SHOW BLING: Are Glitz and Glam Still In??

The western world of show is one that many seek to learn, one that few completely conquer, and one that will never stop changing.

Rewind ten years. Typical western show rings on both local and national levels were filled with a craze of Hobby Horse. I have nothing against Hobby Horse (in fact they make many of my show shirts and my chaps), but they have certainly taken the industry by storm. I get their bright, crisp, and extremely user friendly catalogs regularly, and honestly, I am astonished at some of the tops that have become so popular.

The key to most Hobby Horse clothing, which is simply following a craze, is B-L-I-N-G. Another trend that is popping up is animal print. Bling and animal print are adorning world champions.

As much fun as these shiny shirts are, the question is worth considering... Is fashion changing?

Some think that Hobby Horse has a strangle hold on the shows and that their increasingly blingy tops are not a wave of the past, but a staple of the future. Others have a differing opinion.

After an IHSA show at St. Andrews College in Laurinburg, NC, one of the most respected female judges in the AQHA said it bluntly... She doesn't care about bling.

While western pleasure classes have earned notorious reputations for placing the most silver highest in the ribbons, she is sticking to her guns and pushing less shine, and more equine.

A nice show shirt (which will often still run you a pretty penny for quality apparel) and tasteful accessories show a nicer horsemanship package, and less of a runway show. This is what many of the breed certified judges are leaning toward.

Blingy blouses and shimmering jewelry are certainly still "all the rage," but fashion is also due for a shift. It could shift to the more ostentatious outfits that are starting to surface. But, the shift could be much more unexpected. If the right pair go out and win the world in a simple getup, what turn will fashion take?