That being said, the remote work revolution has proved to be a small step in the right direction when it comes to leveling out the work-life balance of riders everywhere - finally! But taking on the challenge of balancing showing your horse and holding the fort at work can be understandably daunting at first.
I balanced showing and a full-time corporate technology job for years, and in that time amassed a few tips and tricks to make it a little less overwhelming. So whether you’re fully remote or are enjoying a rare WFH (read: work-from-horseshow) day, here’s a fully-vetted plan to keep your boss at bay and your horse at play.
Planning is everything! Will you need wifi to work from the show? Research beforehand if the venue offers it, though most do not. Either activate the personal hotspot feature on your smartphone (or borrow a friend’s phone with this feature - be sure to ask nicely), or splurge on your own wireless puck. These convenient little devices provide private wifi for a small monthly fee, and you can typically add them to your existing wireless plan. If you work remotely regularly, check with your company to see if they might cover this expense for you.
Front load your zooms and calls to pre-show days earlier in the week if you can - there’s nothing worse than trying to kick off an important presentation with the jumper ring buzzer sounding in the background. If you know you’ll have to take a call from the show, try to plan ahead and scope out a quiet corner with a plain background. Don’t forget your headphones!
Plan out your show day schedule as best you can. Identify when you’ll likely be in the saddle, allowing for tacking up, warming up, a fair amount of waiting around, time in the ring, untacking, and post-ride carrot distribution (absolutely do NOT skimp on that last one). Block these times off on your work calendar so coworkers with poor planning skills can’t schedule a last-minute meeting.
Bring an extension cord! I’ll explain why in a moment.
Stake out your work station as soon as you get to the show. This might mean positioning your trunk away from others in a quiet corner and near a power outlet. If you’re trailering in, try to find a parking spot that’s farther away from other riders and the commotion of the show. If power outlets aren’t easily accessible, make use of the extension cord I mentioned in the section above.
If you need to leave your laptop on and open to appear online in Microsoft Teams, Slack, etc., but are nervous about leaving it out while you’re showing, clear some space in your tack trunk, run that extension cord over to it, plug in your computer and lock it inside. Don’t forget to change the sleep setting on your computer so it stays awake when plugged in to prevent the screen from turning off. An optional add-on is a mouse jiggler like this one if you need to keep your status listed as “busy”.
Stick to your plan! Try your best to mentally separate showing and working so you can fully focus on each one throughout the day. Get all of your deliverables completed, show up on time for your classes, have a great ride.
Working and showing is a lot to manage, and might mean that you’re not able to spend as much time as you would like being social with your barnmates or shopping around the show vendors. It’s ok - that’s what post-show day dinner is for! Make sure to treat yourself to an ice cream (or an adult beverage) afterwards.
Another show pops up on the calendar? No problemo - you’ve got this!
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Bamboo fibers offer the best of both worlds: they absorb moisture without trapping it. Neat right? They suck up sweat so it doesn't stay on your skin and release it onto the surface of the fabric so it can evaporate. You’re left feeling cool, comfortable, and ready for your next ride. Interested in the super science-y details? Take a deep dive here.
Riding is what you make of it. Whether you want to dress up for the barn or rock something casual, we’re committed to creating gear for you! Shop the entire Bamboo Tee collection here.
]]>This year shipping carriers are forecasting record demand for home delivery services, and supply chain constraints have the potential to cause scarcity with some of your favorite gear. Orders may take a little longer than usual to arrive and hot items are anticipated to sell out quickly. To continue meeting your delivery expectations and make sure you can snag the gifts you’ve been dreaming about, we encourage you to start your horsey holiday shopping earlier than ‘normal’ this year.
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This year shipping carriers are forecasting record demand for home delivery services, and supply chain constraints have the potential to cause scarcity with some of your favorite gear. Orders may take a little longer than usual to arrive and hot items are anticipated to sell out quickly. To continue meeting your delivery expectations and make sure you can snag the gifts you’ve been dreaming about, we encourage you to start your horsey holiday shopping earlier than ‘normal’ this year.
To keep up with the times, we’re starting our Black Friday event early too! What would be a single weekend event has been extended to the ENTIRE month of November, so you can enjoy 25% off your HC favorites and shop whenever is convenient for you. Enjoy free US shipping on orders over $99 and keep an eye out for special events and freebies as we ramp up the holiday cheer a little earlier this year.
In addition, we’ll be taking the following steps to help ensure we can continue to provide you with the gear and shopping experience you’ve come to expect from Hunt Club:
To our Hunt Club fans and family,
In these uncertain times, we are all taking important steps to keep our communities safe and healthy. In response to the spread of COVID-19, the events we were originally scheduled to attend this spring: IHSA Nationals, IEA Nationals and the Land Rover Kentucky 3-Day Event, have unfortunately been canceled. We fully support the decisions of the organizers to prioritize the health and well-being of our equestrian community, and thank everyone for their support and understanding during this time.
