GoHorseShow decided to have some fun and ask veteran exhibitors about what they consider to be their most infamous and tragic horse show outfits. We realize that many of these outfits were popular and on-trend then. However, many exhibitors looking back, probably wondered, “What was I thinking?” Let’s take a trip down memory lane at some classic, never-to-live-down horse show outfits.
Parris Rice Knight – The pink socks. The untucked shirt. I was a fashion icon. I remember having a full-blown meltdown over having to tuck my shirt in because it was uncomfortable. I was ready to die and kill on the hill of refusing to tuck it in. My mom was ready to never let me do the leadline again. Finally, a friend came to the rescue and said, “Does it matter?” And clearly, the answer was that it did not.
Andrea Kail – Oh, goodness – canary yellow chaps and a turquoise sequin jacket. I won the Congress in that, too. That was in 1994. Back then, everybody wore brightly colored jackets and chaps. Those gloves! I wanted to have something that nobody else did.
Meggen Morrow Baynes – All PURPLE. I think this was 1995. My chaps, pants, shirt, belt, and gloves were purple, but my boots and hair net bow were white. The pad was purple. Purple was NOT my favorite color. I don’t even know why we chose that color. It was scratchy and uncomfortable.
Penni Himes – This was my heart horse, Warlance. He taught me so much. Yes, it was a shiny, silky white blouse with black piping, and of course, I needed that little pop of color with that polyester red scarf. The hat was likely a Bailey straw hat, but I can’t tell because I had that fashionable hat cover over it to protect it from the rain. After all, I’m sure it was a super expensive hat (haha), and I can’t forget about my black leather tooled belt and heart belt buckle. My show saddle had silver hearts on it.
Lia Ploog – My dad shipped me off to the Denver Stock Show with our trainer, Tom Yanz. Gotta love the polyester shirt, buckskin chaps, and body clipped bay. A hat plopped on my head with hair everywhere. Judges always thought I was a boy. This horse is Miss Shady Gypsy whom is Machine Made’s grand dam.
Vanessa Froman – I was showing Crystals Luck, my first painted horse, in 1993. My mom made my show clothes. We couldn’t find the picture of the puke green outfit she made me about 20 years ago.
Dodie Howard – This style back then was a tuxedo shirt, matching bowtie, and vest. My sister had all of the colored Rockies with matching shirts.
Cale Thompson – The photo quality has come a long way, but here’s one with me in the showmanship. The grey mare was when I was 14 in denim and lace-up boots.
Chelsea Carlson – I may be one of the lucky few to never really be “embarrassed” by an outfit, but I came across this pic from my first Quarter Horse show. I grew up at the shows watching my mom show our gelding “Deelux A Ward”, among others, but finally got my chance to show him myself. The rest is history. I took him over soon after that, and my mom became a full-time show mom. The whole matching set was all the rage. And I got so many compliments on the emerald green on a gray with my white hat. Hard to miss us. Another client of mine, Katrina Bilic has a good story – Her mom made a bet with her to wear her old complete red scallop chap outfit in exchange for a new show saddle.
June Liston – Yellow ruffle tuxedo shirt with cobalt blue pants. I’m old, so my picture doesn’t illustrate the true colors of my iconic outfit (haha).
Do you have a fun picture of your worst fashion outfit in the show pen? Please share on our social media.
