Winter Equestrian Essentials

There's no denying the weather is turning and I for one am hanging on to the final few days when the horses can live out 24/7 - all be it well rugged at night! The colder nights have meant earlier clipping for us this year and I have taken the plunge and gone for the full clip, so looking forward to a Winter with no moulting for once - yippee.  If like me you are having a sort out and finding you need to restock on a few key Winter items, let me suggest the following equestrian accessories to ensure the colder Months are easier for both you and your horse...

Warm Equestrian Gloves and Socks

On those cold, frosty mornings there is nothing worse than freezing finger tips and icy toes.  Of course a good pair of wellington boots and riding boots will stand you in good stead but you will be in need of some toasty equestrian socks. Firstly we'd opt for a knee high length sock which will also help keep your calves warm and are easily worn under boots or chaps. Our firm favourites are the Cool Horse Socks range featuring arch and heel support and a padded food incorporating the Coolmax fabric that wicks away moisture when you are working hard.  For Winter we especially love the Aztec Blue design!

We all know that so much time with horses is spent out of the saddle so as well as some comfortable riding gloves we also wear some yard gloves for all our horsey chores.  Now although the HY5 Multipurpose gloves are not thick, fleecy winter gloves they are lightweight and close fitting so you don't need to remove them for any of your yard chores.  No longer am I wasting time searching for the gloves I took off to tack up, do up rugs etc. Actually we find our hands stay pretty warm in these and they help prevent your skin getting too dry and cracking in the cold. Just choose your favourite colour!

Long hacks in the Winter sun can be beautiful but we've all had that point when you are furthest away from home and your finger tips feel like they are going to fall off! We'd be lost without the amazing BionicLeather Horse Riding Gloves. A quality pair of leather riding gloves that will keep fingers warm though schooling, jumping, hacking etc . Another tried and tested product we love. 

Grooming Kit Goodies

So your horse is kitted out with new rugs, the mammoth amount of hair has been clipped off and then you look at your 20 year old grooming kit and decide it needs a bit of a revamp! Just a few handy products can make all the difference to your horse's daily grooming routine.  Firstly we'd be lost in Winter (well all year round really) without the fantastic MagicBrushes. These are so good for manes, tailed, thick coats, clipped coats, mud, feathers etc, etc!  When fighting the daylight to try and squeeze in an early morning ride or late schooling session as the sun is fading this is my go to brush! Don't waste time getting all your brushes out just grab a MagicBrush, give your horse a quick once over making sure he is clean for his tack and get on and go!  

    

       

With many of us working all hours to try and pay for the upkeep of our four legged friends the Winter months can feel like you only ever see your horse in darkness! If this is the case the popular Hooftorch can make your yard life a little easier. Trying to pick out hooves in darkness can be a bit of a mission but this Hooftorch has a bright light on it. Simply press the button on the end when needed and you can pick hooves out with ease. Plus the pick on it is great - we've had rave reviews about it!

Depending on your yard set up and other commitments, it can be difficult to bath horses sensibly in the cold weather. If that's the case there are a few products to make your life a little easier and keep your horse looking tip top ready for competition. The NAF Shine On Grooming spray is a great finishing product if you're heading out to a pony party. Plus its handy to use on manes and tails too so no need for your grooming kit to get swamped by bottles of everything! If your horse enjoys a good comfy snooze in his stable then going up to give him breakfast and finding more dreaded stable stains always results in a huge sigh (on a good day!).  To help combat these we'd recommend the Supreme Products Stain Remover. Plus take to shows too for any last minute touch ups. 

Nutrition

Last but not least it's important to get nutrition right for you and your horse during the Winter months. If you need advice or guidance on how to keep your horses weight and energy levels at their best most of the large feed companies offer expert opinions. Be sure to make any changes slowly and keep a close eye on your horse's behaviour to make sure its suiting him correctly. For yourselves, keep well with lots of fruit and vegetables and the odd treat doesn't harm anyone! We're firm believers in a bit of chocolate when needed and what better than this Mad About Horses Chocolate Bar.  Treat yourselves....after all you need a couple of extra pounds to keep warm in Winter right?!!

