Riding Couture

April Showers Bring May Flowers....

2010-05-03T22:14:00.001-07:00

I can't think of a better model than Penny for my little hair accessory adventure I am on right now. Flower in a bob? Hello! How classic yet sexy is that?

Happy Spring everyone. I hope these pics bring you a smile....

Courtney King-Dye Medical Fund

2010-04-14T19:42:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, Courtney King-Dye was in a terrible accident on March 3rd while schooling one of her horses and suffered a very serious head trauma. After being in a coma for many weeks, Courtney was released to a rehab center, where she is making progress day by day.

For those of you that do not know Courtney's history, following are just a few of her accomplishments: In 2000, she was named to the USET Olympic Long List and in 2004 was named to the USEF High Performance Developing Riders List. Courtney is a United States Dressage Federation (USDF) Gold Medalist and a USDF Certified Instructor through Fourth Level. In August 2008, Courtney represented the USA at the Olympic Games in Hong Kong on Harmony's Mythilus. Courtney is based at Bel Air Farm in Millbrook, New York.

Courtney still has a long journey ahead of her, and I am writing to you all in an effort to raise awareness for "The Courtney King-Dye Medical Fund." One of Courtney's sponsors, SUCCEED Digestive Condition Program, has started an eBay store in order to raise money for the cause. Also, if you would like to make a donation to the store, please e-mail Lyndsey at, lwhite@freedomhealthllc.com. 100% of the proceeds go to support Courtney (after eBay charges). I personally purchased one of the "Strap One On" t-shirts and LOVE IT! As a matter of fact, it's the same fabric as the Riding Couture tissue tees, so if you are a RC t-shirt fan, you will want one for sure!

Courtney's friend, Suzanne, put together a wonderful video called Suddenly I See , please take a minute to watch the video and think about Courtney and even say a prayer.

Life is precious and accidents can happen so fast...Please wear a helmet.

Spring Feet

2010-04-07T15:32:00.001-07:00

I thought I'd share this pic of my boy, Inca Gold, that I took last summer; it just makes me smile, feel bright, cheerful and happy, it makes me think of spring and how beautiful it will be when the grass turns green, the flowers bloom and the birds chirp....

Happy Spring, Everyone!

Work in Progress

2010-04-05T21:02:00.001-07:00

I've been working on this little number. It has two beautiful rhinestone flowers as the detail, and they are so feminine and delicate. This is not the best pic, as I took it with my Blackberry, but hey, just wanted to share the process with everyone.

Hope you like!

xoxo

Duchess Stock Pins

2010-04-04T19:20:00.001-07:00

Horse show season is upon us and it's time to invest in a fresh and exciting Duchess stock pin to add a little elegance to your show outfit. New stock tie? We can add one of those to your basket as well!

Duchess Stock Pin - $19

These beautiful pins are also gorgeous on your flip flops, baseball caps, barets, jacket lapels, hair bows....just to name a few options! Looking for a cute little gift for that little princess in your life? Look no further!!!

Happy Trails!

Saints or Colts?

2010-02-03T11:05:00.001-08:00

Are you a Colts fan or a Saints fan? Either choice, Riding Couture has got you covered! Get the fleur or the colt on a baseball cap as well! Get your sparkle on, People!

The Fluer

2010-01-21T22:40:00.001-08:00

The Fleur....fabricated of only the best satin and Riding Couture's signature fleur-de-lis buttons. This stock tie is classic in style, rich in detail and absolutely elegant to behold. The Fleur is among the chicest of ties and will never run short of style.

"Thee" Season is upon us.....Stock Tie Season!

2010-01-17T12:33:00.001-08:00

As show season sneaks up on us, you begin to ask yourself, My Gosh, where will I ever get a unique, elegant, fashionable, conservative yet slightly edgy stock tie that will stand out above and beyond the rest? Let me help you! Place your mouse on this link and journey into the world of the "creme de la creme," the highest level stock tie on the market today... http://www.ridingcouture.com/stockties.html

Merry Christmas to...Me!

2009-12-22T05:12:00.001-08:00

Just had a Christmas gift exchange with my Favorite artist and also one of my very best friends, Shano (yes, the famous Shano of www.shano-studios.com) and looky at what I got! She took my original and very first Riding Couture design and Photo Shopped the heck out of it with butterflies, crowns, words of endearment (Hee!), added some sparkly glitter, and made it into this wonderful wall hanging! My Girl is brilliant and I just love her to pieces and felt this little number was worthy of a share to the masses.

Thank you, Shano!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays!

2009-12-17T22:31:00.001-08:00

RC's Proprietress has 40th B-day!

2009-12-09T22:52:00.001-08:00

December 3rd was the big day...my 40th Birthday! I was thinking I would dread the day, but it was the best B-day I've ever had in my entire life! Matter of fact, the entire week was enchanting and magical. I just have to say that I have the most wonderful friends.

The festivities began at the W Hotel in Seattle, where we had a little prefunction party in my room. Thank you to Cydney for arranging the room....actually for arranging the ENTIRE evening! It was quite a bit to bite off! You rock, Cyd! Then we headed over to Barolo Restaurante for a fabulous dinner amidst great company and beautiful chandeliers. With the limo waiting outside (thank you to Monica for heading up the transportation, you're the sweetest, G-friend), we proceeded to hit the nightclub scene and dance the night away before retiring back to our swanky hotel room and dreaming the sweetest dreams.

