AdorableAlice
Well-Known Member
When they are are dressed up like a Barbie doll it is to be expected. I am one of the old farts that thinks a horse should be turned out traditionally and the only colour needed is hi vis for safety on the roads.
Has the bubble burst for Le Mieux new season colours?
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When they are are dressed up like a Barbie doll it is to be expected. I am one of the old farts that thinks a horse should be turned out traditionally and the only colour needed is hi vis for safety on the roads.
dottylottie
Well-Known Member
i do really like le mieux - i’ve got 4 of their saddle pads, but only 1 is a current colour, the rhone espresso. i love all of the heritage pads they did and have the plum one, and i bought rioja and oak on sale for £22 each.
i like their polo shirts but i’m not keen on the baselayers, i think they’re a bit tacky. i do have 2 and they’re a lovely fit and material, but i wouldn’t buy any more.
personally, the draw for me is purely the colours you don’t see with other brands, and i find the quality and fit good. i wouldn’t buy a black/navy/red etc from them when other brands offer the exact same at a fraction of a price, but i waited a long time to buy a horse as an adult so i’ll jolly well buy 3 saddle pads in 3 weeks!
im not keen on bright colours whatsoever, the only one i’ll make an exception for is the citron because i love love love pastel yellow, and it’s a good bright colour for summer hacking (although in hindsight maybe not the best for visibility with the sun, but let me get it anyway
)
i will say though the only thing i’ve ever bought from them was a pair of gloves, because i needed some there and then and they’re very good everyday gloves in all fairness. everything else was on sale, secondhand, or a present with the baselayers.
i think with kids, it’s mostly just because it’s fashionable to have the latest le mieux colours, the same way it’s fashionable to wear “trendy” clothes. i mean tweens/teens by the way, i know i’m still not much older than a kid myself!
i’m not remotely keen on the new colours and a lot of the comments on their facebook post was asking them to bring back corn blue - i can see them going in this direction when they run out of ideas though, “limited edition return of discontinued colours!”. i think it would be nice if they did more out there things that are still “muted” so to speak, like the heritage pads. unique but not tacky (i’m looking at you, spectrum
).
i like their polo shirts but i’m not keen on the baselayers, i think they’re a bit tacky. i do have 2 and they’re a lovely fit and material, but i wouldn’t buy any more.
personally, the draw for me is purely the colours you don’t see with other brands, and i find the quality and fit good. i wouldn’t buy a black/navy/red etc from them when other brands offer the exact same at a fraction of a price, but i waited a long time to buy a horse as an adult so i’ll jolly well buy 3 saddle pads in 3 weeks!
im not keen on bright colours whatsoever, the only one i’ll make an exception for is the citron because i love love love pastel yellow, and it’s a good bright colour for summer hacking (although in hindsight maybe not the best for visibility with the sun, but let me get it anyway)i will say though the only thing i’ve ever bought from them was a pair of gloves, because i needed some there and then and they’re very good everyday gloves in all fairness. everything else was on sale, secondhand, or a present with the baselayers.
i think with kids, it’s mostly just because it’s fashionable to have the latest le mieux colours, the same way it’s fashionable to wear “trendy” clothes. i mean tweens/teens by the way, i know i’m still not much older than a kid myself!
i’m not remotely keen on the new colours and a lot of the comments on their facebook post was asking them to bring back corn blue - i can see them going in this direction when they run out of ideas though, “limited edition return of discontinued colours!”. i think it would be nice if they did more out there things that are still “muted” so to speak, like the heritage pads. unique but not tacky (i’m looking at you, spectrum
).
marmalade76
Well-Known Member
I loved the Le Mieux sheepskin numnahs when they first came out but they've gone downhill since and I wouldn't buy one now. I don't think the high wither shape is quite right and that coupled with the lack of sheepskin along the spine (something that wasn't on the original full Monty numnahs), if you don't get them it just the right place they can rub. I prefer the cut of Nuumed.
Never been a fan of loud colours and don't use boots anymore 'cause we now know boots are bad and nothing but a highly fly sensitive horse could ever persuade me to use an ear bonnet. I have got a fluff covered Le Mieux headcollar, though, I like to use it when I need to put a headcollar on over a bridle but it's plain old black with cream fluff.
Never been a fan of loud colours and don't use boots anymore 'cause we now know boots are bad and nothing but a highly fly sensitive horse could ever persuade me to use an ear bonnet. I have got a fluff covered Le Mieux headcollar, though, I like to use it when I need to put a headcollar on over a bridle but it's plain old black with cream fluff.
