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Colleen Peachey
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Product Review: Ariat Volant Tall Boots

By on Apr 10, 2014 10:00 am -

Welcome to EN’s Product Review series! Who doesn’t love shopping … especially when the object of your search is new gear for yourself or your horse? While browsing for gear is fun, sometimes it’s just overwhelming to search through all of the products that are available for you and your horse. Companies featured in my posts have very generously provided me with their products, so that I may try them out and share my own experiences with all of you! Of course, every horse and rider is a unique individual, so each product may perform differently for you and your horse then it does for me—after all, different things work for different people (and horses!), and that is all part of the variety of life! This column is meant only for me to recount my personal journey, and share my own and my horse’s experiences with all of the exciting products featured. While I make no recommendations, I hope that you have fun and find entertainment while reading about my many adventures of trying new products, and that hearing about my personal experiences might help give you factors to consider when you are on your own quest for new gear!

Details, details--the Ariat logo displayed on one of the back zipper guards on the Volant boot Details, details--the Ariat logo displayed on one of the back zipper guards on the Volant boot

Everyone can certainly use a little extra grip in the saddle…right? Sometimes, I just feel like I have trouble keeping my leg positioned correctly. That can be pretty frustrating. Especially when I’m schooling over jumps and my legs just need a bit more grab on the saddle. In the past, I’ve even tried using a product that provides better traction and grip when applied directly to my saddle. While that type of product did function as promised, by giving me that extra stability I so desired, it also required that I clean my saddle after every use. I’ll admit, I am a busy person who doesn’t necessarily have the time to clean my tack after every ride; so in my case, a treatment applied to my saddle wasn’t necessarily the ideal solution to get that extra grip. Little did I know, there was a different way to achieve better traction in the saddle.

Just recently, I had the opportunity to try out a pair of Volant tall boots made by Ariat. Now, I’ve seen the Volants around for a while now, and have personally always been a fan of their unique appearance. What can I say, I always like to be able to incorporate a little bit of individuality into my riding ensemble. So when I first pulled the Volants out of their box, one of the first things that I noticed was the sturdy and durable feel of the boots (that is, after I stopped breathing in the leather smell…I don’t know why, but I just love the smell of leather; maybe it just reminds me of hanging out in a tack room).  The foot of the boot has an athletic type appearance to it, which is certainly something that I have not seen before in a tall boot.  Another feature that jumped out at me was the side and the front venting on the boots – the side venting actually helps craft the unique appearance put forward by the boot.  I also did notice that the leather of the inner side of the boot has a matte appearance to it, and felt as though it would provide a little extra traction against the saddle for my legs. So it seems that in addition to their unique and interesting appearance, the Volants also offer a number of features that benefit the rider.

The matte looking (or super-grippy as I like to call it) leather on the inner side of the Volant boots

The matte looking (or super-grippy as I like to call it) leather on the inner side of the Volant boots

I found that the Volant tall boots felt good when I pulled them on and zipped them up. I have to admit, that I was pleasantly surprised at how secure my foot felt in the boot when I started to walk around. I also noticed that the way in which the stitching comes away from the venting on the front of the boot feels like it helps to provide out-of-the-box flexibility in the ankle. This is a cause of celebration for me. I remember the time that I bought my very own pair of tall boots at my local tack store. At that time, the recommendation was made to me to wear my new boots for six hours on the ground before wearing them to ride in–which definitely was warranted. While the Volant boots do require some time before they feel like they really start to mold to my legs, in my opinion (what tall boots don’t?), I don’t feel as though they require any ‘on the ground’ break in time. I feel like I can just pull them on, and hop in the saddle for a ride. The main area that requires some breaking in is behind the knee, which is just something that needs some time in the saddle.

When I went to the barn for the first time in the Volant boots, I couldn’t help but notice how comfortable they were when I was walking around before my ride. There’s a lot to do before I can just hop on one of my horses and go–going to get one, cIeaning them up, and then tacking them up.  And then I definitely have to go grab some hay to throw for everyone who is not working, to keep them happy. I usually find that it comes to a point when my feet just get tired from walking around in boots, because they are designed for riding (and not hoofing it around on the ground for extended distances). I think the athletic inspired design of the foot lends itself to being able to keep up with all of the walking that I do in my boots.

Side view of the Volant boot while I'm in the saddle...aren't I totally stylin'?

Side view of the Volant boot while I’m in the saddle…aren’t I totally stylin’?

As great as it felt to be able to walk around comfortably in a pair of tall boots, I was even more excited to experience the functionality of the Volants in the saddle. Right away, I noticed how the boots helped my legs to grip the saddle. And I mean really grip the saddle. The matte-looking leather on the inside of the legs helps to provide traction against the saddle. I love the feeling that my boots are grabbing onto the saddle–which is especially great for helping me feel like I have more stability when riding, even when I’m up in my two point position. And even when my horse Ripley decided to spook, bolt, and hop off the ground a few times, I sat deep and felt like my legs just stuck to the saddle. Now that’s what I call super “stick-a-bility”!

I was also interested to see how the venting in the boots impacted how my legs actually felt while riding. The venting not only curves down the side in a stylish looking design, but it also is integrated into the boot as little pockets down the front of the ankle, and very top of the foot as well. Since tall boots are typically fitted snugly, I’ve never really considered that there would be a way for my legs to get any kind of air flow going to them. But the venting in the Volant boots actually allow my legs to be able to BREATHE…imagine that! Air flow? In a tall boot? I definitely like that. When I pulled the boots off post-ride, there was a pronounced difference when I felt my breeches, due to the vents; on the inside (under the un-vented side of the boots) of my legs , the fabric of the breeches felt slightly damp from sweating, while the outer side (under the vented side of the boots) of my legs, the fabric of the breeches felt mostly dry to the touch.

