CJ Jeans Partners with TB Race Horse Rescue

For the month of November CJ Jeans Co is partnering with Royal Star Ranch, a thoroughbred rescue for retired and mistreated race horses in Orange,CA. A portion of sales from www.cjjeansco.com will benefit RSR and go toward feed and vet care for these horses!

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Royal Star Ranch

You Asked, We Answered!

CJ Jeans Co customers are very loyal and we appreciate you so much! We love your feedback and take it very seriously. Due to popular demand, we are releasing a new style of CJ Jeans Co riding jeans very soon! CJ Jeans Co riding jeans will now be available in 32" and 34" inseams! The fabric is improved for endurance and comfort and you will still have all the same qualities you love about CJ Jeans!

In order to make room for our fabulous new styles, we have marked down our remaining inventory (for a limited time) to the LOW PRICE of $22.99! This is more than HALF OFF our MSRP! This offer is only available though our official eBay store at this link!

Thank you again for demanding the very best products and being a loyal CJ Jeans co customer!

All About Equestrian Summer Camps

Summer is just about here, and millions of children are clamoring, “Please, Mom, can I go to horseback riding camp?”  And the answer can be, “Yes!” You’ll want to start packing their equestrian riding apparel – making sure to include an ASTM/SEI-approved horse riding helmet and get them ready to advance their horseback riding skills, expand their horsemanship knowledge, and enjoy riding with friends.

Equestrian Camp Options

Happily, hundreds of camps across the country offer riding as a main activity:  At least 130 camps make it a primary focus,with nearly 450 camps offering English riding alone.  Now, these are just sleep-away camps; keep in mind that many stables offer week-long camp sessions that are geared to riders of any level, and can be a wonderful experience for youngsters of any age.

Core Components of Camp

In both cases, riding time will be a core part of the camp experience, but what is so exciting about “horse camp” is that most camps are designed to allow youngsters the chance to care extensively for their horses.  Grooming, stall cleaning, equestrian riding apparel care, and learning all about equine anatomy and culture are all part of the experience.  In addition, campers have the opportunity to ride twice a day.  For the horse-crazy youngster, horse camp is just short of heaven.

Immersed in Nature

In addition to the hands-on, summer camp, especially those with a strong equestrian component, gives youngsters a key chance to be immersed in Nature.  They learn about the life of another living being, how to be responsible for its well-being, and an important chance to experience interacting with a large animal safely and with respect.

Camp Counselor Opportunities

If parents are wondering if camp can provide future opportunities, many youngsters return year after year to their camp, and as they mature, they often have the chance to return as a camp counselor.  For those with the horse bug, this is an excellent chance to learn how to be truly responsible with horses, to acquire senior barn management skills, learn advanced riding, and to learn teaching skills, all without the expense of personal horse ownership!

What to Pack

What sort of equestrian equipment and equestrian riding apparel should a child take with him or her to camp?  It usually is the same as it would be for your child’s riding lessons.  In most cases, the child should be equipped with the following:

• ASTM/SEI-approved horse riding helmet
• Proper riding boots (paddock-style are the most versatile for english) (western boots for western)
• Riding pants, such as CJ Jeans are perfect for any discipline and durable for any camp length!
• Half-chaps, to protect the calf of the leg while riding, are a very useful and functional addition, and should be included on the shopping list if possible
• Riding gloves are also excellent, as they can provide protection from the sun while out of doors

Clothes will get dirty, so any extra pairs of riding pants and socks can be helpful!  Shirts should be tidy and well-fitted, not loose-fitting; long hair will need to fasten back into a pony tail or braids for barn work and riding time.

Summer camp, youngsters (girls and boys) and horses are a natural mix, and with the wide variety of horse camps available, there is no shortage of opportunity.  So, get ready for a summer filled with excitement for your child … and maybe, at the end of summer, a clamoring of “Mom, can we bring Red home with us?  Please?”

