:lol:
I was reading Horse and Rider the other day and they had styles for pony tails and discussed pony tail turnout. It occurred to me only then that I didn’t need to keep bunning my hair under my helmet :lol: So yesterday I sported a ponytail and it was legit. I can show that way!
I didn’t realize I had anything left to convert. I think I’m done now?
Paula
I would love to transition to the ponytail look, but my OneK doesn’t fit right unless my hair is up in a hairnet. Such a bummer. I can’t go full-out yeehaw just yet, the helmet is still pretty new! The kids pick on me about it, and I think I’m the only other adult at the barn who wears a helmet so they don’t take me seriously anyhow, ponytail or no ponytail. The trials and tribulations of a converter!
Oh I don’t plan on ditching the helmet -they can say what they want. Interestingly the pony tail turnout article in Horse and Rider was with a Western rider wearing a helmet so there!
Paula
When it comes to a helmet, depending on how far down it comes in the back, I just usually braid my hair to keep it out of the way 
I rather liked the pony tail. I had to shorten up the strap but it made life much simpler. I think I’ll keep it. If I can find a cool pony tail holder big enough to hold dreadlocks I’ll get one.
Paula
Ha! Look what I found!
https://www.etsy.com/shop/LuvingYourLocks?ref=l2-shopheader-name
Now I will peruse this to find something for show turnout -something with an elemental feel.
Paula
I never did become a full convert.
Western saddle, check. Western bridle, nope, just took the cavesson off my hunter bridle. I did have a lovely western bridle with a split-ear headstall and split reins, but somehow I kept using the converted hunter one.
Jeans, sometimes. Other times, schooling tights as they were sooooo much more comfortable for me.
Sometimes western boots, even with schooling tights! Sometimes endurance paddock boots.
Always a helmet.
And always on a Quarter Horse, who was himself a convert from eventing.
I think my favorite conversion was to the Western headstall. I use a one-ear, no noseband, browband or throatlatch headstall with extra long split reins. I adore them and Fella seemed more relaxed in them. The saddle -comfortable, but the horn took some getting used to -I did hang from it by my bra once! Jeans absolutely. Just the other day I tried a pair of full seat riding jeans and returned them because they fit too much like boot cut breeches.
Definitely Western boots, but they have English motivator spurs on them. Why fix something that wasn’t broken?
Oh and I love my quirt for hacking and trail riding!
Always a helmet.
And always on Fella the Percheron/Standardbred that’s a convert to everything.
Paula
[QUOTE=paulaedwina;8555373]
:lol:
I was reading Horse and Rider the other day and they had styles for pony tails and discussed pony tail turnout. It occurred to me only then that I didn’t need to keep bunning my hair under my helmet :lol: So yesterday I sported a ponytail and it was legit. I can show that way!
I didn’t realize I had anything left to convert. I think I’m done now?
Paula[/QUOTE]
I still ride in a bun, I don’t think I will ever be able to let it go!
But I also school in half chaps or tall boots and breeches despite being in a western saddle. I just can’t do the jeans thing. Old habits die hard!
[QUOTE=paulaedwina;8555670]
I think my favorite conversion was to the Western headstall. I use a one-ear, no noseband, browband or throatlatch headstall with extra long split reins. I adore them and Fella seemed more relaxed in them. The saddle -comfortable, but the horn took some getting used to -I did hang from it by my bra once! Jeans absolutely. Just the other day I tried a pair of full seat riding jeans and returned them because they fit too much like boot cut breeches.
Definitely Western boots, but they have English motivator spurs on them. Why fix something that wasn’t broken?
Oh and I love my quirt for hacking and trail riding!
Always a helmet.
And always on Fella the Percheron/Standardbred that’s a convert to everything.
Paula[/QUOTE]
Oh yeah, my mare is fully converted to western tack. She actually seems to prefer the lack of noseband, but she has always been weird about things on her face. The less the better. I was actually pleasantly surprised when she didn’t object to a back cinch. She wears blankets with straps, but still I wasn’t sure what to expect the first time I did the cinch up. She was totally cool about the whole thing.
I’m fully western - hair “as is,” sunglasses, no helmet, boots and jeans. 
The no-helmet thing is nothing to smile about. Riding without a helmet is just risky.
Riding with hair “as is” is not western. It can be downright dangerous unless the hair is quite short. Long hair blowing around, whipping across the face, getting in the eyes, hung up in trees … there’s nothing western about that.
To me, traditionally western riders are smart and sensible because in this country western began as a working style of riding. English could be too, but often was for sport, whereas many western riders were traditionally working ranch hands. Every bit of clothing, tack, and equipment was designed for practicality and efficiency.
Long loose hair just doesn’t fit with that.
[QUOTE=RPM;8558359]
The no-helmet thing is nothing to smile about. Riding without a helmet is just risky.
Riding with hair “as is” is not western. It can be downright dangerous unless the hair is quite short. Long hair blowing around, whipping across the face, getting in the eyes, hung up in trees … there’s nothing western about that.
To me, traditionally western riders are smart and sensible because in this country western began as a working style of riding. English could be too, but often was for sport, whereas many western riders were traditionally working ranch hands. Every bit of clothing, tack, and equipment was designed for practicality and efficiency.