So while the Volant tall boots by Ariat do depart from tradition with their appearance, they instead offer an unique and stylish look, and include a number of awesome and useful features. The non-traditional appearance of the boot may not be the most appropriate for the dressage ring, but I think that they would make a fantastic cross country or jumping boot. The comfort of the Volants, along with the extra grip and ventilation they provide while in the saddle, would make them an excellent option for long schooling sessions or cross country day, in my opinion. Retailing for $499.95, the Ariat Volant tall boot is a mid-range boot that brings a lot of features for the price point. Fusing together an original and fashionable look with excellent functionality, the Volant boot is more then just a pretty face in my book.

Go stylish and grippy boots.  Go Ariat.  Go Eventing.

Product Review: Hamilton BioVet’s Banda-FLEX Equine Bandage

By on Apr 7, 2014 9:30 am -

Welcome to EN’s Product Review series! Who doesn’t love shopping … especially when the object of your search is new gear for yourself or your horse? While browsing for gear is fun, sometimes it’s just overwhelming to search through all of the products that are available for you and your horse. Companies featured in my posts have very generously provided me with their products, so that I may try them out and share my own experiences with all of you! Of course, every horse and rider is a unique individual, so each product may perform differently for you and your horse then it does for me—after all, different things work for different people (and horses!), and that is all part of the variety of life! This column is meant only for me to recount my personal journey, and share my own and my horse’s experiences with all of the exciting products featured. While I make no recommendations, I hope that you have fun and find entertainment while reading about my many adventures of trying new products, and that hearing about my personal experiences might help give you factors to consider when you are on your own quest for new gear!

It always seems to happen–when you go to bring your horses in after turnout, someone has a scrape, bite, scuff, or cut. I’m not sure if that’s universal, but it seems to be the case with my gang of three geldings. Maybe they are just being clumsy. Or maybe they are just roughhousing a bit. I guess that boys will be boys, after all. Cleaning up those scrapes with a bit of iodine and spray-on bandage is always just a breeze, but sometimes those cuts and scrapes can be in a really inconvenient place. Like right in the middle of one of my horse’s faces before a show (cringe!). Or on their back underneath when the saddle will sit. Or even on one of their legs where I would normally boot. Any one of these places will create some interference, and possibly some discomfort for your horse.  Well, other then a scrape on the face, that is just cringe-worth to look at!

Recently, Hamilton BioVet has released a brand new and exciting product for equine wound care, called Banda-FLEX. The Banda-FLEX is, in fact, a flexible bandage that is made specifically for use on cuts and wounds on your horse’s legs. The bandage is breathable, and designed so that it is flexible and able to move with your horse. And it is also made to be great for use over wounds that require sutures, and so it does not stick to your horse’s hair (I mean, imagine how much it hurts when you remove a sticky bandage from yourself…now imagine pulling one off of your horse when it’s stuck to his hair. OUCH!). The Banda-FLEX also includes an integrated pad to which you can apply medications and ointments as needed.  It’s also designed so that it won’t constrict, tighten, or harden (or get otherwise gross) after it gets wet. While the Banda-FLEX is brand new, it was preceded by the PawFlex bandages, which are basically a smaller version made for canines.

Banda-FLEX was easy to apply to Ripley's leg

Banda-FLEX was easy to apply to Ripley’s leg

I had the opportunity to try out the Banda-FLEX recently, when my horse Ripley acquired a cut one of his front legs. Even after the cut scabbed over to start to heal, I’ve not been having him wear his galloping boots, as I didn’t want them to rub the scab off prematurely, and slow down the healing process. Banda-FLEX bandages are able to be worn under galloping boots, for riding or turnout. With that knowledge, I decided that I would use a bandage on Ripley’s leg under his boots, so that I would feel comfortable with him wearing them before the scab fell off of his cut.

When I pulled the Banda-FLEX out of the package to apply it to Ripley’s leg, it felt nice and soft to the touch. It also is very flexible and stretchy when you pull on either end. The bandages are made in two sizes–medium and large. The medium has one closure tab, and the large has two closure tabs. I used the large size for Ripley, and it covered his leg (and the area with the scabbed over healing cut) quite nicely. The Banda-FLEX was so easy to apply, and the closure felt nice and secure after I fastened it over the bandage. From there, I was able to pull Ripley’s galloping boot right on over the Banda-FLEX bandage, and we were ready to go. Even after I removed the boot and the Banda-FLEX at the end of the ride, I found that Ripley’s scabbed over cut remained just the same – it was not rubbed off!

...and Ripley's boot can be put on safely right over Banda-FLEX for riding!

…and Ripley’s boot can be put on safely right over Banda-FLEX for riding!

While I’m not hoping that I have an oozy, bleeding or sutured wound to try the Banda-FLEX over soon, I feel much better now that I have them in my first aid kit. I was really happy with the way that the bandage wore underneath Ripley’s galloping boot. Not only was it flexible and breathable, but it was also easy to apply. In the case that there is an active wound, I really appreciate that the Banda-FLEX is designed to not stick to your horse’s hair, and that there is a super-convenient integrated pad to apply medications and ointment to. The Banda-FLEX is also nearly impossible to over-constrict when applying (I didn’t feel like the bandage was in danger of being too tight), and it also will not constrict or harden if it gets wet while being worn. And again, I love the fact that the Banda-FLEX can be worn under a galloping boot for riding or turnout, to provide a little extra protection to your horse’s wound. The retail price for a 10 pack of medium sized Banda-FLEX is $13.95, while a 10 pack of the large sized retail for $15.95–which definitely makes them an affordable addition to any first aid kit! Hamilton BioVet‘s Banda-FLEX equine bandages are easy-to-use, versatile and affordable, so they have most certainly earned a spot in my own personal first aid kit.