Happy Riding x   

Equestrian Essentials for the Showing Season

With another summer of showing ahead of us its important to have the right equestrian gear so you feel prepared and confident for your classes.  Here are a few highly recommended pieces to get you and your horse shown off to your full potential.

When competing preparation is key and making sure your horse looks pristine is essential for the show ring.  Start at home with a thorough shampoo with warm water.  Depending on your horse's coat we'd opt for one of the Supreme Products shampoos or the Absorbine Showsheen Shampoo and conditioner for an all round effective wash.

If your horse requires plaiting then we love the Supreme Products Easy Plait to keep your plaits secure on a windy day.  Ideal to use if plaiting up the night before with thread. Tried and tested on a variety of manes and it proves to be most effective.

For any last minute stains then opt for the Miracle Groom - perfect if you arrive at the yard in the morning to find your horse has a huge stable stain (surely that doesn't just happen to me!).  Comes in an easy to use spray bottle you can take this to the show with you for any last minute marks and its great if the weather is a little cold.

For manes, tails and extra coat shine we would recommend the Pig Oil spray.  This can be used sparingly especially on the coat as you don't want your horse to become too slippery! Adds beautiful shine to mains and tails that will glisten in the summer sunshine.  Also useful for horses with full feather to add shine and condition.  Plus to add glimmer to your horse's hooves the Kevin Bacon Liquid Hoof Dressing is the perfect product to look good and condition hooves at the same time.

In the warmer weather it's important to ensure your horse stays hydrated and the Wacky Practical Foldaway Bucket is a brilliant product that doesn't take up too much space.  Folds flat for easy storage then expands to hold water for your horse to drink or to wash him down with.

And once your horse is ready it's time to start on yourself - phew!!!  But don't worry here are just a couple of products that will make you look super stylish in the show ring. The Equetech Kenton Tweed Messenger Bag is a gorgeous bag for ringside use and the perfect size for all your equestrian essentials.   Available in two colours so pick the best one to coordinate with your showing gear.

A luxury pair of horse riding gloves are essential to look the part and protect your hands - especially if your horse gets a bit keen on show day! We'd recommend the Carrots Brown Leather Competition Gloves for ultimate comfort and style.

For other products for the show ring why not check out our full show season collection for a little inspiration.  And with these goodies in your kit just remember if it all goes wrong on the day at least you will look absolutely amazing! Good luck! xx

What qualities do you look for in your horse riding instructor?

After a summer plagued by injury, it seems a while since I have had a lesson with my lovely instructor.  This week has seen Skip occur another injury on a front leg and treatment continues as I write this blog.  As I enter into utter despair I decided it was time to catch up with my instructor who always gets me thinking clearly and rationally about horse related issues!  This made me realise that my instructor is not only there to teach me how to ride, but also provides emotional support for equine matters.  As many of you know this is why I nominated her for the NAF Magic Mentor and in fact I am going to take her prizes across to her at the weekend J

I am a firm believer that finding the right instructor for you and your horse is easier said than done.  However when you do it can make all the difference to your riding and partnership with your horse.  Everyone looks for different qualities depending on their likes and dislikes and the disciplines they wish to pursue.  Here are the top qualities I look for in an instructor, I wonder how they compare to yours?

·         A calm instructor who is relaxed with me and my horse and doesn’t get flustered when either of us struggle with something, taking time to explain things in a way we both understand (perhaps two or three times!).

·         A coach who is happy to move forward at the same pace as I am and recognises the correct type and nature of training for the individual horse, rather than implementing a “one rule for all” type of training.  The ability to think outside the box really helps here.

·         I like my instructor to be on her feet and close to me all the time watching every stride (poor thing!)!  I am a perfectionist and I don’t want to be doing something wrong down the whole long side if my instructor is the other end of the school and cannot see me properly. 

·         Trust is so important, especially when training a young horse.  Trust allows me to accept when my instructor is really pushing us to take our training to the next step.

