05/17/2025
Safety first!
Yes. That’s me. Competing in dressage. In an inflatable vest. 🦺
Once upon a time, I was that feral horse girl riding ba****ck, no helmet, no vest, no common sense—probably galloping full tilt toward a very questionable decision. And hey—I survived! But that was before I had a mortgage, multiple businesses, a baby, and a 17-hand warmblood with a fondness for spontaneous interpretive dance 💃.
So yes, I wear a helmet. And yes, I also wear an inflatable vest. Because I love dressage, I love riding, and I really love the idea of not shattering my ribcage or puncturing a lung in the name of fashion
Is it common in the dressage ring? Not really. Do I care? Also not really. Because nothing says adult amateur energy quite like protecting your actual thoracic cavity.
No, wearing a vest doesn’t make me less of a rider. It makes me a smarter one.
And no, my horse isn’t “bad”—he’s just a horse. A big, beautiful, occasionally chaotic one who reminds me every now and then that unpredictability is part of the package.
So if you’re a fellow adult amateur, a parent (pet or otherwise), a human with responsibilities, or just somebody with a spine you’re rather fond of—I’m here to say: it’s okay to evolve. You can be bold and careful. Brave and cautious. Elegant and electing to preserve your anatomy.
Let’s normalize safety. Let’s make it look damn good. Let’s keep showing up to ride another day 💪🏻🐴.
Vest by - not sponsored 🤍