Long loose hair just doesn’t fit with that.[/QUOTE]
Maybe you should just ride better or stay away from trees so hair does not bother you??? :yes:
[QUOTE=RPM;8558359]
The no-helmet thing is nothing to smile about. Riding without a helmet is just risky.
Riding with hair “as is” is not western. It can be downright dangerous unless the hair is quite short. Long hair blowing around, whipping across the face, getting in the eyes, hung up in trees … there’s nothing western about that.
To me, traditionally western riders are smart and sensible because in this country western began as a working style of riding. English could be too, but often was for sport, whereas many western riders were traditionally working ranch hands. Every bit of clothing, tack, and equipment was designed for practicality and efficiency.
Long loose hair just doesn’t fit with that.[/QUOTE]
Turnout with a pony tail is well within the regulations of Western sports so I’m not sure what you’re talking about. My ponytail doesn’t whip into my face since it’s behind my back. I’ve never even thought about hair being hung up in trees -that’s brilliant I never meant to imply that Western riders are not smart or sensible so I’m not sure…
I will be sure to tell all my long loose haired cowboy friends that they’re not meeting your expectations
Paula
Paula,
I was responding to Palm Beach’s post about riding with hair as-is and not riding with a helmet. I said nothing about pony tails.
You took offence at something that wasn’t even directed at you. Good grief.
Palm Beach, your response to my reponse to you is one of the silliest posts I have ever seen on COTH. “Ride better”? I do, thank you. I ride with a helmet. “Stay away from trees”? So, I’m not to do any trail riding?
Honestly, sometimes your posts make me really wonder about you. :no:
[QUOTE=RPM;8558404]
Paula,
I was responding to Palm Beach’s post about riding with hair as-is and not riding with a helmet. I said nothing about pony tails.
You took offence at something that wasn’t even directed at you. Good grief.
Palm Beach, your response to my reponse to you is one of the silliest posts I have ever seen on COTH. “Ride better”? I do, thank you. I ride with a helmet. “Stay away from trees”? So, I’m not to do any trail riding?
Honestly, sometimes your posts make me really wonder about you. :no:[/QUOTE]
Sometimes I only have one hand on the steering wheel and sometimes I don’t wear sunscreen. I’d hate to be so stuffy that I form opinions about people who live a different lifestyle based on a few things said on the internet. You can wonder about me all you want; I have a couple horses to ride. Sans helmet.
Not to take away from the snark you guys have rolling here (thought I was on the Dressage board for a split second), but I just realized I have a different liner for my helmet that makes it fit snug enough WITHOUT putting all my hair up. So I can rock the helmet with ponytail look! Very exciting stuff. One step closer… Now if I could only find bootcut jeans that don’t work their way up over my boots when schooling. That’s new for me as I’ve always ridden in tall boots or half chaps and breeches.
[QUOTE=RPM;8558359]
The no-helmet thing is nothing to smile about. Riding without a helmet is just risky.
Riding with hair “as is” is not western. It can be downright dangerous unless the hair is quite short. Long hair blowing around, whipping across the face, getting in the eyes, hung up in trees … there’s nothing western about that.
To me, traditionally western riders are smart and sensible because in this country western began as a working style of riding. English could be too, but often was for sport, whereas many western riders were traditionally working ranch hands. Every bit of clothing, tack, and equipment was designed for practicality and efficiency.
Long loose hair just doesn’t fit with that.[/QUOTE]
Riding without a helmet is just plain stupid. You are putting yourself at risk, and you are putting your family and loved ones at risk. But, I guess it is Darwin-ism at work.
[QUOTE=Chrissy;8559092]
Not to take away from the snark you guys have rolling here (thought I was on the Dressage board for a split second), but I just realized I have a different liner for my helmet that makes it fit snug enough WITHOUT putting all my hair up. So I can rock the helmet with ponytail look! Very exciting stuff. One step closer… Now if I could only find bootcut jeans that don’t work their way up over my boots when schooling. That’s new for me as I’ve always ridden in tall boots or half chaps and breeches.[/QUOTE]
I have never ridden in jeans that were specifically boot-cut. They never rode up.
They weren’t the really narrow-leg styles, just regular stretch jeans.
Are yours stretch jeans? I’m just wondering if that would make any difference.
I have ridden in Kentucky jods with the elastic straps that go under the instep of your boot and button/clip onto the jods but I can’t see putting that sort of attachment on jeans!
[QUOTE=RPM;8558404]
Paula,
I was responding to Palm Beach’s post about riding with hair as-is and not riding with a helmet. I said nothing about pony tails.
You took offence at something that wasn’t even directed at you. Good grief.
Palm Beach, your response to my reponse to you is one of the silliest posts I have ever seen on COTH. “Ride better”? I do, thank you. I ride with a helmet. “Stay away from trees”? So, I’m not to do any trail riding?
Honestly, sometimes your posts make me really wonder about you. :no:[/QUOTE]
Sorry for the reaction. Your post was so serious in such a lighthearted thread that it took me aback.
Paula
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