·         Patience- for when I just don’t get something!!

·         Someone who is able to read the signs the horse is giving, highlighting when he is relaxed, when he struggles etc. This increases my learning and points out what I should be looking for when working my horse alone.  

·         A brief but motivating summary at the end of a lesson also really helps me and gives me guidelines of what to focus on during the upcoming week. 

Now I am sure I have missed out many top qualities but these are the ones that initially spring to mind.  Feel free to add your comments below on what you look for in your trainer, or in fact anyone you have working with your horse. 

In the meantime I best get back to seeing to my poorly boy, he is feeling most sorry for himself, especially as I have wrapped him in a pink bandage for my own amusement!  I think it rather suits him… But on a more serious note I wonder if these persistent injuries are a sign of something or telling me something needs to change.  Whilst I figure out what this is I need to try and get his legs back in full working order…at least I am well practiced with horse first aid skills at the moment, perhaps it’s time for a change of career!

Fingers crossed you are all enjoying some fun in the sun with your horses and I look forward to reading your comments below. Thanks for reading xx    

What a Difference a Week Makes...

Life with horses is always on the entertaining and slightly unpredictable side so you do have to learn to "go with it" so to speak.  But last week was a week that I just wouldn't have ever predicted and would really rather forget.  It was only 7 days prior that I had the most amazing lesson on my horse with my instructor shouting "this is exciting stuff!" at us.  Skip was showing no end of progress and we were both feeling physically and mentally strong to move forward together.  However two days later I went to lunge him early on a Sunday morning and he came up incredibly lame.  No sign of anything (and I must have checked 100 times thinking I had missed the signals!) and after no improvement in 24hours I swiftly called the vet. 

 

Monday afternoon was spent trotting up and down, and after initial thoughts that it may be a hoof abscess, the foot numbing activity soon ruled that out.  Being left in the evening with a horse with no diagnosis and a concerned vet, I felt more than a little on the tense side.  Two days later I boxed him up and took him across to our fantastic vets, which resulted in his staying overnight for ongoing tests to find the cause of his lameness.  After what felt like an eternity I was faced with the positive news that although Skip had pain originating from a tendon, scans and x-rays had proved there were no major tears or fractures and I breathed a sigh of relief. 

 

So 7 days after that fantastic lesson I was picking my horse up from the vets in the pouring rain (how apt!) with his rather large bandage on his hind leg. However clearly the vet was a woman after my own heart as the bandage matched his piebald colouring. The prognosis was good, with box rest followed by in hand walking and a small paddock, then ridden walk, then increasing turnout and ridden work after 8 weeks.  However Skip seemed to have other ideas!  Having spent far too long in a stable (3 days!) after the first day back home and stuck in he decided it was time to get out and spent further walking round and round the stable than he would have out in the field...not really the idea of "box rest" young man.  After a very stressful evening with him in a sweaty state, bashing that bad leg till the bandage slipped down we came to a compromise...a smaller bandage and a very small paddock for the daytime! 

 

We are now three days forward and he seems much happier out in the sun than stuck in a dark stable.  There is barely any grass in his paddock which is only the size of a large stable but he seems to be happy munching on his hay and enjoying the sun on his back whilst watching his friends around him.  Now I don't wish to tempt fate and say that he is fine but every day he is happy in there is a good day of recovery and a step closer to getting back on board.

 

Now facing a rather slow summer ahead, I am of course eternally grateful that it wasn't more serious and keeping my fingers crossed that he heals comfortably and sensibly over the next few weeks, but I am a little fed up to be missing out on all this riding in the sunshine! After an incredibly stressful week I am so thankful for every day that I go to the yard and see Skip resting and content and I hope those days continue well into his recovery.  I have also learnt a lot about equine injury, bandaging, and learning to adapt to your individual horses needs.

So to anyone with a horse out there recovering from injury, or waiting for a diagnosis I really feel for you and hope the news is positive and that you can learn from your experiences without feeling too disheartened.  Remember every day forward is a step in the right direction and as my instructor always says to me in times of stress..."remember, nothing stays the same forever". xx

Buyer Beware!

