Untacked

C H R O N O F H O R S E . C O M M AY/J U N E 2 017 37 Equi-Logic Stock Tie Created by equestrian entrepreneur Julie Lackey, Equi-Logic pre-tied stock ties come in several different styles. Lackey started making stock ties in the 1990s, and her original, the "Tie One On," is still available today. A dressage rider sick of choking on the traditional stock tie, Lackey, of Las Vegas, tries to emulate the traditional knot in some of her designs, but she also has bib and ruffle collar versions. The Tie One On comes in a textured piqué fabric or a cotton poplin, both of which hold their shapes without ironing. It comes in plain white with a simple pin or with colored trim. A unique feature is the removable fabric that turns the stock into a ratcatcher. My favorite of Lackey's ties was the colorblock tie (pictured), which comes in satin or poplin and a choice of black, blue, purple or red for the collar. It was not bulky and laid nicely under my coat. It's machine washable too, making it easy to care for. Learn more: equi-logic.net Cost: $28-$36 TESTER'S CHOICE R S tarted in 2014 by dressage rider Veronica Himmelberger in Schnecksville, Pa., Bad Habit Stock Ties' slogan is, "Put the dress in dressage." When she started the company, Himmelberger had recently purchased a custom saddle pad and wanted a stock tie to match. She wasn't finding what she wanted, so she made her own. After she ended up with a pile of stock ties, her husband suggested she sell them to pay for her "bad habit." Combined with inspiration from the term "riding habit," the company and its name were created. Himmelberger is a one-woman operation and sells her ties to cover her horse expenses. I had a hard time choosing one to try because of the endless options. From fabric color and texture, to the size of the buttons, pins, ribbons or gems you can add, every stock tie is enviable. As an eventer, I loved the colorblocked styles that use white and a custom color on the edges, with optional gems, but if you're looking for something even fancier, some of the ties looked straight out of Downton Abbey—made of silk or lace with fancy brooches that look very Victorian chic. Picking your cross-country or barn colors is fun, but if you need a more muted tie to follow Fédération Equestre Internationale rules, you can still dress it up by choosing a textured fabric and adding some bling. Collar extenders are also available for $1.50. Learn more: etsy.com/shop/BadHabitStockTies Cost: $60 for a handmade tie; $45-50 for pre-made ties Fancy Pants 2-Color Pre-Tied Stock Tie The eventer in me silently squealed when I saw the Fancy Pants 2-Color pre-tied stock tie. I love color coordination, and Amanda Ruane, of Sarver, Pa., who started her company in 2016, had a beautiful red, white and black tie that was calling my name. Made of polyester taffeta and polyester satin, there is a lot of fabric, but it laid flat and didn't feel bulky around my neck. The tie had a generously sized hook-and-loop fastener. If it's too much color for you, the "knot" is interchangeable. I switched it from black to white, and it looked just as nice. There is also a permanent knot option. Ruane offers different brooches and one-color ties and sells ties with crystal embellishment. The general style and pattern of the ties are the same, but custom color options make these really fun. Ruane said she invites creativity and will work with a rider to make her vision a reality as she continues to grow her business. Learn more: fancypantsstockties.com Cost: $60 and above Editor's note: All companies provided stock ties to Untacked for unbiased testing and review free of charge. After testing, the products were returned to the companies or purchased at retail price by the reviewer. Bad Habit Pre-Tied Stock Tie

• Cover