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Show Season Rider Carrie Fritz

April 1, 2015 by admin

I had the pleasure of interviewing Show Season rider, Carrie Fritz, this month. Carrie has been showing Arabians since 1985, when she and her sister, Leslie, fell for the breed and teamed up with Gordon Potts.

“Gordon was at LaVerada in north Texas at the time. We owned a few Arabians previously, but the Chestnut stud named Donsetta Jabask, who we bought from him, was the horse that got us hooked on the breed,” says Carrie.

Since then, Carrie’s list of Champions with Potts is a lengthy one. But one of my personal favorites has always been AmericanBeautie, who Carrie went reserve on last year in the HA Country Pleasure Driving (it was Beauties 26th National or Res. National Championship!).

Learn more about Carrie and her English style in our Show Season exclusive –

Show Season: Describe your riding fashion style.

Carrie Fritz: Overall, I would say I am pretty conservative. I like a very tailored look. I love day coats and am not a fan of Derbys.

SS: What is your favorite headtotoe riding outfit?

CF: My very favorite outfit is a black and tan hounds tooth day coat from Show Season that I bought right before Nationals in 2013. I wanted something special to wear on AmericanBeautie, for what I thought was my last time to show her. I was lucky enough to wear that same coat on her again last year at Nationals when we went reserve!

SS: Do you wear anything for good luck in the show ring?

CF: I have a lucky pin that I wear on my suits; it has a Shamrock on it.

SS: What is one thing you never go in the ring without?

CF: A good coach on the rail!

SS: How would you describe your nonhorse show style?

CF: Something most people don’t know about me is that I have a degree in fashion design and merchandising, and I attended the Fashion Institute in Paris, France. I’m not sure I’ve used my degree much because at home I’m a jeans and T-shirt girl.

SS: What has been your biggest accomplishment as a rider?

CF: My very first U.S. National Championship was unanimous.

SS: What are your riding goals for the future?

CF: I am going to try my hand at showing western this year. It’s something that I am very uncomfortable with, but I want to concur my fears and give it a whirl.

SS: Who has been the most influential in your riding career?

CF: I have had two big influences in Arabian horses: Gordon Potts, who has been a mentor for me from the beginning, and my sister Leslie, who has always been my partner in crime!

Show Season Rider Jamie Costanzo

March 1, 2015 by admin

This month I’m pleased to introduce Show Season rider, Ms. Jamie Costanzo (or, as I call her, Hi-Mae), who is not only a fab fashionista and rider, but is also my cousin.

New(ish) to the amateur horse show community, by no means is Jamie new to the world of horses. In fact, some of my fondest memories growing up are of the two of us and our horses, ripping up trails, all the while laughing like wild animals.

I guess you could say it was in our genes to love horses. Just as we both grew up riding together, so did our moms; and they were both the ones who introduced us to this passion/obsession.

“My dad recently sent me a picture of me as a baby riding a horse with my mother. I grew up on the back of a horse! My mom also grew up riding horses; my whole family has always loved them and viewed them as part of the family,” says Jamie.

Jamie and I even showed as youths together for a couple of years with trainer, Kimberly VerHage. But then, for Jamie, life got busy, and she took a hiatus from the show world.

Although she continued to ride for pleasure at home and at the local barn by her house, it was not until 2013 when Jamie dove back into the show scene. That year Jamie became a ‘Lowe rider’ (aka, riding with trainer, Jim Lowe), and won the U.S. National Champion title in the H/A Country English Select class, with her horse Prince James SF (or as she calls him, Yamison). She followed 2013 with another amazing year in 2014, going Top Ten in her first ever US National’s amateur class.

As she prepares for the 2015 show season, get to know a bit more about Jamie in our Show Season exclusive –

Show Season: Describe your riding fashion style.

Jamie Costanzo: I am drawn to the more rich earthy tones, enhanced with a little added “bling” to make it stand out. When creating a new Show Season suit I always start with a brown or burgundy coat that has some sort of metallic expression. The gold and bronze tones always tend to catch my eye. I try to add a little personality in my outfits, while still maintaining an elegant polished look.

SS: What is your favorite head-to-toe riding outfit?

JC: The suit I designed with Mellissa last year at Region Two is probably my favorite. The coat is a rich chocolate brown with a little sheen to it. Underneath it we came up with a complimenting vest that has intricate winding sequins in champagne, copper, and bronze. The shirt I am most fond of with this outfit is made of a burgundy silk material. And the final touch is a tie, which compliments the mood I am in!

SS: Do you wear anything for good luck in the show ring?

JC: I do not have anything specific I wear for good luck while showing. Just having my family there with me is my good luck charm.

SS: What is one thing you never go in the ring without?

JC: My horse! Love my Yamison.

SS: How would you describe your non-horse show style?

JC: Very similar to my show attire. Lots of earthy tones… I am not terribly fond of bright colors, although, I do love turquoise and purple. I have too many Free People outfits, and my favorite pair of shoes are a pair of over the knee, worn-in brown boots that have the top lined in small metal studs. I actually bought them at Nationals two years ago, and now I never go anywhere without them!

SS: What has been your biggest accomplishment as a rider?

JC: Treating my animals with care and compassion. I love them like they are my children and will care for them until I can no longer. They make my life full, and I try to make their lives full and healthy as well. I cannot imagine my life without them!

SS: What are your riding goals for the future?

JC: Currently, I have an obsession with reigning horses. I may have to wait until after Veterinary School, but I think it will be my next equine “investment.” I wouldn’t mind having a horse I could be a bit less cautious with than I have to be with my show horses. I miss reckless trail riding with a nice, surefooted horse.

SS: Who has been the most influential in your riding career?

JC: There is no one person who has been influential in my riding. I would say my family as a whole is the foundation to my riding. When I go home to San Diego I ride at my parent’s house, or I ride at my aunt Lori and cousin Nicole’s house.

As for the horses, they have had too large of an influence in my life to name one relationship that has been the foundation of it all. However, it was my mother who put me on my first horse. And her and my dad rarely miss a show.

Marsla + Makeup… Work The Trend

February 1, 2015 by admin

Last month we met the color of the year, Marsala, and talked about incorporating it into our show outfits this year, so I thought it fitting to also do a beauty post!

In case you missed it, here is the new It Girl shade:

Such a gorgeous, warm, rich shade, right??

And it has to be some sort of good omen that the main color for the upcoming year is the same hue as red wine, right??

Falling somewhere between rose and brick, the hue is a total throwback to the 90’s, when Kevyn Aucoin made it huge. But its recent appearance as the Color Of The Year should come as no surprise, since this deep, moody look has been on the rise recently. Just ask Kylie Jenner. She has been spotted with this shade across her lips on more than one occasion (and in more than one selfie).

As far as makeup goes, the color is for sure more wearable than other recent Pantone picks (**cough**, Radiant Orchid), and it is super glamorous… so I’m feeling pretty happy that it will be around for more than just the winter.

Plus, it’s flattering on practically every skin tone – bringing a subtle flush to mocha complexions, while the pink undertones really pop on alabaster skin as well – translating well into wearable makeup products for the lips, cheeks and eyes.

Your lips are probably the most obvious place to wear it (as well as my personal favorite). For those who generally like experimenting with color, but want something a little less intimidating than a vampy shade, Marsala is a great compromise. And because the color flatters the mouth’s natural pigments, it works for everyone. Just swipe it on and channel your inner Kate Moss.

It also looks really beautiful as a pop of color on your cheeks. Pair it with a gold eye shadow and a neutral lip for daytime, or kick it up a notch for night by layering the hue on your lips with a dramatic black eyeliner look.

Ready to give it a whirl this show season? Check out some of my fav marsala-toned products in what I am dubbing a makeup wine tasting. Get ready to get beauty drunk:

1. Topshop Lipstick in Inhibition

(I love all of Topshop’s new lipsticks! They are super pigmented and last all day.)

2. MAC Lipstick in Verve

(This color is so gorgeous. It is a little more on the brown side of Marsala.)

3. NARS Blush in Seduction

(This color may be bold, but it goes on really soft and sheer. Obsessed.)

4. MAC Sketch Eyeshadow

(This shadow will make any color eyes really pop.)