My heart to all you beautiful girls (and boy) who accompanied me on creating memories that I will never forget. xoxo

Fall on the Farm

2009-10-22T13:38:00.001-07:00

Wow! I just love fall on the farm. These pics are what I woke up to this morning and just had to share. Enjoy!

Shop Talk at the Championships

2009-10-01T10:39:00.001-07:00

Mel & Karen Borne' of Borne' Saddlery - www.bornesaddlery.com - talkin' shop at the Region 6 Dressage Championships over a few lavender martinis.

Crest Collection

2009-09-10T10:30:00.001-07:00

Cute Little Crested Tee

2009-07-31T16:29:00.000-07:00

Here we have my cute, sweet little photographer, boarder and graphic person posing in my new crested tee....isn't she just so cute that you want to pinch her little cheeks! "Leah" is modeling next to her horse, Lady.

Aren't they beauties!!

A Little Photo Shoot Fun!

2009-07-31T15:47:00.000-07:00

We were having a little fun last week at our photo shoot, as we were gathering pics of my products for Equestrian Collections catalog. I just happened to be sporting my new crested polo, so I thought I'd do a little posing and show you how "I" sport my own fashions.

Casual day on the farm taking pictures goes like this:

1. RC Crested polo
2. Rock Revival jeans
3. Chanel cuff bracelet that I've had for 10 years (goes with everything)
4. Forever 21 yellow watch that I can't get enough of
5. DKNY yellow tennies....had for YEARS
6. HUGE belt buckle with a crown, reminding me of my cowgirl days

Things were all fun and games until I had the brilliant idea to go get a pic with the boys...they were so excited to see us that they came sprinting up to the fence, then Etienne (the one on the left) let out this huge cough and spewed all over my new shirt, hence the smirk. Gotta love 'em!

Vendoring at Devonwood

2009-07-20T16:51:00.001-07:00

I just got back from a glorious trip to Sherwood, Oregon, where I attended the prestigious Dressage at Devonwood. Man, what an experience...the Rattners (owners of DevonWood) really know how to put on a show. A vendor village that will knock your socks off, grounds that are meticulously cared for, a friendly atmosphere that is welcoming the minute you drive through the gate, a class act all the way!

I posted some pictures from the event, ranging from the beautiful view of the grounds from my vendor booth, to a little peek at what a Riding Couture vendor booth actually looks like...just in case you were wondering! Also included in this post are a few pics of my fabulous new crest design, which arrived the day before I left for the show. Emblazoned on t-shirts, polos and saddle pads, the customers LOVED them!

Not only did I meet up with old friends and customers, but I also made some wonderful new friends, which you will be hearing about shortly. Until the next time, Happy Trails!

Stylin' at Devonwood

2009-07-18T22:02:00.000-07:00

I am out of town at the prestigious Devonwood dressage show in Sherwood, Oregon. I will write more later, but I thought I would share this little tidbit...

While hanging at the VIP party tonight, one of Jeremy Steinberg's students, Taryn Briones, asked me if I had seen the Victoria Beckham Rock & Republic jeans. I responded with a No, please give me the details. The picture above is her response!!!

The first thing I did when I got back to my hotel room was a Google search!

Baby got back!!!

Stylin' in Yellow!

2009-07-13T22:40:00.000-07:00

I recently purchased a fun little yellow watch, so I felt inspired to find out what else was out there....yellow being the hot accent color for the summer/fall. I have found that I really don't need much in the way of accessories when sporting something this bold.

We have five watches here, starting from the top:

1. Forever 21 - $12...yes, I said $12. Unreal, unbelievable...just not right that a watch that cute is that cheap.
2. Seiko - Been around for a long time - $218.
3. Michel - Golden yellow fashion snake - $545
4. Conquistador - $2,195
5. Aqua Techno with diamonds - Not sure of the price, but I am thinking expensive.

Have fun watch shopping!

Jodhpurs: Riding Couture Style

2009-07-11T09:40:00.001-07:00

I LOVE to shop....anywhere, everywhere, I do not discriminate, as you can see by the variety of couture mixed with Forever 21 above!

The topic of this blog post is Jodhpurs: you either love 'em or hate 'em. I personally love jodhpurs because for the most part, they're just flat out comfortable! Paired with the right coordinates, you can pull off a truly "Equestrianne" Mod look, as you can see above.

First I have demonstrated the runway look, which, let's face it, most of us are going nowhere in a runway look. But break it down to the basics and you can achieve some very chic looks that can take you casually shopping about town or spicing it up at the club....or, if need be, just looking like a rock star while mucking out stalls!

Let me break this down for you...

1. The jods. The jods above are from Forever 21. I actually own three pair! They were dirt cheap and I bought them as a disposable pair of pants, didn't even try them on, got home and fell in L-O-V-E. I went back and got two more.

2. The ruffle jacket. Also from Forever 21! But, you see jackets like this everywhere. I even have something similar in leather that I bought who knows where. Wear a cool vest to take the place of the jacket, something like this little red number www.ridingcouture.com/ridingvests.html (Yes, that was a shameless plug, but I only have a few left).

What's under the jacket? How about a Riding Couture fitted tee or if it's wintertime, a wool turtleneck sweater. Even try a stylish scarf or beret or hoop earrings, dog tag necklaces. Possibilities....endless!

