Kids – Tack and Tweed Equestrian: The Love of Horses

Retail Therapy

I have fun news for my local readers: some local and very popular tack stores have given me the opportunity to launch my line in their beautiful shops. We’ve collaborated and curated specific Tack and Tweed apparel and accessories for clients in and around the Hudson Valley, Westchester and Connecticut.

The first store to graciously feature my apparel is Saddle Manor in Patterson, NY, which serves Northern Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, and Fairfield Counties. Owner Donna Woods will be sure to take care of your every need with a smile and warm welcome. She has a wide variety of beautiful saddles, apparel, tack and anything else your horse or horse lover could possibly need! Stop in Monday through Saturday 10am – 5pm. 2974 Route 22, Patterson, NY 12563 (845) 878-3881.

The Horse Connection is in Bedford – New York’s horsiest town. It was started by owner Natasha Tarasov in 1992 as a mobile tack store offering the best products at the best price with the best service. Her store is a popular staple in Bedford’s historic downtown. Treat yourself to lunch in town at Bedford 234 or the Bedford Post Inn after buying your horse-crazy girl one of my super soft sweatshirts ;).

Open Monday – Friday 10am – 5pm, Saturday 9am – 5pm, Sunday 12pm – 5pm. 38 Village Green, Bedford, NY (914) 234-2047

The next two stores are local famous farm markets and have taken on some of my more artsy apparel. We feature the stunning equestrian watercolors of the talented Lorisa Zorina. Please drop by and enjoy some cider donuts and their very own hard cider (yum!) at Harvest Moon Orchard in North Salem.

Open daily summer and fall 9am – 6pm. 130 Hardscrabble Road, North Salem, NY (914) 485-1210.

Also take some time and visit the stunning Rochambeau Farm in Mt. Kisco, NY. Your kids will love to feed their incredibly happy farm animals while you will enjoy munching on their own fresh produce and browsing local products, like my friend Susanne Nastasi’s line of homemade, all natural laundry wash, aptly branded The Farm Babe.

Open Wednesday – Friday 9am – 6pm, Saturday 9am – 5pm, Sunday 10am – 4pm. 214 West Patent Road Mt. Kisco, NY 10549 (914) 241-8090.

If you are in the area, please support these amazing local stores who are holding their own against the big online retailers. There is something so wonderful about going in to a real store, trying a pair of breeches on for a perfect fit, touching soft and luxurious garments, smelling leather tack and most importantly, creating a genuine relationship with local business owners who truly care and contribute to our communities.

Happy Thanksgiving! Eat Turkey and Shop from the 2018 Holiday Gift Guide!

Riding Conditions Bleh? – Time for a Longe Lesson…

It’s been a rough couple of months for those of us not lucky enough to either live in the South or West where riding is doable most of the year. We’ve had snow, ice, freezing rain (as differs from ice, go figure), below zero wind chills and frozen ground. Not very fun (or safe) for riding. I haven’t even seen the trail since fall, and our ring space keeps shrinking in size as the snow accumulates. It’s hard even getting my butt to the barn on days that I can barely get out of the house it’s so cold.

This past week, while the sun briefly peeked out though the thick cloud covering, and my little leased horse rested (growing a big belly) my trainer had the idea to take advantage of the crappy conditions and do something that I only see the up/dowers do – the longe line lesson with another sweet lesson horse. I thought, cool – I’ll take a break from aching thighs and let her drive for a while.

Wrong.

I’m sure most of you barely remember doing this as kids. Going in circles, no reins, and letting your trainer walk the pony around and around – all you had to do was stay on. This was different. Snow and ice covered the ground; we began at a walk. Cool, easy peasy. No reins today! Post the walk. Ugh. Okay, keep going. Up to a trot and post. Constant trotting, arms up, down, out to the side, behind me and then no stirrups. Try and sit the trot. Oops, quick spook, panic canter, then back on track. Post the trot. I regret thinking my thighs wouldn’t burn that day. After what seemed like a long time, we switched direction and did the whole routine over. She then asked me to close my eyes. This was a crazy feeling for me! Taking away my vision helped me pick up the correct diagonal easier, and helped me feel little Rocket underneath me, silly, but I actually felt closer to him. I also learned that I may depend on my hands WAY too much, and taking them away forced me to balance correctly.

It’s a great lesson in many ways. We helped my seat and balance, which need CONSTANT attention; helped my thighs, which get soft in winter; and helped my attitude, getting my horse fix even in the cold weather always gets me out of the doldrums. This was a great way to take advantage of what little riding we can do – give it a shot 🙂

Thank you Trainer Lisa!! Thank you!

