If it helps Fie is definitely in the very good category. Great rider and trainer, she brings along her own horses. I loved Rocazino, her long time partner. She usually has at least one fun clip job a year. I love seeing her creativity; we’re friends on FB and it’s always a treat.
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The advertising question is a biggie - because how do you ensure it’s not meant to do that? Dot’s question about political slogans as well. This one isn’t offensive, and while I think her overall look is ugly, some people love it - and my opinion doesn’t matter! I am glad that is legal but wouldn’t want advertising or slogans or offensive symbols to be legal.
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I don’t think you need an account to read comments, only if you want to make a comment.
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Agree about Fie. She is a lovely rider.
I’m not sure I particularly like this clip job. It is, admittedly, VERY good. But I think it is a bit too distracting.
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It doesn’t seem any harder to police whether a logo is clipped into a coat than if a logo is embroidered on a saddle pad or shirt?
This is not my taste but who is she hurting? She’s within the rules.
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You don’t need an account to see comments.
I’m not sure Facebook was ever going for inclusivity.
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It’s not my taste, but hey, she’s rocking the ever-loving crap out of it and it certainly isn’t hurting anyone. You go girl!
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Apparently she was “wrapped up in” the coat color.
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i see about the same distractibility quotient with this clip as i do a dappled grey horse. same/same to me. And both are temporary too.
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This was the third time she did the checker clips, but previously it was on a black horse. Chronicle of the Horse had posted a photo with her black horse last year I think, and videos on TikTok.
I cannot wrap my head around the people who are pulling out pitchforks and torches over it. If you don’t like it, that’s fine- don’t do the same, but it’s striking & shows a lot of dedication to produce… both the turnout and the rides to qualify & get there.
She’s a professional, a judge, has ridden well enough to qualify for multiple national finals with different horses, and knows the rules. But if a lowly novice wants to spend 6 hours clipping their horse & pick a show outfit of coordinating neutral colors for a local show, good for them. It doesn’t impact anyone’s ability to turn themselves out in a way they prefer.
We have bigger issues arguing that judges - even if it’s not their personal taste which is perfectly fine, can’t judge the ride because of turnout. Do we discredit a judges ability to watch movements & gaits over a strange coat pattern THAT much?
Is a checker pattern clip to compliment the big muscles really that different than a trace clip on a dappled or appaloosa pattern?
Should we also be worried that if a pinto has color on its shoulders & front legs but not its hindquarters that judges will automatically assume it’s downhill? Or that a horse with socks on one or two legs but not all 4 is lame because it might appear to not move the solid color leg the same as the chrome leg(s)?
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I find it unattractive, but don’t see any reason there needs to be a rule prohibiting it.
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I think it is fun.
I don’t ride well enough or clip well enough to do something like that, ever. But it is fun and I like that people are allowed to have a little fun.
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I shared it on Facebook and some friends were rather angry about it. WTH? It was well done and - perish the thought - fun. If more people involved in dressage went even half that far and lightened up… dressage might gain more happy competitors.
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So much pearl clutching.
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It’s not my taste, I don’t think it looks professional or workmanlike, but whatever floats that person’s boat.
If this becomes more popular, it wouldn’t surprise me if a rule pops up about functional clips vs ‘decorative’ ones. Plenty of rules, especially around turnout, never existed/weren’t needed until someone colored outside the lines.
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Most of the negative comments I read were not about the clip itself, but about the idea that a clip like that was allowed by the rules whereas a slight shine on a saddle pad was deemed to be “too distracting.” The dichotomy is the issue, not the clip.
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I personally think the clip job is stunning! It’s no more “distracting” than a wildly marked pinto or Appy. Her outfit on the other hand…definitely not my taste, but if it’s within the rules then it doesn’t really matter what my opinion is lol.
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The clip job itself is amazing, and she is quoted in the COTH article saying she did it freehand - wow!!
That said, I don’t like it. Not because I’m a traditionalist, I love the relaxed attire rules. This particular clip really is distracting to me when I’m looking at the horse, my eyes found it a bit overwhelming. But I love her creativity, and the fact that she can back up her “look at me” clip job and attire with outstanding riding and training.
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I can’t be arsed to care!
I don’t have the patience for such a clip, even though mine have always been good to clip, so props for that 
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Let’s bring on all the bling! I find the saddle pad rules odd too. The ES glimmer pads are illegal, but the satin ones with Crystal trim are fine…that makes no sense.
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