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Friday, May 06 2022 / Published in Sidelines Spotlight

Industry Innovator: Cathy Sacher & Essex Classics

By Britney Grover

Portraits by Isabel J. Kurek

Cathy Sacher founded Essex Classics in 1985.

 

Cathy Sacher knows show shirts: She’s been wearing them even longer than she’s been making them. She began taking riding lessons at 10 years old, showing locally through her teenage years. “I got a taste for the ‘A’ show circuit during my college years at Duke,” Cathy said. “Over 40 years later, I’m still immersed in the sport and own four show horses and two retirees.”

 

After earning an MBA and pursuing a brief career in banking, Cathy’s passion for horses and her career combined in 1985. “My father and grandfather were in the shirt manufacturing business and crafted shirts for the finest brands in the U.S. and abroad,” she said. “Lifelong friends Pat Dodson and Keith Hastings of Cloud’s Harbor Farm, whom I also trained with, recognized an opportunity for a new brand of well-tailored show shirts and knew that I could fill the need.”

 

Since its creation, Essex Classics has been a leading innovator in show shirts, setting industry trends. “We were the first to introduce state-of-the art performance fabrics, and created a sensation with our revolutionary hidden-snap collar design, eliminating the hassle of separate chokers—that were often lost or forgotten,” Cathy said. “Essex has consistently balanced timeless equestrian style with modern-day technology for a comfortable difference that equestrians can both see and feel.”

Cathy said the best part about being a woman entrepreneur has been creating a company that is conducive to the type of life she has chosen to lead, which includes riding and showing.

 

 

Through the decades, Cathy has not only continued to stay on top of trends but to weather every storm—sometimes literal. “In December I didn’t know if we would receive our entire winter circuit shipment after we were notified that the vessel carrying our shirts encountered rough seas while on its way to New York: 80 containers on board were damaged, and another 80 went overboard,” she said. “Then the vessel was unable to physically arrive at the port because of all the congestion there. It took another month before we finally received our shipment.”

 

Supply chain issues and price increases since the COVID-19 pandemic have also been challenging, especially since Cathy likes to make show shirts as affordable as possible. Through it all, Cathy is motivated by the demands of horse sport to innovate and design new shirts with ever-expanding practical applications.

 

She still shows herself in the Amateur/Owner 3’3” and Adults, and just finished another successful winter season in Wellington. At WEF 2021, both leading international show jumper Erynn Ballard and “R” judge, rider and trainer Rachel Kennedy had an idea for Cathy: a black, technical fabric shirt for them to wear under their safety vests. “The shirts were launched a few months later, and have been a sensation!” Cathy said. “We now offer blue and a cool grey shade in this jumper collection of show shirts—and another new style is on the horizon for later this year. My goals are to continue adapting the design of our show shirts to meet riders’ needs.”

Cathy competing at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida, in the Amateur Owner Hunters.

 

“Essex has always stayed current in the industry, which puts them a step ahead,” Erynn said. Five-time Olympian Anne Kursinski, who has worn Essex shirts for years, also appreciates Cathy’s attention to both the practical and aesthetic aspects, calling them “cool and great looking.”

 

Cathy appreciates that Olympians and top riders love Essex shirts, but for her, that’s not even the best part of the business. “Supporting rescues such as Danny & Ron’s Rescue and the Peeps Foundation, as well as charities for Parkinson’s and leukemia, have been great developments,” she said. “Also, supporting the environmental conservation organization Green Is the New Blue.”

 

But for Cathy, the very best part about being a woman entrepreneur has been creating a company that is conducive to the type of life she has chosen to lead. “I knew that I didn’t fit into a corporate environment, which I experienced working in banking,” she said. “Having a flexible lifestyle while raising a family and enjoying my horses was important to me.”

 

For women hoping to do the same, Cathy’s advice is simple. “Trust your instincts, create relationships to build your business, and persevere,” she concluded.

 

Erynn Ballard wearing a black, technical fabric Essex shirt that can be worn under safety vests. Erynn and Rachel Kennedy gave Cathy the idea for the shirt.

