I like traditional ribbons with eithier a fancy rosette or else a metal center
red/blue rounds whould be smaller and simpler
classics in a division should be essentailly the same as normal ribbons but slightly longer and with the specific class on them
derbies/ GP classes should have a neck ribbon for top 2 or 3 and normal ribbons for 1-8 or 12
I don’t care much about my ribbons but I like getting functional prizes (backpacks, hats, coolers/scrims are my favorite prizes)
I make ribbon wreaths & other ribbon designs for people. The mum centers are beautiful. I know they are expensive but maybe you can use them for some classes or for the blues. See the mum center here:
http://www.hodgesbadge.com/choose-a-rosette-or-sash-center-option/a/215/
-and agree with the below-
“Some of my favourites were from a fall fair I did a few years ago, that COTHer Small Change used to run. The ribbons were “standard” colours but in deeper jewel tones - so the blue was navy, the red was wine, the white was silver, etc. They were gorgeous! For the stakes class, the ribbon was larger and had a double rosette.”
And, get the sixths in the darker green color, which is much nicer than kelly green.
Haven’t done an A (yet) but plenty of B/C and rated Dressage stuff. The Dressage ribbons tend to be much fancier, more ruffles, longer streamers, etc. but people also tend to always come get them, rather than leaving them if it’s a 5th or whatever. Maybe because it looks like you won something big even if it’s just Training 1, with the giant prize you come home with. But then you also get fewer ribbons at those shows, maybe 1 or 2. Versus 3, 4+ at a hunter show.
I think plain, traditional streamers/rosettes is fine (maybe double ruffles on the rosettes if you want fancier? I like a few I’ve gotten that are two layered with a white inner layer by the button), maybe with neck ribbons for something classics/derbies and nice medals for the medal classes? I know I was really tickled when I actually got a medal for the eq rounds instead of just a ribbon. I don’t care for the black center streamer trend–I’ve seen/gotten a few like that, and they just look odd to me, unless it’s a themed/charity show where the color is explicitly related to the event/cause (like PVDA’s Ride For Life, which does pink on all the ribbons).
[QUOTE=EmilyM;8388126]
I really like to win stemless wine glasses if your responsibilities go beyond ribbons into prizes.
:lol::lol::lol:[/QUOTE]
Really? Here take the whole dining room set I have from shows.
Note that these were won by juniors, who not only don’t need stemless wine glasses, but don’t furnish or need their own glassware…
[QUOTE=hunterrider23;8388464]
Really? Here take the whole dining room set I have from shows.
Note that these were won by juniors, who not only don’t need stemless wine glasses, but don’t furnish or need their own glassware…[/QUOTE]
Save them! You will want them someday. I still use my highball glasses that I won in 1998! The silver trays I won, not so much…
If you’re talking trophies, pick your own can be a good idea–where you bring your blue ribbon or voucher to the office and can pick what appeals to you. Little kids might want to win a stuffed horse, for example. Someone who shows rarely might be thrilled at something that really looks like a trophy–a little silver/gold-toned metal loving cup or plate that says first place and the name of the show like the classic horse show prize to display on the mantle. Frequent show-ers might prefer the more functional thingies like scrims, hats, backpacks, glassware, sippy cups, etc. Good to give people a choice. (Oh, and keep in mind that not all things should be geared only to girls)
[QUOTE=Happyhooves;8388520]
If you’re talking trophies, pick your own can be a good idea–where you bring your blue ribbon or voucher to the office and can pick what appeals to you. Little kids might want to win a stuffed horse, for example. Someone who shows rarely might be thrilled at something that really looks like a trophy–a little silver/gold-toned metal loving cup or plate that says first place and the name of the show like the classic horse show prize to display on the mantle. Frequent show-ers might prefer the more functional thingies like scrims, hats, backpacks, glassware, sippy cups, etc. Good to give people a choice. (Oh, and keep in mind that not all things should be geared only to girls)[/QUOTE]
This is one of the reasons I love a little schooling series that’s about 45 minutes away from us. They have a HUGE table of blue ribbon prizes, everything from stuffed animals to wine glasses to saddle pads, etc. And their ribbons are HUGE! Not gunna lie, I love their shows just for the prizes!!!
ETA: I rarely show (maybe 2 a year?) and never at an A show, so my input probably isn’t warranted here! LOL
[QUOTE=BostonHJ;8388044]
I actually liked the two-toned WEF ribbons for a few reasons - one, it differentiated a first place ride from a clear-round ride, and two, it makes them stand out from my other ribbons. That said, getting those ribbons at WEF is a different animal than getting them at another show, so I’m not sure I would want another show’s ribbons to stand out that much. In general, I like simple rosettes with the classic three matching streamers.[/QUOTE]
Yes, I treasure my few 1st and 2nd place ribbons from WEF!