Every cloud does have a silver lining, however! Though we were so looking forward to seeing you all at these events, we’re excited to extend the in-person shopping experience to our website by offering all US customers FREE SHIPPING on shophuntclub.com. There's no code needed - just shop and the shipping's on us.
Hunt Club has always been powered by a small but mighty crew. At this time we are still working tirelessly to make sure that the gear you know and love is available when you want it and delivered in the safest way possible. Out of an abundance of caution, all non-essential staff - even though they have not presented symptoms - has been asked to self-quarantine at home with continued compensation to minimize social interactions and maximize safety.
All orders are being shipped by the business owners until further notice. We are exercising best practices as dictated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), including increasing our daily cleaning and hand-washing routines, the use of sanitizer, regular cleaning of packaging areas and equipment, and self-isolation. Our two-woman dream team will continue shipping orders as long as USPS continues regular service.
One of the many benefits of shopping with a family-owned business is that we pride ourselves on providing a responsive and accommodating customer service experience to all. We are happy to answer any questions you may have about your experience and the precautions we are taking to protect your health and safety.
If you’re looking for a way to support your favorite local small businesses, you can continue to shop online for at-home delivery, join us in content creation and post photos of your favorite products, and come see us in-person at future events once things return to normal.
The health and well-being of our customers and community is always our top priority - we thank you for your understanding and can’t wait to see you at an event very soon!
-The Hunt Club Crew
Hunt Club's bestselling belt just received an upgrade. We've married the stretchy strap you know and love with a sleek and eye-catching interchangeable buckle to create the Hunt Buckle Belt.
The Hunt Buckle was born out of a desire to elevate our crowd favorite Derby Belt - the only belt we've found to be genuinely comfortable to wear, both in the saddle and out. The woven nature of its stretchy strap lets the belt to move with you, allowing for an increased range of motion and greater adjustability for the perfect fit. This belt has become an instant classic, but how do you improve something that's very nearly perfect?
While elastic belts are functional, comfortable, and growing more popular by the year, nothing will surpass the timeless and effortless elegance a statement buckle adds to an outfit. Whether it's paired with breeches or jeans, the perfect buckle belt has the power to elevate a look from cute and casual to something that belongs on the cover of a Ralph Lauren catalog.
So we set out to create the ultimate hybrid accessory: a statement belt that stays true to the classic equestrian aesthetic but is also genuinely comfortable to wear.
We think we nailed it.
The Hunt Buckle can best be described as functional elegance - it's comfortable to wear, simple to customize, and adds that sophisticated touch to any outfit that only a statement buckle belt can provide.
Choose the sprightly Burgundy or Emerald buckles to accent your favorite schooling looks, or slide on the Navy or Black buckles for polished and professional show ring attire. Pro tip: the Hunt Buckle looks exceptionally elegant peeking out from under the points of your shadbelly. It's a look you simply must try.
You can snag a Hunt Buckle Belt for yourself by buying buckles and straps to change up your look as often as you like. For instructions on how to swap out your Hunt Buckle, take a peek at the video below!
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We thought about making a big list of the top things to do, gear to buy, or horse shows to go to in 2020. We like making lists, and probably could have made a pretty great one about any of those previously mentioned topics. The end of the year certainly deserves a big blog post - heck, this time around it’s even the start of a whole new decade...
]]>The end of the year certainly deserves a big blog post - heck, this time around it’s even the start of a whole new decade! When we really thought about it though, there’s one thing we really ought to do to start the next year off on the right foot - get excited about it.
The end of the year (and, thus, the start of a new year) for most people usually involves some amount of dread. It could be related to all of the things you didn’t get done over the last year, or things you know you have coming up in the next year, or just stuff you’re worried about in general as that oppressive feeling of ‘year-end’ seems to loom ever closer.
It’s easy to forget that, oh yeah, you also did a lot of really awesome, impressive, cool, and exciting things over the last year, too. Well here’s your official directive to dwell on the cool things you did in 2019 (the big things AND the little things), and to march into the new decade with your eyes and heart focused firmly on the good stuff.
Your life, even the “bad” parts, is pretty amazing. Most of the small things that make up your life are equally amazing - trail rides, early morning yoga classes, jumping lessons with your barn mates, time spent grooming your horse, movie marathons, friends, donuts, burritos, horse shows, dogs, smiles …even the coffee you had this morning was pretty fantastic, wasn’t it? Were you excited about all of these amazing little things over the last year?
Kurt Vonnegut, in a 2003 speech to students at the University of Wisconsin, said, “I urge you to please notice when you are happy, and exclaim or murmur or think at some point, ‘If this isn’t nice, I don’t know what is.’”
In 2020, we urge you to notice when something is awesome, as it often is, and make a mental note of it (or better yet, say it out loud to your friend, trainer, horse, or an innocent bystander). Isn’t it pretty freaking amazing that we get to spend time around HORSES? Most people only SEE horses a handful of times over the course of their entire lives, let alone actually get to touch one.