3. The boots. The boots above are Michael Kors, around $300. You can wear something like this with a HUGE variety of outfits. How about a pair of Rock Revival skinny jeans, leggings or even a pair of wide legged pants?

An alternative, less expensive boot is the Mountain Horse Ladies Ice Rider, which I have personally owned four pairs to date. I ride in them, muck in them, wear them with jods, leather pants, skinny jeans. They are fully waterproof, mud proof, pretty indestructible. Here is a link... http://www.equestriancollections.com/itemmatrix.asp?groupcode=ER10003u

Want to hit the club? Try the jods with knee-high or even ankle-high stilettos...you'll get noticed, guaranteed!

4. The belt. I have a western background, so I am a huge fan of very large belt buckles. Here is a Ralph Lauren belt that I am in love with http://www.ralphlauren.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3401197&cp=1760782.1760960&view=all&ab=viewall&parentPage=family .

Too expensive? Try this one, which I personally own... http://www.ralphlauren.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3424489&cp=1760782.1760960&view=all&ab=viewall&parentPage=family .

A belt buckle is a way to really express your individuality and sometimes it's the only accessory you need, so choose wisely.

5. The purse. Who doesn't love leopard print? This is from Ralph Lauren's Black Label, here is the link http://www.ralphlauren.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3169146&cp=1760782.1760963&view=all&ab=viewall&parentPage=family Make sure to browse the other RL bags....you'll be blown away.

Well Gang, this was my first attempt at an "Editorial Style" blog post. What do you think?

What's next? Stylin' in yellow...stay tuned!

The little tractor that could

2009-07-06T11:50:00.000-07:00

4th of July weekend was my weekend to finish off the pasture mowing on my little farm. I try to mow once a year to keep the pastures looking their best and also to keep the weeds from taking over. Here you see my little tractor that could. This little John Deere worked up a sweat but got the job done, no problem. I tell ya', mowing gives me a deep sense of satisfaction, and here you have the before and after...ah, the fruits of my labor.

My Love....Big B

2009-06-28T17:52:00.001-07:00

My longtime partner, Breda, came down with laminitis about a month ago after some routine vaccinations and steroid injections. It has been very hard for me around here, as he is getting older, and I really want his Golden Years to be happy and healthy. We had just been released to go back to work after a torn suspensory when I show up to the barn one afternoon to find Breda basically unable to walk. It was traumatic. Thankfully, I caught it fast and my farrier (my hero) was able to get to the barn within a few hours, as I cold hosed Breda's feet until his arrival. My farrier, Keith Swain, set me up with some really groovy boots called Soft Rides, and Breda has been walking around in his dry paddock happily and without lameness. We pulled the Bute about a week ago, so cross your fingers that we have a successful recovery.

Here I am on Breda for the first time since his bout of laminitis. We just walked around bareback a few rounds and called it a day, but he was happy to wear his show bridle and pretend that he was going to work. Isn't he a sight to behold. I love this horse so much.

Here's to more happy days, Big B!

New T-shirt Designs

2009-06-23T14:56:00.001-07:00

I love, Love, LOVE t-shirts! I view them as collectible and I am obsessed with creating new and exciting designs. Here is what is new at Riding Couture! My crest has been in the works for years, really, and I am thrilled to finally present it in color for you! Goldie is back, after being sold out for quite some time. Then how about the stiletto boot in light blue! Can you say SASSY!

Look for the crest to come out soon on saddle pads and also polo shirts. I can't wait!!

Duchess Flip Flops

2009-05-23T16:09:00.001-07:00

My friend at www.dappledgrey.com thought that I should put my cool Duchess pin on flip flops, and I thought to myself, what an awesome idea...why didn't I think of that? Can these Duchess flip flops be any cuter??

You can go out shopping and find any old pair of flip flops that you want and drench them in Duchess pins.

Where can you find them? Click on this Etsy link and you will find yourself one step closer to feeling like a Royal Highness.
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24660734

Bling is Back!!

2009-05-22T11:20:00.000-07:00

Okay, who wanted Bling? I was sold out of the bling tees and caps, but they are in production and I should have them in a week or so. E-mail me, Melonie, at meldrainey@msn.com if you want one.

Get your sparkle on, Girls!

How can you be a Duchess? Let us count the ways!

2009-05-12T18:43:00.000-07:00

This little Duchess pin is just too darned cute. I put it on EVERYTHING and so should you! Something old, something new, who cares, just stick it on and you have instant glam, that's just a fact. It even comes with a little blue box.

Where can you buy it immediately? Right here... http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24660734

We even gleaned the attention of fabulous blogger Dappled Grey, www.dappledgrey.com . She only writes about the cool stuff, and I made the cut. Woo-Hoo!

Get your sparkle on, Girls!

True Love

2009-04-30T21:17:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine, Marion O'Connor, of Cocolalla Creek Sporthorses www.ccsporthorses.com sent me these pictures this morning and I just had to share with everyone that I possibly know. These have to be some of the sweetest pictures I have ever seen. I cried tears of joy to see such tenderness and total contentment.

This is a newborn offspring of Taskin, a buttermilk buckskin Gypsy Stallion owned by Villa Vanners www.villavanners.com that was born in Oregon. These pictures were taken immediately after his birth on April 6. Apparently the mare laid down and then he trotted around and crawled right up into her lap.