Go easy-to-use Banda-FLEX bandages.  Go Hamilton BioVet.  Go Eventing.

Product Review: Noble Outfitters Josie Quarter Zip Mock

By on Apr 5, 2014 1:00 pm -

Welcome to EN’s Product Review series! Who doesn’t love shopping … especially when the object of your search is new gear for yourself or your horse? While browsing for gear is fun, sometimes it’s just overwhelming to search through all of the products that are available for you and your horse. Companies featured in my posts have very generously provided me with their products, so that I may try them out and share my own experiences with all of you! Of course, every horse and rider is a unique individual, so each product may perform differently for you and your horse then it does for me—after all, different things work for different people (and horses!), and that is all part of the variety of life! This column is meant only for me to recount my personal journey, and share my own and my horse’s experiences with all of the exciting products featured. While I make no recommendations, I hope that you have fun and find entertainment while reading about my many adventures of trying new products, and that hearing about my personal experiences might help give you factors to consider when you are on your own quest for new gear!

Reflective Noble Equine logo, located between the shoulder blades Reflective Noble Equine logo, located between the shoulder blades

The start of a new season is always an exciting time; with Spring especially, everything is starting to come back to life again. Flowers start coming up. Trees are starting to get their leaves back. Birds return after a cold weather to chirp and chatter. And it’s time to start packing away my cold weather riding gear in favor of attire better suited for the moderate temperatures. Not only am I happy to say farewell to the bitter cold, but I am also excited to see brighter colors, and maybe even some floral patterns here and there. While it’s not quite warm enough to start riding in tanks and tees, long sleeve base layers, paired with soft shell jackets on cooler days, become a staple in my wardrobe at this point of the year.

Keeping in time with my Spring wardrobe, I recently had the opportunity to try out Noble Outfitter’s (formerly Noble Equine) Josie Quarter Zip Mock long sleeve shirt. While I tried the Josie Quarter Zip Mock in the Heather Grey color (which has a snappy looking zipper in a bright orange contrast…if you’ve been following along with my product review series, it may be coming increasingly apparent that I’m a fan of bright colors; or orange, more specifically). When I first picked up the shirt, I noticed that the material felt especially smooth to the touch. I also found that the Josie Quarter Zip Mock is labeled as being UPF 50. Honestly, I had no clue what this meant at first; after a little research, I found that this indicates that the top has an ultraviolet protection rating of 50 plus, which is the highest rating that can be given to clothing at the current time. This equates to the fabric of the shirt being able to block 98% of the sun’s rays. Considering how much time I spend in the sun (and how easy it is to forget to apply sunscreen), a little UV protection is certainly always a welcome feature of my riding apparel!

Check out those long sleeves and thumbholes in the cuffs!

Check out those long sleeves and thumbholes in the cuffs!

When I pulled the Josie Quarter Zip Mock on for the first time, I again couldn’t help but notice the smooth feel of the fabric. It felt nice and fitted while being slightly stretchy (which is my personal preference), without being too constricting. The shirt seemed to run true to size, as my usual size fit me well. I also took note of the small sleeve of fabric at the top of the zipper, which allows the zipper tab to be hidden after it is pulled up. There are also two reflective logos on the Josie Quarter Zip Mock–one on the back between the shoulder blades, and the other on the left sleeve (on the forearm).

I found that the Josie Quarter Zip Mock performed well for me both in the saddle. One huge plus for me was the sleeve length. I am five-foot-nine, with long arms, so one of the problems that I tend to face when looking for new clothing is that sleeves tend to run short on me. The sleeves on the Noble’s Josie top? Totally long enough for even my long arms! And, they even include thumb holes for you to help keep your sleeves in place. Another feature that I liked was the slightly longer back hem; I tend to like to school without tucking my shirts in, and the dropped back hem just made the top more comfortable for me. I never got the sensation that the top tried to ride up during my ride. The weight of the fabric works nicely for cool Spring days, but could also work during colder weather as well if used as a base layer.

Donning the Noble Equine Josie Quarter Zip Mock while tossing some hay...any on the shirt? Nah, don't think so.

Donning the Noble Equine Josie Quarter Zip Mock while tossing some hay…any on the shirt? Nah, I don’t think so.

Not only did the top come along for the ride, but I also have worn it while getting my barn chores done as well. The smooth fabric definitely makes it easy to brush off hay (now, only if I could get it to brush out of my hair that easily as well). The other big plus for me is that I tend to…well, let’s just say I throw myself into my work so much that I end up “glistening”. That is the lady-like term, correct? Anyway, even after a ride and barn chores, the Josie Quarter Zip Mock wicked away moisture to help me stay perfectly dry (no “glisten” spots to be found).

I would consider the Josie Quarter Zip Mock to be a great three season piece – ideal for Spring and Fall temperatures, and nice for use as a base layer during truly cold time periods. I imagine that the hottest part of the Summer would be a little warm for long sleeves; however, if you are able to opt for long sleeves when the temperature is not too brutal, Noble Outfitter’s Josie top can offer you the highest rated ultraviolet protection that can currently be bestowed upon clothing. With a retail price of $44.99, the Josie Quarter Zip Mock is an affordable, mid-range long sleeve riding shirt that looks sharp, and feels comfortable when being worn. Especially for us tall, long-armed gals who are usually so self-conscious about too short sleeves.