And not only do we get to spend time around them…but we actually get to ride them? Over jumps? In competitions?! As a TEAM?! It’s absolutely incredible, really. Downright unbelievable. And that’s the attitude we should have every single day, from the moment we wake up to when our heads hit the pillow.
People can disagree with things like quality, your taste in food, your favorite movies, or whether a hunter round was good or not. But no one can argue with or be critical of your enthusiasm, especially when you wear it loud and proud. Do you think the class you just finished was the greatest course you and your horse have ever produced? Awesome! If someone tries to tell you it wasn’t, who cares? “My Greatest Showjumping Round Ever” is not an objective title - it’s YOUR title.
So when you’re excited about a round (or a dressage test, or a flat lesson, or a trail ride), go ahead and be thrilled about it. Sure, the judge may have a differing level of enthusiasm about your round, but in the end, that’s just another person’s opinion. You know whose opinion about your performance carries much more weight? Your own.
It’s your ride, it’s your progress, it’s your enthusiasm. If you’re thrilled with it, be thrilled with it! Being enthusiastic about the wicked awesome sport that we do and all of the little things that go along with it is just about as wholesome as you can get, and if someone tries to put you down for that, then that reflects pretty dang poorly on them.
Never be afraid of sharing your excitement, either. Enthusiasm disarms criticism. Might people think you’re weird or wrong for enjoying something and sharing how excited you are about it? Maybe! Do their opinions on your level of excitement matter? Nope! “Worrying about what other people might think” is really a fancy way of saying you’re wasting time that could be spent being excited about things you enjoy.
Go forth and enjoy your stuff. Share it, post about it, and talk excitedly about it with as many people and hand gestures as possible.
While you’re at it, spread a little of that awesome positive attitude around, too. It’s not illegal to offer people a high-five. Do you use a lot of exclamation points in your e-mails and texts? Well, why not? Most people like it when other people are nice to them. This includes baristas, in-gate managers, retail personnel and horse show office ladies.
It costs absolutely nothing to share a little of that enthusiasm you’re cultivating with people around you. You might just make a new friend, who might just go out of their way to let you know the under-saddle class is going 15 minutes early. You smile, they smile, the world is a better place. Way to go! (Now would be a good time for that high-five).
An outlook on life that’s filled to the brim with enthusiasm for what we do is definitely something we want to carry with us as we enter a new decade. This doesn’t mean we need to act like caffeinated cheerleaders every minute of every day, though. Riding, just like life, has its ups and downs, good days and bad days.
A commitment to embracing enthusiasm will look different to every person. All we ask is that when you’re tacking up, out on trail, or heading into the show ring, maybe take a moment to think to yourself: “Dang, this is pretty freakin’ awesome.”
Because it is! And so are you.
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It would not only have to be elegant enough to be worn to the office in the mornings and the barn in the evenings, but also tough enough to handle a day full of barn work at the hands of professional riders and grooms. In short, we wanted a performance button-down that could really do it all. Almost a year of testing, designing, and prototyping later, we’re pretty thrilled to say we did it.
We named our creation the Alba Work Shirt after the Spanish word for dawn - a nod to the hardworking horsewomen who rise early every day to maximize their time in the saddle. So whether you’re setting your alarm for 5am to head to work, dress for school, or turn the horses out in the pasture, the Alba Work Shirt was designed for you.
Read on to discover all of the thoughtful planning that went into creating this epic button-down for horsewomen everywhere.
1) Light as Air Fabric
The Alba Work Shirt is made out of a lightweight but sturdy polyester poplin. What does that mean exactly? Two things. First, a poplin is any fabric that features two yarns of different thicknesses in a plain weave. Because of the difference in thread thickness, poplins offer the best of both worlds - they have a thin, comfortable hand-feel that's easy to drape, AND are seriously sturdy and tough. Second, polyester is a lightweight material that's notoriously easy to care for and winkle-resistant by nature. It even has a bit of stretch too, so you won't be busting out of your shoulder seams when you go to make that big release over the square oxer. In summary, a polyester poplin = light, tough, and perfect for an equestrian button-down.
2) Serious Ventilation
Our favorite thing about riding in button-downs is that glorious feeling when you're cantering and the air moves through your shirt - it's like outdoor air conditioning! Naturally we wanted to maximize the breezy comfort factor with the Alba Work Shirt, so we added a hidden mesh vent to the upper back of the garment. A discrete addition, the vent is nigh-invisible until you're riding at speed. The breeze will gently lift the back panel, allowing air to flow through the garment and keep you cool. When not riding, the vent stays hidden and nobody has to know you're really wearing your favorite barn shirt to work.
3) High-Low Hemline
The biggest issue we've had riding in traditional button-downs was that those suckers never seemed to stay tucked in. The Alba Work Shirt features a generous high-low hem (meaning that the hemline is longer in the back and shorter in the front), which when combined with the stretchy poly poplin fabric allows for maximum range of motion all while staying put. No more hurriedly tucking your shirt back in while in the middle of a lesson!
