The Dressage Collection Fall/Winter 2025-2026

Unfortunately, I missed London Fashion Week this season, where Irish designer Paul Costelloe debuted his equestrian-inspired collection. It is a collection that feels especially relevant for those of us who live in the equestrian world.

His Autumn/Winter 2025 collection was shown at The Waldorf’s Palm Court in central London, which was decorated with large panels depicting freehand sketches of horses.

The tone was set immediately. This was not just fashion. It was equestrian influence brought fully onto the runway.

“I thought I’d resurrect it again because I can use my love for fabrics, Irish and Scottish tweeds, my tailoring, and my culture to some extent,” he says.

He recalls his youth on a small farm in Ireland, where they kept horses.

“I’m bringing my heritage brand Paul Costelloe Dressage to the catwalk this season. I launched it back in the late 80’s as an almost ‘weekend’ collection. It reflects my love of the equestrian sport.”

Today’s Dressage Collection

Structure and fluidity come together in a dramatic adaptation of equestrian style.

Jodhpurs on steroids!

Love this tailoring!

Reminds me of contemporary Saddleseat… no?

Fabric inspired by horses adds a feminine touch!

Perfect for the Hunt Ball!

Fit For A Princess

Notably, Paul Costelloe was Princess Diana’s personal designer from 1983 to 1997, creating some of her most iconic looks.

Brought about a bit of a scandal!

Always elegant!

Continuing The Legacy

Sadly, Paul Costelloe passed away on November 21, 2025.

His son William will carry on as Creative Director.

“My father will always be my inspiration. Creating beautiful clothes for all women to dream and wear with pride and love.”

A beautiful continuation of a legacy grounded in equestrian life!

— The Barngoddess

From four-leaf clovers to rabbit’s feet, cultures throughout history have embraced objects believed to bring good fortune. Among these symbols, the horseshoe stands out as one of the most recognizable charms of luck and protection.

March tends to bring the idea of luck to the forefront. With St. Patrick’s Day around the corner and the phrase Luck of the Irish making its annual appearance, it seems like a good time to revisit one of the most enduring symbols of good fortune.

And for those of us who spend our lives around horses, the lucky charm of choice is obvious.

The horseshoe.

But why exactly are horseshoes considered lucky?

The Crescent of the Moon

The precise origin of the lucky horseshoe is difficult to pin down, but one early theory traces the belief back to the eighth-century Chaldeans. They associated the crescent shape of the horseshoe with moon goddesses, symbols believed to protect against the evil eye.

The curved shape, therefore, carried a sacred association. Hanging one above a doorway was thought to shield a home from misfortune.

Even today, the orientation of a horseshoe sparks debate. Some believe the open ends should face upward to “hold” the luck, while others prefer them pointing downward so luck can spill into the home.

(I personally keep mine pointing up.)

The Irish Legend of St. Dunstan

Another well-known explanation connects the horseshoe to Irish folklore.

According to legend, a blacksmith named St. Dunstan, who later became the patron saint of blacksmiths, encountered the Devil one day in the year 969.

There are several variations of the story, but they all share a similar moment. When the Devil asked Dunstan to shoe his hoof, the blacksmith agreed, then nailed the shoe on with such force that the Devil howled in pain.

Desperate for relief, the Devil begged Dunstan to remove it.

Dunstan finally agreed, but only after extracting a promise: the Devil would never enter a place where a horseshoe hung over the door.

From that moment forward, the humble iron horseshoe became a symbol believed to ward off evil.

Iron, Fairies, and Medieval Superstitions

Early Europeans had another reason for trusting horseshoes as protective charms: iron itself.

For centuries, iron was believed to repel evil spirits. Folklore across Western Europe describes mischievous or malicious fairies being unable to cross iron.

Because horseshoes were made from iron, they were believed to carry the same protective power.

The crescent shape reinforced the symbolism. To many early cultures, the moon represented fertility, cycles of nature, and prosperity. Combined with iron’s protective qualities, the horseshoe became a powerful talisman.

During the Middle Ages, when fears of witchcraft spread widely through Europe, the horseshoe gained even more supernatural reputation.

Witches were believed to fear horses and anything associated with them. Just as a crucifix was said to repel vampires, the horseshoe was believed to keep witches away.

The Lucky Number Seven

Traditional horseshoes also carry another symbol of luck: the number seven.

Many horseshoes were made with seven nail holes, and seven has long been considered a naturally fortunate number.

Seven days in a week.
Seven seas.
Seven colors of the rainbow.

And, of course, the seven dwarfs.

7 Types Of Horseshoes

It is a fitting coincidence that when we look at the real horse world, we often talk about several common types of horseshoes that serve very different purposes. Farriers choose a style depending on the horse’s conformation, workload, and the terrain it works on.

Here are seven types you might encounter:

1. Keg Horseshoes

The classic U-shaped steel shoe used for many horses with no special hoof issues.

2. Rim Shoe

A shoe with a deeper groove that provides additional traction, useful in speed events where turning and agility matter.

3. Straight Bar Shoe

Often used to stabilize the hoof when dealing with injury or structural weakness.

4. Egg Bar Shoe

An oval extension that provides additional support to the heel area.

5. Heart Bar Shoe

Used for horses suffering from laminitis. It supports the frog, a sensitive structure on the underside of the hoof.

6. Clipped Shoes

Shoes with small tabs that help hold the shoe in place, especially useful for horses that tend to pull shoes off.

7. White Turf Shoes

Special shoes used for winter sports such as snow polo, racing, or skijoring. These may include pads or rims designed to prevent snow buildup and improve traction.

(And yes, these are usually temporary, since some of these setups would be illegal on turf tracks.)

So… Are Horseshoes Actually Lucky?

Whether you believe in folklore or not, the horseshoe has certainly earned its place as one of the world’s most recognizable symbols of good fortune.

Part of that might come from the horse itself.

For thousands of years, horses represented strength, survival, and prosperity. A household that owned horses had mobility, power, and opportunity.

Perhaps the lucky horseshoe is really just a reminder of the animal that carried so much of human history forward.

Either way, if hanging one above the door brings a little extra luck into the barn or the house, I am certainly not going to argue with tradition.

To Shoe or Not to Shoe?

Of course, horseshoes are more than folklore. Now that we’ve explored the lore of the lucky horseshoe, the real horse-person question remains:

Should horses wear them at all?

That’s a conversation worth its own post.

And of course…

Ask the Barngoddess.

Saddlebred “Pirate Gold” Reserve Grand Champion 1935

George Ford Morris 1873-1960

Born in St. Joseph, Massachusetts, he was mainly self-taught but attended classes at the Art Institute of Chicago in 1888 and later at the Académie Julien in Paris (1925). Concentrating almost solely upon the art of the horse, George Ford Morris frequently contributed to such publications as The American Horseman, Breeder's Gazette, American Field, National Horseman, and Thoroughbred of California. He also illustrated for national publications, including Scribner's and Century magazines.

Percheron Running Free In The Snow. Oil on Canvas, 1910

Poster for the National Horse Show 1918

He wrote and illustrated Portraitures of Horses and George Ford Morris Animals, the latter of which was published for three consecutive years and bound in Christmas issues of The American Horseman. In addition to being a regular contributor to equestrian and racing magazines, he illustrated for Century and Scribners.

From “Portraiture of Horses” - 1952

At sixteen, he was an illustrator for the magazine, The Horseman, and at seventeen, his illustrations appeared regularly in The American Sportsman, Breeder's Gazette, The Trotter and Pacer, and The Western Horseman.

Persharon Horse- Labres

Morris was said to have been the greatest collector of equine art in America. I am fortunate to have one of his prints…

This is a print of an artwork by George Ford Morris featuring the American Saddlebred mare Katherine Grigsby. I particularly love this because the rider reminds me of the wonderful horsewoman who taught me to ride…Harriett Himmelstine of Riverview Valley Stables in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Sadly, here no more!

