The Equestrienne’s Belt: More Than an Accessory

Do you love to make a fashion statement with your accessories? No doubt most of us do! And in today’s equestrienne wardrobe offerings, there are many statements you can make, not the least of which is the belt you chose to wear. From blingy and flashy to colorful eye-catching belts that match your outfit, to the traditional, conservative and practical leather (with or without engraved nameplates for the horses that are or have been in your life), belts can make that fashion statement in a loud and clear way. 

And of course, you do need a belt to keep those breeches in their proper place. Doing so also adds to the neat and clean-cut look desired by most equestriennes. The good looks of a belt are one thing, but wearing a belt is also a tradition carried over from the Hunt Field to the Show Ring, since when in the field a belt can be used as a sling or even a tourniquet. But is there more? 

A few years back, I was driving down the road from my farm to the local post office. That road can be busy at times, but that day it was pretty deserted. As I rounded a bend in the road, I could see a pony grazing along the highway. I’m used to seeing that pony, but she is usually INSIDE the fence! Stopping safely on the side of the road opposite her, my first thought was to get her away from the road. Now, there are times when I do carry a halter and lead rope, but today was not one of those days. And it looked like no one was home at the farm where I knew this pony belonged. Whipping my belt from my jeans, I caught the pony and using the belt as a halter of sorts, I got her back in her field and propped up the broken fence where it looked like she got out. Indeed, no one was home when I knocked on the door of the farmhouse and walked around to the barn to see if anyone was there. So, I left a note saying I put the pony back in her field, but someone needed to fix the fence to keep her there. 

While this was the most dramatic of my catching of horses with my belt stories, it is far from the only time I have used my belt to catch a horse! Most of those catches were on my own farm, and usually the belt was very temporary, holding the horse until someone came with more appropriate halter and lead rope. Other times it was just me and my belt, such as the time I did my usual look out my window that overlooks the barnyard just before turning in for the night. The moonlight was bright that night, and what I saw was one of the paddock horses grazing peacefully in the barnyard and the paddock gate hanging open. You guessed it – I quickly caught him with my handy belt and put him back in the paddock.   

Do you have a good story about catching a horse with your belt? Send it to us via the comment section below this blog and we promise to share the best stories. 

So the moral of this blog, if I may say so myself, is that you can make all the fashion statements with your belt that you want (and you should), but always wear a belt when possible. You just never know when you will use it to catch another loose horse.