Go UV Protection (especially for those of use with long arms!).  Go Noble Outfitters.  Go Eventing.

Product Review: Asmar Equestrian All Weather Rider

By on Apr 3, 2014 3:00 pm -

Welcome to EN’s Product Review series! Who doesn’t love shopping … especially when the object of your search is new gear for yourself or your horse? While browsing for gear is fun, sometimes it’s just overwhelming to search through all of the products that are available for you and your horse. Companies featured in my posts have very generously provided me with their products, so that I may try them out and share my own experiences with all of you! Of course, every horse and rider is a unique individual, so each product may perform differently for you and your horse then it does for me—after all, different things work for different people (and horses!), and that is all part of the variety of life! This column is meant only for me to recount my personal journey, and share my own and my horse’s experiences with all of the exciting products featured. While I make no recommendations, I hope that you have fun and find entertainment while reading about my many adventures of trying new products, and that hearing about my personal experiences might help give you factors to consider when you are on your own quest for new gear!

Asmar Equestrian logo on sleeve of All Weather Rider Asmar Equestrian logo on sleeve of All Weather Rider

With the arrival of Spring comes spending more and more time out at the barn and in the saddle. In my neck of the woods, that equates to sloshing around in the mud and trying to feign ignorance to the seemingly continuous rain showers. Somewhat annoying? Sure. But after making it through another Winter season of snow, ice and Polar Vortexes, no way are a few rain showers going to keep me from riding. That doesn’t mean that I actually enjoy getting wet, by any means.  Best case scenario for me is usually grabbing a jacket, gritting my teeth, and just going for it. Of course, one point of unhappiness for me remains the fact that going out for a ride in the rain means that my saddle is going to get some water spritzed on it. Which I’ve never really been able to come up with a solution to help me avoid.

Trying on the All Weather Rider at AETA (in Coal)

Trying on the All Weather Rider at AETA (in Coal)

I first became familiar with the All Weather Rider by Asmar Equestrian a couple of years ago, and was intrigued by the concept of a longer length jacket made for riding in a range of conditions. When I attended the AETA’s (American Equestrian Trade Association) trade show back in January, I had to stop in my tracks when I was in the process of walking past Asmar Equestrian’s booth (I think it was a little awestruck at the rows of lovely pieces of riding apparel in bright colors…what I can I say, I’m a total sucker for colors). So many colors…so very many lovely colors! By stopping at the booth, I had the chance to get my first up close look at the All Weather Rider (or the AWR as I like to call it), and even was able to try one on. While it looked totally chic with my street clothes (right down to the sleek looking logo on the left sleeve), I couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to take it with me to the saddle.

Well, I did in fact get my chance to try out the All Weather Rider. The jacket comes in two weights–the original fleece-lined verision, and a lightweight version (that does not have the fleece lining). I had the opportunity to try out the lightweight version of the All Weather Rider, in a vibrant shade called ‘Tangerine’. The AWR is also available in a number of other bright and attractive colors; some of my favorites include Cobalt, Scarlet, Magenta, Plaid (Black or Brown) and Coal (which is a charcoal grey accented with pink). Ok, so there are a lot of great colors. The jacket itself is made out of a soft shell material, and the garment itself feels of a very nice quality. The lightweight version of the All Weather Rider is quite well suited to wear during the rainy Spring season.

I pulled the All Weather Rider on after I tacked up go for a ride; but before mounting up, I took a minute to make a few adjustments, in order to reveal the front and back skirts of the jacket. The back skirt simply unzips, while the front skirt unsnaps from the interior of the jack and zips up. Simply use the main double zipper on the All Weather Rider, and pull both parts upwards so that you are able to expose the front skirt. The ends of the sleeves also unzip to provide a little extra room at the end of your sleeves, as well as three pockets–two regular side zipper pockets, and a small zipper pocket on the left chest for storage, in case you need to stow away your phone or a chapstick. The hood is able to be unzipped and removed, but I personally like to leave it attached to the jacket. The complete transformation process to change the All Weather Rider into “riding mode” really only takes a minute (or two at most), and is easy.

The All Weather Rider in action in the saddle

The All Weather Rider in action in the saddle

Once I mounted up, I took a moment to adjust the front and back skirts to drape nicely over the saddle. After warming up and starting on some flatwork, I couldn’t help but notice that the nice subtle stretch that the fabric had to it. Not once did I feel constricted while trotting along; the only thing that I felt was true freedom of movement. Both the front and the back skirt stayed in place nicely as I rode – I felt no interference, and did not feel either one catch on the saddle or hinder my movement. The additional cuff inside the sleeves also functioned well to keep wind from blowing up them to give me a chill. Not only was my saddle protected against the elements on a day full of clouds and scattered showers–I also looked great the entire time. I can also say that the All Weather Rider, specifically in Tangerine, will be a staple once Fall arrives, and I’m hacking out during hunting season. The bright colors are not only stylish, but they also include reflective piping along the back for safety.

Rear view of the All Weather Rider with back skirt unzipped

Rear view of the All Weather Rider with back skirt unzipped

While the All Weather Rider does function well in the saddle, I also find myself wearing it out on the town–out to the feed store, shopping at the mall, dining out, and even to the office–with the skirts zipped back into place, of course. Rain or shine, the AWR looks simply smashing when worn out and about. Even while out in a steady rain, I stayed perfectly dry while raindrops beaded up and rolled off of the soft shell material of the jacket. While using the hood, I found that it works well and stays up for the most part (unless the wind is pretty gusty). What surprised me was the number of my “non-horsey” friends and acquaintances that commented on the All Weather Rider when they saw me wearing it – usually they were of the theme that the jacket looked very stylish, the color was very attractive, and it looked like it would keep me nice and dry. Of those points, I could only agree with all of them.

