I started horseback riding when I was 4 years old—casually taking lessons at a farm near my summer home on Cape Cod. Over the next few years, I fell more and more in love with the sport, dropping all of my other millions of activities and spending all day, every day at the barn.

After swearing we would never own a horse, my dad finally caved and bought me a 15 year old thoroughbred ex race horse, Sadie, that we found in the Want-Advertiser. As I became more seriously involved in riding, I decided to attend a high school with a very reputable equestrian program and we purchased my first show horse, Mac.

I am the first one to admit that I was not the most successful junior rider. In fact, all of my major riding achievements have taken place in my adult amateur years thanks first to Mac and then to my current partner, Sophie, who over the past 4 years has allowed me to achieve more than I could have ever imagined including the top spot in the Amateur Adult Hunter national rankings, where I sit now. For more about my story, check out my profile in the Amateurs Like Us feature of the Chronicle of the Horse: http://www.chronofhorse.com/article/amateurs-us-jacquie-maggiore

As my mother always used to say, “Fake It Until You Make It” I keep this in mind every single time I dress for competition. If I want to be the best (which I do), I might as well look like the best! Who knows… I might even fool the judges!

That is one of the reasons why I choose to wear a First Lady Helmetand Denver Parlanti Boots. Although slightly varying from the classic look--the helmet with its wide brim, and the boots with their lace-less square toe-- they have been introduced into the show world by some of the most famous and successful riders. I am totally into emulating their look! That and the wide brim of the helmet makes my big head look smaller!

Green hunt coats have been slowly creeping their way back into the hunter ring after becoming nearly nonexistent over the past couple of decades. One thing that has changed since their last bout of popularity, is the fabric and functionality of the actual coat. Now coats are stretchy and washable and a hell of a lot less miserable. RJ Classic came out with a wonderful coat in the absolute perfect shade of green: RJ Classics Xtreme Collection Grey Label Soft Shell Hunt Coat. The best part about this coat is its price tag at just $218. I swooped up one at the beginning of this show season and pretty much live in it. I like that I stand out a little bit in the sea of navy and black hunt coats. And it looks great with my horse!

Now the hunter world is all about classic and traditional understated style and I do respect that. HOWEVER, I, by nature, am not classic, traditional or understated and find that I need to express myself in my own way.

That is where my bright pink monogrammed belt by Kristin Henchel Designand leopard shadbelly points come in to play. When I first purchased my leopard shadbelly points, my trainer, Greg, said “NO WAY!” Then it was “fine, but only during non-important competitions” Next thing you know, I am photographed wearing them at one of the oldest, most highly respected indoor finals in the country, The Washington International Horse Show… sorry Greg. Although some judges might not be a fan of my loud accessories, I have yet to have a major problem and until I do, I will continue rocking them!!!