Also, I think one main color but nicer ribbon/longer ribbons/nicer ‘buttons’ (centers?) on the rosette- I like the metal idea from above…
Now that I’m thinking about it, I have a ribbon from a tiny local show when I first first started showing- it was a medal class, and there was actually a medal on my 1st place ribbon- so regular rosette, with a extra little medal hanging there- never seen anything like it since, but I still have it!
All of the ribbon companies will send you a catalogue with a price list (ask for the price list if it’s separate!).
Garden Spot is the name on the back of some of our special ribbons. And Hodges. Centaur Awards ribbons are beautiful, but I’ll bet they are expensive!!
When I have ordered ribbons for a club I belong to, I get a ruffled rosette with three streamers. The center button is white with our club logo on it. Two of the streamers are the place color (blue, red, etc) and one is white. The printing for name of club and place(first, second) is on the streamers. The champion and reserve ribbons were always slightly larger(more impressive looking) than the regular class ribbons.
One of the shows I do has their classic/stake/grand prix/hunter derby ribbons with streamers and rosettes of 3 colors - 1st is a champion, 2nd is a reserve champion, 3rd has yellow, white, and pink… etc. They’re super cool looking. I’ll see if I can get a picture of the ones I have - they’re not good placings, but they’re pretty, which is fun.
I event, so other than the occasional schooling jumper or dressage show it’s rare to come home with more than one ribbon. I tend to like the ribbons that are fairly traditional, but have a little touch or two to set them apart. One place I go to frequently gets ribbons that are two tone … The traditional color, plus a lighter version of that color … With a double layer two tone rosette. So, the first place ribbon is blue and pale blue; second is red and (normal, not neon) pink, and so on. I like that they are a little bit different, without being too unconventional or tacky looking. Maybe they are too eventer-y for a hunter/jumper show, but I do think it’s nice when they are a little bit unique! However, while I’m happy to win any ribbon, I might cringe just a little if I were hanging a hot pink first place ribbon on the wall 
I love pretty ribbons with detailed rosettes and longer streamers! a nice metal looking center. Thunderbird has nice ribbons and I like multi-colored at all.
Please, please, please put the year on the ribbon! The ones I got at Thermal last year didn’t say anything about the year (not really surprising - it’s a very industrial show), and that was sad.
I’m also not a huge fan of neck sashes as the only ribbon - they don’t hang as well once they’re off the horse. IMO, of course.
Thank you all for your feedback so far; I’m reading each and every response and I appreciate hearing all of your opinions (even if some of them are polar opposites :lol: ).
If you have ribbons that you really enjoyed or really didn’t, please feel free to link to photos!
[QUOTE=paw;8388871]
Please, please, please put the year on the ribbon! The ones I got at Thermal last year didn’t say anything about the year (not really surprising - it’s a very industrial show), and that was sad.[/QUOTE]
After working this show last year I understand why many shows don’t put a year on the ribbons. It’s so difficult to predict how many will pick up their ribbons and you would end up with so much waste at the end of the year if you couldn’t reuse the leftovers for the following year. I absolutely understand why competitors would like to see a year on them, but from a monetary standpoint it would mean having to spend a lot more on ribbons.
A few of you have mentioned metal or metal-like centers; I’ve never seen these and my attempts at searching Google haven’t been successful. Does anyone have a link?
Instead of a normal button in the center of the rosette, the show logo is embossed on a metal button. I’ve only seen it at shows like Devon and indoors. It looks great but I’m guessing it’s a pricy option. Here’s an example (go to photo of horse w blue ribbon):
Google Washington International Horse Show ribbon images and you’ll find pics of the metal centers. Also National Horse Show had them. Probably are pricier. And it’s understandable about the dates, which is why the industrial Walmart-type shows do the bleagh nondated ribbons. Still, how do you re-use leftover lower ribbons the following years anyway?
[QUOTE=Night Flight;8389005]
After working this show last year I understand why many shows don’t put a year on the ribbons. It’s so difficult to predict how many will pick up their ribbons and you would end up with so much waste at the end of the year if you couldn’t reuse the leftovers for the following year. I absolutely understand why competitors would like to see a year on them, but from a monetary standpoint it would mean having to spend a lot more on ribbons.[/QUOTE]
True, but… I was certainly disappointed, especially after spending so much money per class/divison. Having the year on the ribbons, even if it means eating some at the end of the year, means a lot to those of us who aren’t in divisions where there’s the possibilty of winning money.
FWIW, the only thing I got from Thermal with the year on it was socks. Even the Champion cooler didn’t have the year. 
