Vive la Fete Horst Jumper - Win Place Show!
October 12, 2009
It may surprise our friends in the South and the East Coast, but the San Francisco Bay Area is fairly serious horse country. From south on the Peninsula in Woodside, to the East Bay, and north to Marin you'll find facilities and parks dedicated to our equine friends. In Marin they practice a sport which combines human running and horses in an amazing race they call "Ride and Tie". Races range from 20-100 miles and consist of two humans and one horse. The first human rides the horse up ahead as far as he thinks the runner can go. Once she catches up, they switch, and the exhausted runner mounts the horse and does the same for the fresh runner. Incredible!
Content to just read about this type of racing, I turn my attention to some Horse-themed smocked dresses, which is more my speed. By far the best example of horses and smocking is the Vive la Fete Smocked Horse Jumper and Blouse. The material is the softest light blue corduroy that pleats in the middle. There are three beautifully embroidered horse heads along the front, with flowered garlands around their necks. Certainly the best I've ever seen in this theme.
For an actual equestrian scene complete with horse jumpers, Vive la Fete is at it again with the Boys Equestrian Overall. The outfit comes complete with white cotton broadcloth shirt. The collar has trim that matches the overall. The horse tails are raised out from the smocking which gives it a cool look.
We have to leave Vive la Fete for the moment. Sticking with the horse theme, this time for boys, Funtasia Too has a great applique outfit called the Horse Longall. It's a full horse this time, and the applique emblem is this super soft leather. Giddyup!
For girls, take the horse, embroider it, make it small and delicate and behold! the Funtasia Horse Jumper in red corduroy. Below the waist to finish it off is a beautiful horse bit accent piece. For the younger sister there's a Funtasia Too Horse Three-Piece Set. The exact same material and set-up, but more for a younger, maybe more rough-and-tumble, little sister.
My hat is off to the Ride and Tie athletes A hundred miles, alternately running and riding sounds like more than a full day and I'm sure there is no part of your body left unused and unbruised. Whew!