 

 

For more information, visit essexclassics.com

 

Photos by Isabel J. Kurek, www.isabeljkurekphotography.com

 

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Tagged under: cathy sacher, equestrian, equine, essex classics, horses, hunter-jumper

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It's #STUDSunday and today's featured stallion is. It's #STUDSunday and today's featured stallion is...

 ✨PF'S DIAMO BLUE✨
Diarado-Diamant de Semilly- Chacco Blue
17.0hh, Oldenburg International Hunter Derby/ Jumper Stallion
An outstanding Pedigree- Chacco Blue and Diamant de Semilly
WBFSH/ Rolex top ranking Jumping Sires 2017 thru 2022
Standing at Ryan Pedigo Sport Horses, in California

For more information, you can contact 
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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 🦄

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Annette Longenecker wasn’t just born into horses Annette Longenecker wasn’t just born into horses—in a way, she was born into her career. She grew up in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, where her parents ran a farm. Her mother taught, and her father had a jump business and then created one of the first horse show software programs: Ryegate Show Services, Inc.

Riding all her life, Annette spent many years as a groom and loved it, but knew it wasn’t what she wanted to do as a career. After she finished college, Annette’s father recruited her to help process entries at Ryegate. Since her father, Lloyd Longenecker, founded it in 1981, Ryegate has provided show management and office staff for some of the largest shows in the country. Now, Annette has taken over from her father and directed the company as it focuses on managing memberships and rankings for organizations such as the North American League, WIHS Championships and Equitation, Rolex/USEF Computer Ranking and National Medal Series (THIS NCM and Ariat NAM). Ryegate also provides scoring software for use with video walls, and production teams for hunter and jumper shows.

“Besides running Ryegate Show Services and its various organizations, I can be found in the show office, running a scoreboard or judging jumpers at most shows,” Annette said. “I love getting to wear a few different hats at the show.”

When she’s not busy at a show, Annette lives in Annville, Pennsylvania, with her “fur-baby,” Maggie Mae, and enjoys spending time with her many godchildren. Though she doesn’t currently own any horses, Annette rides when she can at Rolling Acres Farm with Patty Foster, Ashley Foster-Worthington and Mary Lisa Leffler.

Read this month unbridled with Annette Longenecker by clicking the link in our bio. Never miss a story by subscribing to Sidelines Magazine! 🦄
📸Photo by Sheryl Sutherby

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A column from Liz Halliday-Sharp herself The spor A column from Liz Halliday-Sharp herself 
The sport of eventing is a demanding and mentally challenging discipline that requires a combination of physical and mental fortitude from both the rider and horse. While having a coach can be incredibly beneficial, self-coaching can also play a crucial role in a rider’s success.

I think that given the opportunity, most riders would like to be coached every day. The reality of life in the horse world, however, is that the majority of us need to absorb as much from the lessons we have on a limited basis and then practice those skills at home to improve.

When I am riding, I try to have a plan for the horses each day and focus on what I’m looking to achieve. It’s important to be aware of the steady improvements rather than trying to solve everything all at once. This is especially important when teaching horses new movements or exercises that they might struggle with, and we need to give them time to learn and understand what we are asking for.

I have a couple of quotes that I use regularly when I’m teaching, and these are mottos that I hold myself to in my daily work as well.

The first is, “If you do what you have always done, you will get what you have always gotten.” This is a quote that was said to me many years ago when I was still motor racing and I keep it in the back of my mind each day. It’s easy to get stuck doing the same thing every day with your horse and bad habits are hard to break, from both riders and horses!

This leads me to my next quote, which is, “If what you are doing isn’t working, try something else.” It really is as simple as that! Many riders I see keep asking a horse to do something the same way over and over with an ongoing negative response and they wonder why things don’t get better. In these circumstances, I recommend that the rider change something, even if it’s wrong.

Read the full article by clicking the link in our bio! Don’t forget to keep your eye out for our April subscription!
📸Photo by Alex Banks Photography
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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