Mother's Day Treats for a Horsey Mum

Mother's Day is fast approaching and its time to be thankful for all those horsey mums out there! Whether your mum is always on hand to help you go out competing, watches your weekly lessons through gale force wind and freezing rain or gets up extra early to muck out your pony whilst you get ready for school, this Mother's Day be sure to treat her and say thanks for all the hard work and dedication it takes to keep these ponies going (and paid for!).  Whatever type of horsey mum you have, here are a few ideas to show how grateful you are with a special gift this Mothering Sunday.

For the Dressage Diva, who perhaps competes and trains herself, our LeMieux Dressage Square Gift Sets make a luxury Mother's Day gift for an equestrian mum. Choose from a range of colours including this beautiful Benetton Blue.

If you want your mum to put her feet up this Mother's Day, why not treat her to the Beautiful Horses book. Beautiful Horses showcases the elegance, strength, beauty and variety of breeds from the gentle giant Shire to The Arabian. Filled full of stunning photography and breed features.  You could even team this book with one of our horse mugs and make your mum a lovely cup of tea with her favourite biscuits on Mother's Day morning.  That way she might even enjoy a sleepy Sunday!

If you are planning to take your mum out for dinner on Mother's Day why not opt for a piece of equestrian themed jewellery she could wear. If your mum loves exploring the countryside, the Happy Hack pendant is a firm favourite.  Alternatively the Horse Lovers brooch looks wonderful on a jacket or jumper and any of the horse shoe earrings are delightful for every day wear.

As we head towards the end of another winter every equestrian is starting to feel in need of a spot of pampering. Any of the products from the Naked Horse bath and body range are a lovely way to treat your mum. We have even put together the Horse Lovers Pampering Set which will make mum feel extra special.

Finally if you are looking for something a little different for the horsey mum who has everything, these great equestrian themed Backdoorshoes are perfect for slipping on and off when going to and from the yard. Ideal to wear when popping in and out the equestrian home too!

We hope you'll find the perfect gift for your horsey mum from our suggestions above or check out our wider range for further inspiration. Simply team your present with a thoughtful Mother's Day card and just remember to get up extra early to give your mum a day off from all the mucking out!

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   

Pay Day Treats!

It’s the last Friday of the month and for lots of us it’s….pay day – yippee!   So we figured it’s time for a little treat for yourself and our four legged friends and here are our top suggestions.

With the weather warming up it’s time to brighten up your dressage training attire and our new favourite is the LeMieux ProSport Suede Dressage Square & Bandages Set  in Plum. Here’s Skippy sporting this very saddle cloth before his lesson – looks gorgeous!

If you are spending more time in the saddle now the weather has warmed up, it might be an idea to invest in a pair of new breeches.  We’d highly recommend HyPERFORMANCE Frayer Pink and Grey Check Ladies Breeches that we ride in all the time – great for hacking, schooling and jumping and not too heavy for the summer months. These breeches WON BEST VALUE AWARD 2014 in Horse and Rider Magazine Tried at Tested and we can see why.

We often find our calves get very hot riding in long boots in the summer. To minimise this, the Coolhorsesocks Ladies Competition Horse Riding Socks – Purple provide a great riding sock, packed with all the Coolhorsesocks features but they are 48% thinner as they are designed to fit under tight competition boots.  Great for show days but also a practical sock to wear at the yard during the summer.

The summer holidays and coming up and if you have a little one who will be spending every daylight hour with her pony or at the local riding school, she’s sure to love some of our new Pony T Shirts.  Just choose her favourite as a little treat for your little pony lover which won’t break the bank.

Finally if you are giving XC a go this season then making sure you look the part with matching XC horse riding gloves and hat silk.  The sports designs are super popular and available in pink and purple.  Just make sure you match these to your other equestrian wear for a full matchy matchy look!

March Madness, Updates and the Latest Collections

Well it finally feels like we are rolling in to Spring so we are all looking forward to spending more time in the sunshine with our horses.  Meanwhile, It's been a busy time here at The Horse Diva. Thanks for all your lovely orders during March - lots of gorgeous gifts going straight to the recipient and we are pleased to hear you are thrilled with our gift wrapping and horse greetings cards 

During the past few months we have taken the opportunity to expand The Horse Diva collections and we hope you are pleased with the results.  Here's a summary of a few of our most recent updates...

