horses – equestrienne.co

Thunderbird Show Park // Visual Diary

This past August, we were lucky enough to visit the wildly popular Thunderbird Show Park in British Columbia for just one of their six major Hunter and Jumper tournaments held annually. The popularity of “Tbird” borders on cult following; known for their combination of a friendly, relaxed atmosphere, a gorgeous venue, and quality classes, Tbird’s show rings routinely draw everyone from the local weekend warrior to the seasoned Olympian.

Who: Thunderbird Show Park

What: CSI 3* & WCHR Summer Fort Festival, Aug 24-28, 2015

Where: Langley, British Columbia, Canada.

Claim(s) to fame: Voted 2nd best venue in North America by NARG (North American Rider’s Group), which is a big deal on it’s own, but pretty extra-impressive considering 1st place is held down by Spruce Meadows. Also, they do a pretty killer pancake breakfast. Tell your friends.

Vibe: Chill, yet outgoing. Friendly, but also ambitious. Plenty chic, but west-coasty. Sportsluxe reigns supreme. You can mix your Arcteryx and your Hermes here, and you will have to. It rains. Like woah.

LGCT // Visual Diary

What: The London leg of the Longines Global Champions Tour

Where: Syon Park, London

Why you care: Do you know what beauty is? Have you eyes? Ok, but on a more serious note. Lovely atmosphere, world class talent, riding kind and confident tracks. Very clean and chic. Footing looked fantastic. First rate vendors. Absolutely top Americano at the coffee stand and Pimms available by the jug, which is, of course, our favourite serving size.

KEY ATTENDANCE INFORMATION: See infographic, and then photos below, for more on the biblical curse that is London weather.

Kevin Staut (FR) and Elky van het Indihof HDC.

Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (DE) and Comanche 28 — Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum
(DE) and Comanche 28

Edwina Tops-Alexander (AU) and Lintea Tequila

William Whitaker (GB) and Mersley Chakotay

Jane Richard Philips (CH) Pablo de Virton

Athina Onassis de Miranda (GR) and AD Contanga

Sheikh Ali Bin Khalid Al Thani (QA) and Viena Olympic

Athina Onassis de Miranda's AD Contanga — Athina Onassis de Miranda’s AD Contanga

Christina Liebherr (CH) and L.B. Eagle Eye — Christina Liebherr (CH)
and L.B. Eagle Eye

Roger-Yves Bost (FR) and Sydney Une Prince

Pénélope Leprevost (FR) and Ratina d'la Rousserie — Pénélope Leprevost (FR) and Ratina d’la Rousserie

Emanuele Bianchi's Isco de Amoranda — Emanuele Bianchi’s Isco de Amoranda

Emanuele Bianchi (IT) and Isco de Amoranda

Mark Armstrong and Nuggets l'Amandour — Mark Armstrong and Nuggets l’Amandour

Bassem Hassan Mohammed (QA) and Eurocommerce California — Bassem Hassan Mohammed
(QA) and Eurocommerce California

Faleh Suwead Al Ajami (QA) and Come Soon

Beezie Madden's Simon — Beezie Madden’s Simon

Maikel van der Vleuten (NL) and VDL Groep Verdi Tn N.O.P

Mark Armstrong's Nuggets l'Amandour — Mark Armstrong’s Nuggets l’Amandour

The Eq List // Pre-Fall 2015 // 2015-07-29

What’s we’re stuck on, Pre-Fall Edition.

With more designers than ever before showing Pre-Fall, we’re awash with update options before the Summer is even out. Perfect, we are in such a mood for a small style [r]evolution. Here’s whats moving us this week, and which direction we’re walking it. Pitter patter.

Current location: London, UK.

Soundscape: Like, so much Dylan. Throw Blood on the Tracks on repeat and be done with it. It’s nearly August, for christsakes.

Obsessions du jour: Capes. Fringe. Mustard, the color. Equal parts plimsole and wedge, but less sold on hybrids between. Velvet, tailored. A good pair of flares, for serious, hemmed properly.

Vibe: Well-to-do boho. 1970’s, in a very shaggable, Robert Redford’s take no shit girlfriend sort of way. Hippy wavelengths, but so very clean. Suede and burnt yellow and denim and ponyskin and sex hair and a short, square mani. A little bit rough and tumble, but thoughtfully constructed. You are of the earth, for sure, but you are also a boss bitch and what Eq girl worth her salt doesn’t understand the value of crisp turnout? None, that’s what. You take your free love with a healthy side of hygiene and a fantastic haircut, and let’s not mince, you know it ain’t free, anyways. What a wise woman you are. Maybe you even write poetry. Look like you do, at any rate.