4) Minimalist Styling
When we set out to create a true "work" shirt, we knew we wanted to keep things clean and classic. That meant no loud graphics or wild patterns - we save that kind of awesome for our graphic tees anyway. But keeping things classic doesn't mean we didn't have a little fun with the details. You'll find subtle touches abound on the Alba Work Shirt, from the branded pearl buttons to the super cute tri-color logo tags on the front pocket and rear vent panel. We couldn't help getting a little playful with the interior label, though! We'll just keep that secret between the two of us, yeah?
5) Easy and Breezy
Quite possibly the most important detail of the Alba Work Shirt: it's insanely easy to care for! We're true believers that it should be a crime to make riding clothes that are hand wash only - who has the time? If it requires such delicate handling, it definitely won't be able to stand up to a full day at work or the barn. The Alba Work Shirt is so easy to take care of, even the most laundry-inept individual in your family can do it. Just turn it inside out and toss it in the washing machine with like colors on a cold cycle. Follow up with a tumble in the dryer and you're good to go! The polyester poplin fabric is wrinkle-resistant by nature, but we do recommend taking it out of the dryer as soon as you can to keep things looking extra crisp. See? Easy peasy.
And that's the low-down on the new Alba Work Shirt! A button-down that's as tough and versatile as you are. Have a photo of you gettin' stuff done in yours? Send it in or tag us on Instagram! We love to see how people make the most out of their riding gear. Interested in ordering a whole bunch for your team, barn, or business? We can handle that too! Just drop us a line through the contact form below.
The Alba Work Shirt is available in 8 different colors - check them out here!
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We love the look of rugged outdoor gear, and ferquently repurpose hiking, camping, and snowsports apparel for our own horseback activities. We realized what the horse world really needed, though, was a multi-purpose jacket designed with the adventure-wear aesthetic we love but with all the critical design elements a real horsewoman needs.
]]>We love the look of rugged outdoor gear, and frequently repurpose hiking, camping, and snow sports apparel for our own horseback activities. We realized what the horse world really needed, though, was a multi-purpose jacket designed with the adventure-wear aesthetic we love but with all the critical design elements a real horsewoman needs.
Enter the Salto Fleece Jacket - a full-zip fleece that on the outside looks like it would be right at home hiking up a mountain, but at it's core is crafted specifically for equestrian pursuits . Read on to learn about all of the great features we crammed into this jacket, and why it might just be every rider's new best friend... besides her horse of course.
1) Sleek Micro-Fleece
The most obvious feature of this rad jacket - it's a fleece! This highly-insulating, low-pile fleece is anything but a hay magnet. It keeps you super cozy without the bulk of thicker plush fabrics or down stuffing AND is easy to keep clean. Just brush off shavings, dirt, and debris with your favorite grooming implement (ours is a dandy brush) and you're ready to ride. It's machine washable too! Simply turn the jacket inside out, wash on cold with like colors, and hang to dry.
2) Double Zipper Action
An essential feature that all jackets designed for riders should have. A double zipper lets you zip up the top portion AND unzip the bottom a little so your jacket doesn't poof out around your middle when you sit in the saddle. Unzipping the bottom of the jacket a tad while you're riding also keeps plastic and metal parts from scratching the pommel of your saddle - nice!
3) Reinforced Areas
Ballistic nylon (read: it's super strong and water resistant) was chosen to keep precipitation off your shoulders and upper back when you're riding. So, basically, you no longer have any more excuses for not heading out on trail when the weather looks like it might call for a few sprinkles. Nylon elbow patches protect high-stress areas from wear and tear in the barn, too.
4) Secure Phone Pocket
Stay connected during your ride in a way that's safe for both you and your phone. A specialized phone pocket on the chest minimizes jostling at the trot and canter! If you're working on that musical freestyle or just like to jam when you ride, a discrete port in the phone pocket lets you thread your headphones through while keeping the cords contained safely inside the jacket.
5) Easy Clean Pockets
We don't know about you, but we're pretty tired of constantly sticking our hands in our jacket pockets only to find them full of treat crumbs. No matter how well you think you've cleaned them out, there are always more stuck in the seams! The Salto Fleece has mesh interior pockets with a "no seam" nylon bottom designed to catch crumbs and make them easy to clean out in one fell "scoop". So don't forget to bring a few snacks along on your next ride - your horse will thank you.
And there you have it. An adventure-ready jacket that was actually designed with real horsewomen's needs in mind. Wear it to warm up for the show ring, to head out on a trail ride, or to finish up those barn chores. It's a multitasker that can truly handle it all.
When we set out to create the technical yet traditional competition shirt the horse world desperately needed, we knew there were a couple things we had to bring to the table. Every piece had to be showing AND schooling appropriate, feature technical, wicking, and UV blocking fabrics, and have a tall, stiff collar to impress even the most discerning hunter and equitation judges. Read on to learn about how we designed these game-changing garments that celebrate time-honored equestrian tradition with an updated twist.
