This fall, it’s all about the details. You’ll see your favorite designers bringing out looks that pair classic lines with exquisite detailing: look for lots of embroidery, monochromatic looks, black on black beadwork, and interesting textures. What’s the best horse jewelry to pair with this season’s trends?

In addition to the Horse Beauty pageant, Turkmenistan will be holding a national competition for carpet makers, jewelry makers, and sculptors.  Each group of artists are being encouraged to embody the horse’s beauty into art.

We can’t wait to see the entries, particularly where the jewelry makers are concerned. Great horse jewelry is all about capturing the beauty of horses, their grace, their passion, their majesty and power.

Cameo Horse Jewelry

When you buy horse jewelry for yourself – or as a gift for your sweetheart, as Valentine’s Day is less than a week away! – you want to choose only those pieces that you find personally beautiful.  A piece of horse jewelry must speak to you. You must enjoy looking at it, wearing it, and having it be part of your horse jewelry collection.

This beautiful double horse head cameo necklace certainly qualifies on every level. Carved from Italian agate,the necklace features hues ranging from deep navy blue to pure white.  Graceful and elegant, the pendant features a bit of whimsy: the flowing manes evoke an almost magical, otherworldly sense to the piece.  A delicate twisted wire bezel of 14K gold surrounds the pair. Great for horse lovers of every age, and absolutely romantic. The fine features, especially the pointed ears, of the horses reminds us of the Akhal-Tekke, and we’re absolutely sure that the judges in Turkmenistan would love this pendant.  How about you?

That being said, we don’t necessarily recommend offering yourself up as the obstacle! You have to wonder who the guy in the center ticked off to draw that particular assignment at the horse show….

Hunter/Jumper Horse Jewelry

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching.  If you’re going to buy your sweetheart horse jewelry for Valentine’s Day, consider selecting a piece that closely reflects their interests. Eventing is a passion: people who spend all of their time, money, and energy in the hunter/jumper world do so because they love it.  Select jewelry that reflects that love!

Bangle Bracelets are a perpetually popular option for Valentine’s Day. This Sterling Silver Hunter/Jumper bangle bracelet features a sculpted horse head with exquisite detail. A low, flat design makes it ideal for everyday wear: beauty can be durable!  Sized for a larger wrist, this bangle bracelet can be worn by men and women.  If you’re looking for a daintier version, check out this version. Slightly slimmer, this bracelet also features the detailed sculpture of a hunter/jumper’s head.

Earrings make a great Valentine’s Day gift! These sterling silver studs shaped like horses’ heads feature the same detailing seen in the bracelets. These earrings are small enough to be worn in the show ring and are great for everyday wear. You can dress them up or down: they go from home to office to dinner seamlessly – always appropriate and always stylish.

Valentine’s Day is all about the sentiment.  More than any other holiday, this is when it truly is the thought that counts.  Knock your sweetie’s socks off by presenting them with horse jewelry that’s stylish, high quality and reflects their love for their hunter/jumper – who they adore nearly as much as they love you!

Not just for people, either. Zenyetta, the mare selected as 2010′s horse of the year is headed for her first mating, with Bernadini. People in the know say the pairing is destined for success: Bernadini is the sire of Zenyetta’s half sister, Eblouissante. Eblouissante also shows a lot of promise.

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could predict the outcome of human relationships with the same precision?

Romantic Horse Jewelry

You don’t need to be able to see the future to know what will delight your horse-loving sweetheart this February.  Horse jewelry is a tried and true winner.  This season, Diamond Horse Jewelry is a strong seller. We could all use a little sparkle and shine – it’s been a cold, snowy winter but diamonds can brighten even the darkest days.

When selecting diamond horse jewelry, remember that quality counts. Many people get hung up on the size of the diamond, but it’s better to have a higher quality smaller diamond (or several used in combination, as you can see in this awesome 14K gold and diamond horse and foal pendant.

Diamonds are rated by cut, color, clarity and carat weight. The cut refers to the shape of the stone; some cuts are more fashionable than others, and fashions change over the years. Collectors of vintage horse jewelry may encounter diamonds in shapes they’re unaccustomed to seeing: that’s part of the appeal of these special pieces. Color refers to the hue of the diamond: not all diamonds are clear. Yellow and pink tints are not uncommon; these stones are considered less valuable than their clear counterparts. Clarity refers to the make up of the stone: is it pure diamond, or are there other materials or flaws in the stone? The clearer the stone is, the more desirable it becomes. Finally, we come to size, measured by carat weight. Research has shown that size is not nearly as important as sentiment: try your sweetheart and see!

And perhaps I’m more than a little nostalgic for Norman Thelwell’s ponies.  Do you remember them?  With touseled manes, snarled tails, and determined helmeted riders, Thelwell’s ponies were a staple of my childhood, decorating storybook pages and china mugs.  I collected such things as proof of my love for all things equine – even if I got no closer to the show ring than leading Sugar around and around and around the corral!

Of course, you live, you learn. Growing up means discovering that fresh fruit and vegetables are better than candy and cake – for you and for your horse!  When we love someone, we want what’s best for them.  And boy, do we love our horses.

Silver Horse Jewelry

I scoured the Equestrian Jewelry Collection to see if we had any pieces that evoked the fat and sassy ponies of my childhood – after all, aren’t there some days when you’d LOVE to wear a brooch with that expression of absolute and utter contempt that only a pony can manage? – but no such luck.

