse shows. All the classes I enter in are strictly western–western pleasure, trail, and reining. I usually place well in trail and reining but not as well in western pleasure. I dread that class and if Valerie could talk I know she would say, “Why do you put me in that class? I hate it! It is so hard for me to move that way and I can’t put my head up to look at the people…” Needless to say, the class is a struggle for both Valerie and me.

In the Arab show world, a judge wants to see an Arab horse flexed at the poll with its nose vertical and its gaits collected and slow. They also reward horses that achieve all this on a very loose, draped rein. This is not an easy thing to ask your horse to do! My trainers taught me to teach your horse to flex at the poll, you first give your horse a cue with your spur to collect and flex. If the horse doesn’t respond, you lift your reins. As soon as your horse flexes, you release your aids as a reward. In a Western pleasure class, these aids are repeated over and over again.

In the shows I go to, unfortunately, some trainers use a quick and dirty method to train their clients’ horses. They constantly yank on the reins and spur the horse in its side. This intimidation tactic tells the horse “stay in that frame or else”. I have decided not to train Valerie this way, so it may take a life time before her head stays flexed and she moves on a loose rein.

In addition, I believe Valerie hates the class. How do I know this? She is usually a very willing horse who tries very hard. Occasionally, she gives me grief but overall she really likes to please. When riding Western Pleasure, she gets grouchy and can’t wait to quit.

For the last show, I tried something completely different. I entered in classes I had never performed in before–Hunter Pleasure. Donna Synder-Smith, whom I had taken lessons with a few years ago once suggested Valerie might do well in that class, and Shawna, my current trainer agreed. So at home, I begin practicing in that little saddle with the funky stirrups. In the beginning, I have to admit, I was nervous. I felt like a like a jockey and missed all that leather around me. However, after a while I actually liked it. Valerie liked the snaffle and I could keep her in a frame. In addition, she moved well and stayed collected. So in the last Class A Arab show, I entered in all Hunter Pleasure classes and guess what? I did very well! In each class, we got better and better until the championship. Can you believe it, I won the class. Unbelievable.

So what has this experience taught me? Listen to your horse. Try different events, disciplines, or classes until you find something he or she likes. Take it from, working as a team is much more gratifying.

Write me back. I would love to hear from you.

Photo by Ella’s Dad

When I got back into horseback riding, my family use to laugh at me when I said riding was a form of exercise. They visualized that a rider passively sits on the horse like they were sitting in a chair and that the horse does all the work. Once during a physical, my doctor asked what type of exercise I did. I told the doctor, I walked and rode my horse. He looked at me and said, “Is that really exercise?”

Yes it is! Riding when done correctly requires balance, strength, and flexibility. It is also an aerobic activity, which can involve a moderate intensity of exercise for a long period of time. Getting back into riding when we are older can be particular tough. It took me a while to gain strength in my legs and also to become a more balanced rider. I found stretching and performing Pilate’s exercises helped me become better at riding. Stretching my legs and hip flexors helped me to position my legs correctly and Pilate’s exercises strengthened my stomach and back so that I sat with better posture.

Pilates can help equesterians build strength in their body’s core muscles. The core are the deep muscles, that provide a “girdle of support” for your abdomen and low back. This core strength allows you to use more than one muscle group at a time, which means you can use your legs to cue your horse while maintaining a deep balanced sit. 

In addition, Pilates helps improve your balance by building your interior muscles. There are many Pilate’s exercises you must do while staying in a balanced position that strengthens your interior stomach and back muscles.

Lastly, Pilates increases your flexibility which is not only needed for riding but also for doing daily horse chores like grooming or saddling.

There are other types of exercise programs that are good for riders. Yoga and Tai Chi are both beneficial to riders. 

For Pilate’s exercises for equesterians, go to a site called Equestrian Balance . This site gives a series of exercises with photos that riders can do on a Pilate’s ball. The unstableness of the ball tests your balance while strengthening your core using your powerhouse and stabilizer muscles. If you want to find out more about Pilates, go to www.pilates.com.

So what type of exercises do you do to stay in shape for riding? Let me know!

Photo by jo-h

When you are a horse person, being prepared for a medical emergency is important. There will be times that you may need to administer first aid yourself and then there may be times you may need to administer first aid until your vet can get there. Either way its good to be prepared.

The worst feeling, I think, is when your horse is injuried and you A) don’t know what to do and B) don’t have the supplies you should on hand to apply first aid. Of course, when your new you cannot even imagine what trouble your horse can get into and hurt itself. You are blissfully ignorant.

Murphy’s Law

When I had Valerie at a training barn, I never really thought about preparing for the worse. I didn’t think about getting a first aid kit or even learning about how to do certain things. For one, Valerie had never experienced any injuries or illness. In addition, my trainer and his assistant were experienced horse people who were available for vet checks and were the ones who administered any medicine.

However, when I moved Valerie to my current barn, I had to step up. I had to schedule her dental and vet checks myself and would need to care for her when she got injuried. Well after four years, the inevitable happened–she injuried herself. One day I got a phone call from a fellow horsewoman who told me Valerie had hurt her eye. Luckily, I am a fairly calm person so I didn’t totally freak out. I drove to the barn and saw she some how bumped and scraped her brow and eyelid while in her stall.  Her eyelid area was very swollen. She looked like I prize fighter who had been punched in the eye.

First, I called my vet to find out  what to do. She told me to examine Valerie’s eye to make sure it was not damaged. I checked  it thoroughly and could see it was fine. However, I was worried about the swelling. Because the vet couldn’t come out until several days later and she didn’t think it a true emergency, she recommended I give Valerie orally a 1000 pound dose of Banamine daily until the swelling diminished. 

I didn’t have the medicine so I had to ask around the barn until I could borrow  a tube from someone. Once I got the medicine I tried giving her a dosage, which was difficult since she was throwing her head around to avoid the syringe. I got more medicine on me then in her mouth. I finally had have my trainer help me.

Getting Prepared

After that, I knew I had to get better prepared. First, I talked to my trainer and other trainers in the barn to find out which medications they kept on hand for inflamation and pain (banamine and Phenylbutazone (bute) were recommended), and bought them from my vet. Next, I created a first aid kit with the following:

• first aid book for horses
• Corona antiseptic ointment(2 oz.)
• 6″X9″ cold pack
• 4 oz. hydrogen peroxide
• thermometer
• 4″ Vetrap
• alcohol prep pads
• 4″X4″ gauze pads
• 3-ply towels
• iodine pads
• 250 ml saline solution
• scissors
• surgical scrub brush w/iodophor solution
• 10 cc syringe
• latex tourniquet
• vinyl gloves
• polyethylene water resistant bag, approximately 6″ x 6″ x 12″

My next task will be to read through the first aid book to make sure I am prepared when an emergency arises.

For ideas on what to put in your first aid kit, go to either equisearch.com or infohorse.com. You can also buy a kit from either www.horse.com or www.equimedic.com.