First Impressions Count!

by Tammy Schuster

Have you ever had somebody walk through the door for an interview with you and they come in looking unprofessional or just plain sloppy?

Have you ever walked into a store and the first sales rep who greeted you was not put together very well and made you think,  “if the rest of the store looks like this person, I’d rather not shop here…”?

Well, it’s no different when you step through the gate at a horse show. The first look that a judge gets of you will set the tone  for the rest of the class. It is so important to set the tone positively as soon as you walk through the gate. A clean, professional look is an automatic plus.  Nothing could be worse than showing up looking as though you do not care about your presentation.  From a nicely shaped hat, to the coordination of your outfit, to a clean horse and tack; all of these factors go into the making of a winner.

The myth that you must spend thousands of dollars on a high dollar outfit is GONE!  The current state of the economy and rising fuel costs has exhibitors looking for some options when preparing their look for the show pen.  It is no longer expected or required of exhibitors to be wearing expensively priced items.

At today’s horse shows,  you can wear bling, no bling, or some bling.   Your choice.  A beautifully pressed fitted blouse or shirt with a scarf and chaps is just as acceptable as an ensemble featuring crystal and stud work throughout.  Either outfit makes a nice presentation.

Vests are also another economical option and can be bought with a blouse very inexpensively to present yourself in any riding class.  They are very flattering and easier on the pocketbook, not to mention much cooler on those hot summer days. Let’s face it, as long as your first impression through the gate is a positive one you will definitely get that second look.  Another important factor when making that first impression is choice of clothing color against the color of your horse.  The most popular is black, as it compliments every horse color.  But, don’t let that dissuade you from using color!  It always gives a nice pop to the overall picture of horse and rider.

Nothing is worse than a forgettable first impression – whether in the show ring or in your personal life.  Take that extra step, and take that second look at yourself.  It will always pay off and make you memorable to all!