Kelly Ralph
Kelly is predominantly a show horse rider who competes successfully at a state and national level, and has been a long time BARE lover. We love having Kelly on our team for her positivity, dedication and hard work in and out of the show ring.
"I have been a customer of BARE since the very early days and fell in love with the product from the first purchase. BARE is an innovative company that supports so many competitors and so many events around Australia, I feel very fortunate to be able to provide some level of support back to BARE through being an ambassador."
Quick questions with Kelly
I COULDN’T LIVE WITHOUT THIS BARE PRODUCT BECAUSE…?
This is a real tough one, but ultimately, it’s the performance tights. I live in them every single day and are my go-to before anything else. Comfort is paramount for me, and the performance tights provide such a good balance between comfort and practicality! I love being able to have my phone at my side, just in case of emergency or if there is a quick pony picture break needed! BARE provides such an expansive range of options for all different styles that it makes mixing and matching outfits very simple. Having winter weight tights also allows me to keep wearing BARE all year round!
MY MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT IS…?
This is a tough question, but likely to be when my mare KL Embers and I were the highest placed Owner Rider at the SHCA Grand National Championships. She is just my heart and soul and winning this together was such a culmination of years of training! It was a really special moment to be able to do the lap of honour with such a high calibre of competitors.
MY FAVOURITE EXERCISE OR TRAINING TO PRACTICE IS…?
Anything dressage. The training behind dressage is such a solid foundation to improving not only the horse, but also the rider. A couple of exercises I am fond of are shoulder in and leg yield. I love getting lessons and have recently delved into the world of online lessons. This is providing such a wonderful addition to our training regime as where we live, we don’t have access to regular tuition.
Another thing I love to frequently do with my horses is take them out of the arena. I like to go to our local showground or hire arenas to solidify training we are doing at home. For this, I like to often invite friends along so that it can also be a fun social outing.
WHAT IS YOUR BEST COMPETITION DAY TIP OR ADVICE?
Be prepared and ready early. There is nothing worse than the panic of running late. I would prefer to be ready an hour before I need to be than stressing myself unnecessarily by running late! It makes for a more relaxed atmosphere which certainly will be transferred to the horse.
THE LAST THING I THINK ABOUT BEFORE ENTERING THE ARENA IS…?
To breath. I can get super nervous, and so I make a conscious effort to think about breathing (including remembering to take a deep breath in the corners of the arena). It really helps ground you and keep focus at a high. There is not a whole lot you can change in those final moments when entering an arena, and as such I don’t like to fill my head with ‘what if’s’ or ‘I should have’. It's important to be confident in your own and your horse’s ability, regardless of the level of competition. If I allow doubt into my head, that’s when things normally don’t go to plan. Sometimes it is easier said than done though!
RIGHT NOW I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO…?
2024 is a year full of change for me, with the impending retirement of my amazing show mare KL Embers, 2024 will see me to continue to show a young dutch riding pony Belmore Park Dream Girl, who will also make more of a splash in the dressage area. I’d really like to get some 4-year-old qualifying scores on her. We are really excited to train more ‘dressage’, including seeking the help of some pretty successful and high level coaches to guide us on this journey. Beyond that, I am very excited to get my show hunter Galloway warmblood KL Resignation to some youngstock shows and hopefully commence breaking at the end of the year. He is destined to be a superstar and I can’t wait to start out partnership together.
WHY DO YOU LOVE BEING A BARE AMBASSADOR?
BARE is all about luxury, quality and style for rider and the horse, providing a one-stop shop for fashionable items. I love being part of team BARE to be able to spread the message of quality items, but also to BE KIND – such an important mantra of BARE! BARE helps me look my best in and out of the ring, as well as supporting so many events in different disciplines. I have been a customer of BARE since the very beginning, and quickly fell in love with the brand. I am so grateful to have this opportunity to continue as a BARE ambassador.
MY TOP 3 BARE PICKS ARE…
- Competition range of performance tights – we show predominately in summer and the competition range allows us to remain comfortable within hot conditions, while also providing excellent stickiness to the saddle. The range of colours allows me to match the competition tights to the horse or outfit I am wearing. My personal favourite colour is vanilla cream as I believe it looks classy in open, breeds and hunter classes.
- Tanks – these are a daily occurrence in my wardrobe (including at work where I have a full wardrobe of ‘work’ tanks). They’re comfortable, soft and provide excellent breathability in a flattering style.
- Charlotte waterproof jacket – because when it isn’t 40 degrees at horse shows, it’s normally raining. While the jackets are stylish and provide excellent protection from the elements, the best feature is that they are machine washable… because no horse girl stays clean in the rain.
FIND KELLY ON SOCIAL
Instagram: @kellylralph
Tiktok: @kellyralph3
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