The Equestrian Confidential - Tips, Inspiration, & Conversation for the horse show amateur

Amateur Spotlight: Romi Skolnik

April 27, 2018 No Comments

Named Best Adult Rider of 2017 by the Greater San Diego Hunter Jumper Association, Romi Skolnik is not one to be missed. Don’t worry – you likely won’t miss her and her painted mount, Hanky Panky, around the Southern California shows; not only is “Hank” an eye catching drink of water, but Romi stands out from the crowd both in and out of the saddle with her warm personality and effervescent positivity. After a long and successful Junior career, Romi has effortlessly transitioned into Amateur life, rocking the medal, equitation, and hunter rings and racking up top honors like the […]

Equestrian Health & Fitness

Read This if You’re Always Hearing “Shoulders Back!”

April 13, 2018 No Comments

As amateurs, we get away with a little more leeway in the realm of equitation and posture than our junior rider counterparts. Sure, we all want to look great on a horse (and maybe win an amateur medal or two) but we’re not about to spend hours in the saddle doing flatwork sans stirrups or stare in the ringside mirror wondering if our shoulders are back quite far enough – the mirror is for pondering if one’s but has gotten bigger or smaller recently, after all. And let’s be real here: we have trainers to yell “for the love of […]

Uncategorized

March Must Haves: Treat Yourself Edition, Equestrian Style

March 23, 2018 No Comments

Spring has sprung, and that means spring styles are hot off the press. After a long winter…whether that involved braving rain and snow or sprinting the ridiculously long distance between the barns and rings at Thermal, you deserve a little treat before settling in for the summer show season (and your horse might want one too). Hell, who are we kidding? We just want a good excuse to treat ourselves. We rounded up a few of our most lusted after luxe pieces that are well worth the splurge, plus threw in some indulgent treats for your well deserving equine partner. […]

Featured, Ringside Motivation

Inside a Winning Mindset with International Competitor Michelle Rodal

March 9, 2018 1 Comment

When it comes to crafting a winning mindset, Michelle Rodal is the champ. Michelle’s an accomplished Grand Prix rider (and that’s putting it lightly) who has participated in four FEI World Cup Finals. She’s represented the United States in numerous Nations Cup competitions before recently beginning to ride in International competition under the Mexican flag. She also earned an MBA and currently runs boutique sales operation Morgan Hill Partners, Inc. Michelle is obviously wildly successful, but when you meet her, you can instantly tell that it’s pure passion for the sport and the horses that drives Michelle in every aspect […]

Featured, Tips From Your Trainer

Tips from a Trainer: Don’t Overthink It

March 1, 2018 No Comments

USHJA certified trainer & instructor Jasmin Stair of Jasmin Stair Stables at Fortuna Del Charro in Rancho Santa Fe, California is back to give us some perspective on adjusting your mindset to get the most out of your riding experience. As a trainer and a competitor, one thing that is always hard – no matter what level you ride at – is learning something new or practicing difficult tasks in the ring when you can’t stop stressing and overthinking. Overthinking is something we all deal with. We’re human, we have lives, and we worry. We worry about our riding […]

Fashion & Skincare for Riders, Wine & Other Important Things

Last Minute Valentines Day Gifts for The Equestrian Set

February 11, 2018 No Comments

Valentines Day is just around the corner and if you’re like us, you’re a little behind on this mid-week holiday. While you can wine and dine your sweetheart, how do you show the love to your friends and cohorts in the horse world? We created a quick chic & easy gift guide for your trainer, fellow riders, or most importantly – to show yourself a little much deserved self love. With gifts this good, no one will care that you’re a day or two late (and when you decide to treat yourself, it’s really the thought that counts). Snaks 5th […]

Featured, Ringside Motivation

Horse Shows: It Takes a Village

February 8, 2018 1 Comment

Once you step into the show ring, it’s easy to feel alone, and like the weight of doing well is all on you. What we often forget is that even though rider and horse cross the start timers or enter a hunter ring alone, we all really enter the ring with a huge support team behind us. Family, Friends, & Significant Others Us equestrians are slightly insane (but at least we’re aware of it), and it takes a crew of very understanding non-horsey people to support us through our ups, downs, and way downs. Sure, they may never quite understand why we […]

Featured, Tips From Your Trainer

Tips from a Trainer: Setting Riding & Horse Show Goals for The New Year

January 27, 2018 No Comments

We’re almost a month into 2018, and while New Years Resolutions may have come and gone (c’mon, we went to the gym for a whole week!), it’s the perfect time to start looking at your riding goals for this year. USHJA certified trainer & instructor Jasmin Stair of Jasmin Stair Stables at Fortuna Del Charro in Rancho Santa Fe, California gave us a few tips on how to set your goals for all areas of your riding, and why you need to do it now. LOOKING FORWARD TO SHOW SEASON Don’t wait until halfway through the summer to start […]

News & Updates

Congrats to Friends of The Equestrian Confidential: Alan Smith and Romi Skolnik!

January 24, 2018 No Comments

The Equestrian Confidential team would like to give a big congrats (and cheers a glass of wine) to San Diego riders Alan Smith and Romi Skolnik! If you show in Del Mar, you probably know both of these friendly faces. Alan and Romi are friends of Equestrian Confidential and two of our very favorite people. Both received big honors at the recent 2017 Greater San Diego Hunter Jumper Association year end awards banquet – Romi taking home the Best Adult Rider, and Alan being awarded the coveted Sportsmanship Award. Alan rides with Jasmin Stair Stables at Fortuna Del Charro in […]

Fashion & Skincare for Riders, Featured

January Must Haves: Rider Off Duty

January 19, 2018 No Comments

January has us tiptoeing around muddy footing and getting rained out of lesson days while daydreaming of upcoming trips to Thermal and Florida. With warmer conditions and the first big shows of the season drawing near, it’s easy to just mentally check out of winter altogether. For this edition of our monthly must-haves, we’re going rider off duty with practical pieces that up the style factor whether you’re in the ring or out to lunch. Every piece on our list does double duty, taking you from saddle to Sauv Blanc in two seconds flat. They’re also perfect layering pieces for […]

Inside a Winning Mindset with International Competitor Michelle Rodal

Tips from a Trainer: Don’t Overthink It

Horse Shows: It Takes a Village

Tips from a Trainer: Setting Riding & Horse Show Goals for The New Year

January Must Haves: Rider Off Duty

Judge’s First Impressions In The Show Ring

Amateur Spotlight: Stephanie Wilbur

Anti-Aging Skincare Secrets for Riders

Amateur Spotlight: Leslie Hazard

Amateur Spotlight: Piper Klemm

Protecting Your Skin for Equestrians

What To Eat On Early Show Mornings: Simple Summer Smoothie

Amateur Spotlight: Romi Skolnik

Read This if You’re Always Hearing “Shoulders Back!”

March Must Haves: Treat Yourself Edition, Equestrian Style

Inside a Winning Mindset with International Competitor Michelle Rodal

Tips from a Trainer: Don’t Overthink It

Horse Shows: It Takes a Village

Tips from a Trainer: Setting Riding & Horse Show Goals for The New Year

Congrats to Friends of The Equestrian Confidential: Alan Smith and Romi Skolnik!

January Must Haves: Rider Off Duty