A few years ago, I had the daunting task of going back home and packing up all my childhood belongings. Along with the usual stuffed animals, board games and boxes of teen novels, I grew up on a show horse farm, which means I have my fair share of "horse gear" that I'm not ready to part with. Is there a way to tastefully incorporate equestrian decor into my home, without making it look like a tack room or scene from National Velvet?
The first element that made its way into my decor was a wool saddle blanket. The colors were perfectly suited for my bedroom, as was the thick and lush feel of it underfoot, so it now serves as a rug at the end of my bed. But that was an easy one. What about my boots, saddles, chaps, photos, trophies, ribbons... and the list goes on. While I don't need to display all of these items (and I have parted with many), I would like to tastefully incorporate some of my favorite pieces without it appearing too staged. I decided to seek out some examples from around the web.
Along with blankets, boots and helmets seem to blend without much effort. A simple hook or shelf for a helmet, while boots can be placed just about anywhere and look stylishly cool. I've noticed in some images, adding vintage wood boot forms to the inside, looks a heck of a lot better than the rolled magazines I currently have my boots stuffed with. But what about a saddle? Can it work?
A saddle's size definitely makes it a statement piece if it's included in your room's arrangement. That said, I wouldn't want it to be the focal point of the room, as it is in the fourth photo above. I've seen saddles draped over a stair banister, but does that only work if you have a horizontal section to your banister? So as for my saddle, the jury is still out. And while I'm not sure any of my shiny trophies will be finding their way to my book shelf, I completely love the idea of displaying ribbons in a shadowbox configuration (photo six).
Have you found innovative yet stylish ways to incorporate artifacts from your past into your decor? Does equestrian chic decor work if you aren't a rider?
Images: 1, 2; Style at Home; 3, Goodwill Hunting; 4, Bainbridge Blues; 5, House and Home; 6, 7; Habitually Chic
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Saddles would make the COOLEST top to a bar stool if it's integrated well. If your kitchen has some modern elements, this would keep it from looking too rustic.
My bf is a surfer and I'm a horsewoman so our space has influences from both worlds. My horse's first dressage saddle is in our living room and friends are welcome to sit on it. :)
I've actually been wondering about this myself. I've just cleared out my old room at my parents' place, and now I've got my helmet and gloves sitting on the dining table, waiting for a home. I brought my crop too because I think it looks good on a shelf, and it's subtle.
Loved the ribbon collage as well. Definitely have to file away that idea.
To be honest, I think I'd hate to walk into a friend's house who has never sat on a horse in their life, and see an equestrian decor. How does that reflect the person in any way?!
I don't know... on the one hand it seems to say, "Look at me, I'm so wealthy I have a horse." On the other hand, if one didn't have a horse, it would seem to be pretentious posing.
Glad you've still got your stuff; I stupidly gave away boatloads of my old riding boots, velvet hardhats, polo mallets, trophy cups, etc. People pay a lot for that stuff to create a Ralph Lauren-ish look for their homes. Pre-Ebay, of course. I could kick myself a million times over.
I have a friend who put her grandfather's lovely handcarved saddle on display, but there's a line between Ralph Lauren and Dominatrix....
You could always stage it and take some great photos, print out the best one large-format, and hang that on your wall.
Ohhhh, we're not a horse family, but the previous owners of our 1980s Cape had a saddle on a sawhorse on the landing on the second floor and it looked ridiculous. It was a super country house in the burbs (maroon carpet, plaid currains and all) and the saddle still managed to look out of place. It's aaalllll about context, I think. A saddle in a nook near other horse memorabilia can look nice, because it's obviously a part of a history. A sadddle at the top of the stairs with nothing else around it? No thanks!
I love the saddle being used as part of a seating arrangement, and I wouldn't mind owning those previously loved equestrian boots either. Maybe another option would be to create a still-life and have someone paint it. I like the photo idea too, maybe sepia tone or age it somehow?
I moved out of my parents house 8 years ago and just now brought home my old horse's first bridle and her tiny halter from when she was only 4 months old. I have them in my hope chest for now, but would love to hang them someplace once I have a place to put them. I also still have my boots and spurs. :) Sadly, I sold my saddle, blanket, and lots of other gear along with the horse when I moved out. I lived too far away from home to keep her and needed the money for my first apartment.
Gosh, I miss horses so much...
Sam I Am - I am fortunate enough to have two horses. I am not wealthy, and my displays of my horse memorabilia is not any more a way to shove my privilege in other people's face than someone else's 60" flatscreen.
I have a lot of horse things around my house because I LOVE horses. I always have, and they will always be a huge part of my life. Nothing is more difficult, though, than finding somewhere to display my old hunt saddle in my teeny tiny apartment. I really like photo 6. Maybe I could dig up some old show photos to display near my saddle... wherever it ends up. I agree with threeacres - a saddle in the middle of nowhere is a bit, odd! It needs context! Back when I lived with my parents, I had a long pot shelf. I put my old saddle up there, along with an old wooden box used for shipping rockets and a black and white drawing of a still life I did in undergrad. My room was decorated in greys, ivory, and lilac, and I had framed pictures of my horses around the room. I thought it worked pretty well. Plus, it was my room - not nearly as overwhelming as my living areas!
Hmm, most of my gear from horse-training days lives in our basement, though I should probably sort it out better. Really, when will I ever need show-sheen or polo wraps in my normal life?
So far, we have a photo of me and my last horse, and one of my kind of nice bridle hooks holds our dog's leash. After seeing image 6 about a year ago, my husband gave me the go-ahead for a similar shadow box, but I haven't done it yet.
Honestly, I feel like a saddle is one step too far, though.
Please share what you end up doing--I'd be interested to see.
Equestrian decor...maybe not.
Thanks so much for reminding me of the two blankets I stupidly left with an ex-bf, intending to pick them up someday and never did. And the saddle I left at a tack store on consignment and forgot to either pick up or get paid for.
Well, at least I still have a box full of ribbons. I considered having them made into a pillow or a quilt but then decided the bright colors just don't go with my color scheme. The silver cups are displayed on a shelf but they're in serious need of some polishing. I suck at horse decor.
My riding buddies commissioned a water color portrait of my little mares that I dearly treasure.
The tack, all the way back to my childhood pony saddle, is is the crawlspace and I can't bring myself to get rid of any of it. It is the most emotionally laden of all my possessions.
My boots/ helmet are in the attic and I wore them to a Halloween party, as Lady Marjorie Largebottom, and gave out cookies from a silver bowl.
But mostly it makes me sad that the horses are gone.
Dapplegray - how do you have your saddle set up so that people can sit on it in your living room? I'm looking for a way to do that in our basement living room so that it doesn't look ridiculous, but so I can work on my position (and use my spare saddle). This from someone who currently owns a horse, but certainly isn't rich either (and has neither cable nor a big screen TV).
I've never been a fan of horsey items as home decor. It's the decor version of the pink hunt coat with black velvet collar look found at stores like Talbots. My old tack trunk is a great place for storing my sweaters, but it stays in the basement.
I recently rescued all my old ribbons from my mom's house, and I've been meaning to do something like this with them. I find random horsey objects placed around the house to be a little odd (i.e., boots and helmets are not decoration or dust catchers, they are apparel), but if it can be worked in pretty seamlessly, then I like it. For instance, I think picture 2 shows a helmet nicely incorporated into a display, while picture 3 looks to me like someone was too lazy to put their stuff away when they got home from the barn.