I hope you enjoy these pictures and perusing the Villa Vanners' website as much as I did! If you want to see fabulous warmbloods, then make sure to visit Cocolalla's website, too!

I just love beautiful horses...

Oh, the scandel in Vegas!!!

2009-04-26T20:49:00.000-07:00

We had so much fun in Vegas at the World Cup. Here we are, a bunch of dressage divas, dancing out booties off at Studio 54. From the left: Lindsey Anderson, Me, Jennifer Schreider-Williams & Kristin. Top photo is me and Siggi Wolff (or should it read "Siggi Wolff and I"?). I didn't post some of the more scandelous photos, cuz, you know, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas, right? Right!

Thank you, Karen Borne'!

2009-04-22T19:01:00.001-07:00

I just wanted to extend a heartfelt "Thank You" to Karen Borne' of Borne' Saddlery for allowing me to display and sell some of my Riding Couture products in her beautiful booth at the World Cup. It was a huge success for me, and I just want Karen to know how much I appreciate her friendship and generosity. The Borne' Saddlery booth really stood out amoung all the vendors and we had a great time helping customers and showing off our cool stuff!!!

For those of you do not know who Borne's Saddlery is, well, they are the manufacturer of my elegant Duchess dressage saddle, as well as many other saddles under the Borne' brand. Please visit their website at www.bornesaddlery.com and see the saddles for yourself!

Karen, cheers to you and our friendship! I love ya', Girl!

Steffen & Ravel Win The Freestyle!

2009-04-18T22:55:00.000-07:00

You could have heard a pin drop tonight as Steffen and Ravel rode their freestyle tonight at the World Cup in Vegas! In true form, the two performed a near flawless ride, with an ending score of 84.6 (I think...I know it was 84. something) Steffen won two Rolex watches (one for he and Shannon) and $102,000. Wow, that's some nice spending money to go home with. Congratulations Steffen and Ravel... you have made your country so proud!

Here are some other highlights of the evening:

- Heath Ryan of Australia on Regordez MOI, 70.3. This jet black stallion reminds me of a shiny black seahorse, with a fabulous piaffe and even more fabulous all around profile. All the girl horses want him for their boyfriend, for sure!

- Jeanette Haazen of The Netherlands on Norton, 75.6. Here is a girl who is not afraid to add a little bling to her ensemble. She had gold piping around her orange collar and glitter on her saddle pad that glistened under all the lights. It was an elegant and tasteful use of sparkle. We approved!

- Hans Peter Minderhoud, 81.5 was riding a beautiful forward moving chestnut mare that just danced and floated across the arena to The Carpenters "Happy Together." It was a real feel good freestyle and the crowd loved it.

- Isabell and Satchmo (no need for a last name...you know who I am talking about). The degree of difficulty in her test really stoood out to me. From the very beginning she passaged up the centerline and then piaffed right up to judges; then she did a very energetic (quite brilliant actually) extended trot right into a pirouette; then into a half-pass in passage and then up the center line in a one-handed passage. It was awesome to say the least!

- Anky and Painted Black were incredible to watch in both piaffe and passage and all trot work. The music was perfect for him and what can you say except they are brilliant to watch!

- Last but not least is Ashley Holzer of Canada on Poppy, 79.1. What an amazing team. They are truly poetry in motion and received a standing ovation for their fabulous piaffe work at the end!

This was my first World Cup experience and how lucky was I to witness Dressage history with the USA winning the actual "World Cup."

Farewell Brentina

2009-04-18T16:50:00.000-07:00

It was definitely an emotional evening last night at the World Cup, as we were all in attendance to bid Brentina a bittersweet fairwell from such an amazing career as an International Dressage horse. The big screen tv's highlighted the phenominal career of Brentina and Debbie McDonald, as they rode into the arena, Debbie obviously emotional, as was every single person sitting in the stands. Brentina will now retire to I'm sure the best pasture on the farm and coach Felix and Wizard to International stardom, with Debbie right by her side coaching Adrienne. You did it, Girls, with class, style, grace and Fabulosity!

Also last night was the young horse classes, and look out world, there is a new Sheriff in town named "Big Tyme." This horse took my breath away and I can't wait to see more in the future. This horse is what dreams are made of. I need to do my research and find out who the sire and dam are of this fabulous horse. If anyone knows, please let me know.

Last but not least, us girls hit the town last night, painted the town red and danced until the morning hours. My feet hurt so bad that I could barely walk out of the dance club. Siggi and Sandy have pictures....Lord, I hope I get to approve anything that gets posted on the internet (eeks). My plan was to dress up for tonight's Freestyles, but, um, I went to put on the high heels that I was saving for tonight and my feet are so swollen that I can't get them on. Good job, Cinderella! The outfit just got downgraded to jeans and tennis shoes.

Steffen & Ravel Win The GP!

2009-04-16T23:25:00.000-07:00

Thursday, April 16, 2009.

It was a clear victory for Steffen Peters and Ravel in the GP today at the World Cup in Vegas, where they received a standing ovation for their winning ride. Man, oh man, was it exciting to watch. Steffen and Ravel were so in sync, so relaxed, such smooooooth operators! From the moment they entered the ring with that perfect halt at X, to the bold extensions, flawless half passes, you could just tell that they were destined to win. The grin on Steffen's face as they came up the final centerline was heartwarming to watch. The final score was a 77.9 and it was well deserved, as there was no doubt in ANYONE'S mind that it was the best ride of the day! Steffen had to do a little showing off in the winners' ceremony at the end, playfully performing a one-handed victory lap while riding one tempi changes! Congratulations Steffen and Ravel!