2013 Horse Show Apparel Trends

When it comes to horse show apparel, it’s extremely important to pick something that is going to give you that extra boost of confidence in the showing ring. So for those of you who are constantly trying to keep up with the latest trends, you’ll be happy to know that The Equine Chronicle has recently written a piece about a new trend we’ll be seeing in the upcoming year.

2013 will be the year of emerald! That’s right, as in emerald green. According to Pantone, which has made itself the color authority of the world, this particular color is “Lively. Radiant. Lush. A color of elegance and beauty that enhances our sense of well-being, balance and harmony.” Well yes, that and the fact that the color itself is just gorgeous.

If you don’t agree, the article goes on to suggest that instead of having your designer create an outfit entirely made from green material, add a few accent pieces instead. A couple of alternative options could be to incorporate emerald rhinestones into your jacket, or wear a few pieces of emerald jewelry – just to give it that pop of color.

We all know how important color can be for catching the attention of the crowd and the judges, and, of course, the right color has the power to change your mood entirely. Just knowing that you’re sporting the shade of the year may make all the difference in the world.

However, The Equine Chronicle reminds us that at the end of the day, it’s all about what makes you comfortable. CJ Jeans are a perfect addition to your show apparel. They offer fashion and function in the saddle. The inner knee pads provide comfort alone or under chaps. Whatever you choose to go for during your next discussion with your designer, it’s always nice to have an idea of what’s trending in the back of your mind. Think emerald!

Put out to Pasture… or ?

This topic of “retirement,” in which the horse is relieved of his riding  duties and has only before him endless grazing, sun-basking, horse care and playing with his peers— nary a care to trouble him under his forelock — can blossom into a whole new phase of your horse’s life, and for the owner. This is something I have been dealing with my horse Fred (2 x World Champion Olympic Power).

Who would quibble with this golden life, after years of work and, for horses that compete or provided service, travel, coping with strange barns, strangers, and sights and sounds that change endlessly? Well, it can take some planning and some flexibility and going through some stages to get to a quiet retirement.

Semi-retirement, a dialing down of the intensity and frequency of riding or a change of purpose, for many is perfect fit for the owner, the new rider, and most importantly, the horse. “Peter,” known as Peterbuild (a play on words for his architect owner) during his intensive show days in Canada, was sold in his mid-teens to a new owner for a moderate price and an iron-clad written contract outlining his new riding life that excluded frequent showing at the upper levels but allowed low-level hunters, dressage, baby eventing, Pony Club, and any trail riding as long as Peter was pleased about walking about in the woods. It was rumored he didn’t really take to the trail riding, but a happy balance was found as a quiet riding horse in the ring and nearby cross-country field for his older new owner and a weekly lesson and extra ride for an enthusiastic youngster in the neighborhood. His original owner receives photos in the mail and can find him on his young lesson rider’s Facebook page. This is a success story.

Yet, not all horses go for this. Stories are out there of newly-retired show horses continuing to be shipped to the shows after their retirement from the show ring, as they would become hysterical seeing the trailer leave without them. It is simply easier to keep up light work, regardless of their diminished abilities, and give them a place on the trailer. These accommodations Who make for a more peaceful stable, and everyone hopes that the horse(s) will, eventually, stop caring so much about being in the thick of things. This method, too, is a success story — just an odd picture of ‘retirement — with just a few more stages needed before these horses are ready to take to life in a grassy field.

Full retirement usually comes about as a result of an owner’s final consultation with the veterinary and/or farrier. A decision is made that an unsoundness or health condition that often has been arduously treated and maintained for months or years is now claiming more and more ground, and for the horse’s well-being, the riding needs to be ended. It’s a bittersweet decision, usually one that confirms what you’ve known for a while.

Retiring your horse completely, or making the decision to move him to another, simpler life is a significant step for the caring owner. We look forward to exploring this more in upcoming blogs.

Best Trail Riding Destinations in the U.S.