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Tall collars elongate the neck and give riders the appearance of sitting straighter and taller in the saddle - equitation trainers have known this for years. The tall collar is also more traditional and polished, making it essential for the hunter ring where the turnout of the rider must not distract from the effortless grace of the horse. There’s a reason why hunter and equitation trainers have been requesting that theirs students sport high-collared shirts, yet the equestrian fashion industry has continued to churn out garments with collars of diminishing size in recent years. What about us hunter folk?
The Sterling Show Shirt is our answer. Inspired by the time-honored tradition of show hunters, these technical, comfortable, and sharp-looking show shirts feature a tall, stiff collar with hidden button & zipper placket. We tried and tested scores of fabrics, experimented with collar closures and remeasured for optimal fit to ensure our show shirts go above and beyond what’s available to riders today. The shirts are made with UV-blocking, moisture wicking Ice-Fil fabric, feature a unique mesh venting system, and above all are USEF 'R' judge approved for hunters & equitation classes.
The end result: a design that’s familiar, relevant and wearable. Two traditional white options, two bold colorful options, four technical yet classic shirts that transition effortlessly from schooling to showing and back again.
To successfully blend modern and classic design, we knew that choosing an appropriate palette for the Sterling Show Shirt would be essential. We ultimately selected colors that stray just a little from what’s traditional, without disrupting the time-honored standards for classic hunter turnout. Our sultry shade of navy is dark, rich, and leans just a little towards black to ensure that it goes perfectly with your favorite grey, black and navy show jackets. We also chose to focus on a deep bordeaux hue that simmers with luscious blue undertones and pairs with all your favorite neutrals.
We incorporated these rich colors into both variants of the Sterling Show Shirt. They feature prominently as the body colors for the solid Navy & Bordeaux varieties, which look oh-so daring in the jumper ring and perfectly polished for lesson day at the farm. We also chose these colors to accent the deluxe mesh paneling of our hunter & equitation shirts for an eye-catching colorblock effect. See? Hunters can have fun, too.
Getting the collar right was a key part of our garment design sessions. How do we marry the stiff fabric of the collar with the airy, light, and incredibly soft fabric body in a way that is functional and professional? Magnets come undone, zippers don’t lay flat, and a full placket of tiny buttons can be tedious and difficult. There’s no worse feeling than when your collar comes unsnapped on course, so we needed our solution to be tough and trustworthy yet unobtrusive and sleek. Since the Sterling Show Shirt is also designed for schooling at home, our collar solution needed to look sharp when left undone as well - no itchy clasps or floppy zippers allowed.
Our final design combines the ease of a zipper with the security and polish of almost-invisible snaps that keep your collar in place no matter what. The narrow placket lays flat against the garment to create a polished silhouette in the show ring, yet unzips easily to convert into a comfortable sun shirt for everyday wear. The stiff collar is crafted with ultra-sturdy interfacing to ensure that it never bunches or sags, and also stands tall when unzipped to provide unparalleled sun protection for the back of your neck while schooling. Best of both worlds = achieved.
Once the collar design was finalized, we set to work developing a few looks that blend our rich color palette with some of our tried-and-true Hunt Club favorites. The Derby Belt is a natural choice to pair with the Sterling Show Shirt since it is also designed to transition seamlessly from schooling to showing. These stretch belts feature a low-profile buckle that eliminates the bump under your show coat while in the saddle to create a streamlined look. They’re also uniquely stretchy and light, with allows them to move with you while you ride, eliminate pressure points, and increase air flow - bye bye sweaty leather belts!
The Classic Day, Victory Gallop and Trailblazer Derby Belts belts pull in key complimentary colors from the navy variations of the garment, and the On Deck, Single Oxer and Barn Babe belts provide ample contrast and coordination to make the burgundy variants pop. For something a little daring and different, these competition shirts also pair expertly with our line of genuine Argentine Polo Belts. For a unique, eye-catching look in the jumper ring, pair the Rosé Polo Belt with the solid burgundy Sterling Competition Shirt and a navy show jacket - you can thank us later.
We’ve incorporated a few hidden touches throughout the Sterling Show Shirt that bring these multifunctional garments to the next level. Unzipping the collar reveals detailing in Hunt Club’s iconic colors that match perfectly with the woven tag on the front pocket. Our stamped logo tag - made popular by our Derby Belt line - was added to the back of the collar at just the right height so it peeks out from under your show coat in the ring. By using a dense patterned mesh for our venting panels we were able to add more of them without sacrificing modesty and style - no see-through bits here!
The hem of the Sterling Show Shirt features a shirttail cut that’s longer on the front and back and shorter on the sides so it stays put when tucked in, and the white cuffs were expertly engineered to ensure they’re always peeking out of your show coat just the right amount. All of these details are designed to be subtle enough for the hunter and equitation rings while adding fun, stand-out touches that are uniquely HC.
