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Thursday, May 12 2022 / Published in Sidelines Feature

To Succeed, You Have to Start: Jill Slater & RIATA Designs

By Britney Grover

 

Jill Slater isn’t afraid to start a challenge, whether it’s a new business or a new sport. “What a crazy idea I had when I turned 50 years old: I wanted to take up competitive show jumping!” she said. “It was a bit of a frightening idea, but I have never looked back. There have definitely been ups and downs in this sport, but my passion for horses and my competitive nature have brought me so much joy. I treasure my accomplishments and the amazing experiences along the way.”

 

That choice to pursue horses also planted the seed that would bloom into a company. Jill was in the floral industry “for a million years,” she says; she had a flower shop in Palo Alto, California, for over two decades, was “The Good Gardener” on ABC 7 News, San Francisco, and spent time traveling the country showing TV viewers how to decorate with flowers.

 

Before she grew a business, Jill grew plants for a living in the gardening industry.

 

 

“I literally fell into my business,” Jill said. “In 2015, Liz Hutchinson, my trainer with Jeanne Scalise of Avalon Hunter Jumpers, asked me to create hats—they were just hats then—for clients going to Thermal. The ladies and their RIATAS were a hit. Voila—a business was born.”

 

Jill says they were ‘just hats’ because now, she doesn’t call them anything but RIATAS: Like Kleenex isn’t just a tissue and Velcro certainly isn’t hook-and-loop tape, it’s not a sunhat, it’s a RIATA. In fact, one of her biggest challenges as an entrepreneur has been copycats, but the Good Gardener takes lemons and turns it into lemonade. “I’m from a family of retail and we don’t give up or give in,” Jill said. “In my mind, the first is always the best and I’m honored others want to copy RIATA and proud I ignited a product, a trend in the horse world.”

 

For Jill, being a woman entrepreneur isn’t a disadvantage; it’s the best part. “I like the way women think!” she said. “Let’s face it, most of my clients are women. And as a woman, I have an inside track to our way of thinking. When I design a custom RIATA, I ask my gals to create with me. Many have lots of great ideas, and the collaborative process is a win-win opportunity. It’s synergistic and I’ve made many friends along the way.”

 

Jill says the next best RIATA is always on her mind or on her head!

 

 

Jill is still surprised and ‘tickled’ when someone tells her they have a RIATA addiction and need to add a new one to their collection. “I’m always looking for the next best thing! The next best RIATA is constantly on my mind or on my head,” she said, “testing each one prior to release for comfort, fit, sun protection and style. RIATA is the best job I have I have ever had—and I’ve had many!”

 

As someone “very into skin” and who works as a surgical tech for a facial plastic surgeon when she’s not creating RIATAS, Jill loves that RIATAS offer maximum sun protection. Despite being a small company, located and created in Atherton and Petaluma, California, RIATA Designs supports other companies and charities through giveaways, show prizes, auctions and donations. But when asked about what great things have come out of the business, Jill replied, “That’s such an easy answer: it’s meeting all of you, the fabulous women who create the horse world, from vendors to clients and women entrepreneurs like myself. That is a true gift, a blessing; you all inspire me to be me. Therefore, RIATA’s motto: BE YOU. I truly believe we are all enough and we have what it takes.”

Jill with her husband, Steve Baumhoff, who goes by Stevie B, and their dogs, left to right, Calla Blue, Daphne and Julius.

Photo by Bethany Unwin

 

Her advice to women considering entrepreneurship echoes that sentiment. “My only advice: Think positive—of course you can. It’s an opportunity to step out of your comfort zone and show us—and yourself—what you’re made of,” she said. “My lifelong personal goal with whatever I choose to do is to start.”

 

For more information, visit riatadesigns.com

Photos by Shabnam Behzadpour, unless noted otherwise.

