As an early birthday celebration before my two-week trip I rounded up some girlfriends for some good old fashion horse back riding. I grew up on a small horse farm and the appreciation for riding a horse has increased, as I have grown older. Surprisingly, finding a stable to ride at close to Los Angeles isn’t that hard.  Finding a quality one is another story.  Ask my girlfriend HanNah and Dina, how their bruises and bumps are doing…

The importance of getting away from the usual, putting a huge beast in between my legs and galloping into the sunset delights me. And although my boyfriend suffices to that routine often enough, horseback riding is a nice change.

But to focus on the much more important question: what does one wear when they ride?

Each season there seems to be a new variation of equestrian in fashion. Either it is in a flat or heeled styled equestrian boot or leggings that are quite similar to riding pants. Where do you find equestrian fashion in Los Angeles? Well, if you are looking for the real deal, you need to check out LA Saddlery located at 480 W. Riverside Drive, Burbank, CA. It is one of the best tack shops in the Los Angeles area. They carry saddles and tack along with footwear, helmets, and apparel. You can also browse their selection on www.lasaddlery.com. I visited the store to get a pair of paddock boots about two years ago. I had a specific idea and a monetary limit. The sales woman was great. She was an experienced rider herself and was able to find me the correct paddock boots within my desired price range. Friendly and knowledgeable service!

Although a lot of deals can be found on the Internet, LA Saddlery has great prices and a great range of products. If you choose to buy off the web, it is a good idea to check out a tack shop before ordering. Especially if you are unfamiliar with what you need to have, it is always better to go to the store and try it on and speak with a salesclerk. I have found at almost every tack shop I have been to, in the Los Angeles area and beyond, the people working there will be quite versed in horseback riding and therefore be able to point you in the right direction.

And for those who wont be getting on a horse anytime soon but love the equestrian boot look: Barney’s is carrying the new Christian Louboutin Cate Leather wedge boots in black and in brown. The chain detail goes around the heel. 

Similarly, the Givenchy Chain Link Knee Boot has chain links but on each side of the shaft. This boot is only available in black. Both go beyond the one thousand dollar limit I give myself on shoes and boots (actually my limit is lower) but are great examples of a simple riding boot turned into an everyday boot. Who wants to go riding?