Stock pins...why so boring?

[Mozart]

Yes, this is an important issue in dressage, one that keeps us up at night...not so much :lol:

However...why has the customization trend not gone to stock pins? I am not a big bling fan but this is one area where I think some upgrading is in order. Why are they still so plain? Or am I looking in all the wrong places?

Have you seen beautiful stock pins? If so, where?

[hoopoe]

http://www.equesport.com/browbands.html


thiese women have been producing custom stock pin and browbands for quite some time

[merrygoround]

Maybe because we want the judge to be looking at the horse-not us. :lol: :lol:

[pintopiaffe]

I wear a Connemara marble shamrock that is supposed to be a cloak pin. It's more than a century old. Not very blingy, but very, very superstitious/lucky :winkgrin:

I've always had a sentimental stock pin. You don't see them, or barely see them, so they can be anything you want them to be.

[Dixon]

Stock pins' original function was not just to hold the collar in place, but also to serve as an emergency first-aid item -- to pin a bandage if necessary. So stock pins need to be easy to remove and to use under stressful circumstances. The more ornate the pin, the more cumbersome they tend to be. So bling detracts from their original form and function. If you want gaudiness, wear a show bow.

[farriersgirl]

Here's a nice one I use. The piped stock tie looks nice around the collar and the pin is inlayed with crystals -not too much to be distracting but appeases the need for a little bling

http://www.stcroixsaddlery.com/PhotoGallery.asp?ProductCode=AAT%5FTRJ%5F33

[Mozart]

So stock pins need to be easy to remove and to use under stressful circumstances.

Like when the canteen runs out of my favourite cooler?

Thank you, but as a good Pony Clubber, I am aware of the stock pin's history. However, I am not expecting to have to fashion a sling out of my stock tie and pin at a dressage show in 2008. Should same become necessary, I believe I will make use of the on call medics or the vet, depending on whether the emergency is human or equine in nature. :winkgrin:

[farriersgirl]

better yet, here's just the pin! great options at Dressage Extensions

http://www.dressageextensions.com/ProductDetail.asp?KEY=3757

[dressager]

People On Horses makes beautiful custom stock pins- and I have seen quite a few people wearing them at the So Cal shows. I have four of theirs and then an Oldenburg stock pin I bought years ago. Two of the POH ones I have are very simple, and the other two are rather ornate and match browbands I have for my horses.

http://www.peopleonhorses.com/Stock%20Tie%20Pin.htm

[LD1129]

I have a POH stock pin to match my horses browband. Its not too much bling but just enough! I love it :cool:


People On Horses makes beautiful custom stock pins- and I have seen quite a few people wearing them at the So Cal shows. I have four of theirs and then an Oldenburg stock pin I bought years ago. Two of the POH ones I have are very simple, and the other two are rather ornate and match browbands I have for my horses.

http://www.peopleonhorses.com/Stock%20Tie%20Pin.htm

[merry mayhem]

Some of these antique repro's are nice:
http://www.yourgifthorse.com/acatalog/YOUR_GIFTHORSE_Cufflinks___Stockpins___13.html

and, depending on your taste, might find something interesting if you search for "bar pin" on ebay:
http://search.ebay.com/bar-pin_W0QQ_trksidZm37QQfromZR40QQfrtsZ0

[Dixon]

Like when the canteen runs out of my favourite cooler?

Do you ride with a canteen on your saddle?

[Mozart]

Do you ride with a canteen on your saddle?

I thought only fox hunters do that? Excellent suggestion though. I had been thinking of the immobile building that provides lunch and beverages. What would the stewards say if I affixed a hunting flask to my dressage saddle?

[mp]

I wear my dad's Navy wings. Not blingy, but very cool, IMO.

[Vesper Sparrow]

I have a nice understated silver one with an amethyst (my birthstone) that I bought at the local tackstore.

I wish I had my mother's old one, though--hard to describe but silver with a sailboat inside a glass bubble. It disappeared mysteriously when she died.

[FleetwoodStarr]

Dixon, I actually think the bling would hlep in the case of emergency. You might be bleeding from your head, but at least you'll look stylish!

[smithereens_86]

My boyfriend is a jeweler, and he handmade me my stockpin a couple of years ago for my birthday. He tried to mimic a show ribbon with a little bling.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y102/smithereens_86/Stockpin.jpg

~Shelly~

[atr]

That's really pretty, Smithereens!