It’s one of the most important steps every rider should take before getting in the saddle, yet only 18% of surveyed riders say they do it every day. Picking feet? Checking your girth? Nope, it’s applying sunscreen – something our parents would diligently badger us about as children but that many of us fail to do as adults. Maybe it’s because we’re too busy, concerned greasy formulas will flare up our acne, or think we’re adequately protected with technical sun shirts and wide brim helmets. - we're good at making excuses, right? With skin cancer rates on the rise, however, it’s something we all need to make time for.
The first step to protecting yourself from the sun's harmful rays is to choose a sunscreen that fits your lifestyle, skin needs and activity level. If you don't currently wear sunscreen at the barn, read on to figure out which kind might be right for you. Even if you’re happy with your current product choice, summertime is a great time to educate yourself about the science behind your favorite sunblock.
After running a series of polls on our friendly neighborhood Twitter account, we discovered that the biggest knowledge gap surrounding sunscreen seemed to be the difference between physical and chemical sunscreens, and why we should use one over the other. When asked to choose between the two, nearly 70% of surveyed riders responded with “There’s a difference?" Spoiler alert: yes, there's a big difference. Get ready for a hefty info dump on the science behind your favorite sunscreens!
Often called “sunblock”, these sunscreens work by doing just that - reflecting and scattering harmful UV rays from your skin’s surface. Physical sunscreens always contain inorganic mineral ingredients, namely titanium dioxide or zinc oxide, which sit on top of skin and form a protective barrier. The mineral ingredients in physical sunscreens offer protection against both UVA and UVB rays, making them naturally broad spectrum. Because these ingredients sit on top of skin, they are susceptible to being washed or rubbed off. This means you should reapply them regularly - at least every two hours. On the plus side, both zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are stable ingredients and do not require extra chemicals in their formulations to work properly like chemical sunscreens do. As a result, physical sunscreens are gentler on sensitive, acne prone skin, and are less likely to sting your eyes during a particularly intense jumping lesson (ouch!). Most sunscreens with the term “mineral” in the title contain exclusively physical UV filters or a mix of physical and chemical.
Chemical sunscreens work in a more complex way than simply reflecting the sun’s harmful rays. Chemical sunscreens contain organic compounds which absorb UV rays, triggering a chemical reaction that converts them into heat that is dispersed and released from the skin. While chemical sunscreens do need to be applied ahead of sun exposure (up to 20 minutes in advance so they can penetrate the skin fully), they are more resistant to water and sweat. Chemical sunscreens still need to be reapplied regularly, however, as the UV filters they contain break down faster in direct sunlight compared to those found in physical sunscreens. Due to the complex nature of the reactions by which they dissipate UV rays, chemical sunscreens usually contain extra stabilizing ingredients which can make them ill-suited for acne sufferers or individuals with sensitive skin. Avobenzone, a popular chemical UV filter, can cause increased redness in rosacea sufferers. Chemical sunscreens do absorb completely into the skin, making them ideal for applying under makeup and for individuals with darker skin tones who wish to avoid the white cast that physical sunscreens can impart.
Most in-market sunscreens contain both physical and chemical UV filters so you get a nice mix of the benefits of both, but if you have special skincare needs you should definitely be more discerning about the ingredients in the suncare products you use. zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are the active ingredients to look out for in physical sunscreens, while oxybenzone, octinoxate, octisalate and avobenzone are key components of most chemical sunscreens. The bottom line is this: always know what the ingredients are in the sunscreen you’re using, and if you’re concerned about how they’ll affect your skin, always consult your dermatologist!
Once you've chosen the sunscreen that's right for you, it's always a smart move to limit your sun exposure even more by gearing up with the right clothing and accessories. Long sleeve sun shirts with UPF ratings are always a safe (and stylish) move. With so many options on the market today, the discerning rider has a choice between going bold and preppy (Lilly Pulitzer lovers will go gaga over these lovelies from IBKUL) or subdued and classic. Adding a wide brim helmet to your gear collection is also great idea if you live in a sunny part of the world, since your face is particularly sensitive to sun exposure and damage. Detachable visors like the classic EquiVisor are an affordable alternative that actually offer more protection than most wide brim helmets on the market today. One important detail to remember, though, is that wide brim helmets and visors do nothing to protect the back of your neck! After one-too-many sunburn incidents, we developed the Sombra Riding Buff just for this purpose. This light as air tubular bandana offers UPF protection that won't sweat off and will always look cute.
No matter which products you use, it's critical that you create a system that fits your lifestyle that you will actually follow every single day. Skin damage from sun exposure builds up over the years, so finding products and gear that work for you and sticking with them day in and day out is a surefire path to success.
