By Sara Dunleavy Berge
We all know that feeling when we walk out of the ring or pull away from the barn, when something tugs at our heartstrings. This is the connection we have developed with our horses that allows for the personal and athletic achievements we experience in and out of the arena. According to Lynne Bryan Phipps, “you realize you can have a good day or a bad day, but either is so dependent on the ability to bring everybody along all at once.” When Lynne speaks of the connection she shares with horses Lupita and Rajah, her tone is laden with wonder and love. Elevated to new heights by her teammates and confidants (more accurately deemed family members- a sentiment we can undoubtedly all relate to), Lynne was inspired to concretize the connection she and other equestrians share through her new line of woven Pegasos horse hair jewelry. Moved to “celebrate the horse and human connection,” Lynne began playing with bracelet designs that incorporate horse hair.
Despite this seemingly predictable form of sentimentality, few manifestations could be more appropriate to convey the interconnectedness of horse and human; the earliest-known form of bracelets denoted rebirth and regeneration in ancient Egypt. Hearing Lynne attest to lessons she has received from her horses on the intimate workings of relationships- lessons that have translated to other spheres of her life- makes it quite obvious that for Lynne, and so many others, there is an element of rebirth in loving and working with a horse. Besides demonstrating personal evolution, and developing a sense of ubiquitous intimacy between horse and human, Lynne’s creations channel the tradition of mourning jewelry. Dating back as far as the fifteenth-century, mourning jewelry, (which has an important history within the U.S., but originated in Europe) often incorporated the hair of a loved one, most often deceased. Falling out of fashion around the time of the First World War, mourning jewelry was particularly popular during the Civil War when soldiers routinely imparted a lock of hair to their family. Wearing the hair in a locket was symbolic of holding the person close and in safety. Hair is a sign of life for its simultaneous fragility and outlasting nature; long after a person is gone, their hair remains, as does the bond once shared with them. The bond between rider and horse, one that is crucial for athletic achievement, is epitomized by Lynne’s Pegasos horse hair jewelry.
She chose Pegasos as the name of this line honoring the sacred unity of horses and humans because Pegasos, the winged horse of Greek mythology was the prized mount of Zeus who flew effortlessly from earth to heaven. Establishing the unique lines of communication between human and horse that leads to otherwise unreachable heights can feel like just such a journey.
Since like human relationships, every horse and rider relationship is so different, Lynne likes to talk with clients about their individual horse and how they relate to them in order to suggest weaves and patterns for the bracelet. Clients send in clippings of their horse’s hair (which can be from one or more horses, and may include hair from the rider as well) and receive a bracelet of braided hair, giving form to their connection. All bracelets are handmade in the U.S. with a choice of precious metals. Enhancements such as bits, diamond, sapphire, or other precious stone studs, and engravings are also available. Some suggestions include the name or birthdate of the horse, or the initials of the rider. Many of the weaves are based on the Euro-American tradition of mourning jewelry, but new patterns are currently being developed by textile designers exclusively for Pegasos. All non-custom pieces are made from donated tail hair or the hair of rescue horses. A portion of the proceeds go to ending slaughter houses and supporting horse rescue efforts within the U.S. In keeping with their commitment to these causes Pegasos recently collaborated with Peter Max and others to sponsor the film Saving America’s Horses: A Nation Betrayed. Pegasos bracelets start at $350.
Find the Pegasos Flatwork Horse Hair Keychain, the Pegasos Double Oxer Horse Hair Bracelet, the Pegasos Serpentine Horse Hair Bracelet, the black Pegasos Flatwork Horse Hair Bracelet, and the white Pegasos Flatwork Horse Hair Bracelet in the Pegasos Horse Hair Jewelry Collection in the Inspirited Living Equestrian Collection.