Just a short blog this week as many of you know I have been suffering with an ongoing tooth infection which is making everything I do rather difficult!  I have to confess I am not usually a BBC Watchdog viewer but this week I got a text from my mum saying “Watch Watchdog- horse dealers!”.  Well having spent the majority of last year searching high and low, far and wide for my new equine companion I was quick to tune in (plus I can never resist watching anything on TV that remotely resembles a horse- don’t ask me why, it’s the child within me, I also still have to look out the window when I hear hooves on the road!).

As difficult as it was to watch the Watchdog findings I have to say I wasn’t overly surprised.  Last year I travelled the country every weekend searching for a new horse and I can honestly say it was one of the most stressful experiences of my life.  I went to a number of dealers and private sellers and the dishonesty I found amongst sellers nearly left me with no faith in the human race!!!  Horses were not as described, sellers were blatantly rude and in one case when I turned up the horse (and owner) didn’t even exist!!! It got to the stage that when I went to visit a horse, even if the equine wasn’t suitable, I was happy just to have a conversation with an honest horsewoman who genuinely cared about the welfare of her equine friend. 

However amongst all this doom and gloom I can assure you there are genuine, lovely sellers out there - so if you are horse hunting I urge you to stay determined and keep searching.  It may take some time and you might see a few wrong ones on the way (sounds more like my dating history!) but the right one is out there for you somewhere.  In the end I purchased my horse from a fantastic dealer who I would highly recommend (feel free to contact me if you are searching and I will happily pass their details on).

Some of the issues that were raised through the Watchdog programme could have been avoided through some simple steps which I would urge you to follow:

·         Make a list of priorities / things you want from your new steed and questions to ask the seller before viewing the horse.

·         Speak to the seller prior to visiting the horse and note down all details given.  Ask for videos/ photos before visiting.  Ask the same questions when you view the horse in person and check the answers are the same as on the phone.

·         Make sure the horse is ridden by the owner/ a rider before you try it.  If it is not the owner riding ask them why this is the case.  Ask to see the horse doing any activities you plan to do with it- lunged/ jump/ hack/ school etc.  Make sure you view the horse in the stable or field, and being tacked up and led in hand so you can see how it is to handle.    

·         The horse must have a passport and be sure you see it before you agree to purchase.

·         Take an experienced horse person with you for an honest second opinion- it is easy to get carried away when you fall in love with a pretty face. 

·         Visit the horse at least twice.

·         Always get a horse vetted.

·         Make sure you get a written receipt and keep any advertising/ written info about the horse in case of any problems.

I am sure there are many other top tips that help with buying horses so if you have any please comment below.  Plus I will say when you get your horse home be kind to your new friend and allow him to settle into his new environment.  Don’t be worried if your horse seems a little unsettled initially- this is totally normal when they face such a big change.  Some people say to ride the horse straight away, others will leave a horse in its field/ stable for a week to get used to the new surroundings.  Personally I wouldn’t advise strongly either way,  just do whatever works best for you and your new horse and whatever you feel is the right way forward.

To all you horse hunters out there I am sending you a little bit of luck to find your new equine friend and to all those lovely genuine sellers, I thank you for your honesty and care xx    

It’s the Dentist All Round!!

As every horse owner will know it’s important to have your horse’s teeth done at least once a year, or more regularly if advised by your equine dentist or if you spot any odd behaviour.  So often pain can be the source of so much supposed “bad behaviour” so it is best to rule out any pain sources as  quickly as possible rather than trying to mask symptoms that can lead to long term behavioural problems. 

This week it was time for Skip’s annual jabs and having had his teeth checked when I purchased him 6 months ago, with no problems identified, I decided to schedule in his annual dentistry with his vaccinations.  However little did I know it would fall the day after I would have to have my own dentistry work!  I have to say mine was a tad more traumatic than Skip’s and I was feeling rather delicate whilst waiting for Skip’s teeth to be done.  At least (I thought) that I wouldn’t need to listen to a drilling sound that had rattled round my head for an hour the previous day. 

