Grant Leier Horse Paintings

We came across this artist in Canada this past winter and I like his horses.  They are a different take and his work looks better in person. 

What do you think?  And these are big paintings!

You can see more of this great artists' work here.  He is in Canada.   Is there room for one on your wall?

Farms Fit for a King or Queen

If you think you are living well, then think again.  Some of the nation's top thoroughbreds live pretty high on the hog and the price tag, board, is also in the stratosphere. You can view a great Wall Street Journal article that appeared over the weekend on this topic here.


Remember Zenyatta, the incredible filly that beat the boys? She is now living out her retirement as a broodmare at Lane's End Farm in Lexington, KY to the tune of $25,000 a year.  There are 18 stallions at Lane's End on a 3,000-acre farm that has hosted Queen Elizabeth among others.  At Lane's End, each horse has its own night paddock from 3 1/2 to 5 acres and fences are built with no right angles to prevent horses from crashing into the corners.  Each horse has his or her name engraved on a brass nameplate above their stall with their parents' name also include. Prodigy is everything isn't it?

 (Zenyatta at Lane's End, from the Zenyatta Facebook site)

At near-by WinStar Farm you can board your famous stallion for $29,200 a year.  The newly-built 36,000-square foot stallion barn is state-of-the-art.  Super Saver lives here.  Remember him?  He won the 2010 Kentucky Derby and is living out his years enjoying the high life. 

WinStar residents have large stalls with Big Ass Fans (no I am not making this up).  These extra large fans were designed for horse barns and keep the area cool, deterring birds and nasty insects.  And each horse is fed a grains-and-molasses mix twice a day.  There are 18 stallions here.

Remember Big Brown?

He lives at Three Chimneys.  Board for this big bad brown boy?  $26,000 a year. There are 11 stallions here scattered across a number of smaller barns.  Horses have a "corner office" so that there are two windows for each horse.  I love his life. He has a large corner office in a two-stall barn. Each day he walks a few feet (on crushed brick) to his breeding shed.  He spends his nights out in his private paddock of 2 acres and is brought in each morning, given a shower before he makes his way to the breeding shed.  And of course, his barn is eco-friendly, the exterior logs are reclaimed wood from an Indiana church.

Some people, I mean horses, have all the luck.  What a great lifestyle.  Maybe they have earned it.

Hunter Princess Style

Someone asked me recently to define "hunter princess style" and I was not sure how to respond.  So I thought about it for a while and this what I came up with.  Do you agree with my assessment or am I way off base. I don't show nearly as much as I once did and I am not a "WEF girl" so my take may be a bit dated. So if I am off target, please correct me.....

The girls who show a lot have a certain style I think, off the horse, mostly at shows, since most of us don't see each other except at the horse shows.  It is a lifestyle, a way of living mostly outside in all types of weather, going to shows, and being on the road.

Baseball Hat or Straw Hat

When you finish riding you take off your helmet and put on another hat to  rid you of that "flat hair" look, not to mention the last thing you want 15 years from now is leather skin.  So either a nice baseball hat or a straw hat with a wide brim is appropriate. If you chose the baseball route, it should be something fashionable, might be horse-related (Devon, WIHS, Harrisburg, Capital Challenge, WEF will work) or even a nice reputable racetrack.  Other large-venue sporting events also work like the US Open, the Masters, but not football.

The straw hat should be functional, not something that would be totally ruined in the rain. We are not seeking Kentucky Derby cool but something easy to wear, not too dressy.

Jacket or Coat

Even in summer you have to be prepared for bad weather when you spend so much time outside.  Rain great is required as is a light jacket especially if you are in Vermont or Blowing Rock, the Hamptons or in upstate New York in summer.  Vests also work well for layering. Maybe a cute Vineyard Vines quarter zip sweat in a summer color like aqua.

