Category: Magazine

How to get yourself stuck in a ‘non riding rut’ You may have been there, but then again you may be part of those lucky few who manage to give the ‘non riding rut’ a wide birth. Here’s some points, for you not to follow…. 1. Have twins or lots of children at a young age 2. Marry someone who has absolutely no interest in horses 3. Work yourself into the ground so you have no energy to groom, let alone ride 4. Watch in awe as everyone, and their next…

Tack Wear and Tear Feature Looking after your tack, not only ensures that it will stand the test of time but can also help prevent a nasty accident. This is why, we all need to keep an eye on our equipment. In this feature Tricia Bracegirdle, Senior Saddle Technician for Childéric Saddles UK gives readers her top tips and advice on keeping your saddle in tip top tack condition.   TACK-TICAL PLANNING.. Your saddle is probably the biggest investment (After your horse of course!) that you will ever make, so…

Andrew Heffernan Talks About His Future Goals One competitor who knows Somerford Park inside out is international eventer Andrew Heffernan who has been based at Somerford for 15 years. Of Dutch nationality Andrew Heffernan was born in Hong Kong but has lived most of his life in Britain. Showjumping was Andrew’s first choice and he competed through the levels to grade A, however a visit to Badminton in the late 80’s sparked an interest in Eventing and rest is history. Andrew comes from a completely non equestrian background, ‘Mum sent…

Fly rugs are a fantastic way of keeping your horse protected from those pesky flies, all summer round. Choosing which one to buy can be difficult as there’s so many to choose from. They can all differ in cut, cost, material and coverage. Here we look at a selection of fly rugs available, all of which you can purchase online. Best in Value Masta Avante Fly Mesh Rug Great value Avante Fly Mesh Rug from Masta. Made from lightweight & breathable fabric. Features a hook and loop fastening at the front to make…

Birthday Celebrations for Victoria Bax – Blog Courtesy of Victoria Bax ’s sponsors Aloeride www.aloeride.com & Golly Galosheswww.gollygaloshes.com The past month started very well indeed as it was my birthday, so a new dressage hat and body protector were on the cards for starters! Both Alberta’s Rose and Alberta’s Pride headed to Keysoe actually on my birthday to contend in the Area 8 Riding Club’s Team Horse Trials.  This was to be Alberta’s Pride’s very first 90cm ODE and he certainly didn’t disappoint! He started by pulling a super dressage test…

Saddle fitting – Horses change considerably over time. A horse’s ‘shape’ is very dependent on the horse owner’s management. What may have fit your horse as a five-year-old may not fit now. Age, fitness, weight, and rider weight/size will all effect the fit of any saddle on any horse. Reasons why a horse may change shape A horse can change shape for many reasons. Maybe he is enjoying a break from work turned out in a field with lots of grass causing unwanted weight gain. Possibly, the competition season is…

This month the team at Everything Horse tried and tested the 2016 Aldi Equestrian Range. We were sent a selection of polo shirts, t-shirts and hoodies to write a review on, and we can say we were far from disappointed. The quality of material used throughout the range is fantastic. Each had a different mix of materials to match the cut and style of the garment. They even feel nice to the touch. Each garment type has a selection of different styles and colours. All are lightweight, easy to take…

Struggling to juggle horses with children? Here are some great tongue in cheek pointers to have a little giggle at! Remember the days? You’d spend all weekend down the stables riding your own horses as well of those of your friends. The most complicated decision you had to make was whether or not to stop in for a quick ‘on the go’ Starbucks before heading down the stables for an enjoyable day with your four legged best friend. No more we hear you say, not since you had kiddies! Here…

Looking After Your Competition Horse’s Legs with Gemma Tattersall PROTECT TO PERFORM! When it comes to looking after your competition horse’s legs top professional event rider Gemma Tattersall has a wealth of experience in the area. In this feature she gives readers some essential top tips for looking after your horse’s legs, regardless of your chosen discipline. Whatever level you ride at or discipline, you should always consider your horse’s health and well-being and that goes for his legs too! Accidents and injuries sadly do happen, but you can help…

