Charlotte's Giddy Up Gazette©
Everything For Riding Except the Horse!
Vol. II Issue 04 - April 2008 - Fashion Forecast 2008 Special Issue
- Letter From the Equi-ditor
- Fashion Forecast 2008
- Little Known Dates
- Pre Camp Sale Specials
- New Pre Owned Saddle Listings
- Equine Definitions - Part III
- Clearance Zone
- Helpful Links
- Frequency and Feedback
Charlotte's Saddlery Annual Summer Camp SALE begins May 1st! The SALE will be valid at both of their locations and online as well.
In the meantime a few select Pre Camp Sale specials (Internet) are available for a limited time only. More details are posted below.
The feature article this month is Mark Raisbeck's (Charlotte's Saddlery president) annual Fashion Forecast for 2008.
Learn what's hot and what's not in show apparel! Find out which companies are "Going Green" and see what you can wear
to stay comfortable in the heat this summer.
Charlotte's is happy to offer a new tack cleaning service! Convenient drop-off and pick-up at their Houston location.
Boot rejuvenation starting at $25, saddle cleaning and conditioning $50 and up, and bits cleaned and polished from $10 and up.
Call 281.596.8225, ask for Beth or 11623A Katy Freeway for your drop off.
Visit Charlotte's Clearance Zone!
People are saving money every day on saddles, helmets, boots and more with convenient and cost saving buys at the Clearance Zone.
Why price these items at such reduced clearance prices? They are product closeouts,
discontinued products or items that we are overstocked in and need to clear out in order to make room for newer items.
There is limited availability on the clearance items. The clearance zone will feature products from various departments
and will be constantly changing! Don't forget to check out the Saddle Clearance area as well.
Reading educates! Until next month.
Tim S. Raisbeck
Fashion Forecast 2008 - by Mark Raisbeck
The English Riding apparel and garment industry has introduced several changes over the past couple of years giving equestrian enthusiasts more choices than ever. We’ve seen breeches following the mainstream fashion trends with low rise and hip hugging designs. Hi-tech fabrics are a standard when it comes to shirts, breeches and jackets. What innovations can we expect next?
Today more than ever, concern for the environment is on the minds of many consumers and that issue is taken very seriously by designers and manufacturers in many industries, including equestrian apparel companies. Ariat®
International has announced the introduction of their first eco-friendly performance apparel for Fall 2008 and Kerrits has introduced a new line called g.r.a.s.s. or Green Riding Apparel for Style and Sustainability.
Ariat® Eco Thermal garments are made from recycled Polartec Power Dry fabric. These garments are made by harnessing the waste stream from the yarn manufacturing process. By recycling the yarn and fabric scraps that would have previously been discarded, consumption of energy and non-renewable petroleum is reduced. Using recycled yarn saves the energy equivalent of a quarter of a gallon of gasoline per yard. In addition to being constructed of recycled materials, Ariat®
Eco Thermal is recyclable. Eco thermal garments can be broken down into their raw content and used to produce new yarn, new fabric and new garments instead of ending up in a landfill.
Kerrits’ g.r.a.s.s. clothing collection uses environmentally-friendly organic and recycled fabrics to strike a perfect balance between style, sustainability and function. Recycled fabrics such as Bamboo Carbon fiber are highly sustainable resources and are more breathable and thermal regulating than cotton or synthetic fabrics. Kerrits has created riding tights made by adding spandex to Ecolux which is a fabric made from recycled plastics that would otherwise be added to landfills.
Environmentally conscious equestrians are able to become part of the revolution to nurture, protect and respect our natural resources and inhabitants - both human and equine!
English Show Clothing remains predictably conservative. Subtle fabric patterns in Hunt Coats compliment the traditional tailored construction of the three button, double vented jacket. Black is still the strong color for Dressage Coats with navy a distant second. Details such as piping on the collar and silver or gold buttons provide crisp accents for this classic four button, single vented jacket.
Colors and fabrics for Show shirts change seasonally with white enduring all year long. Pale shades of blue, lavender and pink are seen in the Hunter/Jumper rings while white dominates the Dressage arenas. In our Southwest region, cotton blends and coolmax continue to be most popular choices, especially from late Spring to late Fall, while all cotton shirts tend to be worn more during the cooler Winter months.
Riders still love the wonderful hi-tech fabrics offered in many styles of breeches. In the Hunter/Jumper world, competitors chose traditional light beige with khaki as the runner up for their knee patch breeches. White full seat breeches are always a winner for Dressage riders at every level.
For training and lessons, pull on tights and breeches make work outs a breeze in moisture wicking, breathable and lightweight fabrics.
Paddock boots in either lace up or zip up styles are combined with half chaps for comfort and function especially for lessons and recreational riding. Classic color choices either of black or brown co-ordinate with any style or shade of breeches and tights. At horse shows, a rider’s look is completed with a pair of either Field boots for the Hunter/Jumpers or Dress boots for the Dressage set. Both styles are available with zippers for ease of getting into and out of the boot.