Lots of people round here wear just a pretty pin/brooch. I have a pretty antique marquisite-inlaid one of two circus horses that my grandmother gave me about 40 years ago.

[DJ]

Velvet made mine for me. It is very lovely, unique and personalized. :D

[Valentina_32926]

I ordered one from a lady making them 2 years ago - it's based on the heavy "Safety pin" so will pierce without bending but has pretty green and clear crystals on it - showy and compliments my liver chestnut mare.

[Mozart]

Some very pretty stock pins out there, than you for posting the links. I am getting some ideas for more contemporary designs, maybe metal in different textures? My jewellry tastes run to the contemporary.

It would also be kind of neat to have a pin with your initials, or that spells out your name or your horse's name.

[Anselcat]

I like my inexpensive gold 'safety pin' type. I keep several in my coat bag. One less thing to worry about misplacing/losing during a show!

[magnum]

Oh, exactly ... The ones here are SO BEAUTIFUL! But, I tend to go thru them like WATER! I'd be afraid to wear one so nice. I either bend them or lose them ....

Magnum

[FEIwannabe]

Remember all those rhinestone or antique pins from the 80's we used to wear to close the top button of our shirts?
I use one of my smaller, less gaudy ones.:D

[ESG]

www.txwarmbloods.com (http://www.txwarmbloods.com). Jayne has made me two stock pins to match the bling browbands she also made for me. One browband is a custom job, one's "off the rack", but I am set to match both.

[cllane1]

I used to wear my dad's old fraternity pin, but I've sadly misplaced it. I currently have a plain, traditional safety pin, but what I really want is to get a pendant I have put on a bar pin. The pendant is a gold horse's a$$: literally a back view of a horse, with tail, hind legs, etc. It's hysterical, but I rarely wear necklaces anymore, and this would make the PERFECT stock pin! My husband thought I was crazy when I told him I wanted this pendant from the jewelry store. He asked me about 20 times to make sure I was serious.

ETA: it looks like this, only in gold and the hind legs are closer together: http://cgi.ebay.com/Horse-Pendant-Horses-Butt-Necklace-Sterling-Silver_W0QQitemZ200054336742QQihZ010QQcategoryZ928 40QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l12 62

[Dressage Art]

I admit that I love stock pins and I have many of them that I wear to match my earrings for the show. That's one of the few jewelry peaces that I wear.

As for "boring" I think b/c dressage came from the military and dress reflects its manly side, the whole dressage attire didn't had a chance to get its feminine touch YET ;) In early 1900 dressage was mostly ridden by men, now it's mostly women. I say it's about time to reflect that in our dressage attire as well!

http://www.browbands.net.au/rider/pins.htm Bling!

[citydog]

Thank you, but as a good Pony Clubber, I am aware of the stock pin's history.

Ah, but where to draw the line? Some tradition in dress is ok but some we can just toss? It's a slippery slope slope from a blingy, can't-use-it-in-an-emergency stock pin to spandex leotards. :winkgrin::lol:

[atr]

Oh, Good Lord!

My eyes would need bleaching after the average dressage show if Spandex leotards bacame the norm amongst adult amateurs.

I'm just picturing we middle aged ladies--along with occasional middle aged guy... That would have to be some industrial strength spandex.

I may not sleep...

[PiaffePlease]

My stock pin is a pin off my Father's old military uniform. It doesnt look like a traditional pin (its two crossed rifles) but its very sentimental.

[Margaret Freeman]

What I've heard (oh, a million years ago) was that the simple pin was not just for an emergency sling for a broken arm or an emergency bandage for your horse's leg, with your simple long stock tie, but also it needed to be plain so that you couldn't scratch your face in any way if your head bobbed down.

While I like to hold to tradition, this is one place where we should have some fun if we want. After all, I shed the long stock tie 20 years ago in favor of a bib. But, I still tie it in the traditional manner, with a knot, not flopped over. I like having the plain pin, however, because I can stick a couple on the handle of my show bag and find them easily. Interesting how often I'm loaning out pins to people who can't find theirs and are in a panic at the last moment.

[mp]

Off topic, but I have a question:

In addition to my dad's wings, I have the buttons from his Navy dress uniform. They're brass and maybe 3/4" - 7/8" in circumference -- probably a little bigger than you normally see on a dressage coat. Would they be OK with the navy blue dressage coat I've promised myself someday? (I'm cheap -- my navy hunt coat still fits me and that's what I'm showing in for now.) I've never thought of using the buttons on a coat, but since the roots of dressage are military ...