5. Bobbi Brown Pot Blush in Milk Chocolate

(You can use this on your cheeks or your lips, and it has the BEST texture.)

6. Stila Shadow in Metallic Merlot

(Stila’s shimmer shadows are prob my favorite ones out there, and this one is especially stunning.)

7. Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey

(This liptint is perfect for those of you who want a more natural, less-pigmented look.)

Enjoy!

It is time to meet the color of 2015 – MARSALA!

January 1, 2015 by admin

Just last month Pantone announced the 2015 must-have Color of the Year: Marsala.

PantoneCOY15_RGB_Sc2_Kitchen-Core-rect Praying the color wasn’t going to resemble the chicken marsala served in Italian restaurants, I reached out to my BFF, Google… To my delight, I found it is more of a rich plum-brown that actually resembles the glass of vino I often sip on at dinner.

“It is such a deliciously warm shade, you can almost taste it just by looking at it,” says Pantone Color Institute’s executive director, Leatrice Eiseman.

“Much like the fortified wine that gives Marsala its name, this tasteful hue embodies the satisfying richness of a fulfilling meal, while its groundbreaking red-brown roots emanate a sophisticated, natural earthiness. This hearty, yet stylish tone is universally appealing and translates easily to fashion, beauty, industrial design, home furnishing and interiors.” – Pantone

Despite the fact that the initial reaction of the hue has been mixed (“icky” commented one critic, while another compared it to “freaky dried blood”), I have to say I love it.

The burnished undertones of Marsala make it so much richer than last year’s Color of the Year, Radiant Orchid, which “encouraged creativity and innovation.” Marsala, on the other hand, “enriches our mind, body and soul, exuding confidence and stability,” says Pantone. And who couldn’t use some of that in the show arena?!

But what I really love is the ease in which this “hearty, yet stylish” color can be combined with black, gray, beige and other neutrals that we so often wear in the ring.

I mean, how gorg is that shirt?

And those same burnished undertones also make Marsala highly compatible with gorgeous colors like amber, umber and golden yellows, as well as greens in both turquoise and teal, and vibrant blues.

shirt- H, Stevens. Elle 2014 red and black And – oh my – I must say it looks even more stunning with metallics!

I’m already dreaming up the lace Marsala vest and matching Marsala silk shirt – adorned with big and beautiful Marsala crystals on the collar – that I want to have made to go with my black suit. **Swoon**.

I’ll toast to that.

THE TRAINER’S PERSPECTIVE – Show Apparel Fashion & Trends

December 1, 2014 by admin

Your trainer always knows best, right??

Well, in reference to your horse, yes, I think we can all agree that is most likely true.

But do you take their opinion when it comes to the way you “suit up” in the show arena?

To be honest, I totally ask my trainer, Joel Kiesner, what fabric swatch he likes better for a horse when I am picking out a new suit. And, evennn if I don’t always go with his preference, I still always take his opinion into consideration, and it can have an influence on my final choice. Because, even if they don’t all totally know best when it comes to fashion, they know best when it comes to your overall look in the show arena.

Which is why we wanted to hear from them!

Get the inside scoop on what these trainers reallyyyy think about today’s riders fashion sense in the show arena, and how they think we should all be presenting ourselves to the judges.

You never know – you might learn a thing or two!

Show Season: How would you describe today’s riders fashion sense in the show arena?

Christine Curtin Ryan: Today’s look is very modern, and crisp. I also think our fabrics have a very elegant feel.

John Golladay: Probably trend driven.

Vicki Humphrey: Tradition is the word that comes to mind when thinking of show ring fashion. It has a long history of sophistication, taste and class. As style change, those are the key words to remember.

Jonathan Ramsay: I think today’s riders each have their own unique fashion senses in the ring. I think for the most part everyone still has a very classic and professional look.

Ashton Kiesner: I think today’s riders fashion sense in the show arena is really fantastic. I really like all the different colors and fabrics that are coming out. I think the bling is more tasteful and there are greater risks with the suits, but it seems more conservative risks, if that makes sense.

SS: Is there a certain way you hope for your rider’s to present themselves in the show arena?

