So it sounds like the consensus is I need to go hat shopping! I will have to look around Derby time, there should be a great selection then. I think I bought this one in Sept/ Oct because I wanted it for the National Drive, not exactly hat season!
You guys brought up some great points! I hadn't thought about the wheel spokes, but I see what you mean when you mention it! I did not know all of the options available when I ordered that cart, so it just came that way. Hopefully as Myrna said it will not be as obvious when she lightens. As for the EE, it was just something a man was making out of his garage and not necessarily intended for show, so I think he was just trying to make it more fun. I agree that they tend to stand out though. Very good point that I hadn't given much thought to!
You are so cute! (And I hate the word "cute"...
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The cart looks great! (How does it ride?) I like the coat, and the apron is a good length for you. You might want to consider some sort of contrasting trim along the bottom of the apron to "finish" it. I think it is black and maybe the green of your cart would "tie" them together. Then if you really wanted to get fancy, you could put a small monogram the same color as the trim.
That being said, if you are just doing CDEs, it wouldn't matter as much as a pleasure show. Presentation is only 10 points, and you have a 9! We tend to see more contrasting hats in CDEs than pleasure shows, like think because a lot of CDE vehicles are plain black and people are introducing some color. (I LOVE the green cart, though! Good selection!)
Myrna you make me laugh!
I can't comment on the ride just yet as that was my only time driving it and we only went around the ring about 4 times as it was heavy going through the deep arena sand and I didn't want to overly stress her young body. It did seem fairly smooth from what I could tell, and I think she liked the marathon shafts. I'm looking forward to trying it in the grass. I've never driven anything but my EE and Hyperbike, so I'm interested to see what effect the elliptical springs have!
This jacket and "apron" were a Goodwill find. The jacket was $5 and the skirt that I'm using as an apron was $2! It was a great find. I will have to see if my creative neighbor can add a trim for me, I think that would look very nice. There is a great embroidery shop that I could probably get a monogram done at too.
Good to know we are on the right track for the CDE's! I'll keep working to become pleasure show perfect!
For what it's worth, I like the way the purple ties together on the easy entry cart, however on the other cart, unless the colors aren't coming thru true, the hat does stand out and sort of pulls all attention to your head. Is the jacket gray or perhaps does it have a purple tint to it?
The jacket is gray, but has a faint purple stripe running through it as well as a green stripe. In person the jacket as a whole has a purplish tint to it. I think the main problem is is that the hat is too purple, while the stripe in the jacket is more of a lilac, so it doesn't coordinate like it could.
Here is a close up of the hat, scarf, and jacket together. The colors are not completely true as the flash on my camera was rather bright, but it is close.
Geez Jessica, I think you look absolutely stunning... ABSOLUTELY STUNNING.
So jealous.
You are too sweet!
As another challenge (and an attempt keep it MHR!), what would you do with this mare?
She is the one that will most likely get to show this year. Bella cannot do CDE's for another year, we could do pleasure shows but will probably stick to recreational drives. I would love to get Locita out this year though. She is an odd color, has extensive roaning, more than is evident in this photo. This is in full summer coat, when she is clipped she is a bit lighter, almost pinkish. Do you think if I played up the green rather than the purple that same coat would work with her? I'm leaning towards no. I also have a tan coat that I could use... Maybe tan and green? She would be in the black EE.