Yes, you absolutely can display horse ribbons in many creative ways! Displaying horse ribbons is a wonderful way to keep memories alive and show off your hard work. Many people wonder the best ways for mounting horse ribbons. They want to know how to keep their achievements looking sharp for years to come. This guide gives you five great ideas for organizing horse show awards. We will look at ways to show off your equestrian ribbons proudly.
The Importance of Preserving Show Ribbons
Horse shows bring great memories. Ribbons mark big wins and learning moments. These colorful pieces of fabric are more than just streamers. They are proof of dedication and skill. Taking time to display them well honors that effort. Good display methods also protect them from dust and fading. When choosing how to store horse ribbons, think about safety and looks.
Preparing Your Ribbons for Display
Before you pick a display method, get your ribbons ready. Old ribbons might need gentle cleaning. New ribbons should dry fully.
Basic Ribbon Care Steps
- Handle with Care: Always hold ribbons by the fabric, not the loops or rosette edges. Skin oils can stain them over time.
- Air Out: If ribbons smell musty, let them air out in a dry, dark place for a day. Avoid direct sun.
- Light Protection: Fading is the enemy of colorful ribbons. Keep displays away from bright windows.
- Ironing (Use Caution): Never put direct heat on plastic or satin ribbons. If you must smooth a wrinkle, use a very low steam setting on a cloth, or carefully iron the back side of the fabric only.
5 Great Ideas for Displaying Horse Ribbons
Finding the perfect way to showcase your wins can be fun. Here are five top ideas for displaying horse ribbons neatly and beautifully. These methods work for all skill levels, from beginner shows to major championships.
1. The Classic: Hanging Horse Ribbons Neatly on a Rack
This is perhaps the most popular way to display a large collection. A dedicated ribbon rack keeps everything tidy. It lets ribbons flow naturally, showing off their full length.
Creating or Buying a Ribbon Rack
You can buy beautiful wooden racks online or at tack shops. If you like projects, a DIY horse ribbon display rack is simple to make.
Building a Simple Wooden Rack
- Materials Needed: A piece of nice wood (like pine or stained oak), small dowels or pegs, strong glue, and picture hanging hardware.
- Assembly: Drill small holes along the wood piece where you want the dowels to stick out. Glue the dowels in securely. Make sure the dowels are spaced well enough so ribbons don’t overlap too much.
- Finishing Touches: Stain or paint the wood to match your barn or home decor. Adding a small engraved plaque with your horse’s name or stable name looks professional.
Tip for Neatness: When hanging, loop the ribbon over the dowel starting with the highest placement ribbon first (Blue for first place, Red for second, etc.). This helps you see the hierarchy of wins quickly. This method is great for hanging horse ribbons neatly.
Displaying Different Types of Ribbons
Racks work well for standard flat ribbons and larger rosettes. For very large championship rosettes, you might need slightly longer dowels or dedicated hooks on the wall above the main rack.
2. The Elegant Solution: Shadow Box for Horse Ribbons
A shadow box for horse ribbons offers excellent protection. It keeps dust, pests, and strong light away from your cherished awards. This is ideal for very special ribbons, like year-end awards or ribbons from significant events.
Designing Your Shadow Box Display
Shadow boxes are deep frames. They allow you to mount items in 3D.
Mounting Techniques Inside the Box
To keep ribbons perfectly arranged in a shadow box, you need to secure them without damaging the fabric.
- Use Archival Materials: Always use acid-free materials inside any display case. Standard cardboard backing can yellow and damage your ribbons over time.
- Pinning Strategically: Use small T-pins or straight pins. Push the pin through the ribbon material where it meets the backing board. Try to pin only in thick parts of the ribbon, like the seam or a sturdy fold. Avoid pinning delicate, thin edges.
- Layering for Depth: Place rosettes at the back of the box. Let the long tails flow forward. You can layer smaller ribbons behind larger ones to create visual interest.
You can get creative by including other mementos. Add a copy of a show bill, a small picture of you and your horse at that show, or a competitor number. This makes your framing horse show ribbons effort much more personal.
| Shadow Box Benefit | Protection Level | Ideal Use |
|---|---|---|
| Dust and Pest Control | High | Championship Ribbons, Fragile Ribbons |
| Visual Presentation | High | Small, curated collections |
| Space Efficiency | Medium | Wall mounting |
3. The Creative Approach: Fabric Art Displays
If you want something truly unique, turn your ribbons into wall art. This moves beyond simple storage and into decorating. These creative ways to store horse ribbons often blend ribbons with fabric or painting.
Quilted Ribbon Banners
A quilt or banner allows you to combine many ribbons into one large piece.
- The Base Fabric: Choose a sturdy fabric like canvas or heavy linen. Select colors that complement your ribbons.
- Attaching Ribbons: You can sew the ribbons onto the base fabric. Use a zigzag stitch around the edges of the rosette or where the ribbon meets the fabric. This locks them down securely. For the tails, you can let them hang free or stitch them down in decorative waves.
- Adding Embellishments: Incorporate pieces of saddle pads, browbands, or patches from show shirts onto the banner.
Displaying Ribbons on a Memory Board
A corkboard or magnetic board is another artistic option. This allows for easy rearranging.
- Pin the rosette centerpiece firmly to the board.
- Gently drape the tails down the board.
- Use decorative pushpins (perhaps tiny horse-shaped ones) to hold the tails in place.
This method is excellent for horse show ribbon display ideas because you can swap out ribbons easily as new ones come in.
4. Utilizing Dedicated Furniture: The Horse Ribbon Display Case
For the serious competitor, a horse ribbon display case that looks like fine furniture is the ultimate choice. These are usually tall, glass-fronted cabinets designed specifically for displaying awards.
Features of Quality Display Cases
These cases often include internal lighting and multiple shelves. They offer the best protection short of specialized archival storage.
- Shelf Arrangement: Use clear acrylic risers on the shelves. These risers help lift rosettes up so you can see the ones behind them.
- Labeling: Many high-end cases allow for small, engraved plates underneath each award, detailing the show name, date, and class. This makes identifying decades-old wins simple.
- Security: If storing very valuable ribbons, choose a case with a lockable door.
While this is often the most expensive option, it provides a museum-quality look for your achievements. It is a permanent, protected home for your best awards.
5. Modern and Minimalist: Floating Shelves and Acrylic Holders
For a clean, modern look that doesn’t feel cluttered, floating shelves or specialized acrylic holders are perfect. This works best when you want to highlight only your top achievements rather than storing hundreds of ribbons.
Acrylic Ribbon Holders
These are small, clear plastic fixtures designed to hold the narrow part of a ribbon or the rosette.
- Installation: They usually mount directly to the wall with screws or strong adhesive.
- Look: Because the holders are nearly invisible, the ribbons appear to float against the wall. This gives a very sharp presentation.
Curated Floating Shelves
Use standard floating shelves, but arrange them artfully.
- Group by Year or Discipline: Dedicate one shelf to Western Pleasure wins, another to Hunter Under Saddle, or group all ribbons from a single, memorable show year together.
- Mixing Media: Place small trophies or ribbons next to framed photographs of the winning ride. This tells a better story than just ribbons alone.
- Rosette Focus: Since flat ribbons can look messy on a shelf, focus on displaying the rosettes upright on stands or directly on the shelf edge.
This method requires careful editing. You must decide which ribbons are important enough to earn prime shelf space. It is a great way to organize horse show awards without taking up too much visual space.
Detailed Tips for Organizing Horse Show Awards
No matter which display method you choose, organization is key to enjoying your collection. A jumbled pile of ribbons loses its impact.
Sorting Strategies
How you categorize your ribbons affects how you view your progress.
- By Year: The most common method. It shows your progress chronologically.
- By Discipline: Grouping Hunter ribbons separate from Dressage ribbons clearly defines your areas of focus.
- By Level: Separating local schooling show wins from regional or national circuit wins helps show the rise in competition level.
- By Horse: If you have ridden many horses, dedicate sections to each partner.
