BRIDLE ARRANGEMENTS & GROOMING TIPS FOR THE PERFECT EQUESTRIAN WEDDING By Callie Broaddus
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nd they galloped off into the sunset, to live happily ever after. Hold your horses…that was the end of the story. We need to start at the beginning—or at least at the beginning of the wedding. Even as a life-long horseback rider, my mind is abuzz with questions each time I see a horse standing next to a set of newlyweds, whether in my newsfeed or on the big screen (remember the opening scene of Runaway Bride?). Where did those horses come from? How many times did she have to practice mounting and dismounting in a wedding gown? Have you ever ridden sidesaddle before? Wait a second…isn’t that your polo pony? Fiancés in horse country don’t need encouragement from fairytales or rom-coms to conclude that an equine element might add elegance and personality to their special day. A winter morning’s drive through Middleburg’s rural landscape is likely to put
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you in view of a hunt field hot on the scent, a carriage tottering down a gravel road and at least a dozen blanketed bays grazing in frost-covered paddocks. With such daily inspiration, many couples find themselves asking not “if ” but “how” horses will play a part in their wedding celebration. From a post-wedding-day photo shoot with a favorite horse to a fully mounted ceremony followed by a foxhunt, there is a level of equestrian involvement to suit every couple. As even the most well-behaved horse carries with it the risk inherent to a 1,400-pound sentient animal, determining the right level of equine involvement for a wedding can be daunting. Luckily, Middleburg is exactly the place you want to be if you have questions of an equine or nuptial nature to explore. Let us start with the Hindu and Sikh traditional baraat, for example, in which the groom usually approaches the wedding venue riding astride an elaborately decorated white mare, surrounded by his family. Because
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this tradition is not exclusive to experienced equestrians, it helps to have horse-savvy professionals in attendance to make sure everything runs—or, hopefully, walks—smoothly. Amy Regeti, of Regeti’s Photography in Warrenton, VA, has extensive experience photographing baraat processions. She consults with clients early when planning a baraat to cover need-to-know information on hiring a horse or carriage company, but her advice is sound for equestrian wedding elements of any culture. “Do your research, read reviews, question the horse’s temperament, how many events it’s been present at and how often it’s socialized. When not on events, what is the horse actively doing?” Regeti continues. Adding a photographer’s wish, “More importantly, I would ask how the handler will present and be dressed. After all, they are in a lot of your images.” As co-owner of Carriages of the Capital, Marcia Brody has to consider every one of Equestrian | Page 55