The vet soon turned up for Skip and gave him his vaccination for the year.  He then gave Skip a little sedation as he told me about the new method they used to do teeth now.  Gone are the metal rasps that I was previously used to seeing (whilst usually hanging on the end of a lead rope trying to keep my old horse still by backing him into the stable corner!) and instead he used an electronic machine which was much more intricate.  However I couldn’t believe it when he turned it on and it sounded like the dreaded drill from my tooth rebuild the day before- I am sure the colour instantly drained from my cheeks!!

The saving grace was the fact that the sedation went straight to Skip’s head, causing quite a giggle.  He only had a little sedation and given that he is such a huge horse I wasn’t sure how much it would really affect him.  After only a few minutes he was swaying and we had to lift his heavy head to rest on the headrest.  He barely moved throughout the treatment, only to occasionally pull his head away from the headrest as if to say “please let me sleep”.  The whole process was much less traumatic for everyone involved and instead of hanging on for dear life I was laughing away at Skips sedated state.  As you can see we took advantage of his sleepiness by taken a few comedy photos… (I am sure he will get me back for that when I ride later!).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the dental work was finished I left him in his stable to have a quiet snooze and after 20 minutes when I went in with a haynet he started eating again so I knew he was ready to go back out for some more grazing in the sunshine- it was a beautiful day here yesterday.

I am happy to say that Skip has seemed absolutely fine ever since and I am also feeling a bit brighter this morning…hopefully it will be more than mash potato and gravy for me for dinner tonight! I hope everyone is off out enjoying the sunshine.  I love the warmer weather and enjoyed a hard but fabulous dressage lesson last weekend- the first one when I didn’t have to wear a coat.  This weekend I am off to watch some friends at a local dressage show whilst I continue to train Skip to get him ready for his grand debut!      

Have fun with your horses x

 

Spring Sensations!

Well spring seems to finally be with us (or should that be summer?!) and it didn’t come a day too soon.  The horses are enjoying some “naked” time in the fields at the moment but I still don’t feel brave enough to turn Skip out daily without rugs!

To celebrate the sunshine we have of course been out riding our lovely horses even more than normal and have also had some shopping fun expanding ranges at The Horse Diva.  Of course buying products is a serious business but it does come with the benefit of trying out new items to make sure they are top quality for our customers J.  Here are a few of my personal favourite new goodies:

Love me Love my Horse Door Hanger

This door hanger is great for the horsey home and makes a lovely gift for a horse owner who’s other half doesn’t really appreciate their four legged friend!  We also have a matching key ring available. 

Clean calm and Collected Childs Farm Bubble Bath

With all this extra horse riding I am more than a little achy at the end of the day so I love to go home and soak in a hot bath and this bubble bath from Childs Farm smells just beautiful.  It is kind enough for pony mad adults and children, full of organic tangerine oil which leaves your bathroom smelling lush. 

Horsey Design Wellington Boots

With the fields a little drier I have abandoned my normal hefty wellington boots for a summery horsey alternative and I am not sporting these rather cute horsey wellies.  They are a great price and are lightweight to take to an event with you or I even sometimes use them for dog walking. 

With the ordering of new gifts ongoing here in the office I am currently awaiting the arrival of a delivery.  These include some funky grooming brushes and children’s horse grooming kits.  I am finding I need to spend even more time grooming Skip at the moment due to him rolling as soon as his rug is off and the constant moulting with his new coat coming through.  These brushes should arrive any day now but here is a sneak preview of some of the items we are expecting.  Be sure to keep an eye on the NEW Horsey Products section of the website for their imminent arrival. 

 

Who doesn't love a Bank Holiday?

