Breeches and Sunshirts

5/13/2016

I am not wealthy, but I am lucky enough to have a little disposable cash each month to spend how I want. Lately, I am into riding clothes like I can't believe. I never used to care what I rode in. It was usually a raggedy pair of pull on tights and a t-shirt won at an endurance ride.

Git-R-Done 55 miler - April 2010

Any more, I find myself pulling out carefully selected breeches that will coordinate with my riding shirt du jour. My socks often match as does my pony tail holder. I always wear a vibrant belt (lately from C4 - I now have four of them), something I would have scoffed at just a year ago.

Looking good in the saddle seems to give more credence to the work that I am doing. While I always ride for fun, I am serious about the work that I am doing, and I want my appearance to be an outward confirmation of my dedication.

Never mind that I am usually completely alone at the barn. So if I look good while I ride, there is no one but the muck cart and manure fork to appreciate my efforts as I dutifully clean my stalls. I don't wear those stylish breeches and trendy sun shirts to impress anyone. I wear them because they make me feel good.

So when I got home the other day and this was sitting on my doorstep, I had all kinds of happy feelings.

Two on the same day?!?!?!

Riding Warehouse had some kind of special sale going on, I don't remember what it was, but I think it had something to do with tax season. They were offering 15% off everything store-wide. I couldn't resist.

I am currently in love with the Ovation DX Celebrity Slim Secret Full Seat Breeches. I love how they fit, and they look really nice. I have already blogged about the gray pair which I liked so much so that I was persuaded to order the white ones for showing. When Riding Warehouse finally added the Monaco Blue to their line up, I caved. I couldn't help it; I bought them in blue.

What a lovely combination.

While the breeches were back ordered and safely out of mind, a friend sent me a link to a Kastel shop on Ebay. Given how low the prices were, I am assuming they were either discontinued or last year's colors. I didn't care. At $30 out-the-door (which included free shipping), I felt like it would be wrong to not order one. And in my defense, I kept myself to one only as I already have four other sun shirts from last summer.

With my C4 belts in either tan or navy plaid, this is a really striking look. Add in my chocolate or navy dressage pad with my navy DSB boots, and I am one well turned out dressage rider.

Of course, If I had the DSB boots in brown ...

13 Comments

Teresa link

5/13/2016 06:36:30 am

YES! Get the brown boots- I love brown riding boots.

It's funny- I too have been getting more into riding clothes. I find myself wanting to get some nice belts and such. Maybe it's because we're being inspired by our ponies? I also am wanted to get some nice things for Carmen.....

Bakersfield Dressage link

5/14/2016 08:11:12 am

Izzy has the white and navy while Speedy has black with white and glossy black. The next time I am feeling a bit flush, I am sure Izzy will get the brown pair. For right now, I think that 4 pairs are sufficient. :0)

I think you might be right. I feel like I have nice horses so I need to "keep up!"

Amanda link

5/13/2016 07:34:39 am

I have 9 Kastels. NINE. I'm ok with it though.

Bakersfield Dressage link

5/14/2016 08:11:40 am

The more the better! :0)

SprinklerBandits

5/13/2016 08:15:14 am

I justify it all by also wearing my kastels (I have two) for other outings. That's cool, right?

Bakersfield Dressage link

5/14/2016 08:13:47 am

Obviously! So far, mine haven't kept clean enough to do that. Even though they wash up well, all of my sunshirts have shown a little staining here and there. The one I have from Ariat (the Sunstopper?) still looks good enough to wear in public. This new brown one is so pretty on that I hope to be able to wear it out in the real world.

Tracy link

5/13/2016 09:33:44 am

Sun shirts are the bomb dot com

Bakersfield Dressage link

5/14/2016 08:15:21 am

Mostly ... but, they're not air conditioned! I still prefer to ride in my sleeveless running shirts (wicking fabrics), but I am "trying" to be kinder to my skin. I figure if I look good, maybe I'll try harder for my skin's sake. :0)

Olivia link

5/13/2016 10:07:30 am

I also never used to care about riding clothes. I rode in old T-shirts and jeans. But I've found that the nice clothes actually feel better while riding. I really like the Kastels and ordered some more from that same eBay shop.