The All Weather Rider is truly a lifestyle piece; instead of having a separate barn coat and casual coat, I can easily wear it to the barn to ride in, and then when I leave for other activities afterwards. I like that it was designed to be functional for equestrians, but then can converts into a fashionable staple piece for every day life. It is, however an investment piece – the retail price for the All Weather Rider lightweight version is $320. While it is certainly an investment, I still feel inclined to add another to my collection of gear for a few reasons. I like that I only am buying one high quality, signature type piece instead of two separate jackets, so that I will certainly be wearing it for years to come. But more than that, I like that it was specifically designed with a front and back skirt that allows it to conveniently drape over my saddle – it is unique, and I’ve never seen another jacket quite like it. Even though it comes with a bit of a steep price tag, the All Weather Rider is a true blend of fashion and function for the equestrian who wants to look great at the barn and everywhere else their travels take them.

Take a look at the video below to see a demo of how the All Weather Rider transforms:

Go High Fashion in the Ring (and around town). Go Asmar Equestrian.  Go Eventing.

Gina Miles Shares Guidelines for Bitting With Success

By on Mar 31, 2014 9:00 am -
Gina Miles is on a mission to educate riders about bits. Photo courtesy Professional's Choice. Gina Miles is on a mission to educate riders about bits. Photo courtesy Professional's Choice.

I recently had the opportunity to chat with Gina Miles, 2008 individual Olympic silver medalist, about her philosophy on bitting. As you’d imagine, Gina has become very knowledgeable about the function and proper usage of bits during her career, particularly through riding with legendary horsemen George Morris and Jimmy Wofford. And now she has assembled her very own collection of bits, which are available through EN’s sponsor Professional’s Choice, as part of their new English line of products.

Chatting with Gina was not only very interesting but also quite educational for a bit novice such as myself. She said that while teaching clinics she will stop a rider to ask them why they are using a particular bit and what function that bit accomplishes. Oftentimes, the rider does not know the actual function of their bit — other than it is “stronger” or “more gentle” on their horse’s mouth. “I don’t just want to sell bits; I want to help to educate,” Gina said.

With that mind, here are Gina’s top 10 guidelines for bitting:

1. Use the mildest bit that you can for the job. When she is starting to work with a new horse, Gina begins by riding the horse in a loose ring double break snaffle bit.  She said that this allows her to “see where you are (with the horse), to be able to plan from there.”

2. Go back to the basics. Part of Gina’s bitting philosophy was developed while riding with Jimmy Wofford. After the competition season ended and winter set in, Jimmy’s horses were ridden with the most basic bits. Winter is a chance to step back from intense training; by using a mild bit, a rider has the chance to see how obedient their horse can be.

3. Use enough noseband. A bit will not be as effective if the noseband that it is used with is not strong enough. A strong bit can’t help a rider control their horse if the horse is able to get its mouth open. On the flip side, sometimes a stronger noseband needs to be used to make a mild bit effective without overusing it. Gina told me that she has seen horses that have been “made dull in the mouth from the overuse of a plain snaffle bit.”

4. School in a more mild bit than you show in. While training, you are teaching your horse to be responsive to aids and obedient. Schooling in a milder bit will help you practice getting more control while using less bit. This should result in a more responsive and better trained horse.

5. Compete in a bit that is strong enough. When you arrive at a show and unload your horse, they are usually excited; and when they are excited, horses sometimes tend to throw their muscle around. “Sometimes you have to bit up to get the job done,” Gina said. Instead of fighting for control of an excited horse, switching up to a stronger bit at a competition can help immensely.

6. Safety is the number one priority. “During a cross-country course when you are galloping across fields and jumping your horse over solid obstacles, it is really important to be able to stop when you get to the end,” Gina said. Another part of Gina’s philosophy she developed from George Morris is that you must “use enough bit that you have control.” When working with young or inexperienced riders, Gina would rather use a stronger bit for the sake of safety, especially when they are jumping or riding cross country.

7. Switch up your bits. After finding several bits that work for your horse, switch them up from time to time. Doing so will help keep things fresh and interesting for your horse.

8. Make sure to fit your bit to your horse’s mouth. Don’t just assume that the average horse goes in a 5-inch bit. You should measure your horse’s mouth to make sure that your bits fit properly. There are commercially available bit sizers that are basically a piece of plastic with labeled measurements and a bumper at the end. You can also just use a piece of string with a knot at one end. Slip the string through the horse’s mouth where the bit would sit and keep the knot at one end. Mark off where your horse’s mouth ends on the other side and measure the string. Keep in mind that for bits with a loose ring cheekpiece, you might need to add a quarter- to half-inch to prevent pinching.

9. Properly fit your bit to your bridle. When you attach a new bit to your bridle and are fitting it on your horse, you will need to check to ensure that it fits properly. As a general guideline, you should be able to see one large and one small “wrinkle” at the corner of your horse’s mouth. Adjust the cheekpieces on your bridle to achieve this effect.

10. Regularly schedule your equine dentist. Sometimes dental problems can be a cause of bitting discomfort for your horse. An important part of maintaining your horse’s health and being successful with their training is to schedule regular dental exams.

