Leah Kaufmann’s horse obsession developed at an early age. She grew up in Seattle, but her mother passed on a passion for horses, driving Kaufmann to her weekly Sunday riding lesson starting at age 6.

Kaufmann dabbled with dressage, but ultimately became hooked on eventing from her time spent in Pony Club. Those early experiences bonded Kaufmann to the equestrian lifestyle, carrying her admiration into adulthood.

The T-Shirt That Started Her Equestrian Brand

Like most new ideas, Dapplebay was launched when Kaufmann discovered a void in the market. She was on a quest to find cute horse shirts representing her favorite disciplines.

Creative by nature, she always loved to draw horses and make crafts, even before she received her degree in design at the University of Washington for visual communication design. She used her expert eye and whipped up a t-shirt that read “Live Free & Jump XC” with a horse jumping across the center.

Kaufmann casually posted the shirt on Facebook, which received an explosion of comments. The now-retired design was quickly featured online in Eventing Nation, giving Kaufmann exposure to like-minded customers. Based on the feedback, she began screen-printing more shirts, and Dapplebay was born in 2011.

A Hobby Turned Career

Professionally, Kaufmann had a successful career as a designer working with a marketing agency. She maintained her professional job in the beginning, while Dapplebay was on the side. She put energy into it as she felt like it over the years.

“It was a creative outlet that allowed me to have something that was my own outside of client work,” Kaufmann explains. Fast forward to the pandemic and the world changed, including Dapplebay. Kaufmann shifted her focus on becoming a profitable business instead of just a fun, creative venture.

With a change in mindset and sales, Dapplebay was thriving, allowing Kaufmann to leave her full-time job behind.

“2020 was a great year for e-commerce, and I grew a lot without intending to,” she says. “I took that momentum as an opportunity to decide that this could be my full-time thing.”

Community & Connection

While Kaufmann spends most of her time working solo, she enjoys having the opportunity to connect with customers whenever she sets up a booth at an event.

Having a booth at The Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover in 2021 was a career high and emotionally moving weekend for Kaufmann. She promotes retired racehorses with her apparel and owns two off-track Thoroughbreds, Pie and Ranger.

Dapplebay also made its first appearance at Land Rover Kentucky in 2022, which was another special moment of growth for the brand.

“I’ve met so many amazing women from having this little pop-up tent with cute shirts,” she says. “I quickly realized this wasn’t just about the t-shirts, it was about meeting people.”

In 2022 Kaufmann also launched The Barn Aisle, a Facebook group, with the intention of being a supportive online space for customers and fellow equestrians. The group celebrates a love for horses and creates a dialog online.

“People post when they have a great ride, when they have a question, when they’re struggling—the way the group responds is incredible,” she says.

The Brand’s Popular Equestrian Products

Dapplebay offers a unique selection of apparel, accessories and lifestyle products from stickers to journals. As a designer, coming up with ideas for new products is the exciting part of the job.

Kaufmann focuses on creating unique prints, patterns her customers can’t find anywhere else, and sizes for all equestrians. Recently, matching sets, including saddle pads and bonnets, have become popular.

“My goal is to create things that people love that they can take into their own lives and wear with their own style,” she explains.

When Kaufmann isn’t busy working, she spends time with the horses she keeps at home in a beautiful barn her husband built. Her dedication to the brand, her horses and a positive mindset has allowed her business to thrive.

“I think the hardest thing is remembering to enjoy it and enjoy the process,” she says. “I’ve been so caught up in working hard, I think it’s easy to miss the journey. Sometimes I wake up and I look around and realize we live on the property I dreamed of 10 years ago.”

Shop Dapplebay here.

This article about equestrian brand Dapplebay appeared in the January/February 2023 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post The Rise of Equestrian Brand Dapplebay appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Tip: If you’re sending in hair from your own horse, make sure it’s clean and you send a little more than the minimum amount. Most makers will work with mane or tail, but the tail is generally preferred, since it is longer.

Turquoise Stone and Horsehair Bracelet

If you’re searching for a fun western accessory that doesn’t require you to send in hair, these bracelets from Cattle Kate are stunning. They are available in cream, brown or black horsehair in a basket weave design, accented with turquoise stones. Available at cattlekate.com for $58.95.

Open Loop Bracelet

The open loop bracelet is made from two round braids looped through a center bead and two side beads, finished with sterling silver bell end caps. This bracelet comes with a variety of charms and engraving options to choose from. Available at detailshorsehairjewelry.com for $90.00.

