Are we just making fun of the things we can’t afford to be now?
*thinking about soft serve
6 Likes
I also don’t have enough taste/style.
Too engineer about it all.
But gosh, I LOVE seeing a pair who are just well turned out to the nines. My brain doesn’t work right to do that for myself.
4 Likes
I think I have boot envy! Just saying…
4 Likes
Right?
Given no off the shelf boots fit me even semi-decently, if I could afford multiple pairs of custom boots regularly, you BET I would have them!
(ETA: Technically, I could afford them. If I spent less money on horses, board, lessons, vets, etc.)
3 Likes
Tell me about it! Once in awhile I can pull something off that really impresses, but it’s rare.
I am more function than fashion at the stable though. I also don’t care how loud of a swishing sound my windproof full seat breeches make. I’m warm dammit!
4 Likes
The other DQ: disqualified 
So the DQ DQ was DQ and went to DQ for consolation.
12 Likes
This made me chuckle out loud!
I personally wanna be a DQ haha! Just love new shiny things but sadly those only come out on the rare occasion that I get my sh!t together enough to show at lowly training level. No custom boots for me, my wallet is lucky enough that I fit off the shelf stuff. I have the DQ worthy looking WB however he is not mentally or physically built to do much more than lower level work!.
Love this for a laugh, but in my mind, skills/no skills, it’s the arrogance that will cause me to label someone a DQ, unless I’m just having fun with it. The fun side is the fashion part - I love the matchy/color-coordinated stuff, and not all break the bank! But I despise anyone who puts themselves on a pedestal, even if they are great riders. We’re all humans, so get over yourself!
5 Likes
I love to see that, too. But there’s not always consensus of opinion about what “the nines” equal in turnout. Is it a bridle with bling, or with brass fittings? Is it a running braid, or some other kind of braid job? Shadbelly and a top hat? Understated buff breeches and plain black boots without trim? Color-coordinated everything (or color-coordinated black and white everything)?
Turnout to the nines might be a ten in one person’s opinion and a -1 in another person’s opinion.
I know what looks impressive to me but something different might impress you, and like one COTHer says, it’s the horse world: two people, three opinions! 
1 Like
I don’t know of any great riders who do that. I don’t think you can be a great rider and listen to what the horse tells you AND put yourself on a pedestal.
Plenty of top riders will lack social skills - if I were a great rider (I’m not, I’m crap) I would still be terrible at interactions, and people would tend to think I was stuck up, simply because of how awkward I am when strangers walk up and start talking to me. But I don’t think you can truly be a great horseperson AND believe you’re the bomb.
2 Likes
I love all of those things! Well put together, great fitting, totally styled to personal style. I think simple brown and white or black and white are both lovely, especially when all is well cared for, well fitted, etc. And bling, too. Whatever personal taste is - life is short, if you can afford it buy the bridle/saddle/whatever you want, as long as they fit the horse well!
I used to ride with someone who sewed her own saddle pads and her tops, polos and pads always matched. Not necessarily all kinds of bling, she just always looked beautiful and classy on her solid black horse. She simply enjoyed doing it. We encouraged her to start selling pads, which turned into bib stock ties, and grew from there - now she has her own business (Dameron) and still has great taste and beautiful things. But it all started with her simply enjoying coordinating her stuff when she showed up to ride.
2 Likes
Sadly, there are those that can get great horses and great scores, but are hateful humans. Be glad you haven’t had the pleasure;)
4 Likes
I am of the belief that one can get great horses and great scores but still have crap horsemanship.
7 Likes
Rhinestones. Lots and lots of rhinestones. So many rhinestones that it looks like someone probably needs to take your Bedazzler away from you. And patent leather boots. And one must obviously have so much wrapping around your horses legs that they look like 80’s leg warmers.
10 Likes
You have to have an imported FABULOUS horse, all the latest trendy tack & attire… riding is optional, you can pay someone to do that… the DQ at the barn I used to board at told me “you are so lucky to have a horse who forgives your bad riding”. I will admit I do have a lovely horse who puts up with my tension. But the DQ always had to tell us how HER horse was imported, HER horse was Fourth Level, until the trainer couldn’t get a single flying change and not even much of a trot lengthening. The poor horse also had an issue with being in the ring with other horses. But he did lunge perfectly. I did feel a bit bad for the DQ as I think she would have liked to have ridden her horse if he wasn’t such a nut job.
1 Like
Exactly my point. My definition of great rider requires great horsemanship - and I don’t think you can have great horsemanship while a crap person. But I agree you can get great horses and scores regardless of personality if you have the talent for winning in competition.
DQ to me is all about the attitude. Having a nice horse(s), blingy stuff, nice outfits, spending lots of money on horse care… none of those alone is a DQ type of thing - and honestly I’d love to have the funds to do all of that. Snubbing your nose at those who can’t afford all of that, not putting any effort into riding and expecting everyone else to do the prep work and being a B when your horse is “naughty” or you don’t get a good score even though you rode like crap (but you can’t see it because, duh, it isn’t your fault that happened), acting like you are more important than others or being so oblivious that you don’t even notice others… that is a DQ.
6 Likes
Nearest we have to a DQ, has the Warmblood, been trainer ridden 2 or 3 times a week, when not in full training.
Has a wonderful selection of tasteful bling…I don’t know what stones are in her browband, but if the light comes from the wrong direction I’m sure the judge is marking blind. She has the $1200 schooling boots, and her ‘good ones’ to ride in. She has lots of beautiful stuff, including so many first place ribbons, amd Championships at local and Provincial Level…
All at walk trot…
She has the ability, she has the backing, she has the horse, she should be out of the kids class, the older beginner, The I have a new horse and I want to check it’s not going to kill me class…
DQ’s like to win…
LOL, I have to admit to feeling a bit DQ ish at the end of the season…my knee, now replaced, was giving me hell, so I was excused all sorts of duties at the last show, people were fetching and carrying for me, my horse was warmed up for me, I basically got on and rode…
4 Likes
If you’ve shown enough and have decent people around you, at some point you have had other people helping you because you were sick, injured, or for some other reason not able to pull your weight as fully as usual. But you’ve done the same for them.
4 Likes