RachelFerd
Well-Known Member
When I see a horse decked out in full lemieux matchy matchy, I just can't help myself from suspecting that's it's a case of "all the gear, no idea".
Here's my top tip - I only buy things in white, black, navy blue and dark brown. Then it doesn't matter what brands I use, they all match each other. I can have a nuumed numnah matching with a decathlon top, because they're both white, I can't go wrong.
Don't get me wrong, I like colours, but I simply don't have the energy for colours that will come and go in their availability.
Here's my top tip - I only buy things in white, black, navy blue and dark brown. Then it doesn't matter what brands I use, they all match each other. I can have a nuumed numnah matching with a decathlon top, because they're both white, I can't go wrong.
Don't get me wrong, I like colours, but I simply don't have the energy for colours that will come and go in their availability.
dottylottie
Well-Known Member
i do really like le mieux - i’ve got 4 of their saddle pads, but only 1 is a current colour, the rhone espresso. i love all of the heritage pads they did and have the plum one, and i bought rioja and oak on sale for £22 each.
i like their polo shirts but i’m not keen on the baselayers, i think they’re a bit tacky. i do have 2 and they’re a lovely fit and material, but i wouldn’t buy any more.
personally, the draw for me is purely the colours you don’t see with other brands, and i find the quality and fit good. i wouldn’t buy a black/navy/red etc from them when other brands offer the exact same at a fraction of a price, but i waited a long time to buy a horse as an adult so i’ll jolly well buy 3 saddle pads in 3 weeks!
i will say though the only thing i’ve ever bought from them was a pair of gloves, because i needed some there and then and they’re very good everyday gloves in all fairness. everything else was on sale, secondhand, or a present with the baselayers.
i think with kids, it’s mostly just because it’s fashionable to have the latest le mieux colours, the same way it’s fashionable to wear “trendy” clothes. i mean tweens/teens by the way, i know i’m still not much older than a kid myself!
i’m not remotely keen on the new colours and a lot of the comments on their facebook post was asking them to bring back corn blue - i can see them going in this direction when they run out of ideas though, “limited edition return of discontinued colours!”. i think it would be nice if they did more out there things that are still “muted” so to speak, like the heritage pads. unique but not tacky (i’m looking at you, spectrum
will also add i don’t bother with the rest of the matchy matchy! my friend bought me the matching ears when i got the espresso pad as a birthday present because they were on sale, and i wanted some to try to see if they help with lilys spookiness and aversion to random noises, but i was just going to go for bog standard black from the cheapest brand.
she has one pair of brushing boots, again just the cheapest mesh/ventilated ones i could find, i don’t bother usually but she wears them if we’re doing a hacking route (still in hand at the moment lol) because she doesn’t need anything else to be worrying about at the moment
Mrs. Jingle
Well-Known Member
I agree despite being a huge matchy match fan myself. I find as the years have crept up on me I probably have very little idea what I am even doing on the back of any horse let alone showing any great aptitude or finesse! Especially compared to all you young guns out there doing and winning everything in almost any discipline you can think of.
But I don't half enjoy my riding far more now I don't take myself and my happy hobby too seriously anymore. I suspect my horses have had a more relaxed and happy time humouring me too and indulging my late life passion for all things colourful and a bit of harmless fun. I am definitely your quintessential all the gear but absolutely no idea old rider.
gallopingby
Well-Known Member
Oh Mrs J do you not ensure you and your horse follow the required diets with micro analysis every month? You should be keeping a record of everything you eat to show to your ‘trainer’ along with the other members of your support team so you can ….hashtag them all into your social media posts along side the current colour trends.I agree despite being a huge matchy match fan myself. I find as the years have crept up on me I probably have very little idea what I am even doing on the back of any horse let alone showing any great aptitude or finesse! Especially compared to all you young guns out there doing and winning everything in almost any discipline you can think of.☺
But I don't half enjoy my riding far more now I don't take myself and my happy hobby too seriously anymore. I suspect my horses have had a more relaxed and happy time humouring me too and indulging my late life passion for all things colourful and a bit of harmless fun. I am definitely your quintessential all the gear but absolutely no idea old rider.
cauda equina
Well-Known Member
I was fence judging at a teeny tiny hunter trial last year, and virtually all the kids on their 12 hand ponies were in full matchy
It's a fashion I totally do not get, but seems compulsive for some
What does the Pony Club think about it? They're generally pretty traditional
It's a fashion I totally do not get, but seems compulsive for some
What does the Pony Club think about it? They're generally pretty traditional
sbloom
Well-Known Member
Have a look at the Mattes configurator, you pick your colours, with quilt about 20 colours plus I think 8 velvets), binding, sheepskin and up to 3 rows of piping (plus top tape and velcro with more limited choices) and you can keep ordering the same year after year.
scats
Well-Known Member
Love this
Millie wears them but from now on that’s what I’ll be referring to them as!Life is short and difficult, if people want to spend their money dressing their ponies up in matching colours, then I don’t see it as a problem. If it brings a bit of enjoyment to people, live and let live and all that. Provided the animal is well cared for in every other respect.
