The 2012 USEF Olympic Show Jumping Trials was the first time I took notice to a more fashionable look for the rider beyond just technical fabrics. Reed Kessler nailed a conservative and coordinated look with impeccable lines, yet her style was definitively forward thinking. Her GPA First Lady helmet, front fastening collars on show shirts, beautifully tailored coats (who can forget the Alessandro Albanese she wore at Sauté Hermes?), Ogilvy Equestrian half pads, and coordinating bonnets nailed this freshened up look for the elite show jumping ring. Today, Ms. Kessler has transitioned to Samshield Headware and Kingsland Equestrian, but her style remains crisp and the equestrian world has grown to not just accept, but to also appreciate a modern look for the jumper discipline.
Attaining elegance and appropriate style can be difficult to navigate for today's jumper rider. I cringe when I see some of the less flattering and trendy "outfits" in the competition arena. For recommendations on advising proper turnout for the jumper discipline, we turned to an extremely respected expert that dresses riders of all levels and across multiple disciplines. Equestrian lifestyle stylist authority, Courtney Caverzasi, is the proprietor of RIDE boutique located in Bedford, New York. Known for her impeccable taste, she is a horsewoman with extensive experience in equestrian retail management and has dressed and fitted saddles for some of the world's most elite horses and riders. Courtney provides us with detailed advice that simplifies the confusion as to the proper attire and equipment for participating in the show jumping discipline.
Salut!
Show Ring Essentials for the Jumper Ring
By Courtney Caverzasi, Owner of RIDE in Bedford, NY
Proper turnout is essential for any rider entering the show ring. Your personal turnout is affected by the discipline you compete in. Here are a few of our favorite brands to keep you and your horse looking your absolute best for jumpers. Looking good is half the battle and definitely allows you to feel more confident going into the ring. You will be happy you took the time to style your RIDE when it comes time to take that winning photo!
APPAREL
image sources: http://sarmhippique.it, http://www.equiline.it,http://www.samshield.com/en, http://fitsriding.com
Show Coats- Undoubtedly, we have seen a mass migration from wool coats to technical fabrics over the last three years. Technical coats are a wonderful creation for their lightweight breathability, washability and superior stretch, allowing most riders to get a custom look directly from the rack, regardless of physique. Add a special alcantara (faux, weatherproof suede) or satin trim with a piped collar, and you no longer need to wait weeks to get something special that will set you apart in the show ring. In a sea of technical coats selling on the circuit for upwards of $1,000-$2,000, it is nice to see three well established European brands starting to penetrate the U.S. marketplace. Our picks for a great value coat under $1,000 are:
- Equiline’s Gait (Ladies) and Rack (Men’s) Coats $799
- Cavalleria Toscana’s Unlined Tech Jacket $745
- Sarm Hippique’s Waterproof Tech Verbania coat $680
At RIDE, we always stock a full assortment of sizes for ladies, men’s and children in standard, custom and limited-edition fabrics. This allows riders to purchase a unique coat, with immediete gratification!
Show Shirts- Again, technical shirts have taken over for their ease of wear and care. We are in love with FITS’ new "Breeze" and "Shade" show shirts. The fit and fabrication is unparalleled, and pricing quite reasonable at $88-118. We also recommend Equiline’s "Victory", "Cindy", and "Grace" Show shirts (standard collection), as well as their selection of customized fabrics and silhouettes offered seasonally, ranging from $199-245, depending on style. Sarm Hippique’s "Elisa" tech shirt has also been in demand due to it’s finished look without snaps or buttons; just 2 buttons at the rear of the neck. It is priced at the middle-upper price point for $160.
Gloves- For riders, hand-to-mouth contact is of utmost importance. The best show gloves are ultra thin and offer optimal contact. Roeckl’s Vesta and Samshield’s V-Skin gloves dominate the show ring and our top pick is the V-skin. They are made from a combination of real leather and lycra. The leather is perforated providing superior airflow and they are lightweight, extremely comfortable and flexible, like a second skin. You almost forget you are wearing gloves! They are available in 5 colors: black, brown, blue, grey and white and they are priced at $59.50. For that extra bit of bling you may choose the Swarovski crystal edition for $79.50.
Breeches- Italian made breeches are quickly surpassing traditional brands like Pikeur and Tailored Sportsman in the show rings. Our top picks are the Equline’s Ash (Ladies) and the Equiline Willow (Men’s) X-Grip Breeches. They provide just the right amount of grip and are priced at $375. They truly are the most beautiful breech we have seen on the market.
Helmets- Though there are many choices for jumper helmets, the top brand's in the industry today are GPA’s first lady, KEP Italia, Antares and Samshield. Samshield is leading the pack as the industry’s "must-have" helmet. With all of the customizations and sleek styling Samshield offers, we don’t see this mega-trend changing course anytime soon. In addition, the three sized shell system allows for several growth spurts of young riders. It is easily changeable with the purchase of a minimally priced liner for $49, thus making it more achievable for a wider array of consumers. Samshield Helmets start at a base of $410 for the Shadowmatt style that is available in black, blue, and brown. We prefer the Premium Alcantara models, which will match the Alcantara trim on most tech coats in the marketplace. Premium models start at $580 and are available in our favorite colors grey and blue, as well as black and brown. You can also customize your helmet to become pretty much anything you dream. Samshield has an amazing configurator available online where you can design your helmet before you buy:
source: http://www.samshield.com/configurator/eng/
At RIDE, we carry the custom swatches in house and make it a regular practice to stock custom helmets that one would normally have to wait 5-7 weeks to receive. The RIDE helmet wall has become quite famous for our breadth of selection that is not available anywhere else in the States. Our clients regularly enjoy stopping in to design their custom orders with one of our specialists.
PERFORMANCE EQUIPMENT
image sources: http://usa.hermes.com/equestrian.html, http://www.antares-sellier.com, http://www.dyon.be/accueil.php?Id_lang=1, https://ogilvyequestrian.com/en
Saddles- Saddles are very complex to recommend as it is completely objective based on the rider’s preference. The top jumper saddles for one to consider include Hermes, Butet, Antares, Devocoux, CWD and Voltaire.
Bridles and other strap goods- Other than Hermes, along with their saddles, we truly feel Antares makes the most beautiful strap goods in the marketplace today. Each piece is well thought out and designed. Many do not know this, but Antares uses the same tanneries as Hermes and delivers a quality made in France (not French Morocco!) for about half the price of Hermes. If you are in need of more technical jumper bridles (anatomic, poll pressure relieving, hackamore, drop noseband, etc.), the Belgium brand Dy’on makes the most beautiful and comprehensive line of tack that is not found elsewhere, except via custom orders. This is the brand often seen on the top European Olympic horses and is currently being showcased in the finest equestrian shops in the U.S. Prices for both manufacturers, including reins, range from $520-650 for most styles.
Bonnets- There are many choices for bonnets in the marketplace. Undoubtedly, handmade bonnets are the ultimate luxury for your horse! The options are endless, scalloped edge, plain, square, diamond, round... to bling or not to bling? All of these decisions are up to the purchaser, but our favorites are the De La Coeur and EquStar. Both brands are made by riders, for riders, and are handmade and offer great client service and selection. Prices vary from $98-200, depending on the custom options selected.
Saddle pads- To really pull your competition look together, we recommend purchasing coordinating saddle pads. On the high quality, lower cost threshold, we recommend the Toklat Classics III with wither relief at $76. We also recommend Ogilvy’s square pads at $57. Both brands offer in-house embroidery that is above par for the industry. This is a nice benefit because when they arrive at your doorstep, you will avoid running around the showgrounds and incur another delay before they are ready to use. As an entry-level option suitable for the show ring, Franconia offers their "Better Baby Pad" that is cut well and is available in various trim colors at $44-46, depending on options.
Across all disciplines, the number one selling half pad is the Ogilvy Equestrian. As a saddle fitter for 24 years, this has always been my go to pad to solve fitting issues for young horses in development, older horses lacking muscling along their topline and horses coming back from time off where muscling is being built. I like them for their superior shock absorption qualities and hardy nature. Most importantly, it is one of the few half pads in the market that fill in where it needs to and is reduced in thickness where it does not, thus fully dissipating pressure points. The half pads are friction free and absorb shock without sacrificing close contact and feel of your horse. They are available in various thicknesses and sizes.
RINGSIDE CLOTHING
image sources: http://www.blueribbonblankets.com
Ringside Clothing: Every rider must have a lightweight wool dress sheet, a scrim and a rain sheet (ideally with the cutout for your stirrups and irons to pass through). Undoubtedly the best quality show apparel in the States is available from Blue Ribbon Blankets. The fit, finish, materials and custom options are unparalleled. They have the most unique wool swatches for dress sheets, and the scrims are the perfect weight and hand feel. They also have unique bling leather front closures for those in search of something different. When you place an order, every blanket comes standard with every option you would want included in the base price. To give you an idea of their scope of specialty product, they offer wool lap blankets lined in faux beaver for show moms. Lap blankets are available at a very reasonable price of $220. No more wrapping up in a dress sheet covered in horsehair...they truly are the perfect golf cart or ringside accessory!
ABOUT COURTNEY & RIDE
Photo credit Bernadette Durham
“RIDE is a equestrian retail boutique outfitting riders, horses and canine companions. We traveled the world to bring clients a unique and often-exclusive product assortment featuring the highest quality brands available in the marketplace today. Our stellar client service combined with depth of product knowledge and beautiful shopping environment will make RIDE your favorite retail destination." - Courtney Caverzasi
To read our article about Courtney's extensive equestrian retail career at some of the world's most prominent brands and details about RIDE, CLICK HERE.
To visit the RIDE website, click image below:
image source: www.ridebedford.com
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