Horsehair Heart Jewelry Pendant

Searching for a piece of jewelry without typical weaving or braids of horsehair? A glass heart with intricately placed horsehair is a beautiful option. Available in 12 shimmering colors, this pendant is flashy. Available at etsy.com/shop/knotmytail for $39.99.

Leather & Horsehair Jewelry Bracelets

Timeless and chic, these woven horsehair and leather bracelets by Black Dragon Custom Horsehair Bracelets can be worn daily. Each bracelet takes between eight and 12 hours to make. Custom options include brown or black leather along with a single or double braid on the bracelet. Starting at $95.00 at blackdragonbracelets.com.

Maille Horsehair Earrings

Spirit Horse Designs offers simple yet stunning earrings made from your horse’s mane (with the option to request stock hair). They are accented with turquoise howlite and sterling silver accents, which complement any horsehair color. Available at spirithorsedesigns.com for $118.00.

14K Gold Jewelry Horsehair Pendant

Splurge on this delicate pendant necklace with a chain. A small amount of horsehair is braided and placed inside a gold setting. Personalize it with a name or inscription on one or all three sides. It’s available in 14K or 18K gold with a variety of chain lengths. Available at thetreasuredhorse.com for $1,255.00.

Snaffle Bit Ring

A stunning snaffle bit ring has numerous options for personalization. It’s available in yellow gold, white gold, rose gold or sterling silver on the band or bit. Select a two-tone contrasting ring color for a striking look. Free inscribing is available on the inside as well. This is a minimalist and chic option to keep your horse with you. Available at verstara.com for $758.00.

This article about horsehair jewelry appeared in the April 2022 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Horsehair Jewelry appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Fallon Taylor is no stranger to success. She has multiple World Championships in barrel racing, and her horse, Flos Heiress (aka “BabyFlo”), was named WPRA/AQHA Barrel Racing Horse of the Year in 2013. Fallon’s name is well known across the horse world, due to her success and colorful personality. Additionally, she is a huge advocate for safety and wearing a helmet while riding. 

In addition to Fallon’s riding career, she also owns Ranch Dress’n—a full line of western apparel that fits with her style. While she began her apparel business 10 years ago, she has shied away from telling the story of how Ranch Dress’n came to be. However, Fallon realized she enjoys watching and hearing about other people’s backstories, and she decided it was time to share her company’s history, too.

“I kind of dodged business things because I didn’t think people could relate,” she says. “As I’ve gotten older and more mature, I’ve realized everyone is trying to pay their bills. I realized that all those little vulnerabilities are the fabric of our relationship.”

Shirt off My Back

In addition to her equine career, Fallon spent some time in New York working as a model. However, the horses called her home, and she began seeking a way to combine her affinity for fashion with her riding career—while also helping her pay her entry fees. 

To start, she bought men’s shirts and left her back number attached to sell after competitions. 

“The Shirt off My Back” was successful, and people gravitated toward Fallon because they saw her drive to succeed and wanted to support her ventures. Soon, she wanted to expand her fashion ideas further.

The Start of Ranch Dress’n

When she was younger, Fallon’s mother told her, “You don’t need to be wealthy to clean your boots.” That idea has stuck with her. Putting together a good outfit, and in Fallon’s case, a good business, doesn’t necessarily require a huge start-up.

“I’d love to look back and say that I’m a genius who has made a bunch of really calculated moves that over time have been the right moves, but I think when you move from a place that is genuine, and you really want to add value, and you genuinely care, it shows and comes through.”

Fallon rented a garage and got a handful of blank t-shirts and a vinyl cutter. The small team started dyeing pants and creating shirts, and eventually expanded into working out of a trailer. Fallon wore her own clothes to competitions, and soon people started to catch on to her unique style and wanted to follow in her footsteps, which led to the need to expand the company further. 

Of course, both with the horses and Ranch Dress’n, the road wasn’t always easy. Fallon says she tries to live by the idea of “keep failing forward,” meaning that when things are rough, and when a run on your horse doesn’t go as planned, all you can do is have the most positive attitude possible and move toward the next goal. This energy has kept Ranch Dress’n moving forward, as well.

A Team Effort

A trip to the National Finals Rodeo in 2014 was a large step toward success for Ranch Dress’n. The team managed to bring hundreds of pairs of jeans and shirts to a booth where attendees could shop and see Fallon’s line. 

Of course, she also wore Ranch Dress’n while competing, which also sparked more interest. When she and her horses won money competing, the money went back into Ranch Dress’n to continue growing the business without loans or additional funding. 