The last couple of months feel like they have been full of bank holidays and I cant say that i'm complaining! This weekend I took advantage of the extra day off work and went along to the fantastic Hertfordshire County Show at the showground in Redbourn. We had a fantastic day (despite a few drops of rain) and I would thoroughly recommend this as a great day out for all. There is plenty to do, see and eat and drink! You can spend hours wandering around the trade stands, watching the show jumping and showing classes and don't forget the amazing Devils Horsemen and Shetland Pony Gold Cup. Don't worry if you're not a horse lover, there is lots to see and do for everyone- wander around the craft tents, shopping marquee, make friends with the farm animals (including the basset hounds) and watch the incredibly fast Flyball Team. Unfortunately my camera battery went dead rather quickly...but I did manage to get few snaps of my lovely day out.

How cute are these lovely shetland pony foals? I am lucky as two foals have been born very close to my house so I love going past them every day watching them have fun in the fields whilst mum watches on in amusement!

One of my favourite heavy horse breeds- The Suffolk Punch. I watched a very impressive display of their skills and power and got to meet them after. Such handsome horses.

So after a great day out at one county show i'm off to another this weekend- The Cambridgeshire County Show at Wimpole Home Farm on Sunday 5th June 2011. I've never attended this one before so i'll let you know how I get on! I may even see some of you there.

Enjoying the Sunshine!

I have to admit that I have been rather lazy with my blog during the past month but instead of sitting at the computer I have been out enjoying the sunshine with my four legged friend! I hope you have all been busy with your horses? Do let me know what you have been up to. Having taken some time off work I set about with my daily horse riding, reschooling my cob, and I have thoroughly enjoyed having much more relaxed time with my horse. It's great to be able to ride so much as work hours and daylight hours tend to clash during the winter! I even tried out a bit of bareback riding...(which didn't come as naturally as it used to let me tell you) but I loved every minute of it.

Having returned to work today it seems like i'm not the only one who's feeling a bit tired after ten days of intense equestrian work. Look who I found having a good old roll around in the sunshine this morning and catching 40 winks in the field. What a cutie.

Now i'm determind to keep up with my new schedule so fingers crossed the nice weather continues. I'm using my new horsey weekly planner to keep track of what we are doing on a daily basis and am looking forward to all the bank holidays this month to enjoy some more time at the yard as well as an Easter weekend trip to Badminton Horse Trials. I might even see some of you there!

New Goodies for your Mini Horsey Divas!

At The Horse Diva we like to provide a fun 'n' funky range goodies for your adult horsey friends as well as your little pony lovers. We love our new additions from Tyrrell Katz and the mini horsey divas in our life love them too!

The horsey beakers and bowls are ideal breakfast sets to encourage your children to sit down and eat up their cereal before school.

Then once they're in the classroom they can impress their friends with the gorgeous horsey pencil case and magnetic notebook.

And if you are rather taken with the range but want something a little bit more grown, why not treat yourself to the NEW Nicky James range. You can kit our your kitchen with the following products.

My Big Fat Gypsy Cob!

If you're anything like me you will have been spending your last few Tuesday evenings watching My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding on Channel 4! If you haven't already seen it i'd really recommend it and you can watch it here. Last night I loved watching the sections about the Appleby Horse Fair- have a look at the website for photos of last years event. Being a heavy horse fan I was rather impressed by the cleanliness of the horses' feather. Having spent the first 5 years of horse ownership clipping the feather of my cob off, a few years back I converted to the full feather look and have stuck with it ever since. I use the favoured pig oil and sulphur to keep them in top nick but they never seem to look glossy and gorgeous! I though i'd share with you a photo of my very own big fat gypsy cob and i'd love to see your own horsey photos if you have any you'd like to share!

Mud Mud Not so Glorious Mud!

The snow has been gone a good few weeks now but the rain has returned and it seems it's here to stay. Back in December we may have all been moaning at smashing the ice buckets, the lack of grazing, the awful driving conditions and the inability to ride our horses but now there is a different problem..MUD! The ongoing rain has taken its toll on the field and i've even lost my wellies a couple of times. Along with that it seems every time i've ridden so far in 2011 i've got totally soaked to the skin. Roll on Summer!