Instead, let’s check out Sterling Silver Horse Head in Heart Necklace. It’s a little more refined, perhaps, with an elegant jumper’s head in a silver heart. The 17 1/2″ rolo chain is the perfect length, flattering with every neckline. Whether you’ve got fat and sassy ponies in your life or trim, athletic horses, this is the necklace for you!

Ironically, they’d gone out riding to celebrate one of the pair’s recovery from a riding accident.  No one was hurt, and the charges against the two have been reduced to public intoxication.

No comment was available from the horse or the mule.

Gold Horse Rings

We all like to have a good time, and we like to look good while we’re doing it.  One way to do that is make sure we don’t have too many cocktails before getting up in the saddle. After that, we’ve got to look at our jewelry.  This week, we’re really enamored of this 14K Gold Galloping Horse Ring. Look at the energy and enthusiasm of the horses – a stallion and mare galloping full tilt across the pasture, mane and tails flying. You can almost hear the thunder of flying hooves.

It’s a perfect ring for a high-energy, fun loving woman. More than a few brides have selected this ring for a wedding band.

Another gold horse ring that’s a lot of fun is this 14K Gold Saddle Ring Shaped like an English saddle, this ring is a fun and quirky way to share your love of all things equestrian.

Both rings are part of our RiderRings collection, meaning they’re designed to work well in any environment, from the office to the show ring to the barn. These rings are designed for wearability and can stand up to the demands of life with horses — and look great for even your most exciting nights on the town.

(Just leave the mules at home…they’re always looking for trouble!)

Prison inmates in New Mexico are learning the value of hard work, compassion, and patience as they train mustangs captured by the BLM for subsequent sale to the public.  Mustangs that have been thus trained have a much greater chance of being purchased and loved by a family, giving them access to a life they might not have otherwise enjoyed.

It’s pretty amazing stuff.  The horses are helping these men make real changes in their lives, and that’s something worth paying attention to.  It’s also worth paying attention when the men in our lives go through change: whether it’s personal growth, a professional achievement, or gaining new skills in the show ring, it’s important to remember that these moments are special.

The tradition of commemorating life achievements with jewelry is nothing new for women.  Setting aside entirely the engagement ring and wedding ring conversation, many women collect jewelry that they find personally meaningful, related to specific events.  Perhaps a ring to commemorate the birth of a child, or a fabulous bracelet to celebrate a promotion.  Charm bracelets are used to provide a tangible narrative: each bead relates to a special occasion in our lives.  Equestrian bead charms are a great way to remember the fantastic times we’ve had with the horses in our lives.

But what about the men? Men need positive reinforcement and recognition too. It’s not something we hear so much about – but that doesn’t mean the need’s not real. Many men are touched and gratified when their loved ones present them with horse jewelry for them. Select pieces that are both high quality and personally meaningful, and you can be sure he’ll wear it proudly for years to come — remembering both the achievement the jewelry marked, and the people in his life who inspire him to greatness!

To keep your horse jewelry looking great, you need to take care of it. Here’s a few tips to keep your horse jewelry collection looking great:

Keep an Eye on Your Jewelry!

We like to look at our horse jewelry because it’s beautiful. However, every now and then, you want to make a point of inspecting your horse jewelry. Before you put a piece on, look it over closely. Look for loose stones, clasps that don’t work properly, any kinks in the chain, or flaws. Having minor issues repaired can prevent you from having a favorite piece damaged or worse, lost entirely!

Awareness is also key in your jewelry’s security. This is especially true when you travel; keep an eye on your horse jewelry collection. Make use of hotel safes; it may seem like overkill, but once a piece is gone, it’s gone forever most of the time. Economic pressures are driving people to desperate measures. You want to remove temptation from the equation by keeping your horse jewelry collection safely out of sight except when you’re wearing it.

Last On, First Off

When you’re getting ready for an evening out, make a point of putting your jewelry on last. There are a couple of reasons to do this. First, you’re reducing your jewelry’s exposure to perfume and hair spray. Both are great, but both contain chemical elements that can be bad for your fine horse jewelry. By the same token, you want to take your jewelry off before you soak in the tub or step into a steamy shower. This will keep your gold horse jewelry from losing its shine and luster.

And it’s not like horses don’t like presents.  They come running up to the fence for them, after all, any time they suspect that there might be some apple slices or treats hidden in your pocket.  Have you ever had the experience of putting a new blanket on them, once the season gets a little colder, and see them preening and prancing for their friends? It’s adorable (Unless of course, your horse views a new blanket as the perfect opportunity to go roll in the mud, muck and hay. Then it’s not so cute!)

Jewelry for Your Horse

We would be remiss if every now and then, we didn’t turn up with some horse jewelry for horses. And what better time to give jewelry to your horse than the holidays? Check out this Sterling Silver Engravable Halter Tag. On one side, it features a horseshoe design — always good luck! — and on the other side, you can have your horse’s name engraved.

Other designs are available, so you can select the look most fitting for your horse. There’s a dressage head charm, a hunter/jumper head charm, and perhaps our favorite, a simple silver heart. Sturdy and dependable, you can count on these halter tags to stay in place and look great!