In the winter 2006 issue of Everything for Horse and Rider, in which we featured rider makeovers for the first time, we asked if you, our readers, wanted a makeover. The response from quite a few of you was "Yes!" After sifting through many emails, our editorial team selected several makeover subjects whose challenges were representative of issues many of our respondents faced. We got to work with experts from Dover Saddlery and Smith Brothers, who made the following riders--and some of their horses--very happy.
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- Katie before her makeover.
Moving Up to the "A" Circuit
Name: Katie Lazarski, 15, Bristol, Conn.
In real life: Sophomore on partial scholarship at Kingswood-Oxford private day school in West Hartford, Conn.
Horse connection: Riding since age 7, Katie first competed with her pony, Houdini. When she grew too tall (Katie is 5'9" in her socks!), she showed various horses in children's hunter at Connecticut Hunter Jumper Association and local "C" shows. About a year ago, her family purchased Duxbury ("Buddy"), a 10-year-old chestnut Hanoverian gelding. Though a nice horse with potential, Buddy required months of hard work with Katie and her trainer, Michele Goodrich of Well-a-Way Farm in Simsbury, Conn., to develop into a reliable and consistent 3-foot horse able to handle hunter classes and equitation courses like a pro. The payoff--Katie has been champion or reserve in children's hunter in her last four shows. With Duxbury she is ready to move up to the major 3-foot medals and "big eq" classes next year. Katie is on a mission--to work as hard as she possibly can to be successful as an equitation and hunter rider on the "A" circuit.
Challenge: Katie's basic hunter look is fine for the smaller fences, but looking up to the next level, she needs a more sophisticated and contemporary look. One thing she doesn't need, however, are boots. She already has great field boots that fit her like they're custom made and have the requisite back zippers like most of the "A" riders (a super tuned-in Christmas present from her parents).
Solution: On the top circuit, you want your riding ability and your horse's talent to stand out, not your apparel. For Katie, we've selected the Elite Signature Jacket (SRP $299) from Grand Prix in navy wool for its classic look and traditional styling with 3-button front, two pockets and side vents. For "bottoms," the Ariat Pro Circuit side-zip breeches (SRP $219.95) are a great choice. They have plenty of stretch for comfort over fences, side-zip slash pockets, a tailored waistband for a smooth, flattering look and best yet, they are machine washable. A show shirt provides a hint of color and pulls together the look. The Essex Classic CoolMax® Performance Collection Show Shirt (SRP $124.95) in light blue is a perfect complement to Katie's show jacket and will help her stay cool even on the hottest show days. Gloves add polish: Katie wears Pro-Comp Show Gloves from Heritage (SRP $29.95) with a comfortable fit with stretchable nylon flex panels across knuckles, ring and pinky fingers, an adjustable strap closure, and the "Rein Cut" design that removes the bulky seam and materials between fingers. (Yes, also machine washable.)
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- Katie, after, dressed for the
Tip from the Pros: Consider a fancy stitched show bridle and martingale to really show off Buddy's handsome head.
"What I love about Buddy is that he is calm and levelheaded; I always feel safe with him whether I'm riding or handling him, and I constantly get comments from vets and farriers about what a sweet horse he is," says Katie. "The next best thing is that he wins in the show ring, too!"