Tack and Tweed’s Holiday Gift Guide for Winter 2014

Tack and Tweed Holiday Gift Guide Cover — Tack and Tweed Holiday Gift Guide Winter, 2014

Wondering what to get your horsey loved ones? We have some ideas to help you out!!!

We feature some of our favorite brands, as well as some new ones, most of which can be purchased online simply by clicking the link in the guide. For items sold by Ride Bedford, please give Courtney a call – she will personally help you with anything you need and will be sure to give you the best product at the best value.

By the way our very own Tack and Tweed limited edition cell phone covers designed by Beatrice Bulteau and made in France, may be purchased here, or by emailing me directly (Lisa@TackandTweed.com)!

Tack and Tweed Holiday Gift Guide 2014

Happy Holiday Shopping!!!

Designer Duds for Kids – Fashion or Folly?

Off topic Sunday…not an equestrian themed post today….

Milly Minis Crystal Embellished Organza Dress $995 NeimanMarcus.com

I love me some cute kiddie clothes. Typically, I get kids clothes from Gap Kids for the staples, Target (pronounced “tar-jay”) for the trendy soon-to-be-thrown away items, and if I’m feeling spicy, I go to Crew Cuts. I scour the internet for Splendid Littles sales (they are just sooo comfy – especially Splendid’s adult line for mommy). Once in a while, I find some fun Burberry items on Ebay, which I consider a major coup, as there is the added benefit of being able to sell said clothing after the 3 wears they last (no way is she wearing this in the mud puddle in the back yard).

Like Ralph Lauren years ago (I buy adorable Polo items at discount stores), many higher end designers are trying to cash in on the children’s clothing market. It used to be for a really special occasion, one could lay a Benjamin or two down on a gorgeous hand made dress at Bergdorff’s kids department, but now, that’s just a drop in the bucket for even the most common and out-grow-able children’s duds. I’m sorry, but I just can’t stomach or imagine throwing over $500 on a Baby Dior or Missoni dress for a 9 month old who can’t even walk. The styles are gorgeous, and I’m sure would look great on the tony tots being pushed by their nannies on Park Ave, but my hubby’s hard-earned dollars are better spent on our mortgage :).

In this spirit, I’ve found some beautiful children’s fashions and comparable reasonably (for some) priced garments. After all, kids either wear their clothes to death, or wear them once. I’m sure I can’t beat the quality of Baby Dior, but I can certainly beat the price!!

Most of the expensive finds are from Neiman Marcus and Barney‘s, their less-expensive counterparts are from all over – hover over image to see the source.

I love a dreamy princess ballerina dress like the next person and this Milly Minis one is killer (to the pocketbook). The Luna Luna Copenhagen dress is just as sweet and a fraction of the price.

Missoni knits are comfy, and I’m sure this dress is fun to wear…as is the alternative:

For a special occasion, this gorgeous Dolce and Gabbana dress is spectacular, but at $1615, who in their right mind w(c)ould afford it?? I love this Kleinfeld Erica Dress alternative from at $150!

Every ballerina needs a tutu, but this one is too too much for me. Why not save some loot loot?

Cold weather calls for long, warm coats, and here are the similar choices:

And for the sweaters:

And, for the babies – nothing beats a special cashmere blanket as a special gift, but some are more affordable than others:

I haven’t even listed the cute and fun options at Target or Kohls, etc (this post could go on for ever)!! Finding super cute kid’s clothes at a premium is fun, but finding less expensive alternatives is satisfying 🙂

Do you RIDE?

Recently I had the pleasure of meeting an accomplished young woman, equestrian, and owner of a unique new store for equestriennes aptly named, RIDE. Courtney Caverzasi’s newest venture is one part high-end boutique and one part high-end tack shop in Bedford, NY; centrally located for the horsey set in Westchester and Connecticut. RIDE carries riding and apres-riding apparel for men, women, children (and yes BOYS) and their equestrian and canine companions.

Her vision is to provide a lifestyle boutique containing everything the well-heeled rider could possibly need all the while, giving them a wonderful shopping experience. She fills a niche for riders looking for great shopping, personal attention and exclusive brands that cannot be found in any high street shop remotely close to this area.

When I walked in, I was amazed to see how beautiful and tasteful it was. A lifelong rider, Courtney shaped her vision through 12 years with Hermes, and it shows. Offering complementary coffee or tea (wine in the evenings), she personally escorts her clients through the different sections of her boutique. From the natural wood saddle rack wall, to the horse mural in the back of the store, everything is perfectly thought out, displayed well, easy to see, touch and try on.

