The Equestrian Journal 

The more time I spend around horses, the more I realize that equestrian style isn't really about fashion at all.

It's about buying things once, buying them well, and actually using them. We don't think twice about investing in a decent pair of boots because we know we'll wear them for years. The same goes for a good jacket, a quality leather belt or a favorite pair of sunglasses. They're things that become part of your everyday life rather than something you save for a special occasion.

I think jewelry should be exactly the same.

Don't get me wrong, I love a statement piece. A chunky ring, a bold necklace or a pair of earrings that completely transform an outfit will always have a place in my jewelry box which is exactly why the Bougie Beads Collection exists. But they're the pieces I choose when I'm dressing for the occasion.

The jewelry I reach for every single day is different. It's the necklace I don't have to think about. The bracelet that somehow works with everything. The piece that's become so much a part of my routine that I almost forget I'm wearing it. Those are usually the pieces that end up getting the most wear.

That's probably why I've never been drawn to jewelry that's obviously horse-themed. It doesn't really reflect the riders I know. Most of us aren't trying to make horses our entire personality. We just happen to love them. I'd much rather wear a beautifully designed horse bit necklace that another equestrian might recognize than something that announces it to the whole world. It's that tiny reminder of a part of your life that's yours. The early mornings. The smell of manure. The monthly horse bills that probably cost more than your mortgage. The friendships that somehow all revolve around standing next to an arena with a Stanley in one hand and fly spray in the other.

If someone notices the horse bit and smiles because they know exactly what it is, that's a lovely bonus.

And if they don't, it really doesn't matter.