Thanks for sticking it out to the bitter end! Have any burning (get it?) questions about skincare and sunscreen that you just can't seem to get answers to? Drop us a line through the contact form or at hello@shophuntclub.com. Some of our favorite resources (and sources for this post) are included below. If you don't already slather on the sunscreen before every ride, hopefully this post has inspired you to get out there, find the right product for you, and practice safe sun! Your future's too bright not to wear sunscreen.
https://intothegloss.com/2017/05/sunscreen-FAQs-dermatologist-aesthetician/
http://blog.reneerouleau.com/chemical-vs-physical-sunscreens-pros-cons/
https://www.tatcha.com/tatcha-institute/ingredients-in-sunscreen-chemical-vs-physical-sunscreen/
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Clean, uncluttered, bold designs characterize this spring’s crop of new graphic tee designs. Bright contrasting inks lighten up dark tees while the addition of light fabrics introduces an element of subdued spring energy to the collection. Journey behind the designs and take a look at our inspiration for this fun and fresh line!
For this season, we began by looking at simple statement tees and considering how we could reinvent them with subtle equestrian flair. You can find a hundred tees with the words ‘Horse Lover’ or 'Pony Power' printed across the front, but our aim was to create something that whispers equestrian in a way that only other riders would understand... while still seeming cute and colorful to the uninitiated. Choosing the right phrases was key. We sought to stay away from overused mantras and take our cues instead from the world outside of the barn, things we say every day, and our favorite quotes, of course.
Once we settled on the right phrases, the real challenge began. There’s an art to creating a cute tee using just text. The font choice, leading (the spacing between lines) and tracking (the spacing between letters) all play a critical role. We went through scores of different font options before settling on few favorites. The result is a fresh and clean collection of graphics that lean towards modern while still capturing nostalgic, vintage vibes through the use of old-school type and design motifs.
Our second directive with the spring collection was to explore a different direction that equestrian apparel has yet to take - embracing other languages. French and Italian are a popular candidate for many brands when looking to liven up their graphic tee offering, but when it comes down to it Spanish is the language most often heard around the barn and at horse shows across the country. We owe much of our Spanish proficiency to the generous individuals who encouraged us to use it every single day at the farm - working through pronunciations and getting verb tenses just right. There’s something magical - like a superpower even - about learning another language, and we wanted to capture just a little bit of that in our new spring designs.
By including a few of our favorite uplifting and motivating Spanish phrases in the spring collection, we sought to both honor the prevalence of this beautiful language in the equestrian community and highlight the importance of the hardworking people who speak it. Our industry would not flourish as it does without the Spanish-speaking professionals who give it their all every single day. Incorporating Spanish into our spring collection is just a small way that we can show our gratitude for all that they do. Si se habla español y trabaja con los caballos, estamos agradecidos por todo lo que hace!
When you design a tee, of course you need to think about what folks are going to want to wear with it, right? Luckily there’s a Derby Belt for that. We created a bevy of brand new limited edition Derby Belts to perfectly compliment the new spring collection, and boy do they look lovely together! Shades of light blue, navy, burgundy and carolina blue characterize this fresh offering, accented perfectly with enamel branding badges that add character & a vintage touch.
We couldn’t stop at just designing new belts for our new graphic tees, either! Our best-selling performance tees now have their own line of matching Derby Belts as well. The Essential Pocket Tees are available with both long and short sleeves, classic Hunt Club graphics, and are all constructed with our proprietary wicking fabric blend. That pretty much means that we didn’t like any of the existing performance fabrics the garment industry had to offer, so we went ahead and created our own! These hardworking tees keep you dry, cool, and comfortable through spring’s unpredictable weather. Pair them with a limited edition Derby Belt and you’ve got yourself the perfect outfit for schooling in the outdoor ring or heading out for an afternoon trail ride.
The tees are soft, the colors are bright, and the graphics are as fresh as they get. Spring has sprung here at Hunt Club - are you ready for it? For a full look at all of this season’s newest tees and accessories, check out the ever-growing collection HERE.
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Get organized
Lose the stirrups
Learn a new skill
Mainfest gratitude & positivity
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If you're like me, nothing puts you in the holiday spirit quite like baking Christmas cookies. Working in the kitchen with Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby playing in the background has a calming, stress relieving effect that's exactly what the doctor ordered, especially around the holidays.
To save myself from ingesting far more sugar than a single person should consume in one sitting, I've started baking Christmas cookies for my horses instead! This recipe is easy, quick, and fills your house with that same delicious fresh-baked cookie scent that goes hand-in-hand with gift wrapping, christmas trees and holiday parties. This time around, I decide to give making little "gingerbread" houses a try! I picked up the perfect cookie cutter for the job over on Amazon.
The first step is to make your cookie dough. This recipe makes about a dozen cookies, depending on size and thickness. If you're keen to whip up a bigger batch, just double the recipe! Key ingredients are as follows - all of which are safe for both human and animal consumption.
*If you're using a cookie cutter and want to decorate your treats, use oat flour instead of regular rolled oats. If you can't purchase oat flour, just put 2 cups of rolled oats in the blender for 30 seconds. If you want to make circular-shaped horse treats and won't be using a cookie cutter, go ahead and use 2 cups of regular rolled oats.
Start by combining your dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Once the oats or oat flour and all-purpose flour are thoroughly combined, mix in the molasses. You can do this with a spatula or fork if you like, but I find it's easier to form a dough with my hands since the molasses gets pretty gooey. Next, add the water sparingly until a dough forms. You may not need the entire 1/8 cup, so use your good judgement - you want to make a dough that doesn't crumble so your cookies hold their shape.