Gina Miles bit collection, taken from Professional's Choice website

Gina Miles Loose Ring Waterford bit from Professional’s Choice

Gina also talked about her own collection of bits with Professional’s Choice. With so many combinations of mouthpiece and cheekpieces available, choosing the right bit for your horse can be a daunting task. In speaking with Gina, she told me that she specifically selected the bits that are part of her own collection so that “there is a bit for everyone” — from basic bits to stronger bits, for horses that tend to carry their head too high, ones that carry their head too low and even ones that tend to lock in the jaw. You can check out Gina’s bit collection by visiting the Professional’s Choice website.

Go Bitting Education. Go Gina Miles. Go Eventing.

Product Review: Kensington Platinum Collection Blanket

By on Mar 29, 2014 1:00 pm -

Welcome to EN’s Product Review series! Who doesn’t love shopping … especially when the object of your search is new gear for yourself or your horse? While browsing for gear is fun, sometimes it’s just overwhelming to search through all of the products that are available for you and your horse. Companies featured in my posts have very generously provided me with their products, so that I may try them out and share my own experiences with all of you! Of course, every horse and rider is a unique individual, so each product may perform differently for you and your horse then it does for me—after all, different things work for different people (and horses!), and that is all part of the variety of life! This column is meant only for me to recount my personal journey, and share my own and my horse’s experiences with all of the exciting products featured. While I make no recommendations, I hope that you have fun and find entertainment while reading about my many adventures of trying new products, and that hearing about my personal experiences might help give you factors to consider when you are on your own quest for new gear!

Mark is FINALLY achieving his dream of becoming a blanket model... Mark is FINALLY achieving his dream of becoming a blanket model...

Most of us have had one of those horses at some point during our lives–you know, the ones for who just can’t fit normal horse “off the rack” sizes. Maybe their body just has an odd shape. They might have narrow shoulders, be extra long in the body, or just be really, really tall. My 7 year old Dutch Warmblood / Thoroughbred cross gelding, Mark, fits all of the above descriptors. At 17.3 hands, he is just plain huge. Really huge. Not to be confused with the 17.3 hand horse that you see advertised that is really 16.3 hands when you show up to look at it. Along with being tall, Mark has a really deep, sloping shoulder, narrow chest, and is very long in the body. While in my completely biased and partial opinion, he is quite handsome, he is also a total pain in the butt to blanket. Since I purchased Mark as a weanling, I’ve seen him through years of blankets. Over time, we have kept switching, and have tried most of the major blanket brands; while most are durable and fit my other horses well, Mark has always been an issue. Actually, he tends to have multiple issues with blanket fit. Mostly, blankets tend to 1) fit his shoulders snugly and cause rub marks, 2) slip in the hind end and hang partially down on one side, and/or 3) look really REALLY short on him (picture the men’s basketball short-shorts from the 70s–I know, I totally didn’t want that picture in my head either!).

When I heard that Kensington Protective Products offers a collection of horse blankets, I was a little surprised. I’ve been familiar with the brand for a few years now, as I use Kensington Protective sheets on all three of my horses during the Summer season (as fly sheets). Earlier this year when I attended the American Equestrian Trade Association’s (AETA) trade show, I was very excited when I had the chance to see Kensington’s Platinum Collection of blankets up close and in person, and learn about their features. The Platinum collection of blankets are made out of 1680 Denier Ballistic Nylon, which makes them extra tough–and the shell is coated with Lami-cell and Teflon in order to be completely wind and water proof, while being fade and stain resistant at the same time. Another interesting feature is the CoolPlus lining system of the blanket, which helps to wick moisture away from your horse. But perhaps the thing that really caught my attention was the SureFit design that the Platinum Collection of blankets boasts. SureFit is Kensington’s very own design, which has been made to fit a wider variety of horses, from more narrow to wider builds. After hearing about the SureFit design, I immediately thought of Mark, with his large and gangly body and ill-fitting collection of blankets.

Blankets in the Platinum Collection are available in both a Standard Neck, as well as a Euro Cut (which comes partially up the neck, for extra coverage), in weights of heavy (300g of fill), medium (180g of fill), lite (80g of fill), and rain sheets (no fill). Standard neck blankets also are designed so that you can purchase a matching neck cover.  I opted to try out a Standard Neck blanket in a heavy weight, as we’ve had such a brutal Winter season here in Pennsylvania – between Polar Vortexes and snow that never seems to stop, I think my horses pretty much lived in their heavy weight blankets. Mark takes a size 87 blanket, and I think it is important to point out that Kensington does offer this size; it is the largest size that is still considered to be a standard horse size, but sometimes it is hard to find. The blanket was quite lovely when I pulled it out of the bag that it came in; I tried the teal color on Mark, and it was very vibrant out of the package. The blanket itself had a durable feel to it when I picked it up.

Fitting the blanket on Mark went like a dream. After I threw the blanket up and over him, I was able to use the Velcro and 2 convenient snap clips to close the front (the snaps have a pull tab on one end, so that they are adjustable).  I also really like the “stable blanket” style of the 2 belly straps–they come further up the side to clip.  And did I mention that you can clip or or unclip the snaps on either side of the horse (and not just the left side)? Talk about convenient when you are trying to blanket while you horse parks themselves against their stall wall!  There are also two hind leg straps. All of the hardware felt durable to me, and did I forget to mention that the blanket comes with a detachable belly guard and tail flap? I appreciated having the belly guard, since Mark was turned out in snow quite a bit (and since he likes to get down and roll about 5 times when he first comes out in it). The part that really impressed me the most was that with the SureFit design, the blanket seemed to come down and around Mark’s shoulders to “hug” his chest.  Just “hug” it.  Not hang tightly across it and rub. The length of the blanket could have stood to be a little bit longer–but remember, Mark is extra tall–and the blanket was long enough to cover his body, and did look nice. Really nice, in fact, because the teal color looks amazing with a dark bay horse!

