One of the most common questions leading up to a session is "what should I wear?". There's really no right or wrong answer - it really depends on the look you are trying to achieve.
For the horses, it's easy, so let's start there.
- Make sure they are clean with whiskers trimmed, goobers out of their eyes, manes tamed, and any white markings should be white. And if your horse is grey, do your best to get them sparkling clean too.
- Make sure whatever tack you put on them is spotlessly clean as well. With bridles, the look is a bit more formal - and it has the added benefit of giving you a bit more control - no pun intended.
- If using a bridle, wake sure your bit is clean, the keepers are done up, and the bridle is well fit.
- If using a halter, choose a leather one, with a matching leather lead. I have extra horse sized ones, so just let me know if you need to borrow them for your session.
- If you plan to ride, go with conservative saddle pads - something like you would use in the show ring.
Now for the humans...there's a few basic tips to keep in mind to help you get started.
Dress for the season. The key here is to be comfortable. Not to mention, it will look silly to be in a heavy jacket at the peak of summer. Here's an example of a great winter look.
If you want to go with a formal look - go with clean breeches, tall boots, and a nice blouse, sweater or jacket. And, if you're like Katie, you'll want your pearls as well!
Jeans always work for a casual look. Here are two examples that work for different reasons. In the first image, the jeans really stand out against the snow and contrast nicely with this gorgeous grey horse. The white jacket brings in a touch of elegance and plays to the season.
In this second image, the look is all casual, but it works beautifully as well.
The equestrian theme. In this example, Caroline is wearing the quintessential Hunter boot, and combining it with jeans, and a nice sweater. It's what you would expect to see a horse person wearing on a lazy Saturday afternoon and it works really well.
Consider colour. There are a few ways to work with colour. You can pick something that complements your horse's colour for a monochromatic look.
Or, your could choose black, or another dark colour, so you don't detract from your horse and the scenery too much.
Or you could choose a bold splash of colour.
The bottom line is to choose clothing that works well with your personality, and that you can be comfortable in. If you need any guidance in choosing a look for your upcoming session, don't be afraid to ask - or bring along a few options.
