Dressage - It’s not for sissies
By Abby Kogler, founder of Dressage, it’s not for sissies
I started Itsnotforsissies in 2009. I had lost my mom, my only brother, both my dogs, and five horses in the space of 18 months. Life was immeasurably sad and I had a hard time getting past all the heartbreaks. My German grandmother used to say “Leibe ist nicht fur Schwachlinge!” (”Life is not for sissies!”) when things were hard. A sympathetic friend said “You need a not for sissies hat..” She was right. I did. So I made a line of hats, sold them locally and on line, and dedicated the company to my brother Eric, who was definitely not a sissie. I donated a percentage of the proceeds to a local therapeutic riding organization. Good came from bad, and I was comforted by the whole process.
From that original idea arose the Horse line of sissie products. Competition is not for the faint of heart. As a teacher and coach, I know that humor goes along way toward diffusing fears, insecurities, and sadness. And Schwachlinge is such a great word! It makes people laugh just to say it. And its perfect for the Dressage world with its German influences. And so the Dressage, Equitation, Hunter, and Jumper line of products were born.
Years ago I started following Dr. Hillary Clayton, Phillippe Karl, and Dr. Gerd Heuschman Their work on the biomechanics of dressage and performance fascinated me. It coincided with the rise of Rollkur/Hyperflexion as a training practice. I knew it was physiologically and emotionally wrong and their work confirmed it. I gave Dr. Heuschman a Sissie hat, and he said “This is great, but we really need a Bully hat”. He was right. And so we do.
And so the latest product line reminds us that Dressage is NOT for bullies. An oppressed horse is not a thing of beauty. Its an object of pity, shame, and horror. And so the latest additions to the itsnotforsissies.com store are the Rebauken hats and decals. They say “Dressage: Ist nicht fur Rebauken. Call 1-800- SieSindNichtDeineSklaven”. This translates to Dressage; Its Not for Bullies. Call 1-800-TheyAren’tYourSlaves. It’s time.
In an effort to give back to a community that has given us so much, we also donate a portion of our revenue to a therapy group,
www.cornerstonetrc.org
So visit the STORE and see for yourself what we’re all about!
Wear it, live it, ride by it.
Abby Kogler
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