Deciphering Ribbon Placement Codes
When mounting horse ribbons, many people want to know the standard placement hierarchy for aesthetic reasons. While colors vary slightly by association, the general rule for flat ribbons is:
| Placement | Color (Standard) | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| First | Blue | Top Award |
| Second | Red | High Achievement |
| Third | White | Solid Performance |
| Fourth | Pink/Yellow | Participation/Placement |
| Fifth | Green | Participation/Placement |
| Sixth | Yellow/Orange | Participation/Placement |
Rosettes follow similar color codes, with championships often featuring gold, silver, or purple accents.
Dealing with Excess Ribbons
What happens when you run out of space? Everyone who shows frequently faces this issue.
Archival Storage for Non-Displayed Ribbons
If you cannot display every single ribbon, store the rest properly.
- Plastic Sleeves: Place individual ribbons inside clear, acid-free plastic sleeves (like those used for trading cards or archival photography).
- Binders: Store these sleeved ribbons in large three-ring binders with archival page protectors. You can flip through your history like a giant scrapbook. This keeps them safe until you have time or space to frame them later.
- Avoid Plastic Tubs: Do not store ribbons loose in plastic bins. They can get crushed, and low-quality plastics can emit fumes harmful to fabric over long periods.
The DIY Horse Ribbon Display: Budget-Friendly Options
Creating your own display doesn’t require expert woodworking skills. Many effective, low-cost DIY horse ribbon display projects exist.
The Clothes Hanger Method
This works best for long, flowing ribbons that you want to keep wrinkle-free without folding.
- Take a sturdy wooden or velvet-covered clothes hanger.
- Use safety pins (stainless steel to prevent rust) to attach the rosettes/centerpieces to the top bar of the hanger.
- Let the tails cascade down.
- Hang the entire collection in a closet or on a hook in a low-light room.
This is a fantastic way to keep large numbers of ribbons protected while waiting for permanent display solutions.
Repurposing Picture Frames
Use inexpensive, deep picture frames.
- Remove the glass or use plexiglass for safety.
- Line the back with nice fabric (velvet or suede look nice).
- Carefully lay the ribbons across the backing board. You can use small dots of archival glue stick on the back of the rosette’s center to secure it lightly to the fabric background.
This turns one ribbon into a small piece of framed art. It is a great way to feature a very special first-place ribbon.
Final Thoughts on Displaying Your Success
Displaying horse ribbons is a personal journey. It reflects your partnership with your horse and your dedication to riding. Whether you choose a grand horse ribbon display case or a simple DIY hanging setup, the goal is the same: to celebrate the hard work and the happy memories associated with each colorful prize. Take pride in your collection, keep it protected, and enjoy looking back on your journey every time you walk by!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Displaying Horse Ribbons
Q: Can I use regular tape to mount horse ribbons?
A: No. Regular tape contains acids that will break down the ribbon fabric over time. This causes yellowing, sticking, and eventual tearing. Always use archival-safe materials like acid-free glue dots, T-pins, or specialized mounting tape for mounting horse ribbons.
Q: How can I stop my ribbons from fading if I display them near a window?
A: Fading is caused primarily by UV light. The best solution is to move the display out of direct sunlight. If that is not possible, use UV-filtering film on the window glass or choose a completely enclosed display like a shadow box for horse ribbons that uses UV-protective acrylic instead of regular glass.
Q: Should I wash my ribbons before displaying them?
A: Generally, no. Washing can cause shrinkage or damage the ribbon structure, especially the rosettes. Only attempt very light spot cleaning on stains if absolutely necessary, using distilled water and minimal rubbing. For heavy soiling, consult a textile conservator.
Q: Are there specific ways to organize horse show awards if I compete in multiple disciplines?
A: Yes. The clearest way is often to separate by discipline first (e.g., one wall section for Jumpers, one for Equitation). Within each discipline, you can then sort by year or by the specific horse you were riding.
Q: What is the best way to transport ribbons safely to prevent crushing?
A: For transport, place rosettes inside sturdy plastic containers (like clear storage boxes meant for craft supplies). Lay flat ribbons between sheets of stiff cardboard and place them inside a large, flat portfolio folder or envelope. Never leave them loose in a tack trunk where they can get crushed by boots or helmets.