Though I really couldn’t be bothered dressing myself up to match, or changing my hat silk all the time. I do stick at saddlecloth and doily!
sbloom
Well-Known Member
In my job it's frustrating when a horse or pony needs a therapeutic pad but they customer won't do it because match matchy. Plus all the other more subtle cases where they're clearly spending money on matchup matchu, or anything else that's a long way from direct horse welfare, and their horse needs something that they say they can't afford.
I may not be into it but I have no moral objection to people buying it, I do think it's objectionable as a business model. Even the fast fashion companies are slowing down the rate at which they change their designs. There are much more sustainable products out there.
Does anyone know where they're made? Hopefully in Europe but I'm guessing not, Mattes are made in Poland, Nuumed in the UK.
Roxylola
Well-Known Member
Eskadron, they wash and wear really well. I've never had one rub, and they have cotton pads that are around £30 as well as the fancier (pricier) ones like velvet etc. I've had le mieux but esky are better quality.
Psos and Equito are also nice but pricy unless you get a sale bargain
scats
Well-Known Member
Yes I can totally see the frustration from your point of view. But there are people like me out there, whose horses get the best of everything with no expense spared when it comes to vet, physio, vet Chiro, saddle fitters, tack etc but who also enjoy buying the odd saddle pad and doily.
We’re not all as people are describing and I just felt I should defend us.
Patterdale
Well-Known Member
So matchy matchy is tacky, unless it’s on you, in which case it’s fine because you are only matching your idea of acceptable colours?
It is this snobbish attitude about matchy matchy which I cannot stand.
I personally don’t do matchy matchy colours. It’s not for me, I am absolutely in the brown/navy/black brigade. I do have some muted colours, like Fig, Ink and Blackcurrant which I use for hacking. My taste is not for bright colours.
But does this give me the right to look down on people who do like bright colours? To say they must have no idea?
No it does not.
Good for them. I hope it brings them joy. I think it’s great that we have choice and that people can express themselves. When I was a kid, primary red or blue was as thrilling as it got.
Like Lemieux/matchy matchy or don’t, but there’s really no need to be such a snob about people who do wear it. Says more about you than about them.
LEC
Opinions are like bum holes, everyone has one.
I do have an issue with the amount of fly veils especially on cobs with large amounts of mane which is then making the fly veils very tight and compressing under the bridle. I also have an issue with what colour should I buy my bay horse posts. FGS who cares, buy what you like.
I am tight though and have a lot of horses in my life so I have stuck with navy and red my whole life as it makes no difference about the horse colour etc it never dates and it comes out year after year looking smart. Everything is a variation of navy, red or white. I just cannot justify £65 on a saddle pad when a £15 one lasts just as long. I have a £2.99 one entering it’s 15th year. For me £65 is a showjumping round and lesson. It’s all priorities and mine go on lessons and competing.
I am tight though and have a lot of horses in my life so I have stuck with navy and red my whole life as it makes no difference about the horse colour etc it never dates and it comes out year after year looking smart. Everything is a variation of navy, red or white. I just cannot justify £65 on a saddle pad when a £15 one lasts just as long. I have a £2.99 one entering it’s 15th year. For me £65 is a showjumping round and lesson. It’s all priorities and mine go on lessons and competing.
ecb89
Well-Known Member
I know people like this and if matchy matchy wasn’t a thing they still wouldn’t put their money on their horse’s welfare
sbloom
Well-Known Member
Probably true! I remember someone's Mattes correction numnah, in the days when they did a wool rather than sheepskin finish, having come to the end of its life and becoming a problem to the horse. I found it very hard seeing the regular manicures and holidays on FB on her feed as she said she couldn't afford to replace it...don't follow customers on FB was the lesson!