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Tagged under: eq1uine, equestrian, fashion, horses, hunter-jumper, RIATA

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The✨April issue✨ of Sidelines Magazine is here The✨April issue✨ of Sidelines Magazine is here and we are so excited to feature three-day eventer Liz Halliday on the cover! Big thanks to photographer Melissa Fuller for the beautiful photo of Liz and Cooley Nutcracker- Liz Halliday-Sharp - HS Eventing. Liz and her horses have taken the eventing world by storm - and find out how Liz is at the top of the sport as a female eventer! As the horse world gears up for the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event 2023, it's the perfect time to enjoy our eventing issue!! We also feature eventer and woman entrepreneur Frankie Thieriot Stutes, who is not only an eventer, but also runs Athletux and FRANKIE CAMERON handbags and accessories. And don't miss our eventing story on Robert "Bobby" Costello, who will be leading the US Eventing team to the 2024 Paris Olympics- and US Equestrian has named Bobby the eventing technical advisor/chef d'equipe!! Liz, Frankie and Bobby all have GREAT stories - don't miss any of them and don't forget to get your tickets for the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day event! We are also excited to introduce you to hunter-jumper rider Casey Lorusso Smith, who is not only a talented rider but also a psychotherapist and incorporates horses into her career. If you are up for adventure, then read the story on dressage rider Priscilla Baldwin who certainly doesn't let any grass grow under her feet! We also head to the west coast to catch up with hunter-jumper trainer Jim Hagman of Elvenstar Farm, we feature beautiful art by equestrian artist Tammy Tappan, and we get to know Miranda Jones and her family. Miranda is not only an attorney who spends a lot of time in the courthouse, but she's a rider and spends lots of time riding, and is joined by her daughters also! We are excited to feature Stephanie Lightner in our Unbridled column, and don't miss our columnists George Williams, Robert R.L. Jacobs and Margie Sugarman! It's a great issue - and you can read it online, but don't forget to go to the website and order a subscription and get every issue delivered to your mailbox!! Enjoy this issue and enjoy the ride: Link in bio!!
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Marie Meyers has been around the world because of Marie Meyers has been around the world because of dressage, but it’s her farm in Moorpark, California, that has captured her heart. The farm and the business that thrives there represent Marie’s lifelong journey—a journey made up of good friends, spectacular horses and relationships made to last.

Marie was raised in Southern California, and spent her childhood playing just about every sport under the sun, but she didn’t discover riding until she was 14 years old. “I loved animals so much, so I started taking lessons. I did jumping at first, but I was very bad at that, for sure!” Marie laughed.

After some time, Marie moved on to take lessons at Foxfield Riding Academy and began riding dressage. “I fell into dressage by accident,” Marie said, “At the beginning, I thought it was extremely boring, but then I got hooked. By the time I graduated from high school, I had plans to travel to England to work for Franz Rochowansky, a former head of the Spanish Riding School.”

In 1988, Marie’s hard work paid off, and the pair was selected as alternates for the 1988 Summer Olympic Games. “They didn’t take the alternates that year, so we didn’t go to Seoul, but the experience, the training and the European Tour afterwards set me up for the 1990 World Equestrian Games in Stockholm, Sweden,” Marie said.

In addition to having success representing her country, Marie was busy with her life—marriage, a business, teaching lessons and clinics. 

Learn more about Marie in this month's edition of Sidelines Magazine. Click the link in our bio for more 🦄

📸Photos by Lindsey Long Equine Photography, www.lindseylong.com

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We are starting a ‼️new series‼️ here on o We are starting a ‼️new series‼️ here on our socials where we share some of the lovely stallions, and their breeders featured in each month's magazine. Our first feature on this #STUDSunday is...

 ✨ALVESTA OWAIN✨
Thistledown Arctic Lore x Alvesta Fairy Lustre
13.1hh, Welsh section B
Stud Fee $750 (plus collection)
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Fairfield, VA

Contact Cheryl Maye at (703) 431-9096 for more information
https://www.mayeshowponies.com/more-info/stallions

You can find ALL of the stallions featured towards the back of the magazine in the equestrian gallery. Keep a look out EVERY Sunday for a new handsome STUD muffin🧁 and don't forget to subscribe to get your very own edition of Sidelines Magazine, the magazine for horse people, about horse people 🦄

📸  SAS Equestrian
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