Black Horse Creations hooked this pony mom up! CHECK IT OUT!

A few weeks ago I got a package as I often do for the blog. Upon opening it I didn't find the usual amazing kid gear...instead I found amazing MOM gear! That's right, this time MOM got something cool in the mail!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                     Back to the package...so I opened it to find this beautiful luxurious, super soft sweatshirt from Black Horse Creations. It easily transitions from the barn to a night out with friends with a quick change from breeches to leggins! Versatility at its most stylish and comfortable best!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was trying to think of the best way to photograph this awesome sweatshirt, so I called a good friend and asked to borrow her photography skills! I bought myself some beautiful redwood tailoreds and shined my ottb, Deuce, up and geared up for a beautiful fall photoshoot! It was a bit windy but we got some cute shots of the sweatshirt...and my horse! Wohoo! 

 

 

 

Black Horse Creations specializes in apparel,accessories and even some horse gear inspired by the beautiful Friesian horse. You can find their silhouette as BHC'S logo and it graces all of the apparel and accessories that BHC sells.

Although, this time I was the spoiled recipient of some BHC gear, they make some amazing kid gear as well. Burn out tshirts and pink ruffled dresses...all with the perfect touch of equestrian and sparkle added to make each piece extra special  and ponylicious! 

 

 

BHC also offers children's sizes from infant sizing up through to adult. All of their designs are comfortable and ready to keep you stylish in the barn or at play with their logo embellished with swavorski crystals to add a little bling.

Next time you need something a little special for yourself (or your kiddos) check out Black Horse Creations!

Warm Sunshine is perfect for pony bath time...with Mrs. Conn's!

Today we are excited to tell you about Mrs. Conn's Bath Sponges. I am just tickled over how much awesome they pack into their Pony Pod :-) 5 awesome sponges with five cool smells and perfect for kid sized hands! My dilemma, how do I make this photo  shoot fun?!

 

Well, you take the Mrs. Conn's pony pod & an eager kid in a swim suit and rain boots, add an adorable pony, some props and hope for a few good shots! It was so much fun...and oh my goodness, I cannot even explain how good these sponges smell! Seriously, I wish I could post a scratch and sniff for you!

 

 

 

 

Mrs. Conn's sent us an adorable pony pod, a new product made just for kids and ponies and sold exclusively at www.theponyhabit.com. The Pony Pod comes in a cute plastic storage tote that includes 5 fun colored, flower shaped, bath pods pre-loaded with soap! (Really good smelling soap) That's right, no more mess of bottles laying around everywhere, just hose your pony off and get to work!

Natalie and Sparkle had fun trying out all 5 scents, our personal favorite was RazzleBerry, Drop-a-lime-alicious, Peachy-Gleam and Pineappoloosa, and Dazzelberry. The sponges puffed right up with their pre-loaded soap and worked great on a our very dirty little gray girl, Sparklicious. Natalie was so excited to be able to wash her pony all by herself with no help from mom!!

 

 

 

Mrs. Conn's is a California based company that all for the love of horse washing! The company is well thought out and boasts certified cruelty free and is 100% sourced and manufactured right here in the USA!!! Did I mention that they are all natural ,biodegradable, and are compost-able??? Doesn't get much greener than that!

 

When Anne Conn started her company she was excited to combine her love of all things clean and her horses! I'd say she hit the nail right on the head with these Pony Pods. They smell good enough to use on yourself and leave the ponies smelling lovely!

 

With Christmas just around the corner, I highly suggest a Mrs. Conn's Pony Pod finding its' way into your little riders stocking this year! At $24.50 for all 5 sponges with multiple uses on each sponge it's a great investment and one your kid and pony will thank you for... and your nose... your nose will REALLY thank you!!!!!

You can purchase Mrs. Conn's Bath Sponges at www.theponyhabit.com or www.mrsconns.com!

A Frozen inspired photoshoot with B & B Bows

Have you ever watched your kiddo in the show ring, and they're riding their little hearts out with a huge smile on their face... and you notice the judge eyeing them up as well?! It's one of my favorite parts of watching Natalie show Sparkle. I love seeing the judge notice them and their hard work and seeing what an amazing team they make. However, about 2 shows ago, the judged loved them but couldn't read her number?! I could see him struggling to read it through her bows! Say hello to show mom panic!!! Her beautiful bows were playing hide and seek with her number making it difficult to decipher. Luckily, after many double takes from the judge (who thankfully didn't get frustrated and move onto the next) he finally got her number and they left both classes with a first and a second place. The thought had never crossed my mind that since she was so tiny the bows are much longer on her then they would be on a child of a more typical leadline age.

Enter Bethanie Lewis and her lovely company B&B Bows. Bethanie had contacted me early on when I first began the blog to be featured but since I started the blog with a feature on show bows, I told her I'd like to space them out a bit so both companies could have their much deserved chance to shine without sharing the spotlight!