Harriet Himmelstine

Find out more about George Ford Morris at The American Saddlebred Museum in The Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington, Kentucky.

Rebecca & Janet Winters

Wistljacket – George Stubbs 1762

George Stubbs was an English painter, best known for his paintings of horses. Self-trained, Stubbs learned his skills independently from other great artists of the 18th century, such as Reynolds and Gainsborough. Stubbs’ output includes historical paintings, but his greatest skill was painting animals. He painted some of the earliest known depictions of Thoroughbred racehorses. His most famous portrait, “Wistljacket,” the Marquess of Rockingham‘s racehorse, was acquired by the National Gallery in London for 11 million pounds.

George Stubbs ARA, was born August 25th, 1724, & died– 10 July 10th, 1806

A Scientist As Well As An Artist

One of the most interesting things about Stubbs was his intricate knowledge of horse anatomy. Stubbs’s knowledge of equine physiology was unsurpassed by any painter; he had studied anatomy at York and, from 1756, he spent 18 months in Lincolnshire, where he carried out dissections and experiments on dead horses to understand the animal’s physiology better. He suspended the cadavers with block and tackle to be better able to sketch them in different positions. The careful notes and drawings he made during his studies were published in 1766 in The Anatomy of the Horse. Considered a groundbreaking scientific work, it’s still referenced today.

Version 1.0.0

First published in 1766, Stubbs’s work was based on numerous dissections, a practice far from generally accepted in his century. Stubbs’ horses, shown in this edition on 36 large plates, are memorable for their uncanny life-like quality, nobility, and extreme anatomical precision. In this systematic study, Stubbs depicts the horse in three positions ― side, front, and back. He first presents the skeleton alone in each of these three positions, then devotes five studies to each position, covering layers of muscles, fascia, ligaments, nerves, arteries, veins, glands, and cartilage.

The Age Of Romanticism

Stubbs was a proponent of the Romantic Movement, an artistic and intellectual movement that originated in Europe towards the end of the 18th century. The purpose of the movement was to emphasize subjectivity, imagination, and appreciation of nature in society and culture in response to the Age of Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution.

A Horse Frightened By A Lion

The painting “A Horse Frightened By A Lion” is a perfect example of Stubbs in the Age of Romanticism. Romantic artists often sought to capture the moods, feelings, and emotions of their subjects, using expressive compositions, vivid colors, and dramatic contrasts of light and dark. Nature was another important theme in Romantic art, with many artists exploring the beauty and power of the natural world.

Other Subjects

Although horses were Stubbs’s favorite subjects, he did other paintings as well, but most included animals in some way.

The Kongouro from New Holland, 1772

The Kongouro from New Holland is an oil painting depicting a kangaroo. It is the first painting of an Australian animal in Western art, along with Portrait of a Large Dog, a painting of a dingo.

Portrait Of A Large Dog, 1772

Sometimes he even included people and exotic animals!

Cheetah and Stag with Two Indians, c.1765

Some Of My Favorites

Mares and Foals 1724

Mambrino 1790

The Hunter And Two Dogs

There are so many wonderful paintings by George Stubbs to be explored!

Who is your favorite equine artist?

Rebecca & Janet Winters

Give yourself a Halloween treat! Pour a glass of wine and enjoy an excerpt from my Equus Award-winning mystery novel! “Death At Heart’s Desire” An Ivy Snow Mystery.