Bakersfield Dressage link

5/14/2016 08:17:06 am

Very true! Dressage is so much about appearance that I feel like my own appearance should try to be as nice as my horse's. I work hard at making them look good - maybe I shouldn't look like such a raggedy Ann myself. :0)

emma link

5/13/2016 05:19:10 pm

i can't tell if i'm happy or sad that you posted that ebay link haha. i know how my wallet feels tho!

Bakersfield Dressage link

5/14/2016 08:18:35 am

But at $30 how could anyone say no?!?!?! I spent $20 buying my students cookies yesterday. A new shirt is a waaaaaay better way to spend $20 - 30. :0)

lytha

5/15/2016 06:51:35 am

Off topic but I thought of you yesterday as the arena owner told me she bought two sprinklers for the Summer, to keep her arena dust down (doesn't she remember it never stopped raining last year?). I told her "In California the sprinkler systems are built-in." (Also in indoor arenas in the PNW.) She said, "What? How's that!?" I said that the sprinklers are attached to the posts in outdoor arenas, every 10 or 20 meters. She said she wants to do that. I said it involves underground pipe installation. She didn't get it. I told her likely the pipes will freeze in Winter and actually I don't know how it's done but I remember that the watering systems were somehow built-in. Wow I've been in Germany too long. So tell me how it works?

About the
Writer & Rider

I am a lifetime rider.
I began endurance riding in 1996 where I ultimately completed five, one-day 100 mile races, the 200-mile Death Valley Encounter, and numerous other 50, 65, and 75 mile races. I began showing dressage in 2010.
Welcome to my dressage journey.

Photo by Lori Ovanessian

Email Karen

About Speedy G

Speedy went from endurance horse to dressage horse. We're currently schooling Third Level in preparation for the 2019 show season. Speedy is a 2004, 15'1 hand, purebred Arabian gelding. His Arabian Horse Registry name is G Ima Starr FA.

August 2018

About Izzy

Izzy was started as a four-year old and then spent the next 18 months in pasture growing up. I bought him as a six-year old, and together, we are schooling the dressage basics. He is a 2008, 16'3 hand warmblood gelding. His Rheinland Pfalz-saar International (RPSI) name is Imperioso.

Second Show - July 2016

Bakersfield Dressage approved!

National Awards

USDF Second Level Rider Performance Award - 2018
USDF First Level Rider Performance Award - 2015
USDF Training Level Rider Performance Award - 2013

State Awards

CDS Ruby Rider Award - 2018
CDS Second Level Horse Performance Award - 2018

2019 Show Season

Show Rating
(***) CDS/USDF/USEF
(*) CDS
(s) Schooling
(c) Clinic
(t) Ride-a-Test Clinic
(Q) Must Qualify

2019 Pending …

3/9-10/19 - Somis (***)
4/12-14/19 - AA Clinic (c)
5/26/19 - TMC (*)
6/15-16/19 - El Sueno (***)
6/22-23/19 - SCEC (***)
6/23/19 - TMC (*)
7/13-14/19 - El Sueno (***)
7/28/19 - TMC (*)
8/10/19 - RAAC (Q) (***)
8/25/19 - TMC (*)
10/26-27/19 SCEC (***)

2019 Completed …

Qualifying Scores for 2019

Regional Adult Amateur Competition (RAAC) Qualifying Scores
Third Level Scores:
Score 1:
Score 2:
Score 3:

CDS Championship Third Level Scores:
Score 1:
Score 2:
Score 3:
Score 4:
Score 5:

Working Towards:

CDS Sapphire Rider Award
Third Level:
Third Level:
Fourth Level:
Fourth Level:

USDF Bronze Medal
First Level - 70.179%
First Level - 72.600%
Second Level - 62.879%
Second Level - 61.970%
Third Level -
Third Level -