Bethanie has traditional bows but wanted me to feature her "tail-less" show bows. I had never even heard of such a thing. She explained to me that in her travels to shows she always asked the judges what they looked for in "accessories" such as show bows. She found a lot of them were saying the same thing, bows are great, BUT they at times hide the numbers of riders who they'd like to place and can make them frustrated due to this.

That got Bethanie thinking... what if bows didn't have tails? Still all the fun of a regular show bow, but without the risk of playing hide and seek with judge and the rider's number. She started making "tail-less" show bows, and let me tell you, the detail is incredible.


We were chatting back and fourth and I mentioned that both of my girls love the movie Frozen, and within a week there was a package on my door step that had me thinking WAY outside of the box and even  getting another Pink Pony Blog Alumni; BeanysBreeches, involved.

What came in my package from Bethanie were 2 sets of bows and even an extra bow for my newly pony crazy 3 year old that was the perfect size for her short bob haircut (can we say thoughtful?!).

One set of bows were navy, light pink, baby blue and sparkly silver with a bottle cap in the middle adorned with Natalie's monogram... perfectly fitting for the show ring! The other set was what caught me off guard and got my creative thoughts  going on overload. They were beautiful Frozen inspired bows. Certainly they aren't traditional enough for the rated hunter ring... but how could I make these gorgeous bows awesomely equestrian?!

The Beatles always said "I get by with a little help from my friends..." and that's exactly what I did. The first person I thought to contact was Amy Waldron, friend, fellow fun riding junkie, and owner of BeanysBreeches. I sent her a picture of all the bows Bethanie had sent, and said, "I know I should do the more traditional bows, but I really want to do the Frozen bows. How can I make them awesomely equestrian?" My answer showed up in the mail a few days later with two pairs of Frozen  BeanysBreeches that were inspired by Bethanie's gorgeous bows!



















So off the store my girls went with their grandmother to go get a Frozen t-shirt to match their new bows and riding tights... for an awesomely equestrian, Frozen themed photo-shoot. (Yes, these bows
can inspire you to do just about anything... they are awesome!) add the farm,some cute kids and ponies... and you have for your viewing pleasure the photo-shoot that was born and inspired from B&B Bows with a little help from our friends at BeanysBreeches!

I hope you enjoy the pictures as much as we are enjoying our B&B "tail-less" show bows! Please check them out on Facebook and get your little rider a pair of "tail-less" show bows for their next show... or just for fun!

Pony Pizza Parties...it's the new trend in our barn, it should be at yours too!

This past Saturday we had the first (of many) Pony Pizza parties at our farm! Pony Pizza party?! Yes, a crazy, wild, Ponylicious Pizza Party! How did we even come up with the idea? Connie Fry and super fun small business, The Pony Pizza Company.

Connie stumbled upon The Pink Pony  (we love hearing people just finding their way to the blog! So fun!) and messaged me saying she would love to tell me more about her company and possibly be featured. When she told me about her company and I checked them out... my first thought was pizza for ponies?! How brilliantly fun! Connie and The Pony Pizza Company were way too ponylicious to pass up, and after receiving samples, our horses and ponies couldn't deny
that they absolutely belonged on our blog with an amazing feature of their own!

The company was started in 2013. After years of having this great idea, Connie started playing with taste testing her pony pizzas with the help of some very willing participants at her farm. All her taste testers were immediately pizza fanatics just like most of their human counterparts have been for years! Who doesn't love a good pizza, right?  Today, Connie has her scrumptious, gourmet, pony pizzas made in a commercial bakery and is loving meeting new people and seeing how much ponies, horses, puppies and even a few goats truly love her tasty idea.



Since, I typically feature young equestrian fashion and accessories for both child riders and their ponies, I was a little nervous to do a photo shoot for a treat. I was stumped for a little. I really felt like just doing a product shot wasn't enough to showcase the fun spirit this specific treat has. There was also no way Natalie's lively welsh, Sparkle, would not eat a pizza in one swift lick. Then the CRAZY thought crossed my mind, what about a pony pizza party?



 



Sparkle and Natalie both turn 5 in September, so why not celebrate their (early) birthdays with our young barn friends and some ponies from the farm. Fabulous idea in theory, adorable and funny in person, but a bit wild to photograph. Overall, I think the craziness allowed me to capture fun photos showing the fun spirit of this treat.

 

Whether it's an everyday snack or for a special pony pizza party, The Pony Pizza Company is the couture, but fun horse treat your pony (or horse) will love you a little more for! My overly picky OTTB ate them right up without a second thought, and that is really saying something! Check them out and host your own pony pizza party, it is a fun way to spend time with ponylicious friends and make some wild pony pizza memories!





