You may have noticed the footnote on each of my site's pages, same as the verse on the back of my business cards:
"Above all, clothe yourselves in love." Colossians 3:14

We can become overly preoccupied with appearances, not only at a show, but also in life.  This morning I read the transcript of John Legend's commencement speech to this year's Penn graduates.  He titled it "All in on Love"  In it he said, " We're taught when we're young that the opposite of love is hate. But it's not. Hate is a byproduct… Hate comes from one thing: fear. And fear is the opposite of love… Fear is what blinds us. Fear is corrosive. Fear makes us hold back... And fear keeps us from loving. Even though we're made to love, we're often afraid to love… But the only way you'll reach any height in life and in love is by taking the chance that you might fall.

So love. Love your family. Love your horse. Love your trainer, your farrier and your veterinarian. Love your fellow exhibitors. Love the judges. Love the show volunteers and the people in the concession stand. Don't be afraid. Just love.

Some people think that people who buy custom horse show clothes have unlimited budgets and believe they can dazzle the judges with their fashion instead of their ride.  In my experience, this is untrue (of both the exhibitors and the judges!).  What is true is that people who buy custom are concerned about their appearance in the show ring and find mass-produced show clothes unacceptable for one of two reasons:  

1. THE FIT.  Most people are not exactly average sized, but most mass-produced show clothing is.  Many people enjoy a great fit off-the-rack.  But many other people find themselves taller, shorter, stouter, thinner, longer-waisted, more petite, with busts that are curvier or more compact, shoulders that are broader or narrower, rounder tummies, skinnier waists, thicker midriffs, hips that are narrower or wider, thighs that are more slender or more muscular, longer or shorter arms... or any combination of the above!
2. THE DESIGN.  Riders want the judge to notice them, so many riders choose a custom design to avoid the possibility of running into their "twin" in the show ring.  IMHO, the real value of a custom design is the mental effect--if a rider feels like they look like a million bucks, they'll show with more confidence, sitting a little taller in the saddle, leading with a bit more positive energy and punctuating their patterns a little more precisely.  

A custom horse show outfit will not win your class for you.  But it may help :-)
#customshowclothes #custom

If you live in a warmer climate than I, you probably show year round.  Living in the midwest, I take the winter off.  Then come January, visions of show rings begin to dance in my head.  Will I show the bay gelding again this year?  He looks so good in orange.  And turquoise.  And royal blue.  And purple.  Bays are so easy to dress!  As I take inventory in my show closet, I notice it reminds me of our daughters' extensive and eclectic shoe collections, offering options for seemingly all occasions and weather conditions.  But recently I've been considering a sorrel partner with a flaxen mane and tail.  Much as I love orange, I wonder how he'd look in it?  Is my current horse show wardrobe adequate, or do I need to add a new look or two?  

Visual image matters in the show ring, not as much as performance does, but it still matters.  Color, style, design, fit... these four aspects of horse show clothing affect how I feel (and therefore perform) and also how I'm perceived by the judge.  This year, I resolve that each look I wear, whether new or not, is suitable and flattering to both myself and my horse in color, style, design and fit.