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Chapter 1
Introduction
and Color Coordination
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| Wisely
planning a good show wardrobe will not only help
you make a good IMPRESSION, but will also give you
an extra bit of confidence each time you enter the
arena. |
This
chapter begins a book designed to help you create a
winning wardrobe for western show events. We'll evaluate
the main elements head-to-toe that make up your western
show wardrobe, and discuss hints and visual tricks to
help create the look you need in today's tough show
competition. With these ideas in mind, you can assess
both your horse and yourself to decide what elements
in your present wardrobe to keep and what to update.
No one knows better than yourself what you like, so
remember that my suggestions are just that - nothing
is written in stone, except in the show rulebook!
In
this introduction, we'll first discuss some why, how,
and how much issues of building a western show wardrobe.
Next, we'll consider basics of color and style. In future
chapters, we'll focus on hats, vests, blazers and jackets,
blouses and shirts, pants/belts/buckles, chaps, boots,
saddle blankets, and accessories.
Why?
It's important to understand the rules, both written
and unwritten, of the horse show game. You're being
judged on only one thing in the show arena -IMPRESSION-
and it's vitally important that you overlook no detail
in your performance or turnout. You must not only have
your horse schooled and groomed to perfection, but you
must look like a winner - coordinating your attire and
your horse's tack to flatter your strong points and
minimize your weaknesses, with your presentation being
both legal and appropriate for both the class and level
of competition. Remember:
1. Your equipment must satisfy the rules of the association
or club you show with- become familiar with your rulebook
and don't lose a prize because you "didn't know".
2. You're being judged on how you look, so there's no
sense in not looking your best. Wisely planning a good
show wardrobe will not only help you make a good IMPRESSION,
but will also give you an extra bit of confidence each
time you enter the arena, and save you time and aggravation
in the long run.
How
Much?
Not a million dollar question, fortunately. Putting
together a good western show wardrobe shouldn't cost
a mint if you plan carefully and always buy the best
quality that you can afford. Spend your money where
it shows- in the show ring- and consider economizing
somewhere less visible: perhaps a less opulent hotel
at the horse show, or a truck that merely pulls your
horse trailer rather than creating a sensation as it
barrels down the road: you're being judged in the show
pen, not the parking lot.
For
a new rider with no wardrobe, plan on investing close
to $1,000 initially for chaps, hat, show blanket, and
assorted clothes for a quality western wardrobe suitable
for showing competitively at local and regional level
shows. Remember that quality basics will last for years
and also have excellent resale value. Good show clothing
is not an expense; it's an investment in your success.
Consider
this: if you show once a month for four years, the difference
between a terrific $1,000 wardrobe and an average-at-best
$500 bunch of clothes is about $10 per show. Isn't it
worth the extra ten bucks to look like a winner?
What
Color?
Color plays a very important role in the impression
that you make in the show ring. You must flatter your
horse at the same time you try to look unique- a trick
when there's 20 sorrel horses with riders in black chaps
loping around together! Before you choose colors, keep
in mind that your horse will affect the overall picture
much more than your little face: don't ever choose something
you don't like, but dress for your horse as well as
yourself, because very little of your coloring shows
in the pen, compared to the acre of horse you're riding!
Do
some investigation: consider a trip to the library for
a book on fashion and color, and do your own research
for both you and your horse. ("He's tall, dark,
and chestnut.") Or check out the InterActiv
feature - it's a fun way to preview color combinations
for you and your horse. When it comes to color, trust
your instincts, start simple, and study the impression
color creates in the show ring before you start spending.
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In
general, horses are either "redheads" (sorrel,
chestnut, red roan, rose gray, dun- horses with red
hair) which look especially nice with softer earth-tone
shades of sand, rust, brown, peach, and most any green
tone, or "brunettes" (bay, black, white, most
grays- horses with brown, black, or white hair) which
can wear bright jewel-tone colors like red, blue, purple
and also the greens well. "Neutral" color
group horses include palominos, buckskins, and grullas
who can use either the earth-tone or jewel-tone accents,
depending on the rider's preferences, horse's coat color,
and the horse's markings.
Some
horses including Appaloosas, Pintos, and Paints are
a little harder to classify. If your horse has more
than 50% body white, consider the brunette/jewel-tone
colors to contrast with your horse's white coat and
avoid a dreary "sand chaps on almost white horse"
combination. If your colorful horse has less than 50%
body white, use his primary coat color as the determining
factor: for example a minimal white sorrel overo Paint
would probably look best in the redhead/earth-tone colors.
If
you ride several horses, or aren't sure what color horse
you may be showing, consider the versatile blue/green
color range. From the palest mint to the deepest forest
green, these colors look great on almost any horse color,
and also carry well from a distance in the show ring.
Picture a beautiful teal green shirt with a matching
saddle blanket on a sorrel horse and a bay - it's a
winning picture either way.
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| A
classic black outfit will be in style for many years. |
Which
Style?
Show fashions don't change with each season of each
year like street apparel. Good basics like hats and
chaps can be updated from time to time and should last
you for many years, given reasonable care and a semi-steady
body weight. Show clothing fashions have a life-cycle
of several years from the time something new hits the
world shows and then trickles down to local or regional
level shows, so consider that you're investing in clothing
that should be useful in your wardrobe for three or
four years, then budget and invest accordingly.
Keep
in mind that dark colors minimize while light colors
emphasize. Smaller patterned or vertical stripe fabrics
will minimize and lengthen, while large, bold stripes
or horizontal designs will shorten or broaden your figure.
Remember, too, that the judge will be looking at you
from at least 50 feet away, so tiny details will be
lost but color and silhouette will carry from rail to
rail. Make sure your outfit "reads on stage."
If
you're bottom-heavy, you might consider a dark chap
color to minimize "thighs of size" with a
vertical patterned dark vest to minimize your middle,
topped off with a lighter hat to visually draw the observer's
eye upward and create the illusion of height in your
upper body. If you're tall, a darker hat will visually
compress you a little, especially with a darkish outfit
below it. Busty? Try to keep layers- lapels, ties, collars-
to a minimum on your chest and go for a color blend
at the waist. Small, or trying to create a bigger or
more adult impression? Go for a sharp color contrast
between chaps and tops, and emphasize accessories- bolder
ties or a little more jewelry, perhaps.
Any
figure will look trimmer if you try to make everything-
chaps, belt, vest/jacket/shirt- come together at your
natural waist instead of your hips. No color or style
will erase your figure flaws, but careful choices can
emphasize your good points and minimize your weaknesses.
Trends come and go, but good taste is always in style
- just study breed journals and other magazines to see
what the look is in your area. Better yet, attend a
few shows like those you'll be competing in with a camera
to snap a few reminders of what you did or didn't like.
How
do you create a winning look? Simply put, by planning.
Great performances don't happen accidentally: they're
scripted, rehearsed, and polished long before being
presented to the judge. From head-to-toe and poll-to-hoof,
you can improve your placings and performance by planning
ahead.
Next:
Chapter 2 - Hats
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