Former Olympic equestrian and amateur sleuth, Ivy Snow, returns after a triumphant success in the thrilling mystery, Murder at Morgan House. Ivy Snow’s days are numbered. That is, if Bart Skeleton has his way. He’s been humiliated and incarcerated thanks to his ex-wife, and now he’s hell bent on revenge. In Death at Heart’s Desire, former Olympic equestrian and magazine publisher, Ivy Snow, strives to fashion a new life for herself and her teenage twins. At the same time, her bigamous ex-husband, Skeleton, serves hard time. Her peaceful existence is short-lived. After a daring prison escape that leaves a river of death in its wake, Skeleton hatches a diabolical plan to put Ivy in her rightful place…the graveyard. With the help of her psychic young daughter, Jaycee, and dashing paramour, Detective John Garrett, Ivy tries desperately to untangle Bart’s web of destruction before it’s too late. Order Here From Amazon

More Halloween fun from the Ivy Snow Mystery Series…

Murder At Morgan House

When Ivy Snow, former Olympic Eventing hopeful, moves to the charming town of Wellington to publish Equestrian Style magazine, she never dreamed that her family’s idyllic lives would be threatened by a prolific arsonist and a long-festering plot for revenge, soon to be executed. Ivy, a forty-nine-year-old horsewoman and mother of fraternal twins, finds herself in the midst of a midlife crisis like none other. After being stripped of her Olympic dreams by a near-fatal riding accident, Ivy discovers that her criminal lawyer husband is leading a double life. She seeks refuge in a small country town only to find herself in the throes of blackmail, arson, terrorism, and murder. From the shores of Côte d’Ivoire to the riverbanks of Paris to the cloistered environs of waspish American wealth, Ivy must unravel the mystery surrounding a steel tycoon’s death and a friend’s suicide while trying to protect her psychic teenage daughter, who knows too much for her own good. Order Here From Amazon

And the latest in the series… PERIL IN PARADISE

The Equus Award-winning Ivy Snow Mystery Series returns as former Olympic equestrian and amateur sleuth, Ivy Snow, is once again embroiled in an evil web of death and destruction.

Dreams turn to nightmares in Florida’s elite equestrian world when Ivy’s daughter, Jaycee, makes her riding debut. In a world where wealth, power, and social standing rule, murder is most unwelcome for humans and horses alike. But murder and mayhem are what’s served up to the polo and penthouse crowd, much to the horror of the horse world. Nevertheless, Ivy’s present-day plight soon becomes overshadowed by her past. Thanks to vile step-father, Lloyd Snow, Scotland Yard’s cold case surrounding her mother’s death heats up fast in the tropical sun…threatening her freedom…and her very life!

Ivy’s deductive skills and Jaycee’s psychic powers are put to the test when summoned to unearth the evil that conjures up Peril in Paradise. Order Here From Amazon.https://amzn.to/3X3t9gx

Enjoy The Ivy Snow Mysteries & Have A Spooktacular Halloween!

Janet Winters, author of the Ivy Snow Mystery Series & Publisher of The Barngoddess Chronicles

Please join me in welcoming our guest author, Karin Winegar, author of Horse Lovers: Unpacking the Female Fascination.

She writes to us about sustaining our relationship with horses and never stopping, whether it’s riding or caring for them all our lives. Karin touches on the benefits that we receive from lifelong contact with them. 

Enjoy!

Never Stop. Never.

By Karin Winegar, author of Horse Lovers: Unpacking the Female Fascination 

“Are you still riding?” the silver-haired woman asked me.

I’ve had to get used to this question instead of just bristling with incredulity and giving a facetious answer such as, “And do what? Sit home and knit?” 

I’ve been riding since my father got me a pony when I was nine and had pestered him for one from the time I could speak.

It has taken time to accept that although I not only ride, but drive, jump and splash horses in various bodies of water when available, I look older than I feel or live. A life of riding—well before sunblock, before helmets and, later, hats—has resulted in a youthful body but a face that sometimes prompts people to ask if my mother is my sister. (She’s 99, didn’t ride and took better care of her skin).

So, I answered civilly that yes, I was, and that I intend to ride as long as I breathe. 

“And what about you? “

“I had to let go of my horse three years ago,” said the woman, who told me her name was Chris. We were both at a horse expo where I was selling my new book about the bond between women and horses. Chris was there, why? Maybe to get a sniff of the love she had forsaken.

We compared ages. I was a bit older, but not by much. 

“And how do you feel now—without a horse?” I asked, plunging right into one of the most intimate questions I could ask a stranger.

“Like I am dying,” Chris said. 

“Oh my gosh, you’ve got to get back with one somehow. How about leasing or half leasing or volunteering?” 

By the time she walked away, she looked cheered up and resolved. She had my blessing to not give up on horses—a vital nutrient, in my long experience, for happiness.

For several years, my friend Anna had volunteered at a nearby thoroughbred rescue stable where she enjoyed grooming and handling the horses, although she didn’t ride them. She had wanted a horse but never owned one.

When her son died in an accident, she told me, “The only thing that helped was the horses. I would go out and just brush them for hours. And I’d smell them and listen to them breathe and chew. “

For those of us smitten early and hard with horses, they are the recharger pack to our life force, our proven power source, our escape into a timeless place of peace and adventure.

Approaching my seventieth birthday, I booked a trip as part of a historic and fast ride in Scotland. By the time Covid delays were past, so was my seventy-first birthday. With six other American and European women, I did something called Riding the Marches or the Common Ridings, galloping the countryside with about 200 Scots riders for many hours daily. 

The oldest man in the ride was a lean and fit retired local rugby referee of 72. I was the oldest woman by far. Local families and school classes turned out by the hundreds to cheer us on from the roadsides, and although my boots, breeches, jacket and helmet didn’t betray my age, my face did. People stared at me; so, I shouted at them, “Yes! I can do this, too! Why aren’t you doing it?”

I had come several thousand miles to run around in unknown territory on an unfamiliar horse. I had the time of my life—or one of them, anyway. And when my little group saw I could more than keep up with them, we became fast friends, horse crazy sisters forever. 

I met Carol at a class reunion where she was presenting a talk about riding in the toughest horse race in the world, the Mongol Derby. She is about 15 years younger than I am, yet I felt that horsey kinship that erases distance. The Mongol Derby involves a couple dozen Mongol horses per rider galloping a total of 621 miles over rough terrain in unforgiving conditions. Since Carol’s idea of a good time was endurance rides of 100 miles or more, it was her logical next step. She not only finished well up in that first Mongol Derby pack, but four years later, after retiring from her law job, she tied for eleventh place of 46 riders. 

Mongol philosophy says the seat of consciousness is in the chest, which contains our hiimori or wind-horse. This creature’s power needs maintaining. Riding a great, quick pony strengthens this and improves your destiny. 

Over many years of talking with women who love horses, I note our life force strengthened by riding, by handling, by facing all the micro and macro risks and surviving, through time in the pasture, on the trail or in the stable. It is with horses throughout our lives, and to the end of our lives if we choose, that we live vividly and with joy. 

I choose that joy.  

About Karin

Karin Winegar is a horsewoman from Albert Lea, Minnesota where she grew up competing in 4-H Club as well as regional and state horse shows. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, where she took her horse. An award-winning journalist, she was a staff writer for the Minneapolis Star Tribune for 20 years. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Conde Nast Traveler and Los Angeles Times as well as publications devoted to horses, sailing, gender equity and environmental issues, among others. She has won Lowell Thomas Awards for investigative journalism and maritime writing, Equestrian Industry Media Recognition awards for feature writing and American Quarter Horse Association awards for media commentary. Her non-fiction book SAVED: Rescued Animals and The Lives They Transform features a foreword by Dr. Jane Goodall, a prologue Dr. Temple Grandin and photography by Judy Olausen. She worked nights and weekends as a professional carriage driver for seven years. She also was media director for the Animal Humane Society. Winegar is based in St. Paul, Minnesota where she is founder of Horse Feed Press custom books.

https://www.karinwinegar.com

The post Horse Lovers: Unpacking the Female Fascination  appeared first on The Barngoddess Chronicles.