Any blanket at my barn gets a workout – I’ve got 2 young horses (Mark included) that like to grab, rip, tug, pull, shake, and generally put their mouths all over blankets. Especially new ones. Cue Mark’s younger “brother”, Rufus – he is only 4 and is extremely mouthy. So he makes no bones about taking a new blanket as a challenge. Can he rip it? I always dread turning someone loose with a new blanket, because I don’t want Roo to have a chance to try to shred it. And try he did, with Mark’s SureFit blanket.  And try.  And try.  And try some more.  He is quite the persistent little bugger–he’ll need that attitude for cross country, I suppose! The most that he was able to accomplish was to pull the tail flap off after quite the tug of war battle. No harm or foul though–it was perfectly fine, and I simply chose to remove the tail flap during turn out after that happened.  Even though Rufus tried his darn-dest by pulling and tugging on other parts of the blanket, no rips appeared in the shell, or trim since I started wearing the blanket on Mark.

Another thing that I noticed was that the blanket would only shift slightly on Mark while he was turned out (even after he got down and rolled–repeatedly). It stayed in place very well in my opinion, and does not slide around like his other ones do at all. I wore the blanket on Mark for well over a month, during the very coldest temperatures here (going down to 0 degrees), and he always felt nice and toasty when I put my hand under it.  And the most important part? IT FIT and left NO RUBS on his chest or shoulders. In fact, with our cold snap and snow that we’ve just had now at the end of March, I’m still wearing the heavy weight on him, for now. I am also very excited at the other weights that are offered, and the fact that I can get a rain sheet with the same great fit and features to wear during our muddy Spring season that is just starting.

I’m not sure who is more thrilled–Mark, because he is such a diva and likes to feel special in a flashy new blanket with a belly guard, or me, because said flashy new blanket actually fits Mark and doesn’t leave ugly shoulder or chest rubs. I’m just excited that I’ve found a blanket for hard to fit horses, because that describes Mark; practically every single thing that I buy for him is a challenge with his size, but at least now I can feel confident that I have a blanket that won’t rub his hair off. Mark’s Kensington Platinum Collection blanket fits him, holds up against Rufus trying his hardest to shred it, AND it looks pretty rocking awesome at the same time. I count that as a major win in my book.

Take a look at a video from Kensington, to see some the Platinum Collection blankets in action!

Go hard-to-fit horses (we love ’em anyway).  Go Kensington.  Go Eventing.

Product Review: FITS Treads Wind Pro Breeches

By on Mar 25, 2014 8:18 am -

Welcome to EN’s Product Review series! Who doesn’t love shopping … especially when the object of your search is new gear for yourself or your horse? While browsing for gear is fun, sometimes it’s just overwhelming to search through all of the products that are available for you and your horse. Companies featured in my posts have very generously provided me with their products, so that I may try them out and share my own experiences with all of you! Of course, every horse and rider is a unique individual, so each product may perform differently for you and your horse then it does for me—after all, different things work for different people (and horses!), and that is all part of the variety of life! This column is meant only for me to recount my personal journey, and share my own and my horse’s experiences with all of the exciting products featured. While I make no recommendations, I hope that you have fun and find entertainment while reading about my many adventures of trying new products, and that hearing about my personal experiences might help give you factors to consider when you are on your own quest for new gear!

FITS in the Snow

Bringing Mark in out of the snow — normally I’d be wearing 2 or 3 layered pairs of sweatpants, but that was before I met FITS Treads Wind Pro breeches.

Have you ever found yourself wishing that you could ride in a pair of sweatpants? Sure, the concept sounds pretty great — soft, warm and comfy sweatpants substituted in for a fitted pair of riding breeches. But then reality hits. In your mind’s eye, you can already see yourself slip sliding all around in the saddle, while anyone watching is howling with laughter, while intermittently snapping photos of your ridiculous attire (which, of course, will mean that you’ll be next week’s hilarious photo that goes viral on social media!). Riding sweatpants … I guess it’s one of those ideas that maybe should be sent back to the drawing board. Personally, I felt like I found a fantastic blend of both warm and comfortable when I tried FITS Treads Wind Pro Breeches.

How about THOSE rubberized ink dots?

How about THOSE rubberized ink dots?

I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised with the Treads breeches when I first pulled them on. I was definitely expecting to like them — after all, FITS is known for innovative designs that result in a unique blend of style, function and comfort. However, nowhere in my wildest expectations did I expect them to be THAT comfortable. And by that, I mean so comfortable that I just wanted to keep wearing them around the house. For the whole evening. Which I did. That being said, I absolutely could not wait to give them a try in the saddle. From the time that I swung my leg up and over my horse’s back, and I landed in my saddle, I was ready to GO. (Incidentally, so was he, since there was a bit of a breeze going). When I shifted around to adjust my seat, I really liked the amount of traction that I felt that I had — grippy, without feeling like I was sticking to the saddle. And so we ventured forth to face the wind.

Riding in windy conditions is usually not a very pleasant experience at all. Normally, I feel a bit chilled during warm-up and just need about 10 minutes or so of riding to get warmed up. In this case, I felt the cold breeze against my face, but otherwise took no notice of it! The Polartec Wind Pro fabric that the FITS Treads Wind Pro breeches are made of is not bulky or heavy feeling, but it kept my legs toasty warm during my entire ride. While the Treads are both warm AND comfortable, what really solidified their status as my new favorite pair of cold weather breeches was their functional performance in the saddle. After all, what is warmth and comfort if function is lacking (let us remember the riding sweatpants idea)?