Some other fun highlights for me personally were, of course, Jan Brink and Briar. I have always loved this horse (I still have a straw of frozen semen in the freezer) and it was bittersweet finding out that this will be the last competition for the two, as Briar will be retiring at the age of 18! I am so happy that I was able to see the two in person.

Ashley Holzer and Pop Art, the Canadian team, were very exciting to watch. Pop Art is fondly referred to as "The Little Engine That Could," and you can see why. He just floats across the arena and seems to be saying "Yes, ma'am" the entire time. What a fun little horse to watch. The piaffe on this horse is dang near perfect! Their final score was 72.5.

I finally got to see Isabell and Anky live and in person. Wow! What amazing riders. Anky exhibited such control when Painted Black thought about getting a little feisty and Isabell received a 10 (yes, a 10) on one of her half passes on Satchmo! There's a reason these are two of the best dressage riders in the world!

On another note, my stock ties have been a hit at the show. I sold my new halter with fancy Riding Couture plate and charm before I could even hang it up in the Borne' Saddlery booth.

Well, until tomorrow...sweet dreams!

RC at The World Cup

2009-04-14T08:36:00.000-07:00

Riding Couture will have a presence for the first time at the World Cup in Las Vegas! Borne' Saddlery will be carrying a nice selection of most of RC's products, to include stock ties, whips, t-shirts, browbands, and last but not least, The Duchess dressage saddle. Join us at Booth No. 514 for some fabulous shopping!

New Riding Couture whips will be unleashed at the World Cup...so be the first to view and possibly purchase one of these colorful new whips. What colors you ask? Beautiful, glossy handles in red, navy, black and limited edition robin's egg blue, all with elegant brass caps.

Be there or be square!

Remember, Booth No. 514, Borne' Saddlery

Interesting Facts About "The Duchess" Dressage Saddle

2009-04-01T20:03:00.001-07:00

For those of you who don't know, Riding Couture designed a beautiful dressage saddle available for custom order called "The Duchess." My friend, Karen Borne', is the owner of Borne' Saddlery in Texas and is also the manufacturer of The Duchess. All Borne' saddles are manufactured in Scotland by master saddler, Andy Sankey. Karen just recently posted some very interesting information on her blog about different aspects of the saddles, so I thought I would share this information with my readers. Please enjoy!

"Borné Saddles . . . location, location, location!

"I know that sounds pretty funny coming from a saddle manufacturer, but location is key when it comes to the selection of materials used in our saddles.

"Did you know, for example, animals that live in hot climates such as Spain or India will tend to produce hides that are dry and become brittle, which can eventually lead to cracking? If I was in the business of manufacturing saddle soap this would sound wonderful, but I'm not.

"At Borné Saddlery we purchase animal hides from Europe, primarily Sweden, Scandinavia, and France, due to the more moderate climate. We want our leather to stay supple and offer more longevity to our consumer. The hides are imported from these countries in their original form and tanned to our specifications in the United Kingdom. For this reason we have more control over what happens to the hide once it is shipped to our manufacturing facility.

"Another interesting fact is that in these more moderate climates the animals are not subjected to as many bug bites and barbed wire is against the law, so our hides are not as prone to imperfection as other hides. Speak to one of our clients and the first comment usually made is one of praise about the quality and craftsmanship of our work. I attribute this in part to the choices we make in our material selection.

"Wool choice is just as key to Borné Saddlery as the hide. Obviously, the panel is the area that is designed to fit on your horse's back and what goes in that panel is critical. Any qualified flocking person can tell you stories about poorly-flocked panels that would raise the hair on the back of your neck.

"All Borné Saddles are flocked with 100% lambswool, but not just any lambswool. We purchase our wool from Pringle of Scotland Mills, which is one of the finest wool mills anywhere in the world. Pringle is known for luxury fashion knitwear such as cashmere (yes, your horse deserves the very best)! I would invite you to read more about the history of Pringle of Scotland at www.pringle-of-scotland.com

"The reason our Saddler selected Scottish wool is, again, location. The wool is sheared from Scottish Highland Sheep and is not prewashed, so it stays in its purest form. Scotland is a very wet country due to the amount of rain and the wool is already moist (as opposed to a dryer climate where the wool holds no moisture). When your horse sweats into the panel, the additional moisture helps the wool to hold its form and not break down, which can lead to excessive balling and compression. When wool is dry, the sweat from the horse is absorbed more quickly, which leads to compressed panels and unhappy horses. All wool will shift and compress over time but, we look for wool that will hold its shape as long as possible. Our beautiful wool is also approved by The British Wool Society.

"Often we will send saddles to clients with several billeting options. Your horse's girth groove determines which billets must be used to avoid the saddle sliding forward or backward. The general idea on billets is that you want them parallel to your horse’s girth groove. If you are not sure which billets to use on your horse, I am always happy to make a recommendation.

