Whose Brilliant Idea ...

... was it to require dressage riders to wear white breeches in competition anyway?

We'll probably never know, but thank goodness the folks at Equine Couture have come up with a truly brilliant solution: The Equine Couture Spinnaker Rain Pant.

Constructed of lightweight, 100% Polyester, the Spinnakers come in ladies sizes 24-34 for $39.95. Choose from black or this seasons newest color, navy. We picked navy because we LOVE the way navy looks with our bright blue Gumleaf Iceni Rain Boots from PBWellies!). 

Here's the deal: the Spinnakers are designed for easy on/easy off, even with boots and spurs, in the saddle or out. Their 2-way, side zippers run the full length of the leg. Elastic and velcro at the waist and elastic cording at the ankle allow for an easy, adjustable fit. So go ahead, wear your show breeches throughout your prep - the Spinnakers will keep you clean, dry and show-perfect.

Now, when your new Spinnakers arrive, don't just tuck them away until your next show, take a few minutes to understand how the zipper system works.

On the Spinnakers, two-way zippers allow you to put on or take off your boots and spurs easily while staying clean and dry. Just unzip the pants from the bottom. VOILA.

Last minute trip to the Port-a-Let before your class? No problemo - just undo the velcro at the waist and unzip your Spinnakers from the top.

Time to show? Super - because getting out of the Spinnakers, whether in the saddle or on the ground, is EASY once you understand the basics of how two-way zippers work. Don't laugh, a surprising number of us DON'T HAVE A CLUE. That's why we're here.

* SHADBELLY's Two-Way Zipper Tutorial:

Step 1: Make sure the lower zipper pull is all the way down at the ankle;

Step 2: Undo the velcro at the waist, then slide the upper zipper pull all the way down to the ankle;

Step 3: Grasp the top zipper pull with your right hand and slide both pulls down together to release the left panel completely. Wow! Now repeat on the other side and marvel as your amazing Spinnaker Rain Pants magically slip off! It really is THAT easy. Now go out there and have a great ride.

* Our tutorial is dedicated to riders everywhere who panic and freak out trying to remove rain gear in those stressful moments just before entering at A. YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE. 

You're welcome. 

- SHADBELLY

SHADBELLY Undercover Report: Equestrian Dating Websites

It's Valentine's Day - as appropriate a time as any to talk about equestrian dating sites: the good, the bad ... oh, and of course, what to wear.  

For this post SHADBELLY scored unprecedented Gold Membership access to the "world's largest and best equestrian dating site for equestrian singles", EquestrianCupid.com. No denying many of my single equestrian friends (and there are a lot), dream of finding a partner who shares their love of horses. But really, we wondered, is that even remotely realistic? Here's what we discovered:

FIRST - THE BAD

• (Not that we have anything particular against cowboys) Be prepared to wade through a lot of cowboys, lots and LOTS of cowboys;
• Profile pictures - most of them are AWFUL. Guys apparently don't have a CLUE about what constitutes an acceptable profile picture;
• It all seems a little stale - the forums abandoned and many of the "potential matches" we found had not been on the site in "over a month" - which could actually mean YEARS;
• We hear these sites can be like bad ex-boyfriends, tough to get rid of. So if you subscribe and later cancel, be sure to check your statement to make sure you're not on auto renewal.

THE GOOD

• Hey, there actually ARE some interesting possiblities out there - guys like Manhattan, looking for "the kind of gal who can drive a horse truck" (he's Australian so save up your miles); and
• German professional Equivajk who invites you to "let the horses lead you to my hearth [sic]". Aww, that's kind of cute isn't it?
• Back in Florida, check out Marathoncde "a dressage guy looking for his equal" or Dhorse9064 in Ocala "looking for that special horsewoman"; 
• Dreaming of a guy like Nacho Figueras? Take your pick from a number of polo players including Kerrycicc from New Jersey who is looking for a riding buddy and (hopefully) long term partner;
• You have to admire BillH11's brilliant example of marketing genius: posting his shiny new truck and horse trailer as his profile picture. Only problem, Bill, is the date stamp on your photo is like 11 years ago - crop that out and get back in the game!

Now for the fun part ... WHAT TO WEAR

Ok, you joined the site, met someone really REALLY interesting and now you're ready to take that big step and meet in person. What to wear? The best advice we can give you is DON'T DRESS LIKE A HIGH MAINTENANCE DQ. Go for a look that is comfortable and casual, but still has that little touch of horsey style, like something from Cowgirls for a Cause.

Don't let the name fool you - Cowgirls for a Cause has a ton of dressage inspired casual wear, like the Dressage the Ultimate Dance T-Shirt, shown above, or the Synchronicity Scarf, featured below, available in either grey or mauve for $27.95. Check out their fabulous style video for ideas.

So go ahead, single equestrian SHADBELLY readers, and log onto EquestrianCupid.com for yourself and explore the possibilities! Gold Membership on the site is on sale for $29.95 for the first month (regularly $39.95), so for about a buck a day, at least it'll keep you entertained and out of the bars.

And if you don't find your ideal, horse-loving, human soul-mate right away, don't worry. The sound of a soft nicker is about all the chocolate and roses most of us need anyway.

Happy Valentine's Day from SHADBELLY.

Purple: Love It or ...

Whoa, yes, yes. I know. These are some SERIOUSLY purple breeches. SHADBELLY's own exhaustive, highly scientific, Federally funded, equestrian consumer focus group study confirms there is no middle ground on breeches this bold. You're either LOVE THE PURPLE or ... NOT. Period.

Why so controversial? Probably because purple is fairly rare in nature, it has a sort of supernatural aura that can sometimes feel artificial. Psychologists tell us, however, that the color purple can help us "take awareness to a higher level of thought and contemplation" ... (really? not sure how they come up with this stuff, but ok) ... and "purple can be beneficial in problem solving and meditation as it encourages concentration". Huh. Well, I don't know about you, but I need all the higher level thoughts I can get.

So for you, purple loving riders everywhere, SHADBELLY is proud to feature the Concord Breeches from Annie's Equestrian. 

Yes, fans of Annie's Original Blues know these are super comfortable breeches with yoga pant-esque freedom of movement. The no-pocket design, high-tech, 4 way stretch material, velcro ankle closures, and vegan suede full seat panel will have you like, feeling totally fab. 

The Concord Breeches are available in either knee patch or full seat styles, ladies sizes 24-34, for $95. [SHADBELLY SAVINGS: Just in time for Valentine's Day, Annie's is is offering readers 20% off the Concord Breeches with code SHADBELLYLOVE.]

SHADBELLY STYLE TIPS: Try pairing purple with navy and shades of blue/grey. The purple evokes bold CONFIDENCE, but the navy keeps the look grounded. Whatever you do, darlin', stay away from anything resembling a red hat.

And for those of you who are NOT purple junkies - it's ok. Stay tuned for SHADBELLY's next exciting post, "50 Shades of Beige".

So SHADBELLY readers - LOVE THEM or NOT?