Equine Photos at Capricious Crowns.com

Custom Equine Clothing and Accessories designed and sewn for your Elegant Equine with some accessories for you as well

I have been in business since 1987. I design and make custom clothing for your equine friend using 100% wools and cottons that are preshrunk before cutting and assembling the product. Accessories like leads, galloping boots, standing bandages, leg wraps, riding sox and liners for breeches are made using appropriate fabrics and solid brass hardware, natural fabrics, velcro closures and lycra spandex, depending on the item.

Previously I personally measured all the horses for their clothes. Unless you are within driving distance from me, I will send you a detailed measuring form and require photos of your horse. I take into consideration what the horse is used for, how it lives, and who it plays with. Horses like people all have different body shapes, sizes, and attitudes about things. This is all part of the custom fitting process.

Hand forged triangle dinner bells for the your farm and home and barn and bridle hooks and hoof picks made by Paul Batz of Dansville, NY, graduate of Cornell University Farrier School.

See Darren Chiacchia's Fabulous Website in 'My Favorite Sites', for this extraordinary USET Olympic Team member and his Stallion Windfall!

I have been using organic apple cider vinegar and a good wildflower honey mix for many years now for my horses and myself. It is important to note that recent studies emphasize the importance of ORGANIC apple cider vinegar with the 'Mother', instead of 'off the shelf non-organic apple cider vinegar which has shown to reduce red blood cells over an extended period of use.

Apple cider vinegar and honey aid in digestion, give a wonderful glow to the coat and hair, and a super pick-me up and sports drink. I also find that flies don't bother the horses as much because of this as well. Simply mix 1/2 and 1/2, and add to feed 2 times a day. I drink the same mix every morning about 1/3 cup with same amount of an organic juice and fill the glass with hot water. When I think I'm getting a cold, or just don't feel up to par, I sip on a glass undiluted all day. This has kept me flu free for many years.

The Genesee Valley Hunt Races-October 200. Here is a picture of me and the winning cooler I made for the main race, The Genesee Valley Hunt Cup, a $25,000 Purse Timber Race, won this year by Jody Petty aboard Albert's Crossing. This is the 9th year I've made the winning cooler, and Jody Petty has most of them!

The following photos are in memory of my little JRT Arthur-who joined my other beloved pets at Rainbow Bridge on Thursday, March 25, 2004, after 17 years. Artie came to live with me when he was 6 weeks old, and never failed to keep us in stitches with his antics. He was bred once at the age of 10 to an English JRT and fathered 8 puppies-four rough coated, and four smooth coated-very rare to have that many puppies and have all survive. He was never a very vocal JRT, but loved to run and chase the horses, until he found out that jumping on to a tail of a horse was one time too many. He raced in JRT races, and at an early age, raced at The Washington National Horse Show. He was a true terrier, and loved to travel with me. We called him Arthur The Travel Pet. He loved his cat friends, horse friends, and doggie friends. Artie also loved to eat Tootsie Rolls, and was so careful to take all the paper off the candy. No one could meet Artie without loving him. His snoring was legendary as he lay in front of the Aga--his favorite place to sleep. We were all honored to have him as part of our family. Description of Photos: Artie and me after a day of Foxhunting with New Market Middletown Valley Hounds in MD. Artie guarding my helmet and my truck after a competition. My son Sean with Artie in NY, Artie and Max on the porch in MD. Artie and Caesar in PA, Artie sleeping in front of the AGA, Artie enjoying his Tootsie Roll Pop, Artie and his Genesee Valley Friends in NY-It's not easy to get 4 JRT's in one place looking so inactive!, Artie at the farm last summer in NY.

Photo taken at Cornell University Farrier School-, Beanie with Mike Wildenstein trimming his back feet, and Harry doing what he does best--eating hay. Wearing their ca. 1951 Hudson Bay Blanket coats for Christmas

This is my youngster Highland Hurrah (Harry) May 2001, enjoying the new grass, and Beanie and Harry, having a good scratch.

This was Nadasy, my most excellent foxhunting horse, and the reason why Starting Box Designs Co. became a business. Here he is at Little Stone Cottage Farm being shod by Rick Carballo. I entered this photo in the USET BLM Photo Contest and got 4th place. He was given to me, a 6 yr. old off the track at Bowie. He was blind in one eye, and had lived at the race track. When I got him, I was grooming him one day, and he was so quiet. All of a sudden I heard a very faint even breathing sound. He almost fell down! He was sleeping. From then on, whenever he was groomed which was several times a day, he would fall asleep. I was careful never to groom him too much before cross-country!

He was an amazing horse, and was Beanie's best friend. As his eyesight became compromised further, I did not want him to start hurting himself. Beanie led him around the field every day, but before the winter we knew it was time.

Sweetheart and Dinah-1951 Moss Lake Camp-Eagle Bay, NY and Java Java (Beanie) and Dinah at his retirement horse trial-1998-Genesee Valley Horse Trials-OP Division Geneseo, NY

The photos of Java Java-(Beanie) are in memory of him. My Guardian Angel, and the best teacher I ever had the pleasure of being fortunate enough to be a partner with. Beanie joined Billy,. Sally, Artie and his friends at Rainbow Bridge March 31st, 2005 at the age of 27.

Beanie (age 24) and Dinah WNYDA Finale-2002 and Harry at three with me at home 2001

Beanie, with his discriminating taste, prefers quietly dining on his hay.. Beanie in his winter turnout with liner, and Beanie making a big snow angel.

Always keep warm clean water available every day in the pasture. I use 4 buckets for 3 horses. When I make 'hay piles', I add 2 or 3 extra ones besides the 5 hanging hay bags in the sheds, so that everyone has lots of good quality hay. Warm water in clean buckets daily, and good hay is critical especially in the winter for aiding in good digestion and proper horse management. Incidents of colic can be all but eliminated by proper horse management.

Starting Box Designs, Co. and Photos of Horse Partners: