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Tuesday, September 03 2019 / Published in Weekly Feature

McKinley Harvey: These Boots are Made for Dreaming

A Combat style Lacer in brushed black leather designed by McKinley.

By Amy Hempe

Portraits by Bianca McCarty

McKinley Harvey developed her work ethic at an early age. “When I was a little girl, I’d get up at 5 a.m. to take care of my horse. Nobody else in my family rode, but I knew this was what I wanted,” she said.

That determination has stayed with McKinley, who at 24 is not only an equestrian but also uses her fashion skills as a boot designer. McKinley is effusive while talking about her business, The Perfect Fit Saddlery. “There are things that can be tedious sometimes — that’s just business — but mostly it’s great,” she said. “I’m so lucky that I get to do this.”

McKinley’s 7-year-old Hanoverian, Q, with the custom short boot McKinley designed while visiting the factory in Italy. The boots are made of Lucidi Lilla leather.

The Dream Job

McKinley keeps her horses, Q, a Hanoverian, and J.J., a Dutch Warmblood, at Klein Ranch in Franktown, Colorado. The farm would be most equestrians’ happy place, and McKinley is no exception. “My job is to help my clients bring their dreams to reality,” she said, happily displaying her leather and fabric swatches along with boots she has designed.

Sitting indoors in the comfortable lounge of the main stable, occasional neighs punctuate the serenity. McKinley shows off her wares that accompany her in her truck wherever she goes. How does a girl from a non-horsey family end up in her twenties with two beautiful show horses land in a horse-centric career?

“I just loved horses my entire life. Maybe it was in my blood!” she said. “Actually, both sides of my family — my grandparents and great-grandparents worked cattle and had horses. In fact, my great grandfather rode as a stunt man for John Wayne!”

Neither of her parents had much interest in horses, yet moving their family to Castle Rock, Colorado, proved vital to getting their daughter into the equine world. Riding trails and barns are scattered among the mountain scenery, making horses difficult to avoid.

“Our neighborhood had a community barn where I went to riding camps, and our neighbors had a barn they didn’t use,” she said. “I begged and begged my mom. Finally she adopted two horses — one for me, and one for my sister, who lost interest within a couple of weeks. I ended up with two horses to take care of as a seven-year-old. I was totally submerged in that life and haven’t been without horses since.”

McKinley’s company, The Perfect Fit, partners with the Italian-based DeNiro Boot Company as its Colorado-area representative and fitter. McKinley works with clients to custom design their own boots for schooling or the show ring. Her boots can be designed for several disciplines, from dressage to show jumping to Western to saddle seat. Classic and conservative brushed leather is always a possibility, but generally clients go to her to have more fun.

McKinley’s horses, JJ and Q, check out boots and sneakers designed by McKinley, left to right, custom pair of sneakers in Intreccio Bronzo, metal studded Chelsea short boots, and the Lucidi lilla shorties.

“We have laser-etched leather with either pre-made designs, or a client-made design. It’s whatever the client wants,” McKinley said.

Periwinkle leather boots with your initials etched into them? No problem. Painted floral or fuchsia piping? Up to you. Metal studs decorously placed near the top? Absolutely.

Where McKinley comes in is with helping the client realize their vision. “I can sketch out what they want, but I can also help them hone their ideas so that the finished product is something beautiful.”

The finished products that she helps bring to fruition exhibit both caprice and elegance. They are at once playful yet chic. While perhaps a bit too fashion-forward for the conservative hunter-jumper or dressage show rings, McKinley still believes equestrians should have their dream boots.

Despite driving all over Colorado and the neighboring states, McKinley asserts, “I really don’t feel like I’m working most of the time. I get to come to places like this every day. And often clients and I will sit down over a glass of wine and talk horses. And we end up designing these awesome boots.

“It’s really about the customers and having this super one-on-one connection with them. We’re building their dream boots. For a lot of people, these are their dream boots. They’ve been dreaming about them for years, and they couldn’t make it happen on their own.”  McKinley exhales and smiles. “There is the business side always. But this is where you get to have fun and be a little crazy.”

Dreaming Ahead

Much of her company’s success depends on word of mouth. McKinley also works as a saddle fitter and designer with Equipe and Amerigo, as one of the few representatives not based on either U.S. coast. Meeting clients for fittings is a perfect opportunity to market her boots.

“I’ll wear these boots out when fitting a saddle, and people definitely notice,” she said. “Then one person will tell another person, and they’ll also want a pair of custom-designed boots.”

McKinley hanging with her boys and laughing at Q who loves to put everything in his mouth.

McKinley also noted how European dressage riders love schooling in DeNiro boots. “They’re doing fun stuff over there with schooling boots. A lot of our fashion in the horse world comes from them. People here will fly to Europe to get a horse and will see a girl in amazing tall, lace-up, bright yellow boots, and they’ll think ‘I want those.’ And they can get them here, which they couldn’t do before.”

McKinley’s boots also cross over from the equestrian world into everyday life. Taking out a pair of black brushed-leather combat-style boots that she designed, she points out how they are perfect for a night out in Denver Lower Downtown (or LoDo to the locals).  McKinley has begun designing fashionable sneakers as well and hopes that her designs show up in various Fashion Weeks around the world — New York, London, Paris or Milan.

She hopes to bring more of a hip and wearable element to the boot line. Starting with a basic shape existing in DeNiro’s lines, McKinley plays with the texture and overall aesthetic, hoping to create a youthful and more urban everyday style for a younger generation that still gets to be tailored to individuals.

The horse-crazy girl turned savvy businesswoman steps outside and looks at the paddock where her horses stand. “I can’t believe that this is my life and this is what I get to do every day. It’s just amazing.”

For more information, visit www.theperfectfitsaddlery.com

Photos by Bianca McCarty, biancamccartyequinephoto.com

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Tagged under: amy hempe, bianca mcarty, McKinley Harvey, perfect fit saddlery

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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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