David Britnell Blog – June 2016 I have dashed in to write this blog, having returned from Nunney International in Somerset, where we had fun! On the trip up  “Suzie Sat Nav” decided that white roads were a quicker route so my co-driver was definitely needed to battle against her. On one of our regular horse/tyre checks we discovered that an inner rear tyre was “cooking” so gingerly proceeded the final 20 miles at 25mph, fretting and scanning the road for an air stop as our hazard lights flashed!  So…

Horses Behaving Badly at Bramham Bramham International Horse Trials had it’s fair share of horses behaving badly this year! And what better way to celebrate ‘said behaviours’ than in a fabulous gallery of images, kindly provided by equestrian event photographer, Mike Bain. All images are subject to copyright. Please contact image owner Mike Bain for permission to use. Suzanne AshtonSuzanne Ashton, Founder of Everything Horse (Est, 2012), has a BA Hons in Marketing Management and a Diploma in Equine Science. Suzanne has ridden and owned horses all her life and has…

The Top Five Factors that Determine a Good Stallion with Cyden Stallions owner and dressage rider, Lara Dyson If you are looking for a stallion to sire a foal, how can you determine that the stallion you choose has got the desired x-factor to produce a foal that is right for you and fit for the role it is intended? Breeding can be an expensive business so ensuring that all the pieces of the jigsaw are in place, can take time and require plenty of research to get the foal of…

Getting back in the saddle after a fall resulting in injury can vary from a few days or even many months, so what advice should riders take on their road to recovery? Très Health, is a unique health and fitness centre for equestrians working or living in London or in reach of London and offers a range of services from core strength training, massage, physiotherapy, life coaching and injury rehabilitation programmes. Based in Chelsea, Très Health Equestrian has the experts and the facilities to help riders become the best they…

Selecting, owning and managing an ex-racehorse Owning and managing an ex racehorse can be a thoroughly rewarding experience for both you and the horse. The thoroughbred can be athletic, nimble and willing. We see this presented in the shape of many successful ex racehorses such as Gemma Tattersall’s Artic Soul, who came a respectable third at this year’s Badminton Horse Trials and Pippa Funnel’s Ensign, who won Burnham Market International 2005 and South of England International in 2007. Major success in their new career is not essential, and for some…

Another month of moving forwards with my little team of young horses. Axl went training to Weston Lawns and jumped really well cantering round a course for the first time. He did jump me off, but I can’t really moan about that!! He went to his first show at Kingswood to jump the 85cm class last week. We had a very green first round, with some baby mistakes, but went back in HC for just two baby poles in the jump off! He’s back out competing again this month getting…

Lots of New Experiences with Success! My youngest Alberta’s Pride has been busy over the last month, participating in a dressage competition which he absolutely nailed with a score of 69.5% to win, earning his very first red rosette, the first of many I hope! He also completed a second one day event, this time at Isleham, Cambridge.   He produced another solid dressage test for a score of 30.3, then went onto complete a lovely clear showjumping round.  The cross country course caught us out at a tricky combination, which…

Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes in the press office at equestrian events? Here, Victoria Spicer, official Press Officer for the All England Jumping Course at Hickstead, covers just that. Victoria writes on what to expect on a typical day in the office, enjoyable aspects and how she got to where she is today. My name is Victoria Spicer and I’m the Press Officer for the All England Jumping Course at Hickstead. I’ve held this position since 2011. Throughout the year my role involves writing press…

Did you grow up as a Pony Club member? Was every waking hour as a child filled with thoughts of ponies and rosettes? If so, you may then well find some of the below points resonate well. The fond, the funny and the unforgettable pony club memoirs Suzanne AshtonSuzanne Ashton, Founder of Everything Horse (Est, 2012), has a BA Hons in Marketing Management and a Diploma in Equine Science. Suzanne has ridden and owned horses all her life and has twelve years of experience in marketing, writing, design, SEO, and…