The Pre-Show Pack Up!

As we finish up the last of our orders due before the show next week, we're shipping em' out and shifting gears to prepare for showtime.  There's definitely no shortage of things to do before leaving home, for now we're cleaning, organizing and packing tons of fabric and clothes before next Wednesday's haul.

Lately I find myself thinking more and more about the dusty dirty world we are about to head into.  It always seems a little shocking at first, the amount of dust and dirt that will inevitably cover everything and temporarily creep into every area of our lives.  This takes at least a day or two to get used to and I'm not even a clean freak!  Maybe I'm even a tiny bit of a slob!  An honest slob though.   As you all well know, the shows can be a dusty, dirty but hopefully not a rainy, muddy mess!  Yikes!  I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a dry week.  Sometimes it's really hard to believe that we make and wear these fancy clothes out there on horseback in the midst of all these harsh elements!

Explaining the type clothes we make is often really hard to do.  My friends (outsiders  unfamiliar with the horse show world) wonder just what the heck we're getting all dressed up for.  I tell them it's nothing like the old west that most associate with western wear.  Coming out to a show is the best way see our crazy world.  I say if you like record heat, lots of flies, dusty, windy storms and jam-packed arenas full of sweaty horses, riders and trainers going in circles, this could be the sport for you!!  Call us crazy!  It's for the love of the sport, and THE CLOTHES ARE A BIG PART OF THE COMPETITION, like it or not!  We make these dazzling creations not for grand galas or elegant charity balls...... they're meant for riding around in the dirt!  How silly and true that really is.

We're setting out to set up shop at the Rancho Murieta Equestrian Center for our first of the season AQHA show.  Being based in the San Francisco bay area, we love these show grounds.  They are a huge asset and are super-convenient for us - just 75 miles from home.  We are very lucky to have such a great facility in our backyard.  I guess it's obvious by now..... I've been thinking a lot about my favorite parts of going out to the shows... and trying not to think about my least favorite parts!  LOL!  I always look forward to the beginning of the season.  The first shows are fun to catch up with old friends, past customers and familiar faces.  Hitting the shows many times is the only opportunity I get to meet you all - the faces behind the names, the calls and emails. Many times we design and make clothes for you, but never even meet because the internet is an such an amazing tool and helps us reach people all over who love showing horses.  Meeting with you our customers face-to-face often happens at the shows.  I love having the chance to learn about your personality.  Getting to know you is always the ideal way to start any project, so stop by the booth and say hello.   We love to talk fashion.

The number one thing I'm excited about is taking time to run down to the rail and watch you all in the classes.  This is the most fun for me.  I love to see the finished clothes out in the arena, in the saddle, with chaps, hats, the coordinating pad, the shiny horse, the full tail.  At that moment the picture is finally complete for me!  I love to admire and critique the clothes.  The best part is feeling good about what you've created and seeing how the horse and rider/wearer shows it off.  It's very rewarding when you can see the woman's confidence and you can tell she feels at her best!  It's mesmerizing to see the perfect picture, if only for a moment.  That is the moment that keeps us going, driven to compete.  The moment when all the hard work comes together .

I look forward to seeing many of you at this years' shows and I hope you find your moment, achieving your personal best.  Send me your favorite show pictures wearing a Heather's Hot Couture and we'll put it in our gallery on the site. This is a fun way to share your best moments and memories with the world!

Best wishes,
Heather