The horses seem to be enjoying the mud, with daily rolls and a few good gallops around the field. Once dry i'm tackling the mud with my faithful grooming brushes. Not sure how I could cope without these....

and i'm keeping them protected from the wind and rain in my weatherproof grooming box....

The weather is uninspiring for taking horsey photos today so I thought i'd post a few slightly more picturesque shots from 2010...at least the snow looked pretty!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!!!

Well fellow Horse Divas it has been a good long while since I wrote a blog but I thought I would start the New Year as I mean to go on :-) . Happy New Year to all of you out there, I hope you celebrated in style. Christmas has now passed and along with it a lot of lovely festivities, and now it seems it is (nearly) time to get back to work. Whilst i'm enjoying a few long country rides during my last few days of holiday I certainly need to wrap up warm! My new Messy Mare Hoodie is certainly doing the trick....

As are my faithful Cool Horse Socks!

So wrap up warm, enjoy the last few days of the holidays, get out there on your horses and have some fun!

We were followers of fashion...Now we're setting the trends!

As you all know, here at The Horse Diva we firm followers of fashion, both in and out of the saddle. But this week rather than following the fashions, we're setting them! There I was browsing through my latest copy of Heat magazine when I spotted "Trend of the week...Equestrian!". Finally I can wear my jodphurs to the supermarket without my hat on for disguise!!! Both Dior and Hermes catwalk shows have been inspiring the celebs to don the equestrian trend, with Olivia Palermo and Mischa Barton both sporting the look. But the good news is, the look ha hit the high street, making it affordable and accessible! With this look it may only take a few quirky accessories to transform your equestrian wear you've had in the wardrobe (or worn down the farm) for years. Pick up the latest copy of Heat for a bit of inspiration or check out the following links for a few of my personal faves...

• Large Horse Shoe Necklace
• ANDI Clog Stirrup Ankle Boots
• HASBEENS Jodphur Boots
• Horse Print Tee
• Cream Horse Print Scarf

Happy Shopping!!

I'm no expert...

Having attended Burghley Horse Trials a couple of weeks ago I was feeling a bit deflated that I had not progressed to such a top level or even a competition level within my own riding career! I am more of a happy hacker who loves horses to bits but i''ll fess up now that i'm no expert. I don't come from a horsey family and until I got my own boy I didn't really know many equestrian folk. I wasn't one of those girls out competing on their ponies from a young age...rather I would walk round to the riding school on a weekly basis for my lovely lesson. Having pleaded with my parents for a pony every Christmas and Birthday since I was seven i'm sure they got sick of me but they never gave in. By the time I got to 18 I had saved enough money; the hunt for my own horse began. And what an experience that was...teaching myself the translation of "horse for sale" adverts! Seven years later i've come a long way with my neddy but still have a long way to go. I get a huge sense of pride when he scrubs up nicely and behaves himself...but that's sometimes evened out with the rage I get when he breaks out of the field/ acts like a total rebel.But I shouldn't be deflated. He might not be picture perfect or impecably behaved all the time, but just like me, he's no expert. We're just enjoying learning and improving together. So if you're new to the equestrian field, baffled by the lingo, intimidated by the environment, don't worry. You're not alone and more often than not you really will know as much (if not more) than the person next to you!

The Beautiful Countryside

I spend so much time outside at the moment- walking the dog, running from here to there, riding and being with the horses that I sometimes become complacent about the coutryside around me. Well today I had one of those moments when I had to stop, take a breath (yes it was a hot day and I was walking fast but that's not what I mean!) and look at the world around me. I suddenly realised I was walking around the most beautiful countryside, on a glorious sunny afternoon and there was no where else i'd rather be. Luckily with a little technology I was able to capture this moment to share with your all, and I think you'll agree it really is a beautiful spot.


Here's Si with Charlie, full of energy as usual.

Hasn't this horse got a glorious view?!
And another shot of the lavender- you can nearly smell this through the screen!
Well I best dash off, I have the farrier in the morning so I need to cut up some leggings ready to put on B's legs to get the feather out the way and purchase some hoof oil from The Horse Diva ready to apply tomorrow.

Happy Horse Riding!