Opinions, please. :)

[Jeepers]

Hey a blingy stock pin could be handy! What if you get lost on the showground and wander out in the cross country course and can't find your way back for your ride time?? You could use your diamond bling as a distress signal! Another rider with bling could lead you back with flashing her bling back! See, it could be useful! ;) :lol: Although if it was cloudy, you'd be SOL.

[Mozart]

Hey a blingy stock pin could be handy! What if you get lost on the showground and wander out in the cross country course and can't find your way back for your ride time?? You could use your diamond bling as a distress signal! Another rider with bling could lead you back with flashing her bling back! See, it could be useful! ;) :lol: Although if it was cloudy, you'd be SOL.

Good point! Never underestimate the resourcefulness of a true DQ :cool:

[mtngirl]

A friend of mine had one made for me. It's basically a gold safety/stock pin with charms on it that says " I (heart for love) horses. Different, but conservative. Love it!

[Beasmom]

I've been using turquoise/silver brooches & pins mady by Navajo and Hopi artists for many years now. Heck, we're here in the desert southwest, why not celebrate the Native American cultures? Definitely non-traditional, but fun.

That's about it for bling on us. My browbands are understated, bling-wise.

[Dressage62]

http://www.hermitagemuseum.org/shop/html_En/products/00739_Empress_Catherine_II_Monogram_Brooch.html

From the on-line shop, Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia:
"A beautiful brooch featuring the monogram of Catherine II beneath the crown inspired by the original from the Hermitage collection (silver gilt set with 112 diamonds, total weight 14.8 karat) was created in St Petersburg in 1770-80. Only attendants to Empress Catherine II were allowed to wear such brooches.
Jewelry alloy, Swarovsky crystals.
2 7/8 x 1 1/4 in. (7.4 x 3.2 cm).
This product is eligible for a Friends of the Hermitage discount.
00739 US $79.95 "

[Kimberlee]

http://robinatkins.com/jewelry.html#fib

I think one of these pins would be fun to have. I am working on figuring out how to make one with Soladites (plain gemstone). Not sparkly but different and fun. I probably won't add the loop de loop at the end though, LOL:)

[Dressage62]

For the TRUE dressage queen, a sparkly crown:
www.HermitageMuseum.org

"An elegant brooch representing the crown portion of the monogram brooch of Catherine II. The original brooch (silver gilt set with 112 diamonds, total weight 14.8 karat) was created in St Petersburg in 1770-80. Only attendants to Empress Catherine II were allowed to wear such brooches.
Austrian crystals.
1 1/4 x 1 1/8 in. (3.2 x 3 cm).

This product is eligible for a Friends of the Hermitage discount.

00738 US $39.95 "

[Dressage62]

Last one from the Hermitage:

"Reproduction of an elegant stag-shaped brooch from the renowned Hermitage collection of ancient gold. The original, a 7th-century BC gold plaque found in the Kuban basin area, is one of the best works of Scythian art. The Scythians lived in the South Russia steppes during the 1st millennium BC and believed that the energy and magic power of certain worshipped animals could be transmitted to those whose weapons and clothes were decorated with such images.
Gilded bronze.
1 5/8 x 1 1/8 in.
(4.3 x 2.8 cm).

This product is eligible for a Friends of the Hermitage discount.

00701 US $12.95 "

[Rhiannonjk]

I use the pre-tied stock tie, so if I'm in a hurry and need to stop from bleeding profusely with my stock tie, I'm already screwed.

So I use an antique brooch that used to belong to my great-grandmother. I never considered that I could lose it at a show, and now that you guys have brought up the idea, it will nag at me! But then again, I lose jewelry just as easily in any situation, so I might as well enjoy it at the show.

My grandmother and great-aunt are also thrilled that I found a way to put it to actual use, instead of sitting in a drawer for eternity.

[Dressage (Pea)Nut]

I wear a vintage-style pink crystal brooch as a stock pin. My black mare wears a pink crystal browband, so we match - so cute! I found the brooch on eBay. In fact, I have the exact same brooch in pale blue crystal, so I'm going to find my grey gelding a pale blue browband, and I'll wear the blue brooch when I ride him! :D I'm *slightly* OCD when it comes to the matchy-matchy! :winkgrin: