LindaEskin
11-25-2004, 01:11 PM
I have one of your women's models, and I love it. It looks like a "normal" nice jacket, but once I tell people what it is/does, they want the full tour of it. :cool: If you do another women's version, I'll sure think about getting one. The higher chest pockets are really important (more than the styling, for me).
Consider making a special version for the equestrian market!
Horsewomen (and men - but women are the majority of the market), often carry a cell phone and GPS on trail, plus a hoof pick, knife, treats (it would need an easy-to-wipe-out-with-a-cloth treat pocket), maps, ID/emergency contacts/health ins. card, bear repellant, whistle, a snack, etc..
Yeah, you could put some of those in a saddle bag, but if your horse dumps you and leaves, it's better if *you* have the cell phone and GPS with you. (Besides, English saddles, and riding bareback, don't work well with saddle bags.)
In the arena, some dressage riders train with music. There are hip-pack CD player systems with built-in speakers already - you could do something like that in the vest.
Some things to think about:
- Horsewomen wear vests a lot more than the general population. (A pocket for the sleeves, when you get too hot, and take them off, would be good - I think it's already there (the huge one on the back) - just point it out.)
- Not fleece. Fleece attracts and holds hay like nobody's business.
- Maybe build in a tie string/strap (or pouch), for bundling it up, when you get too hot and tie it to the saddle.
- Riding is an athletic activity - make it light and breathable. If a rider is going out in the snow they can layer warm clothes under it.
- Consider removeable reflective stripes - wear them near civilization, remove them for backcountry use, where blending in is preferred.
- Consider including a lightweight mesh blaze-orange vest (? - like the <$10 kind at Wal-Mart) designed to wear over it around hunters or traffic. (Maybe the reflective stripes could be on the over-vest part.)
- If you design it to shed rain, it should have a split in the back so it can go over the back of the saddle, to direct rain away, not under the rider's butt.
- If it's short (waist-top of hip), don't put elastic at the bottom - those bunch up - it should hang naturally.
- There are tons of equestrian catalogs you can check for style ideas (not necessarily Western).
- The solar panels might be popular with backcountry riders, packers, and endurance riders.
- Horsepeople appreciate, and are willing to pay for, useful, high-quality equipment.
You could market them by giving a few away as prizes, or sponsoring classes at competitive events (endurance rides, competitive trail riding, shows, dressage tests...). Or send some out to influential riders/trainers, and ask for testimonials.
Maybe other horsefolks can throw in their ideas...
Consider making a special version for the equestrian market!
Horsewomen (and men - but women are the majority of the market), often carry a cell phone and GPS on trail, plus a hoof pick, knife, treats (it would need an easy-to-wipe-out-with-a-cloth treat pocket), maps, ID/emergency contacts/health ins. card, bear repellant, whistle, a snack, etc..
Yeah, you could put some of those in a saddle bag, but if your horse dumps you and leaves, it's better if *you* have the cell phone and GPS with you. (Besides, English saddles, and riding bareback, don't work well with saddle bags.)
In the arena, some dressage riders train with music. There are hip-pack CD player systems with built-in speakers already - you could do something like that in the vest.
Some things to think about:
- Horsewomen wear vests a lot more than the general population. (A pocket for the sleeves, when you get too hot, and take them off, would be good - I think it's already there (the huge one on the back) - just point it out.)
- Not fleece. Fleece attracts and holds hay like nobody's business.
- Maybe build in a tie string/strap (or pouch), for bundling it up, when you get too hot and tie it to the saddle.
- Riding is an athletic activity - make it light and breathable. If a rider is going out in the snow they can layer warm clothes under it.
- Consider removeable reflective stripes - wear them near civilization, remove them for backcountry use, where blending in is preferred.
- Consider including a lightweight mesh blaze-orange vest (? - like the <$10 kind at Wal-Mart) designed to wear over it around hunters or traffic. (Maybe the reflective stripes could be on the over-vest part.)
- If you design it to shed rain, it should have a split in the back so it can go over the back of the saddle, to direct rain away, not under the rider's butt.
- If it's short (waist-top of hip), don't put elastic at the bottom - those bunch up - it should hang naturally.
- There are tons of equestrian catalogs you can check for style ideas (not necessarily Western).
- The solar panels might be popular with backcountry riders, packers, and endurance riders.
- Horsepeople appreciate, and are willing to pay for, useful, high-quality equipment.
You could market them by giving a few away as prizes, or sponsoring classes at competitive events (endurance rides, competitive trail riding, shows, dressage tests...). Or send some out to influential riders/trainers, and ask for testimonials.
Maybe other horsefolks can throw in their ideas...