A Chat With May’s Profile, Suzanne Vlietstra, president of Hobby Horse Clothing Co.

CS: What’s the primary merchandise offered in the catalog?
SV: It’s show apparel for women who compete in Western-style shows. So it’s kind of like glorified cowgirl apparel. The style these days is very dressy and fancy. It’s kind of performance apparel, or almost like costumes, because the people are judged on their appearance. So we tend to dress them somewhat theatrically, with lots of rhinestones on the garments and bright colors.
Which also ties into another little project of my mother. When I was a kid she also, in her spare time besides teaching, started a theatrical costume rental company. And you always laugh and say you’re never going to do what your parents do, but I’m kind of in the costume business now.