Karen Borne
Owner, Borné Saddlery

The Dressage Affaire

2009-03-27T20:13:00.000-07:00

I just got back from the fabulous San Diego where I volunteered for my friend, Kim Keenan, at the annual Dressage Affaire CDI, hosted by Keenan Productions & Events ( www.dressageevents.com ). This particular Dressage Affaire was extra special because it was a World Cup qualifier, so the best of the best turned up and it was quite the sight to behold.

Steffen Peters will be going to the World Cup on the fabulous Ravel, and I was there front and center, e-scribing for International judge, Joan McCartney. She is such a sweet and classy lady and gets just as excited about watching the dressage stars as we do.

Other hightlights were Jan Ebeling on Rafalca, my goodness, what an amazing freestyle. Can you say "Flawless." What a team. Leslie Morse also put on a very dramatic freestyle on Tip Top. Leslie is always fun to watch. And look out dressage world, Adrienne Lyle is on the cusp of major stardom! Debbie McDonald has trained her well...and it shows!

Two things were very, very exciting for Riding Couture. First off, the jog for the CDI....Shannon Peters won "Best Dressed" wearing a Riding Couture vest. Woo-Hoo! I snapped a picture, as you can see posted above. Isn't Shannon beautiful! Thank you, Shannon, for wearing my vest so well.

Best Dressed for the men was Guenter Seidel. I had picked Guenter, as he looked like he should be in a Polo Ralph Lauren ad....and I told him as much. I'm thinking that I should be the judge for the Best Dressed contest next year, especially since I know how to pick 'em!

Riding Couture sponsored the I-1 class with one of my stunning fleur-de-lis browbands. The winner got to pick between sterling silver or brass. Well, guess who won the browband.....none other than the legendary Guenter Seidel!!! Could Lady Luck have been any more on my side? My knees were knocking when I presented it to him, I didn't know if he would like it or not. I said, Guenter, which one would you like, and he said, "Which one do you suggest?" His horse is an incredible, larger-than-life chestnut named U-II, so I picked the brass, of course. Their rides together were so fabulous that they would dang near make you cry....not kidding! This team is destined for the Olympics.

The other pic above is a shot of the "Power Team." Starting to the left, Me (notice I'm wearing the fleur Bling tee), Janne Sleeper (Power Scribe) and Jill Cheever (Ring Steward and also wearing the RC riding shirt in navy).

It was a good day.

A Portrait of Penny

2009-03-23T14:47:00.000-07:00

And here we have a portrait of my little princess, Penny. I commissioned this little painting of Penny The Pony at The Dreamy Giraffe (www.thedreamygiraffe.com). I told the artist that I wanted Penny to be the pony version of one of her cute little whimsical girlies. You'll have to go check out The Dreamy Giraffe to see what I mean...

If I were a pony, I'd want to look just like Penny!

How about a new RC tee?

2009-02-26T19:53:00.001-08:00

This cute little diva tee just arrived. They are FOR SALE ($25) and ready to go. I just love the robin's egg blue color of the logo. For any of you who collect Riding Couture tees, these are the typical tissue style shirts that are long in the body and super stretchy. I stick with what works and all the girls just seem to love this style.

You have two choices to pick from, the black or chocolate brown...scroll down a few posts back and you can see the brown.

If you're wondering, the girl in the photo is me, Melonie, trying to look cool in my t-shirt. I didn't have a model available to shoot a picture, so we were out at the casino Saturday night and the hubster snapped a shot. Work that casino parking lot, Girl!

I will have more posts this week, but for now, well, that's all I've got in me.

The Little Red Vest

2009-02-07T17:43:00.000-08:00

So,this little number is what I've been working on lately. Of course, everything I design is really geared to ride in, BUT, I actually wore this vest with a power suit and heels last week (yes, with the blouse in the pic), then I turned around and wore it in a riding lesson with a black blouse and thermal under that, and THEN I threw on my best pair of jeans, favorite Burberry Shawl, knee high boots and hit dinner and a movie.

Now, if I lived in LA, San Diego, or somewhere warm, I'd throw on a t-shirt underneath -- or heck, if my arms were tone, I'd just wear this Little Red Vest with nothing underneath, hike up the girls and call it a day! What I'm saying is, she's versatile!

The fabric is a 50/50 cotton poly that resists stains, can be thrown in the washer and does not wrinkle. I mean, really, what else can a girl ask for? What I'm going for is rugged outdoor wear, with Couture styling. I think I nailed it here. Well, in my mind anyway.

The only change I think I'd like to make is the tie in the back...I think it should be red satin. I hope you all like. I will have some ready in red and black in a few weeks.

New RC Logo Tee

2009-02-04T20:24:00.001-08:00

Okay, you all asked for chocolate and blue, sooooooo here you have it. This will be available in about two weeks. We will also have black with blue. Sweet little tee!

Art Update

2009-01-21T19:40:00.001-08:00

2009 is going to be a year for new and exciting things for Riding Couture. For starters, I am giving the website an overhaul. I just posted new artwork that I commissioned from my favorite artist, Shano. Next I need to tackle the website banner. I'm still mystified at what to do. I might just keep it simple. I want it to coordinate with the new artwork without competing. Hmm...

As you can see, Penny is the star of the show. She would have it no other way.

Horse Head Anyone?

2009-01-17T20:29:00.000-08:00

I'm just messing around with images and came up with this little number. If I get enough liking out of it, perhaps I'll print to a t-shirt. I was thinking black tee with blue image. Any votes? I could do black tee with pink frame and horse....or any color, really.