We are thrilled to now stock the range of Equetech Equestrian Wear - from breeches to belts to babygrows!  If there is anything else you would like to see on the site, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Our new range of Children's Pony Books have been going down a storm with the selection including The Pony Detectives, Forelock Books and Pippa Funnell's Tilly's Pony Tails.  We'll be expanding our range to do adults books as well soon - watch this space and get your requests in to us if you would like to see any specific collections available.

Plus we haven't forgotten the youngest of pony lovers, with a special selection for baby and toddlers that are too cute to resist.

As always we have been trying out many of our products and leaving our recommendations and comments across the website. You can also find helpful hints and tips about how to create your perfect pony present for a loved one. If you have purchased any of our products we'd love to hear from you with photos/ reviews so please do not hesitate to email us with your feedback.  We'd love to have your comments and photos featured on our social media etc! 

We hope you all have a fun weekend with your horses and ponies - fingers crossed the sun continues to shine xx 

Mother's Day Gift Ideas for the Horsey Mum

With Mother's Day fast approaching, it's nice to get your mum a special, personal gift. So if you have a horsey mum, why not opt for one of our suggestions below and treat her to a practical yet thoughtful present this year.

Our equestrian mugs and coordinating coasters make lovely Mother's Day gifts, especially when combined with some of your mum's favourite tea or coffee plus some nice biscuits. Remember to put the kettle on on Mother's Day morning and you'll get extra bonus points too!

For the organised mum why not opt for the A4 Horse Memo Board. Great for the yard or home your mum can jot down all the notes/ tasks she needs to remember. Wipe Clean and comes with a dry marker pen so can be used again and again! Alternatively the Riders Diary is perfect for mum to keep all her horse's paperwork sorted at home. An innovative product that was hugely popular at Christmas.

The new Horse Head Photo frame makes a thoughtful gift for the equestrian home. Why not put a picture of you and your mum out with the horses in it for a sentimental touch.

For the mum who spends more time in the saddle than out, we'd recommend the fantastic Women's Bionic Classic Grip. The only equestrian gloves with Patented Pad Technology to even out the surface of the hand for a lighter, more secure grip and more durability. Loved by The Horse Diva team, your mum will wonder how she managed without them!

Finally, for a luxury gift, you can't go wrong with a piece from our equestrian jewellery range. We love the Sterling silver snaffle necklace - easy to wear during the day but pretty for evening as well. A subtle equestrian design that is adored by many.

So that leaves us just to wish all you mums out there a very Happy Mother's Day 2015! xx

October Favourites!

As we approach the end of October, we are thrilled to find that you have loved our new Horse Diva ranges as much as we have.  We have now put together our Christmas collections and have some fun new stocking fillers as well as innovative horsey gift ideas for all ages.

Before we get overwhelmed with the festive shopping, here’s a little look back at some of your favourites this month.

The Tyrrell Katz wash bag has been flying out and is a great price at £8.95.  We think its a cute gift for a little pony lover – especially when teamed with a pony shaped soap. 

The Pony Modelling Kit has been so popular its nearly sold out but we’ll have  more available asap! We can see why – a beautifully packaged gift in a tin for under £10.00 which will keep children (and adults!) entertained for hours.

More for the little horse rider, the children’s Ravensdale horse riding gloves are a bargain at £7.50, keeping little fingers warm and protected during the Winter months.

Equestrian themed coasters are a great little extra to a horsey gift, and these new country designs are proving just as popular as our other designs.  Thinking forward, they will make great stocking fillers too for a horse owner. 

Brand new to the market, we’re not surprised that these Milly Green pens are flying out so quickly. Available in three funky designs – choose your favourite!

The most popular design of polo shirt this month has been one of our newest additions – If You Can Read This Please Put me Back on my Horse.  Now the weather is turning, the matching hoodie is also available to keep you warm this Winter.

It’s always nice to have some special to wear when away from the yard and we have sent lots of these Gallop Horseshoe Bracelets out as gifts this month.  A great price at £24.00, and it comes beautifully packaged too.