Christine Curtin Ryan: Number one for me is fit. I like my riders in a suit that fits. You’re not fooling anyone when you cram yourself into a suit that is 2 sizes too small. I also like a color that compliments the horse, or at the very least, doesn’t detract from the look.

John Golladay: I think a finished picture is the ideal look. From horse to rider every detail is important.

Vicki Humphrey: A perfect custom fit is paramount; no matter the expense of the material. And CONSERVATIVE colors that let the horse stand out.

Jonathan Ramsay: I prefer that my riders have a clean cut and classic look that makes the whole picture of the horse and rider look classic and elegant.

Ashton Kiesner: I think putting a suit together is a fun way for riders to express their individual personality though fabrics, ties, lapel pins, etc. Riders need to remember when putting together a suit, suitability to horse, the class they are showing, and the time of day/evening they are showing. I don’t understand when there are 20 country riders in a class and everyone has on a brown or navy suit. It is the little things that set each other apart. And I believe this goes for all the disciplines. Ringmanship and polished riding skills will set you apart, but so does your look. Also, although I love the traditional look, recently I have seen more day coats and I think they are fun on the right rider/horse combo. Some riders are going with a lighter color suit and again, with the right horse and rider combo, it can all work great.

SS: What do you think a polished and cohesive look does for the whole picture?

Christine Curtin Ryan: For me, a well turned out rider is to the horse, as a frame is to a painting. The focus should be on the horse (painting). The rider (frame) should accentuate, but not compete with the horse.

Jonathan Ramsay: I think overall it makes the big picture much nicer. I think it adds to the natural beauty of the horse instead of having a messy look take away from the overall appearance.

Ashton Kiesner: I think it is really important to have a polished and cohesive look from head to toe. And don’t forget the hair – neat and tidy. That is super important too. Bling or no bling, a polished look will show the judges that you are a serious competitor who has taken the time to be dressed appropriately; so, you must have the best horse too, right???

SS: How would you describe your own fashion sense?

Christine Curtin Ryan: I’m rather conservative in my own fashion sense. I do like very pretty ties though.

John Golladay: I’ll be honest most of my suits my wife, Leah Beth, puts together. So, in that case, fantastic.

Johnathan Ramsay: I prefer to keep my outfits clean cut, classic, and sharp. I don’t like anything wild or too bold that takes away from the horse or overall picture.

Ashton Kiesner: I believe my personal English Pleasure style would lean more on the conservative side. I am a professional rider, so I think the professionals should be more conservative; it is not about us, but the horses we are riding. Professionals need to look professional. That being said, I do love beautiful rich fabrics, like browns, blacks and navys; usually a tone on tone.

SS: What is your take on “bling” in the ring?

Christine Curtin Ryan: My take on bling? If that’s your style – go for it! The best way to be comfortable in the ring is to be comfortable in your clothes.

John Golladay: A small amount goes a long way. Let your horse be the one shining in your class.

Vicki Humphrey: Bling is great, when done tastefully in small areas, like on a vest. All riders want to be different and stand out. A sparkly vest, a dynamic tie, or a lapel pin that sparkles are all great, when they are done within the guidelines of class and taste.

Jonathan Ramsay: I think “bling” is okay in moderation, but I am not a fan of excessive “bling” that takes away from the overall appearance of the horse and rider.

Ashton Kiesner: I personally am not a huge fan of major bling. I believe if you are a very good/confident rider with a great horse, tasteful bling is great. Tasteful bling makes a statement that you are here and you want to get noticed, you just need to back it up with a fun attitude. If you are a timid rider or a newer show ring rider and you don’t quite have the confidence yet, then I think your outfit should match who you are. Bling for the sake of just trying to be noticed, without the well fitting, thought-out outfit, is over doing it for me.

SS: In your opinion, what does a piece of clothing need to have to really pop?

Christine Curtin Ryan: The attitude to pull it off.

John Golladay: A great horse underneath it.

Jonathan Ramsay: I don’t think it has to be anything wild to make an outfit stick out. I think a nice splash of color with a tie works wonders!

Ashton Kiesner: I love ties!!! I believe this is where you can go wild!! You can do an entire outfit around a cool tie. Don’t skimp on the tie, it is just as important as the rest of the suit!!