Almost all helmets meet the SEI/ASTM national safety standards certification. Currently, riding helmets provide safety and protection in trendy and colorful styles. Lightweight, durable outer shells in fun colors with adjustable dial fit systems make it easy to get a snug comfortable fit whether for a quick work out or a long day in the saddle. Show helmets now offer hi-tech fabric liners and engineered front ventilating systems, some even with rear vents as well.
Designers and Engineers in the English Riding apparel industry continue to commit to providing the equestrian community with innovative and high quality products without compromising safety, style or the environment!
Mark Raisbeck
Charlotte’s Saddlery
11623A Katy Freeway
Houston, Texas 77079
281 596-8225
"Baywatch" TV Premier: 15th Anniversary - April 23, 1989. Set on a California beach, this program starred David Hasselhoff and a changing cast of nubile young men and women as lifeguards. Later the program was moved to Hawaii; the last episode was made in 2001. The most widely viewed TV series in the world, the program aired in 142 countries with an estimated weekly audience of 1.1 billion.
Pre Camp Sale Specials (Internet Only)
Receive 20% off your purchase of Roma Ecole Quilted Saddle Pads when you purchase two or more of any one design.
Buy any pair of Saxon or Dublin Paddock Boots (Ladies or Kids) and receive 25% off a pair of Dublin Half Chaps.
Free shipping on Ariat Socks.
But two or more pairs of Pebble Cotton Gloves and receive 25% off. But three or more pairs of Pebble Cotton Gloves and receive 30% off.
Pre Owned Jump:
Prestige Paris 16", Collegiate Covertible Alumni 17 1/2", Bates Caprilli CC 16 1/2", Bates Caprilli 16", Crosby XL "H" 18",
Devoucoux 16", Jaguar XJS 17 1/2", PJ Original 17".
Pre Owned All Purpose:
Wintec 500 AP 16 1/2", Bates Momentum 17", Bates Caprilli All Purpose 17", Bates Caprilli All Purpose 17 1/2", Collegiate Senior Event 16 1/2", Stubben Siegfried 18".
Pre Owned Dressage:
Passier Grand Gilbert 16 1/2", Passier Grand Gilbert 17 1/2", Stubben Maestosa Deluxe 17 1/2".
- Quitter - A term trainers have commonly used to refer to their clients who come to their senses and pull horses out of their barn.
- Race - What your heart does when you see the vet bill.
- Rasp - An abrasive, long, flat metal tool used to remove excess skin from the knuckles.
- Reins - Break-away leather device used to tie horses with.
- Ringworms - Spectators who block your view and gather around the ring sides at horse shows.
- Saddle - An expensive leather contraption manufactured to give the rider a false sense of security. Comes in many styles, all feature built-in ejector seats.
- Saddle Sore - The way the rider's bottom feels the morning after the weekend at the horse show.
- Sleeping Sickness - A disease peculiar to mare owners while waiting for their mares to foal. Caused by nights of lost sleep, symptoms include irritability, red baggy eyes and a zombie-like waking state. Can last several weeks.
- Splint - An apparatus that can be applied to various body parts of a rider due to the parting of the ways of a horse and his passenger.
- Stall - What your vehicle does on the way to a horse show, miles from the closest town.
- Tack Room - A room where every item necessary to work with or train your horse has been put, in a place which it cannot be found in less than 30 minutes.
- Twisted Gut - The feeling deep inside that most riders get before their classes at a show.
- Versatility - an owners ability to shovel manure, fix fences and chase down a loose horse in one afternoon.
- Weaving - The movement a horse trailer makes while going down the road with a rambunctious horse in it.
- Whip Marks - The tell-tale raised welts on the face of a rider-caused by the trail rider directly in front of you letting a low hanging branch go. (Also caused by a wet or dry horse tail across the face while cleaning hooves)
- Withers - The reason you'll seldom see a man riding bareback.
- Yearling - The age at which all horses completely forget the things you taught them previously.
- Youngstock - A general term used for all equines old enough to bite, kick or run you over, but not yet old enough to dump you on the ground.
- Zoo - The typical atmosphere around most stables.
A few of the current items:
Devon Aire Camden Field Boot Gusset
Suggested Retail: $199.95 Clearance Price: $101.50
IRH Advanced Tech Helmet (ATH) - Black Stripe
Suggested Retail: $159.99 Clearance Price: $99.50
Ariat Crowne Pro Field Boot - Zip
Suggested Retail: $549.95 Clearance Price: $398.50
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The Giddy Up Gazette© is usually mailed the first week of each month and offers special promotions and discounts from time to time. We understand your right to privacy. We will not abuse this privilege. Your feedback is important to us! Simply let us know of your concerns, questions or suggestions. Send us an email.