The business began taking over space in the barn and employees’ homes, and Fallon knew that they needed a larger warehouse—which eventually turned into an even larger warehouse. While their physical space grew, the team has remained small. Everyone involved is hands-on, including Fallon, making the products and packaging and everything that goes out to buyers.

Ranch Dress’n Continues to Grow

Even with the business taking on a life of its own and becoming increasingly successful, Fallon says that “every single milestone of this business has felt very ‘imposter syndrome’: Do we deserve this, are we supposed to have all this? Are we doing good enough? Is it ever going to feel easy?” 

Sometimes she will take a moment to pause and realize that Ranch Dress’n is on a continued upswing.

“I’ve never reached a part where it has felt easy,” says Fallon. “In the grand scheme of things, big goals are really tough.” 

Through the struggles and growing pains, the late nights and the never-ending projects, she says that creating and continuing to run Ranch Dress’n is “absolutely worth it.” 

This web exclusive article about Ranch Dress’n is sponsored content for Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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Welcome to Los Angeles

Born and raised in Leipzig, Germany, Gellersen landed in Los Angeles for the first time in 2000 to study English. She returned to the Golden State for a second time later in the year to attend fashion school at the California College of the Arts. Afterward, she moved to Paris to pursue an internship with Dior. After Paris, she once again found herself back in Los Angeles in 2005.

A horse lover since she was a little girl, Gellersen had once stayed with a friend living in Riverside Rancho, a magical and historic equestrian community just 20 minutes from Hollywood. She still recalls that first drive when she discovered wide-open spaces and horses casually being ridden through the city. It suddenly became her dream to live there.

The Accident

AtelierCG was born in 2012 after Gellersen had a horrible riding accident. She was helping exercise a friend’s horse at Sunset Ranch in Hollywood one evening, and while riding back from Mount Hollywood, a set of brightly flashing lights from a mountain bike spooked her friend’s horse, causing Gellersen’s horse to panic.

In a moment of fear, her mount spun off the edge of a steep hillside. The pair flipped over backward, and the mare landed on top of Gellersen, breaking her ribs and fracturing her pelvis, causing internal bleeding and other injuries. Lucky to be alive, the doctors gave Gellersen a bleak future outcome.

“They told me I couldn’t ride again, and I decided no, no, no I am going to ride again,” she says.

While Gellersen was recovering in the hospital, she made her first-ever Ride Holster Bag, a leather waist pouch that is now the most popular bag she sells today.

“My sewing is terrible, but somebody at the ranch asked me where they could buy it,” says Gellersen. “I found a leather factory, and they started making the first pieces. That’s how I started doing equestrian handbags.”

Prior to the accident, Gellersen had a company with her ex-husband creating canvas bags. Nothing serious happened with the brand, and she didn’t feel passionate about it.

Gellersen started writing down words of affirmation, including “stay strong” and “don’t let them tame you.” She was determined not to let anyone break her spirit.
“‘Don’t let them tame you’ is now the slogan of my company,” she adds.

Khumba

When Gellersen decided to really focus on growing AtelierCG, she gave up her leased horse in Hollywood to save time and money. She then realized she wasn’t happy without a horse in her life. Gellersen’s friends connected her with a racehorse trainer who offered to help find her a horse.

At the time, Gellersen was straining to make ends meet and pay the rent. She was a single mom struggling to balance it all with two young kids, Kaelen and Jade. But she found herself adding a horse to the chaos.

“I knew I needed a horse,” says Gellersen. “I needed a horse that had a big heart and that was good around kids. Riding is therapy for me. Being around horses keeps me grounded.”

When she first saw photos of Khumba, she thought he was absolutely gorgeous. He came straight from the racetrack without any formal training. The pair has come a long way since she purchased the horse with a heart on his head, and now Gellersen regularly rides her gentle Thoroughbred throughout Griffith Park.

Inspired by Tack

Inspiration for her chain jewelry came to Gellersen in the tack room. She loves mixing and matching chains and colors.

“It all started when I was cleaning my bridle, and I had a curb chain in my hand,” she says. “I loved the feel of the curb chain, so I had this idea that my jewelry should be stainless steel. I love the heavy metal. Gold and silver can break or bend, but stainless steel doesn’t.”

One of her most popular jewelry designs is the dreamer necklace. The mixed metal bracelets are also very popular. Gellersen is self-taught as a jewelry maker, and pieces everything together herself.

“It is challenging, but I don’t see it as work, because I really enjoy what I’m doing.”

This article about fashion and horses originally appeared in the August 2021 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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