Shirt
 You have lots of choices with shirts.  The old stand-by polo shirt is perfect.  A long sleeved classic from J Crew or even Gap.  Tuck it in.  Make sure it matches your belt.  I like a collar for riding, especially if you decide to slip on boots and breeches at the last minute. Always be prepared!

Jeans
Great fitting jeans are a must.  Make sure you look neat and tidy though.  No holes, washed out spots, jeans that look like they have been worn for a hundred years. Tuck your shirt in and wear a nice belt.  You can add color or even a bit of bling with your belt.

Accessories
Subtle accessories are a nice touch. Wear something you can ride in.  Stud earrings, small pearls, bracelets that are not so huge but nice enough.  Elizabeth Locke jewelry is a good choice if your budget allows.

Pack a scarf to use if the weather dips, to cover the spot where your horse slimed you and you don't have time to change. 

Handbag
You may or may not be in a situation to carry a handbag but I typically do.  Handbags to me are a personal choice but I think they can make or ruin an outfit much like a cheap pair of shoes paired with a nice dress.  Kate Spade makes darling bags these days, even if a bit expensive but she does have good sales. Hermes is nice if you have a trust fund.  There are plenty others out there.

I love the Rebecca Ray bags:

Shoes or Boots
I think wearing the right shoes is difficult. You have to be functional.  Let's face it you could be walking around in mud up to your ankles, this is not a place for high heels, expensive shoes you can't get wet or sandals.  A nice pair of paddock boots looks like with straight or skinny jeans.  Dansko clogs work well too but they are bit tired don't you think?  Dubarry boots work unless it's 100 degrees outside (but they are waterproof) and good Hunter Wellies are another choice.

What's in your closet?

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Virginia RIP

Tough day yesterday as we laid our beloved Virginia to rest.  She had cancer, but she went very quickly.  We thought we would have to put her down over the previous weekend but she seemed to rally and was not ready.  But yesterday, in just a matter of hours, she became quite distressed.  She was a lovely cat, found her on the farm with six kittens in August 2003.  She had a wonderful life and appreciated every second of it.

Go hug your animals today, and all of your loved ones for that matter!  Life is short.  Make it sweet!

Pom Poms

Don't you if you have noticed this, but am seeing a lot of "pom poms" going on for spring.  This cute shirt from Anthro has them along the neckline. Cute, but how do you wash it?

J Crew has the same idea on this somewhat pricey tunic, that I am waiting to go on sale......

Even Tory Burch is getting in on the act...these are also on sale on her web site:

I love pom poms on fringe but my cats love it too.....what you think?  Thumbs up or down?

On the Side Please

An easy way to spice up a tired room without spending a lot of money is to add a new side table.  Add color, a bit of modernism, whimsy or something just off.

This orange table from Alexa Hampton (Hickory Chair) is just one example.  

This one is divine, from Mona Ross Berman.   This just adds a lot of punch.

Want something more neutral maybe?  These from Tobi Fairley can go just about anywhere.

Another great small table, this one is from John Lyle.

Another one from John Lyle:

Something more modern and sleek, more contemporary maybe?  Hickory Furniture can deliver these to your living room!

And I love this one from Oomph, which can be done in a million colors:

Or maybe go vintage?  This is from 1stdibbs.com:

And an easy alternative, the definitive garden stool....

What's in your living room?

Under the Oaks at Upperville

Today is the first Monday in June, the start of the Upperville Horse Show just outside of Washington, D.C.  This is just the very best show IMHO.  Wanted so badly to make the trip on Wednesday but that four letter word, work, got in the way.

If you have never been, you must make the trip. The show lasts through Sunday, which brings a fabulous grand prix across the road, in the newly built jumper ring (rumored to have cost $1M to put in).  I would not doubt it.

(all photos taken from the UHS Facebook site)

There is much to see, great vendors, the best horses in the country, and a setting that is unmatched anywhere in the horse world.  Enjoy your Monday. I will be wishing that I was at Upperville!