Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Make Your Horse Look His Best With Horse Bling

By Antoinette Quinn


Those who love their horses can now dress them up with as much bling as they can afford. All riders from professionals to Pony Club members like to have their horses looking as attractive as possible. Those who ride in parades need to be eye-catching and horse bling helps them do this. Decorative bridles and breastplates have been around for a long time but embellishments have now extended to hooves, bell-boots, manes, tails and quarters.

One of the newer products is equine body stickers. These are available in any number of patterns from stars to skull and crossbones. Flowers, hearts, cupcakes and ribbons are other options. Change your sticker according to your mood or match it to the apparel of the day. Ranch brands, school colours or company logos can be picked out in bright stones to advertise your allegiance to an organisation.

Body stickers are non-toxic and self-adhesive. They take no time at all to apply. The design is simply removed from the paper and placed wherever you desire. Apply to a clean, dry coat. In summer, the design should remain in place for two to four days. In winter, five to ten days is more usual. To remove, simply peel off the design in the direction of the hair.

Bell-boots are available in a variety of colours and sizes. Choose from pink, navy blue, burgundy, red, black or olive green. Custom designs can be hand-painted on the boots with features picked out in gemstones. These are machine-washable. Body ornamentation is now being seen at local gymkhanas, on parade horses, at rodeo events such as barrel-racing and Pony Club. Be proud of your team and advertise yourselves by sporting matching decorations.

If your preferred discipline is showing or dressage, a decorated browband will enhance a beautiful head. Dressage browbands are often in a V-shape. These look great if a mix of coloured ribbon and crystal are used. A 5-row crystal chain is another option in either silver or gold. For a fun item, have your horse's name included in a custom browband.

The ends of the browbands may be finished with rosettes and short trimmed ribbons featuring the same colours as the band. Another option is a carnation. Red and silver browbands with carnation ends look very elegant on grey horses. Breastplates and stirrup leathers are other items suitable for ornamentation.

Custom-made canes add panache and style. Crystal chain wrapped over a velvet base is very eye-catching. An equally dramatic effect is created by covering the entire cane in crystals. These are often finished with crystal ornamentation. Add matching stock pins and lapel buttons for an overall finished effect.

To create your own styles and patterns, purchase some glitter gel and stencils. Glitter can also be used on manes and tails. Awareness ribbons are popular and advertise your support for a particular charity. Adorn hooves with satin or glitter hoof polish. White chrome enhances white markings. Glitter eye and muzzle oil is also available. Gift packs of horse bling make a great present for friends who love their horses.




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