You can purchase your own pony pizzas with two topping choices, Mint-O-Roni or Molasses Sausage, as well as options of mini pizzas or a full sized 9 inch pizza that is delivered in a real pizza box! Visit The Pony Pizza Company on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ponypizzacompany, on Instagram at www.Instagram.com/ponypizzacompany, twitter www.twitter.com/ponypizzaco, and purchase at www.ponypizzacompany.com



 
 



I really enjoyed trying something different with this feature, and Connie was great to work with. She started showing her daughters horse, Nate, when her daughter left for college almost 10 years ago and hasn't stopped since. She recently purchased a bright, 5 year old Hanovarian mare," Fanci That," on which she is currently showing hunters in the baby green division! This pony loving mom has got it going on! Juggling motherhood, riding and a small business is crazy, but Connie does it well, something you will totally see and appreciate while sharing one of her yummy pony pizzas with your favorite pony!

Girlfriends + trail ride = successful small business?! Yes!

In 2010, two girlfriends went on a trail ride and, by the time they returned, they knew they would start a new company together that specialized in fashion forward, couture, show shirts for every equestrian...and maybe some amazing accessories to compliment their shirts!

Katie Matteson and Sharon Lilien-Zwibel are two horsey loving ladies on a mission, and together they have created a stand-out company in horse show attire: Kathryn Lily Equestrian.

After four years of building their business, they have 10 incredible spokes models, ranging from 6 years to 22 years of age, who show off their Kathryn Lily Equestrian originals in the show ring every weekend. These lucky riders help with feedback on new products and help spread the word about the KL products. Keep an eye out for many of them in the show rings near you, or follow them on the KL Facebook page!

Here's my moment to tell you a bit about why Natalie, Sparkle and I love Kathryn Lily Equestrian!

I will say, their show shirts are incredible! KL sent Natalie a long-sleeved show shirt, with gorgeous horseshoe material lining the cuffs as well as the collar. I'm honestly jealous of my 4 year old and her amazing Kathryn Lily Equestrian show shirt, with its premium technical material. This shirt is officially on my "mommy needs that" list. Personally, I think it should on everyone's must-have list!

Kathryn Lily Equestrian prides themselves in the quality of their products.  Their show shirts are light and airy, and can easily be worn in the show ring on a hot summer day. What I love most about this gorgeous shirt is, they didn't miss the details. In fact, this shirt is all about the details. It is ready to go in the show ring and assist in presenting your young equestrian with a beautiful and professional appearance during classes. Spectators will enjoy the Kathryn Lily Equestrian classy embroidered logos, that compliment the shirt instead of taking away from it.

 

After classes, don't worry about this shirt being boring, your kiddo will be hanging out with friends (and ponies) with her sleeves rolled up to reveal her choice of a beautiful, fun, bright color, or pattern. The sleeves comfortably snap into place from a hidden strap in the sleeve, and are adorned with a peekaboo embroidered logo, which  makes it obvious that these two entrepreneurs didn't miss a single opportunity to add a dash of detail! The strap which holds the sleeves matches the pattern or color of the rider’s choosing. The shirt’s cuffs tuck under the extra material nicely, creating a high end, classic, and fun look, without the high end price tag!

Now, onto the gorgeous KL belt and bows! They are the perfect accessories to tie the whole show ensemble together! The bows we received were well made and the colors of a championship ribbon, which my daughter quickly noted! The bows close with a barrette, allowing for a quick, easy on/off, no hassle, pig-tail installation.

The belt carries the Kathryn Lily logo in light blue, featured on a white background. It truly finishes the outfit for the ring, but also transitions well into daily use, as well as being very reasonably priced.

I do not typically feature show clothing, so when I decided to feature Kathryn Lily, some people asked "why them?". The answer was simple. I'd pull up a picture to show them what this company offers to our young riders (and their horse showing moms). Then my blog’s followers understood why I chose to feature KL’s products! There’s no denying that KL believes that showing should be fun, and an opportunity for a bit of self-expression! Of course, each competitor must maintain a professional appearance in the show ring, presenting ourselves differently than we would for a quick schooling ride at home, or lesson with our favorite instructor. However, Kathryn Lily Equestrian seeks to offer something better than the traditional show shirt and accessories we're used to.

The fun, bright colors and pattern KL offers lend themselves as an opportunity for our kids to showcase their personalities and favorite colors off the course, and look like 2x world champion, Jennifer Alfano, in the ring. Who could ask for more from a show shirt?! Certainly not this pony loving mom!

Bottom line, this company rocks from its two amazing owners, whose lovely, long-time friendship which started in college as a shared love of horses (and ponies) carried them into adulthood and to this wonderful company that offers outstanding products and customer service. Throughout the process of preparing to feature their company, Katie and Sharon have been so helpful and lovely to work with. It has truly been a pleasure. They offer this same personalized customer service to all their customers.

 You can find a full selection of their products at www.KathrynLily.com, follow them on Facebook by searching Kathryn Lily Equestrian,  or on Instagram @KathrynLilyEq. They also travel to many HITS circuit shows, if you see their bright pink tent, stop by to say hello and take home some KL goodies!