In the mood for a New Year trail riding vacation? Here are some of the best and most beautiful trail riding destinations in the U.S.  Don't forget to pack your CJ Jeans!

Totsonii Ranch

Canyon de Chelly, Ariz.
Channel your inner John Wayne and trek through the wild West with Navajos as your guide. "On a longer ride into the canyon through small forests of Russian olive trees and across streams, you reach Spider Rock, an 800-foot sandstone spire," Newman says. "You might feel dwarfed by the high cliff walls, some of which reach 1,000 feet, as you ride inside one of the largest sandstone canyons in the United States." 928-220-5524; totsoniiranch.com

Vermont Icelandic Horse Farm
Waitsfield, Vt.
Explore the country lanes of the Mad River Valley on an Icelandic horse. This breed is good for beginners because its "smaller stature makes them less intimidating to many riders," Newman says. "Icelandic horses have been bred over the centuries to conquer the elements and terrain in Iceland, so riding year-round in Vermont is not a problem for the horses." 802-496-7141; icelandichorses.com

Marriott Ranch
Hume, Va.
This working ranch in Northern Virginia, owned by the Marriotts of hotel fame, is about an hour from Washington, D.C. Newman recommends this riding experience to East Coast families craving a Western-style ranch without the cross-country travel. "The ride to Paradise Valley, a favorite spot for the ranch's exotic longhorn cattle to graze, passes quiet country streams and rolling hills in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains," Newman says.877-278-4574; marriottranch.com

Bardy's Trail Rides
Seward, Alaska
Scope the serene sights of this Alaskan harbor town by horseback with a local guide. "View wildlife like bald eagles and arctic tern as you ride through forests, across rivers and even on an Alaskan beach with snowcapped peaks in the distance," Newman says. "On this trail ride, your guide will recount stories of what happened during the devastating 1964 earthquake." 907-224-7863; sewardhorses.com

Biltmore Estate
Asheville, N.C.
"Over 80 miles of equestrian trails wind through wooded Appalachian forests surrounding America's largest home," Newman says. She suggests this spot for those traveling with non-riding companions, because there's plenty to do in the area. "Combine a short ride with a tour of the 250-room French Renaissance-style chateau and a trip into charming downtown Asheville," she suggests. 800-411-3812; biltmore.com

Rapp Corral
Durango, Colo.
Sure-footed horses carry riders into the mountains of the San Juan National Forest just outside the Old West town of Durango. "The full-day Engineer Mountain ride is for true adventure seekers, winding through a sub-alpine forest, past wildflowers and high above timberline, where, on a clear day, you can see all the way to New Mexico." 970-247-8454; rappcorral.com

Na'alapa Stables
Big Island, Hawaii
"A steep road that requires four-wheel drive makes getting down to this valley an adventure in itself, and one that your rental car agreement may not cover," Newman warns. "Don't be alarmed if your horse whinnies and shakes, calling to his wilder friends who roam the back of the valley," Newman says. "He's just saying hello." 808-775-0419; naalapastables.com

Triple Creek Horse Outfit
Napa Valley, Calif.
"Learn about the 19th-century Native Americans and ranchers who lived in the fertile valleys as you ride through golden meadows surrounded by tree-covered mountains." Brace yourself for the views from the summit of Bald Mountain, where on a clear day, you might see San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge. 707-887-8700;triplecreekhorseoutfit.com

Big Red Stables
Harrodsburg, Ky.
Derby fans can get time in the saddle riding Tennessee walking horses through Kentucky bluegrass at this family farm, about an hour's drive southwest of Lexington. "Natural-born jockeys and amateurs alike can ride with ease with this gaited breed," Newman says. 859-734-3118; bigredstablesky.com

Canyon Trail Rides
Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
"Descend into the canyon on horseback or mule among a sea of pink and red hoodoos, bizarre rock spires that have been eroded into peculiar formations," Newman says. "Cowboy guides will tell you about the history and unique geology of this park." 435-679-8665; canyonrides.com