Mood board:

Ralph Lauren Pre-Fall 2015 // via style.com

All hail O. Palermo, for she can do no wrong.

Altuzarra Pre-Fall 2015 // via style.com

Hickstead Derby Meet // Visual Diary

We spent some quality time bonding with a venue from our childhood dreams, the legendary Hickstead, for their iconic Derby meet. The rest, as they say, is history. Scroll on for our takeaway points for next year, and browse our visual diary of our visit below.

What: Hickstead Derby Meet 2015

Key knowledge points: Get conversational in your knowledge of Eddie Macken’s Boomerang. The pair won four consecutive Hickstead Derbies (1976 to 1979), an accomplishment yet to be matched. They also won like, everything. Anyway, Boomerang. Big deal. They’ve named everything after him. Quote to drop into casual conversation:

“…take my speed horse Boomerang for the time being until you get something better.”

Paul Schockemöhle, after Macken’s top horse, Easter Parade, suffered a

freak fatal accident in 1975. Boomerang and Eddie went on to top

the world rankings for 1976-1979, winning over £911,000 in 2007 money

Do: Bring a picnic. Put it in an adorable wicker box. Pop out some tables and plop your children on the top of the Land Rover. Pimms. Champagne. Cheese. Comfortable shoes; it’s all grass. We suggest a nice pair of Sperrys. The vibe is chill; do not look like you are trying too hard. Natural waves ladies, save the irons for Ladies Day at Longines. Extra points awarded to rainwear that is chic and un-fussed, because obviously it will rain.

Don’t: Skip the Speed Derby. The 1.60m gets all the attention, but the British Speed Derby on the Saturday is big enough at 1.45m, and with time penalties awarded for rails in lieu of faults, things get hectic real quick. You might casually mention at the 2016 meeting that Guy Williams set the speed record this year. Oh, and under no circumstances are you to fail to book your taxi prior to the presentation on the Sunday. Getting out of that place is a terror and cabs are hot currency. Better yet, drive. In fact, just rock up VIP and get ideal parking. You have a year to set that up, start soon, probably.

Winner of the 1.60m Trevor Breen makes a young fans day with an autograph.

Mark Dorgan and Centamiro hop off the bank.

Billy Twomey and Diaghliev.

Clark Glasgow pumps the brakes.

A swing and a miss for Shane Breen into the grob.

Jade Hooke and A New Era.

Support personelle on point.

Joao Charlesworth and Harleymanor Venus getting out of the liverpools.

Steven Franks and Carlow Cruiser.

Starting them young.

Billy Twomey and Diaghliev

Joao Charlesworth and Hartleymanor Venus.

Napping = encouraged.

Officially chic course management.

Joao Charlesworth and Hartleymanor Venus.

Ellen Whitaker and Locarno 62.

Photo op, anyone?

Billy Twomey.

David Simpson’s Gotti Van Paemel

Harriet Nuttal gives some neon- nailed love to A Touch Imperious.

David Simpson and Gotti Van Paemel

Dermott Lennon and Vampire atop the bank.

Shit un-happening.

A thumbs up from Billy Twomey in the parade.

Trevor Breen parading.

Jump crew looking fresh on Sunday.

Because everyone likes a marching band.

Pony power.

Picnic win.

Someone take us foxhunting like yesterday.

Seriously.

Just so classic. All the hounds pls.

Eager ponyclubbers watch the hunting demo.

Ribbon parades.

In-gate hangs.

Leather and ombre.

Ribbon parades.

Gypsy fever.

Devil’s in the details.

Keen.

At the gate.

Champagne always.

At the gate.

Shades of grey.

Dilemma Fix: Hideous Gifting

Problem: Horses are your favourite animal, and everyone knows it. You think most things are vaguely pony; you automatically translate civilian in your head. Hunting? Foxes. Weekend? Horse shows. J Crew? Appropriate layering staples. Wellies? Hunters, stop. Victorian? Probably means gold spurs, or something carriage-related, you know who Jane Austen is, ok?

Where things get weird: People (great-aunts) will try to buy you interest-specific apparel.

Example:

Solution: Pony chic. Behold, gifting options that won’t make you question every life choice that made someone want to buy you a hooded sweatshirt (!) that said “Born to Ride”.

Appropriate course of action going forward: Print this. Label with applicable size. Send. Pray. Reward positive changes in gifting behaviour. Withhold Christmas cards until a new pattern has been established.