Barton Bounty
Just simply loving life with Orbi 🥰
I needed a shimmed pad for a while, i used a le mieux one in benetton blue with shims and when I wanted matchy matchy I just used my le mieux half pad with shims. I most certainly do not agree with anyone that doesnt look after their horses welfare first
dogatemysalad
Well-Known Member
LeMieux distributes it's products from the UK, but there's no mention of where they are manufactured. However, didn't Countryfile report on some of their hats being made with dog hair in China in 2018 ?
RachelFerd
Well-Known Member
I'm still only ever going to order it in white, black, brown and navy blue - just because it'll match all the other rubbish I own
Mrs. Jingle
Well-Known Member
I remember that, and I think it applied to quite a few of those furry pom pom hats at the time, not just the LM ones. I have never worn a furry pom pom hat since it upset me so much when I delved into the background of where and how they got the fur from.
suestowford
Well-Known Member
I am older, and I don't have matchy matchy. Not because I don't like it, but when I was buying tack, it wasn't available, so I bought what I could find that fitted. It's mostly still here as it's not worn out.
I always hankered after one of these (don't think it's Le Mieux though) for my black pony. I thought it would have suited him very well, especially if I could have found a dragon headpiece to go with it. He'd probably never have 'spoken' to me again if I made him go out in that lot though!
I always hankered after one of these (don't think it's Le Mieux though) for my black pony. I thought it would have suited him very well, especially if I could have found a dragon headpiece to go with it. He'd probably never have 'spoken' to me again if I made him go out in that lot though!
KJ94
Well-Known Member
off topic but oh how handsome is he!
Barton Bounty
Just simply loving life with Orbi 🥰
He really is! Wait till you see him in summer, he changes colour
RachelFerd
Well-Known Member
You slightly misunderstood my point - I've nothing against folk who want to wear matchy matchy (although not a fan of matching equipment being used when it isn't needed). I also enjoy the smartness of matching, but I do it with colours that I can get from any brand at any time, so that nothing goes out of date or is wasted.
My alarm of 'all the gear...' goes off when I see that it's specifically a Lemieux set. Because that is warning bells for me of someone who just believes all the online influencer copycat hype... There are much nicer higher quality manufacturers of matching stuff out there.
humblepie
Well-Known Member
I have one Le Mieux saddle pad in a dark orange and it is a nice fit. My horse has hi viz leg boots which are worn whether hacking or having a lesson or warming up at a big show! Most used saddle pad is a Protech one in black. Have a set of bright orange ears for hacking on a particular route where I hope they perhaps show over the hedge lines. Other than that have a really nice saddle pad which is very breathable for hot weather - can't remember the name and not well known but do a lot of racing stuff. And lots of RoR saddle pads he has won! More than happy for people to look smart and have matching things and think some of the colours look lovely, just not what I spend on.
ponynutz
Well-Known Member
I had all brown and white numnahs as a teenager, I loved matching the brown and those colours seemed smarter to me BUT I did have one beautiful green Lemieux numnah which was my pride of joy and I still think suits pony beautifully to this day, especially when she's clipped in winter and is grey.
luckyoldme
Well-Known Member
I honestly don't put that much thought into what someone else buys for their horse.
I think that's quite an arrogant statement unless you are a total horse guru.
HufflyPuffly
Well-Known Member
The weird snobbery around bright colours and Le Mieux is super bizarre! I find the pads excellent quality, can be worn and washed to death and suit my horses 
. Tend not to buy this seasons colours of any brand, as I go for the colours I like rather try to fit in with the latest fad of any brand. I have rather gone off them more for their business practices but their pads are still in my tack room 6+ years on, going well against the test of time!
I'll just leave these here, obviously with too much gear and knowing nothing, as these horses definitely did not get to medium and PSG with me wearing Le Mieux
...
. Tend not to buy this seasons colours of any brand, as I go for the colours I like rather try to fit in with the latest fad of any brand. I have rather gone off them more for their business practices but their pads are still in my tack room 6+ years on, going well against the test of time!I'll just leave these here, obviously with too much gear and knowing nothing, as these horses definitely did not get to medium and PSG with me wearing Le Mieux
...
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Mrs. Jingle
Well-Known Member
The weird snobbery around bright colours and Le Mieux is super bizarre! I find the pads excellent quality, can be worn and washed to death and suit my horses
I'll just leave these here, obviously with too much gear and knowing nothing, as these horses definitely did not get to medium and PSG with me wearing Le Mieux
Just stunning - absolutely beautiful. I love your matchy bandages too, I had to give up on those and just do matchy boots. The poor old back and knees can't do all that bending and kneeling to put them on! Gorgeous horses you are very lucky to have them.