I consider myself a designer t-shirt collector, so I just assume everyone else is too and can NEVER have enough....I feel the same way about shoes and black power suits.

Please comment! I bet you can't guess what my favorite color is...

Oh, and P.S., the 20th person to follow me on my blog wins a "FREE" Diva Style tee. It's on my t-shirt page, the one with the girl and the pony. Hurry!

Article on Riding Couture in Flying Changes Magazine

2009-01-06T19:33:00.000-08:00

These Boots Were Made For Ridin'

2009-01-03T21:32:00.000-08:00

Well, it's that time of year again, that time of year when I am busy trying to come up with a few new t-shirt designs. I just love, Love, LOVE the stiletto boots. Here is one design I'm tossing around....any comments?

Penny thought that it needed more Bling, so I added a few sparkles.

2009-01-01T19:01:00.001-08:00

Bangs Are In!

Who says? I say. Yeah me, Penny the pony. You all just wish you could have gorgeous, thick, blunt bangs like me, don't you? Melonie tries all the time, but burns them off with her flat iron, then complains to her hairdresser and asks if she can get bang extensions. She'd kill me if she knew I was telling you all this, but....whatever, she's my biggest fan and I do what I want.

Anyway, Happy New Year! I think Riding Couture has a lot in store for 2009. Melonie would tell you all herself, but we encountered a snow storm a week before Christmas (snow almost deeper than me) and she had to actually man the fort and take care of the farm the entire time. I even heard that the power went out on Christmas morning when she was opening her presents (hee, hee).

She's usually all dolled up riding my big palomino brothers around in circles, but NOPE, not this time. She looked ridiculous out there in these hideous camouflaged pants (I don't know why she wears these things, but it's true), pom-pom hat that didn't match, no lipstick, leopard gloves...I actually felt a little sorry for her. I mean, I've never seen her break soooo many fashion faux pas in such a short amount of time. I've been shaking my head from side to side for weeks in wonder. Oh, well, it's almost over and life is just about back to business as usual. She is back to wearing lipstick and showed me this new lip pen she got that stains your lips so you only need to wear lip gloss...that's my girl!

I heard that the website is going through an overhaul, too. Apparently Melonie hired her favorite illustrator to do a new piece that features guess who, ME, as the center of attention. And guess what? It's going to be on the opening page. I knew I would make it big one day. It's my time to Glow!

She also mentioned some new designs she thought up as she was shoveling the farrier out of the driveway. I only picked up on a little bit, but something about thermal tee, baby blue, embroidery, stiletto boot, elbow patches. I couldn't make a lot of sense of it, but I guess she knows what she's doing.

Well, until Melonie is feeling like answering the phone, I'll be taking messages!

Toodle-Loo,

Penny The Pony

2008-12-24T02:56:00.000-08:00

2008-12-16T18:49:00.000-08:00

The latest issue of trueCOWBOY e-Magazine is "haute" off the press and ready for you to take a gander. Sign up and get trueCOWBOY pony expressed straight to your e-mail!

http://www.truecowboymagazine.com/

What's up?

2008-12-15T18:46:00.000-08:00

Well, I'll tell ya' what's up, I've been doing a little shopping this past week and I have a few comments to make!

First off, I bought the most fabulous new riding britches! Just for the record I want to state that this girl is VERY particular about her britches. I have been wearing the exact same three pair for the last five years (which are brilliant as well, but are now discontinued so I needed a Plan B). So let me introduce the "ELT Paris" Tactel full-seat breech, lined in fleece, $159. Yes, they are the winter riding breech. Tactel is a synthetic fabric that is soft, lightweight, breathable, quick drying and STRONG. Love it!!!

What I like most about these britches is the substance they offer. What I mean by "substance" is the weight, having a great hand, and they really do help in camouflaging that extra junk in your trunk. The other cool thing is they wear like a pair of jeans! Not only are they great for the obvious, riding, but they look fantastic with knee-high boots or UGGs. Serious. No, seriously.

Where to buy? The Grange Supply in Issaquah, Washington, www.thegrangesupply.com. Ask for Simone (my friend and saddle fitter) and she will hook you up. They were even offering 30% off!

The other big purchase I made this week is the new WEATHERBEETA ORICAN FREESTYLE DETACH-A-NECK medium weight blanket. Man, has Weatherbeeta kicked it up. This blanket rocks. I can't believe how well made it is. I just body clipped my palomino (don't ever body clip a palomino unless you really have to. I want to keep this blog as PG-13 as possible, so I won't say what he really looks like, but it's not pretty) and he is PLENTY warm without a liner. The only thing is the neck thingy runs slightly big, BUT it just kinda folds down his neck, so not a problem. Also, they say the color is black and coral (okay, if I had not seen the blanket I would have been totally opposed to "coral" piping), but to me the blanket is a dark, deep forest green with "pumpkin" piping. It really is a great color combo.

And finally, I met this cool chick on Twitter with this straight up fab website called "Haute Cowgirl." Anyone that uses the words "Haute" and "Cowgirl" in any one sentence has got my attention. Anyway, she did a little blogging on Riding Couture Bling. Go check it out... http://www.hautecowgirl.com You may need to scroll down a bit to read the RC blog, as it was a few days ago.

