Logo Design: Horseback Riding/horse Training Business

LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT US:

Palladia Farm is a small, private business in the Chicago suburbs dedicated to quality instruction in horseback riding and responsible and horse care and training. The style of riding that we do is called "hunter/jumpers," which basically means our focus is jumping. We compete on a regional and national basis. We are really good at our craft, and we take it pretty seriously.

HERE IS WHAT WE NEED:

I need a logo really badly! I'll use it on our website, on our "draperies," which are big canvas sheets that we hang up on the stalls at competitions to give our stable area our own branded look. We'll also put it on wool horse blankets (also embroidered), on saddle pads (embroidered), and T-shirts and other clothing.

I am open to the idea of a larger, full-scale logo and then also a smaller one (more like an icon??) that would still be recognizeable. I'm not sure if I'm using the correct language here, but what I'm getting at is that I think we may need something like the full Yahoo logo and then the smaller Y! that they also use. I hope that makes sense.

I like designs where the graphics or icons overlap the text, or where the text is part of the design. (For instance, where the dot above an "i" is shaped like a paw print, if the business is a dog wash or something like that.)

OUR TARGET AUDIENCE IS:

Our target audience is the parents of children who are 9-10 years old. We want to appeal to people who have never ridden horses before, but also to people who have some experience in the industry and who are looking for a different approach and/or experience that we may be able to provide. We'd like people to consider horseback riding instead of gymnastics, tennis, etc.

WE LIKE THESE EXAMPLES:

Logos I like:

http://www.prairieequineclinic.com/

I like the simplicity of this design, and how it is simple but still creative and artful. I also like how the logo represents both he "prairie" and the "equine" parts.

http://www.lamplightequestriancenter.com...

I like how the wrought iron detailing of the lamp is made to form the image of a horse.

http://www.hannoverimports.com/

Clever use of the Hanoverian breed symbol and the maple leaf. I imagine they're in Canada.

http://www.kyhorsepark.com/

I really like this one, and people within the industry can recognize it all over the country.

Logos I don't like:

http://www.countryridgestables.com/

I think this one is stupid/has no meaning.

http://www.galwayfarm.com/

I don't like this one either. Boring.

WE ABSOLUTELY MUST HAVE THIS IN OUR PIECE:

An image of a horse (jumping, resting, standing, galloping, whatever) or a horse head