Whether you are looking for high end exquisite western show apparel or unique casual wear, Susan Ratliff of Greensboro, North Carolina has something for everyone at her Show Diva Designs. Susan and Randy, her husband of 34 years, started showing Quarter Horses back in the late 90s. Susan who mostly showed in all-around events was always interested in fashion and decided to open her own business, Show Diva Designs in 2005.

“There were not a lot of show clothes being done in my area,” Ratliff says. I was showing in the all-around events and saw a need for a better selection of show apparel. I had an opportunity at the time to work with a designer in California who still manufactures all of my show clothes today.”

Susan explains that she gets a lot of new ideas and inspiration for designs from customers who tell her what they like. She also draws a lot from fashion magazines and from just watching classes at shows. She looks to see what works in the show pen as far as which colors and fabrics are especially flattering. She also works closely with her designer who continually comes up with great new ideas.

“All the materials come from the garment district in Los Angeles where the clothes are manufactured,” Ratliff says. “I work closely with our main designer and we have a whole host of people that take part in putting the garments together from people who just sew to fabric cutters to people who place rhinestones on the pieces.”

Every year Ratliff makes two trips out to Los Angeles to look at fabrics and discuss with her main designer new ideas and trends.

“We offer plain fitted shirts, laced vests, appliqué vests, horsemanship tops, rail and showmanship jackets as well as matching pants,” Ratliff says. “We try to have something for everybody. We offer clothes at a range of prices and sizes. We sell clothes for children to plus sizes as well as made to measure fit for people who are looking for a custom fit. We have a very talented team who can make just about anything.”

Show Diva Designs, “Diva Collection” offers rail shirts and jackets of the finest quality fabrics in a large variety of designs, colors, styles and sizes which are embellished in Swarovski crystals. Show Diva also offers a hand painted collection of jackets which are truly one-of-a-kind painted and airbrushed designs.

“The vests are really, really popular whether in the sheer lace, hand painted or appliqué style. A lot of people just love the vests,” Ratliff says. “They are a little cooler, more comfortable and price effective. A lot of people like to buy the plain fitted shirts to wear by themselves as well as underneath the vests. They often buy different colored shirts to mix and match to give the outfit a different look.”

Elizabeth Lacey Bohn from Clayton, North Carolina competes in all-around events and has been buying clothes from Show Diva Designs for five years.

“I think her styles are popular because she keeps things fresh,” Bohn says. “Susan is constantly discovering and coming up with new styles and trends.”

In addition to show clothes, Susan offers a full line of casual clothes with trendy tops, jeans, jackets, ball caps, rhinestone jewelry and a variety of accessories depending on the season.

Starting out locally, Susan first traveled to mostly shows in her area of North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia but as the business quickly grew she had to make the decision to quit showing in order to keep up with the business.

Now, Show Diva Designs is at all the major shows throughout the country including the AQHA World Championship Show, Quarter Horse Congress, AQHYA World Championship Show, Virginia Classic, Little Futurity and the Dixie Nationals.

“We pretty much stay on the road,” Ratliff says. “Between Show Diva, going to shows and Randy’s job that’s pretty much all we have time for.”

In fact Randy, who currently works in government affairs for a health care company in Arlington,Virginia, is a past president of the North Carolina Quarter Horse Association and remains active in NCQHA. He also currently serves as an AQHA Director.

The couple have two children, Tommy, 25, and Lauren, 20. Tommy has assisted at many NCQHA events as a ring steward. He currently works in health care in Arlington, Virginia. Lauren has helped her mom with Show Diva in the past and is currently a professional nanny in Washington, DC.

Randy started showing in 2000 and has continued through the years in Western Pleasure events. This year he is showing Ima Good Rodder in Select Amateur events under the guidance of Shane and Cindy Young.

“The Ratliffs have had horses with us for 10 years now. They are really great people,” says Shane Young.

Young and fellow trainer, Carl Yamber thought Ima Good Rodder would be a perfect fit for Randy. Yamber had shown the mare for owners, Richard and Betty Jo Carr with a lot of success including winning the 2006 AQHA High Point in Open Western Pleasure.

“It takes a special horse for Randy because he is a big guy,” Young says. “She is a big, beautiful mare that is truly a good horse.”

The team has had plenty of success in the show pen. They finished sixth at the 2013 AQHA Amateur Select World Show in Western Pleasure and 12th at the 2013 Quarter Horse Congress in Select Amateur Western Pleasure. Currently, they are sixth in the nation in Amateur Western Pleasure. They were also Reserve Champions at the Little Futurity in the North Carolina Resident Western Pleasure and the mare was Reserve in the Intermediate Western Pleasure Maturity with Shane.

Susan is very much looking forward to watching her husband compete this Fall at the Quarter Horse Congress in Select Amateur Western Pleasure and at the AQHA World Show in Amateur Western Pleasure. The mare will also be shown in Senior Western Pleasure at the Quarter Horse Congress with Shane.

So, what hot, new trends will Show Diva be offering at the Congress this year?

“Look for a new line of appliqué horsemanship tops and vests that are truly one-of-a-kind,” Ratliff says. “We will also have some brand new colors available in our plain fitted shirts so be sure to stop in our booth and check them out!”

You can also visit them on the web at http://www.showdivadesigns.com.