Thank you Haute Cowgirl! And, yes, we will remember that "Cowgirl" is a state of mind!

Riding Couture Fashion Show

2008-12-11T20:22:00.000-08:00

Riding Couture participated in a fashion show at "The Crave" women's show in Seattle, Washington last night. It was soooo much fun! I had the best models in show - as you can tell from the photos!

Thank you to Carrie, Catherine, Tracie and Jill for lending me your beauty for the evening. We had some unexpected surprises, but it went off without a hitch. And also thank you to the ever-so-helpful Kim Keenan for assisting with the girls and keeping me organized!

And Noble Horse Gallery (Heather), thank you so much for inviting RC to join you in your beautiful booth. You're a class act, as usual!

Visit Noble Horse in Pioneer Square (Seattle, Washington) at www.noblehorsegallery.com .

Penny the Pony

2008-12-07T20:10:00.000-08:00

Would you just look at my little Diva!

Okay, to tell the truth, my plan was to really go for a killer photo shoot. I had this vision of her all done up with the little red bow, BUT Penny just was not having it today and I really wasn't in the mood for her little smart mouth, talking back, not minding me. I settled...

Still, isn't she just edible!

More Bling!

2008-12-07T19:54:00.001-08:00

I just LOVE these Bling tees. I'm tellin' ya, that stiletto boot is too haute, truly it is. I can't wait to see it on the runway on Wednesday at the Crave Women's show - www.craveshow.com - I will be there with Noble Horse Gallery, in their vendor booth.

Noble Horse Gallery is a REALLY cool Equestrian Lifestyle boutique in downtown Seattle, Washington. Heather Carder, the owner, has impeccable taste and lots of fabulous novelty equestrian products in the store. They were the 1st to carry Riding Couture products last fall. Go for a visit at www.noblehorsegallery.com .

The Bling horse head is brand new. I think this is going to wrap up the bling tees for 2008. The plan for the show on Wednesday is to have three of the girls walk out together all sparkly and sassy. Can't wait!

The question of the day is...what will I wear???

NEWS OF NOTE!

2008-12-04T21:14:00.000-08:00

Okay, the big news for today, December 4th, 2008....I finally have more whips in! I have pretty much been out of stock since January and a secret Santa delivered some just in time for Christmas. I even have a piaffe whip. Woo-Hoo!

2008-12-01T19:23:00.001-08:00

While Frying Bacon...

2008-11-30T18:58:00.000-08:00

OMG, what a beautiful day in the Pacific Northwest! The sun was shining, we had a bit of a Pineapple Express come through and it was just a glorious day.

The day didn't start out so great, as I burned the bacon.....again! I told my husband that it has to be the pan, as I am truly a professional at frying bacon, I have been since as far back as I can remember, and I have been smokin' out the house the last three times! What is it? Gawd!

Anyway, while burning the bacon, I found a Sunday morning movie to watch...Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker in Rush Hour 3. It was rather entertaining, I have to say, Chris Tucker kills me, but the reason I would even post any of this is because there was the coolest girl in the movie. Her name is Noemie Lenoir (see picture above right). I can't remember much of what she really had to do with the movie, besides being the usual babe that we need in most movies, and I didn't see the entire thing -- (plus, remember, I was "FB" {frying bacon} -- but she had this totally dramatic shaved head with this fabulous tattoo on the back. Man, I have to say this woman is truly one of the most beautiful women I have EVER seen in my life. The shape of her head and face, the color of her skin, eye shape and color, lips, everything. Geez Louise, she is truly a specimen! I flat out felt inspired and empowered by this woman. Don't ask me why, but she just got my day off to a rockin' start. I went down to the barn and cleaned my stalls and rode my men (two palomino dressage horses) and felt like a bad ass all day long! I wonder what I would look like with a shaved head? Hmm.

Well, I'll have to incorporate that look into something I do. I have a fashion show to attend on the 10th of December in Seattle (The Crave women's show to be exact). Wouldn't it be cool if one of my models had a shaved head...I could put her in black riding pants, stiletto knee highs and my denim riding shirt jacket -- oh, wait, I've got it: black riding breeches, black stiletto knee highs, black riding jacket, THEN she takes off the riding jacket and, BAM, she is wearing my super slinky (yet very hardy and made to ride in) black denim vest. That's it! It just came to me.

People ask me all the time how I come up with these things. Well, see how I'm inspired! You just witnessed me coming up with an outfit for my fashion show. That's how it works! Okay, we'll probably do without the shaved head, but still!

Thanks, Noemie, for making my day and offering up a little inspiration!

Welcome to my blog!

2008-11-29T18:32:00.000-08:00

My very first blog at that! Hmmm, what do I have to say tonight?

Well, I just finished participating in my very first trunk show at The Grange tack and feed store in Issaquah, Washington. It was a grand time. They had a darling little corner of the store all set up and ready for me and it was just sooo cozy, complete with a little mini plug-in fireplace. I threw down my oriental rugs, hung my sign, sipped on hot apple cider and made myself at home. It was also the grand opening of their brand new gift boutique, which is why I was there in the first place, as well as all the kiddies in town were there for pictures with Santa and the mini pony.

The pony was darling, but I must say that my little super model Penny (photo right) would have totally stole the show,with her chic European bangs and blonde hair. I've decided that we are going to host our own photo session with Santa at my farm, so stay tuned!