She strives to provide highly desirable brands (many times sourcing items made in the USA) that are hard to find. For example, she nailed an exclusive with Antares, who typically only sells saddles direct. Not only does she sell these items, she understands them, and has used them herself. She has an in depth knowledge of everything she sells and will recommend the highest quality within each client’s budget. She is constantly nurturing her vendor relationships, resulting in an amazing selection and value for her customers.

Here are some brands she features (but there are MANY more):

Smith Worthington

Samshield Helmets

Hermes Saddles

DeNiro Boots

Lorenzini Stirrups

Next time you are in the area, I HIGHLY recommend the trip to RIDE, and tell her Tack and Tweed sent you. You won’t walk away empty handed! 🙂

CourtneyOnHorse — Courtney astride her friend’s noble steed 🙂

RIDE

648 Old Post Road (Rt 22)

Bedford, NY 10506

914.234.RIDE

www.RideBedford.com

“My Pony”

“I want a pony. I want a pony more than anything else in the world.” The artist and children’s book author and illustrator, Susan Jeffers opens her book, My Pony, with these words. What little (or big) child bit by the horse bug hasn’t uttered this phrase? This is a book about a little girl, who dreams of having her own pony. Her family cannot afford one, so she draws a beautiful dappled grey mare named Silver, who becomes her dreamy equine companion.

I had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Jeffers this past weekend at the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival this past weekend, (the CCBF is one of the most notable of book festivals in the NYC area). A rider herself (in fact, she used to have a horse not too far from where my son and I ride), Jeffers’ love for horses and children’s imaginations shines through in her beautifully illustrated books.

Jeffers has been writing and illustrating picture books for over forty years. She received the Caldecott Honor for Three Jovial Huntsman and has been honored with many other awards, including the Golden Kite Award for Forest of Dreams. Susan says she realizes now that she has always done the same things. When Susan was little, her best moments were spent drawing pictures, reading stories with her parents, playing with friends and sitting by the Ramapo River dreaming of horses. This has not changed. Being a children’s book illustrator has combined all of these things.

I read it to my daughter, Annalise, yesterday and she, even at three years old, loved it; she keeps flipping through the pages, perhaps dreaming of her own pony. I’m excited to read the next pony installment, My Chincoteague Pony.

Susan signed a copy and made a pony sketch on the inside front page especially for Annalise. We’ll have to be careful not to beat it up too much, but it will be a book that she and I will cherish for years. Click here to see a list of her other selections available on Amazon.com.

JeffersProfilePic — Susan Jeffers with her now retired “pony”. 🙂

Etsy’s Equestrian Edge

Like thousands of others, I love Etsy.com. It’s given so many arisans an easy outlet to sell their wares. Etsy provides a wonderful opportunity to help people make a living at their passions; equestrian-artists are no exception.

Trolling through hundreds and hundreds of stores, I found many focused on equine-related goods, and thought it would be a fun idea to highlight some standouts. Just about everyone has an Etsy account, so log on and support these amazing artisans. You’ll receive a one of a kind item, while supporting small business. I am having a rough time attaching links to photos, so you will need to type in the name of the store (the beginning of the picture caption) in the Etsy search bar. We’ll fix this asap ;).

Most of these crafts can be customized, so remember to ask the artist!

Moxie Designs ATX

Bows to the Show

The Equestrian Shop

BF Equine

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Some others – store names are in the description.

Happy Hunting!

Not Very Horsey? Don’t Worry! You’ll Fit in at the Hampton Classic

My son (who is taking riding lessons) and I attended the opening day of the Hampton Classic this past Sunday. We were rewarded with a beautiful day, good food, lots of fun fashion and amazing riding. There was so much to feature, I wasn’t sure where to begin, but my son inspired me to feature the family-friendliness and diverse activities of the Classic. If anyone thinks that this show is just for the extremely horsey set, or that it would be too boring for kids, is simply wrong.

There was just so much to do. After a long drive, my son was hungry, so we grabbed a pizza at Pizza Luca by Stable Row. I’ll get into more detailed food reviews later, but we gobbled it up! Any kid can easily find something to eat, but I truly recommend the pizza (side note to Pizza Luca: please add more of your delicious mozzarella and basil to the margherita!!!).

032 — Pizza Luca – Margherita (Napolitano)

Off to the practice/warm up rings for an up close and personal with the competitors. The mounts were absolutely gorgeous, as were the riders; I was so jealous that I wasn’t competing or at least simply sitting on a horse. We also caught some of the short stirrup classes (soooo cute).