Once you've combined all the ingredients into a dough, roll it out on a sheet of parchment paper and get out that cookie cutter. You can try your hand at making these adorable mini gingerbread houses with this great cookie cutter from Amazon. Lay everything out on a greased cookie sheet and bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees. Let the cookies cool completely before starting the next step: icing!
When making icing texture is key. Mix powdered sugar with water until a thick icing forms that's not too watery and still holds its shape when stirred with a spoon or spatula. Make sure you mix the powdered sugar thoroughly so the icing is smooth and lump free - I like to use a whisk for this. If you want to make certain your icing is the right consistency, check out our saved stories on Instagram for a good visual.
Once your icing has reached the right consistency it's time to get creative! If you're feeling particularly fancy you can transfer it into a Ziploc bag or pastry bag and doodle fun designs or horse names. Just snip off the end and decorate to your hearts content!
Alternatively, you can dip your cookies face-down in the icing to evenly coat them and add sprinkles or colored sugar. For the overachievers out there, you can even add food coloring or peppermint extract to your icing and create some festive masterpieces. Make sure to let the icing firm up before you stack or store your cookies- I typically leave mine out on the counter or pop them in the fridge overnight.
That's all there is to it! Not only is this recipe simple, quick and 100% horse taste-test approved, but it leaves your kitchen smelling like holiday cookies which is really a special treat all by itself. These cookies also make great gifts for barn friends and their ponies - just package them up in cellophane bags or cookie tins and you're ready to go! It's also important to mention you can round up all the ingredients you need to make 10+ batches of these cookies for around $15. Now THAT'S a treat!
Itching to give this recipe a try? Let us know how it turns out! Tag us in your baking photos on Instagram and use the hashtag #HuntClubBakes to be featured on our page - we can't wait to see what you create!
]]>Ample outside time, opportunities for photos with your horse, and a constant companion to keep you company during long days - there’s a lot to love about bringing your dog to a horse show. But with so much to sniff, chase and bark at, it’s essential to figure out beforehand whether or not your dog is ready to spend all day with you and your pony pal. With the help of some horse show dog experts, we’ve assembled some top tips on the do’s and don’ts of bringing your pupper along to a horse show.
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1) Know your dog
2) Adjust your plans based on age & experience
3) Choose your show carefully
4) (Almost) always stay on a leash
5) Pack smart
6) Bring an assistant
7) Prepare for the trip home
8) Always have your camera on hand
Hunt Club is the brainchild of 24 year old amateur equestrian, graphic designer and rad outdoorsy person Sara Ladley. Frustrated by the lack of cute and affordable schooling tees for young equestrians that didn’t look like they came straight from the kids rack, she struck out in the spring of 2014 to find a way to change the game. A lifelong outdoorswoman, she sought to meld the adventure-inspired aesthetic of popular outdoor brands with iconic imagery and classic styling that all equestrians can relate to. In April of that year Hunt Club was born - a unique equestrian label that draws inspiration from the world beyond the barn. Read on to get the scoop on what inspires Sara’s designs and the vision behind the Hunt Club brand.
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If it gets you outside or requires a helmet, chances are I love to do it. As a lifelong skier, climber, and lover of the outdoors, my goal is to bring the aesthetic of adventure gear to the equestrian world.
"I never really fit the cookie-cutter standard for your regular “horse obsessed girl”. I love spending long days at the barn, but I also love traveling, hiking, skiing, and just about every single sport that requires a helmet. I’d rather wear a shirt covered in mud than one covered in glitter, so when it comes to choosing what to wear to the barn every day, I always felt somewhat limited in my choices. You tend to see two kinds of equestrian apparel on the market today - slick, sparkly, and expensive gear imported form Europe, or ultra-preppy brands that lean more towards "Lily Pulitzer" than "rugged horsewoman". I wanted something that reflected my personal style, and hopefully the style of other adventurous equestrians out there.
The newest addition to the Hunt Club line - The Sterling Competition Sun Shirt - arrives in October of 2018.
This year Hunt Club is moving into developing our own line of bespoke competition essentials. It's been a dream almost two years in the making, and we're so excited to shake up the industry with a show shirt designed specifically by and for hunter and equitation riders. Even while designing for the show ring, we made sure our new competition line doesn't lose sight of our core mission - to deliver casual and performance apparel that's durable, functional, with a hint of adventurous style.
As a working adult, I view riding (and every other sport or hobby I dabble in) as an escape. You don't need to be competing at the fanciest shows, bringing home blue ribbons every weekend, or jumping a certain height to enjoy horses, being outside, and spending time with your barn family. There's no right or wrong way to enjoy time with a horse. Hunt Club's goal is to provide the gear you need to get out there and make the most of your barn time (or adventure time!) each and every day, whatever that may look like."
xx
-Sara
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