Lots of our products are coordinating and we are thrilled to see you are putting together your own matching horsey gifts and taking the hassle out of your shopping.  We know how busy Christmas can be so to help further we have expanded our gift sets collection and even launched our very own horsey hampers.  We hope you like them and remember we are always here to advise you if you need a second opinion.

Made in Britain!

After a miserable (weather wise!) Bank Holiday we are busy looking forward to our upcoming buying shows and choosing the final new products for our 2014 Horse Diva gift collections.  Whenever possible we try and support British businesses and we thought you might like to know about some of our favourite Made in Britain equestrian products, so here are just a few of Britain's best buys (in our opinion anyway!).

Our popular horsey gifts from Angelic Hen are hand crafted in their workshop in the grounds of Wyastone Lets, in the Wye Valley.   The range of horsey themed products from Angelic Hen includes one of the first products we sourced when launching TheHorse Diva - the Gone Riding and Mucking Out Door Hangers and these remain one of our best sellers to this day.

Looking to some of our newer ranges, the fun collection of Coolhorsesocks offers a British Manufactured everyday horse riding sock as well as an equestrian competition sock that has been tried and tested by ourselves in all weather conditions, equestrian disciplines and multiple scenarios.  Available in many fun and funky designs and complete in smart packaging the Coolhorsesock range makes a great gift for the female horse owner.       

Our beautiful range of horse and pony themed mugs feature many that are made within the UK.  You can't help but smile at the Bean Riding Mug from The Compost Heap.  Their coordinating greetings cards also feature similar images and are chlorine free, recycled and printed on pulp from renewable forests as well as being printed using vegetable inks!  For other equestrian mug ideas the Splimple range are all best sellers and are all made at Jersey Pottery.   

One of our favourite new collections to take on this year is that from Milly Green.  Milly is a UK based designer who has recently expanded her range of products to include cosmeticsbags, pencil cases, notebooks and more.  Beautifully made in the UK each item has this proudly written on the label. 

We hope you like our favourite British designs and will join with us in buying British this year!  If you know of any other equestrian products or horsey gifts made in Britain that you think will be suitable for our website please do get in touch, we'd love to hear from you. 

Horsey Gift Updates at The Horse Diva

As we come to the end of July it's a chance to look back on the past few weeks and reflect on the happy times we have had in the sunshine with our ponies!  How lovely has it been to have a few weeks of glorious summer sun, enjoying those lovely bright mornings and evenings and extra daylight hours spent with your equine friends.  I've had a lovely month with Skip, including more jumping, hacking and our very first Dressage win together.  We're now enjoying a slightly more restful couple of weeks whilst the weather is so hot.  Skip has worked very hard over the last 6 months, making lots of progress and it's nice to reward us both with a rest and bit of fun before we look towards our next competition.

We've had a busy month at The Horse Diva which has been brilliant as we are thrilled to find that you are loving our new product lines as much as we are!  It's also been really lovely to hear from so many of our customers - we truly appreciate your comments so do keep in touch!  If you're looking for a horsey gift, some of our best sellers mentioned below might give you a bit of inspiration for your shopping.  We also stock a wide range of equipment on website and our Ebay shop so if you need any equipment for your horse then be sure to check out our online store.  Of course our fly sprays, fly masks and shampoos have been super popular given the glorious weather!

Equestrian jewellery had been really popular during July, with the Sparkly Hoof Necklace still being our best selling pendant, but we think the New Happy Hack Pendant will soon over take over!  As the warmer weather continues, the ladies polo shirts continue to sell well and are a great gift at £19.95.  To keep the little ones entertained the Kids Craft Kit has been popular for a little pony lover and is super useful during the summer holidays.  It seems lots of you are enjoying some summer pony parties and we are expanding this range so look out for our new items during the next seven days. 

Bentley Brushware continues to sell well (I imagine your horses are enjoying lots of dusty rolls in the field!) and this month's most popular grooming kit in the Blue Bentley Grooming Set.  Lots of you have also made use of our fun greetings cards and gift wrap service so we are able to send your presents straight to the recipient. 

The month of July has also seen new ranges join our selections with the funky Coolhorsesocks, Bionic gloves and more stunning Gallop Collection equestrian jewellery. We're super excited about these new products and sure you will love them too!

And before I go I must remember to remind you to check out our fabulous Horse Diva sale to grab yourself a bargain whilst they last!  Enjoy xx