We then toured the swanky VIP tent, but my son was anxious to get to the kid’s area, so I was only allowed to pretend to be a VIP for 5 minutes. Long enough, however, for a quick glass of Wolffer Estate’s white – yum!

Dane - Too Cool for Schooling (VIP) — Dane – Too Cool for Schooling (VIP)

The kids area was (is) fabulous! There is a full size play ground, petting zoo (with very CLEAN and friendly animals), a cookie decorating station (thanks Citarella!), and an art station. The little kids can also join in the horse action with an adorable pony ride. We loved the gallery of children’s art – some was truly amazing. We can’t be there on Optimum Kids’ Day, but no matter, we had plenty to do anyway.

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This takes me to the short walk over to the boutique gallery. Even if you don’t want to tack up and jump an oxer, you can find some amazing fashions, fun crafts, quality bags and farmer’s market specialties (I’ll get into the farmer’s market in my food review yet to come).

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We then watched the main event of the day, the $50,000 Clear Channel Hunter Derby. I love watching the hunters – I know many people love the thrill of the jumpers, but the smoothness and grace of the hunter horses really is something to see. Congrats to Patricia Griffith, on Black Label, who won the Derby!

Patricia Griffith on Black Label – Photo Courtesy of Chornicle of the Horse

Enjoy my pictures – fashion and food reviews to come!

Equestrian Diggs for Boys

It’s pretty hard to find English equestrian clothing for boys. In a girl-dominated sport (at least in the younger years), our sons that love to ride English are forced to wear “unisex” (codeword for “girls”) jodphers and boring white oxfords or polos. I’ve spent some time searching out the best and coolest boys equestrian attire and everyday wear that can be worn stylishly on a jumper saddle, so you don’t have to.

We should start with the breech. I know that many kids wear jods, but the quality and style of a 4 pocket (two pockets in the back) create a definitively boys style breech. They can put on some half chaps to complete the look. The two that I found were at Dover Saddlery:

Ovation Boys 4 Pocket Breech $76.99 DoverSaddlery.com

Tuffrider 4 Pocket Breech $48.99 DoverSaddlery.com

Next essential is the show jacket. Often expensive, it’s best to buy something that can last more than one show. My son’s was a little long in the sleeve, so I had the tailor take them up an inch but only in a temporary manner. When he grows a little taller, the sleeves can be let down (he doesn’t show that much, however). Take a look at these:

J Crew Boy’s Blazer $158, JCrew.com

PoloWoolBrass-ButtonShowCoat $325 RalphLauren.com

Polo Ralph Lauren, Langley Sport Coat, $125 at RalphLauren.com

Now, on to the fun stuff! I’ve compiled a collage of my favorite, bright, happy and cool garments that your boy (or tomboy) can wear to the barn, hacking around, or to the store after their lesson.

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These are all so adorable and cool; all the little girls at the barn will be swooning!

Back to School Back Bags

Backpacks are trending hard this fall. My daughter is starting preschool Monday, so I’m investing in a super cute new back pack for her, as well as for my son, who’s entering the 2nd grade. I thought I may pick up one for myself while I’m at it. I totally forgot how comfortable it can be to schlep my goods on my back. Carrying everything in my super-huge mom bag on my left shoulder has left me somewhat lopsided. Check out the cute back-bags below – most of which can be carried by modern mommies and fashionable teens.

Lazy Oaf Batman – $85

Burberry Check School Backpack – $175

Herschel Supply Company Heritage Plus Backpack

Lazy Oaf Black Bear Necessities – $70

Green Herschel Supply Coreg Survey Backpack – $55

Marc by Marc Jacobs Preppy Nylon Backpack – $248

Pierre Hardy Gold Suede Backpack – $1775

Better hurry – I’m ordering that elephant backpack asap!

Copenhagen’s Clothes Considers Kids

Okay, I just couldn’t help myself. CIFF Kids creates the most amazing children’s clothes and the boys are just as fashionable as the girls. CIFF Kids is the children’s division of the Copenhagen International Fashion Fair. I can’t get enough of these Danes. Even their kid’s clothes have a street chic, high quality and limitless cool. Also, it’s nice to see kid’s clothes appropriate for children. I’m so tired of seeing muffin tops, bellies and bra straps. I can totally imagine these duds on Suri or Viv. Now to find them in the US; I cannot afford tickets to Copenhagen right now.

If you have 10 minutes, take look at their fashion show F/W 2013 below. It’s killer adorable.

CIFF KIDS CUTE

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