Hearing about the concept of the rubberized ink dot full seat is interesting. Experiencing them in action is incredibly cool! I felt like I had all of the grip that I needed, thanks to the specific distribution of the rubberized dots, right where I needed them the most. My experiences riding in FITS Treads Wind Pro breeches make me no longer dread windy conditions and chilly temperatures. Take THAT, cold weather! You will not rule me anymore.

Treads dressed down for a trip to the feed store…with my one of my favorite sweatshirts!

Treads dressed down for a trip to the feed store … with my one of my favorite sweatshirts!

At this point, I’ve worn FITS Treads Wind Pro breeches in wind, cold, snow and rain. I’ve worn them to ride in, muck in, throw hay in, visit the feed store in and even lounge around in. When the weather turns chilly, I feel like I live in them. Seriously. Even when I was out in a light rain, I took notice of the fact that instead of soaking into my pants, the water simply beaded on the surface for me to brush off (and all the while, my legs stayed warm and dry!). I’ve also logged in some serious barn work time while wearing my Treads. Mucking stalls … no problem. The dirt and grime wipe off well. Throwing hay … no problem. The hay brushes right off (of the treads … but it was still stuck ALL over the hoodie I was wearing). Emptying the muck cart … no problem. I normally get sweaty at this point when I have fleece lined breeches on, but stay dry and comfortable in treads!

Even after I’m done with my ride and barn work, I love that I’m simply able to throw on an oversized sweater or sweatshirt with my FITS Treads Wind Pro breeches and hop in the truck to drive to the feed store. I don’t really look like I’m in my riding attire with FITS Treads Wind Pro breeches. Just in really comfy and oh-so-warm, stylish pants. In fact, one morning I found myself wishing that I would be able to put these on to wear to work because they just don’t look like breeches. I mean, they could count as business casual, couldn’t they? Sadly, I picked another pair of dress slacks for work that day, but in my mind, I wished that I was wearing my Treads.

So, let’s recap. Warm? Check. Comfortable? Double Check. Performance in the Saddle? Check. Stylish? Triple Check! Is there really anything else that could make me LOVE the FITS Treads Wind Pro breeches any more than I already do? Would you believe that the answer is a resounding YES? Perhaps the icing on the cake for me is that Treads breeches are MADE IN THE USA … like the majority of FITS products. I am very proud to BUY AMERICAN MADE products. Knowing that a product that I have tried, and already love, is also MADE IN THE USA just makes me love that much more.

Go Warm & Comfy Breeches. Go MADE IN THE USA. Go FITS. Go Eventing.

Product Review: Tredstep Ireland Raphael Dress Boot

By on Mar 24, 2014 8:46 am -

Welcome to EN’s Product Review series! Who doesn’t love shopping … especially when the object of your search is new gear for yourself or your horse? While browsing for gear is fun, sometimes it’s just overwhelming to search through all of the products that are available for you and your horse. Companies featured in my posts have very generously provided me with their products, so that I may try them out and share my own experiences with all of you! Of course, every horse and rider is a unique individual, so each product may perform differently for you and your horse then it does for me—after all, different things work for different people (and horses!), and that is all part of the variety of life! This column is meant only for me to recount my personal journey, and share my own and my horse’s experiences with all of the exciting products featured. While I make no recommendations, I hope that you have fun and find entertainment while reading about my many adventures of trying new products, and that hearing about my personal experiences might help give you factors to consider when you are on your own quest for new gear!

My Tredstep Raphael Boots — even after months of use, they still look like new after cleaning!

My Tredstep Raphael Boots — even after months of use, they still look like new after cleaning!

Every great ride starts out by pulling on a seasoned and reliable pair of boots. I know that once I can FINALLY get a pair of tall boots broken in and perfectly molded to my feet, it feels like a victory in and of itself. When my well broken-in boots turn into just plain broken boots, it is always a point of despair. How can I bring myself to spend hour upon uncomfortable hour in the saddle, agonizing over the fact that I just can’t perfect my dressage test because of my blasted brand new boots.
Sure, they might look great, BUT is my trainer, or even a judge for that manner, really going to overlook my sloppy posture because they are admiring my new pair of boots? I think we all know the answer to that question. So how did I move from a mindset of completely dreading breaking in a new pair of tall boots to not being able to wait until my next ride to wear them (and possibly even wanting to wear them in between rides)? The answer is simple — my feet have met the Tredstep Ireland Raphael boot.

So what really sets the Raphael apart from other dress boots? Pleased as I was when I cracked open the box, things only got better from there. In spite of my tried and true “anti-new tall boot” mantra, I was actually quite excited when I received my new pair of Raphael boots. Let’s just say that when I first pulled the top of the box up, the aroma of leather gave me goosebumps. I could not help but to be impressed when I opened up the box and found that each boot even came with it’s own inflatable boot tree and individual velvety storage bag (perfect for boots that don’t like to share with each other).

The Tredstep Ireland Pro Flex ankle design most definitely surpassed even my expectations; in fact, I didn’t really feel that the boots required on the ground break-in time. When my mind wanders back to think of other tall boots I have broken in, I unwillingly dredge up memories of having my ankles feel locked in place; BUT the Pro Flex design allowed my ankle full movement, right out of the box! A few of my other favorite features are the heavy duty zipper, the slim fit through the ankle and the square toe of the boot. The details are what set the Raphael boot apart for me. The quality and craftsmanship is simply unbelievable to me for the price point!

Enjoying some in the saddle time with my Raphaels

Enjoying some in the saddle time with my Raphaels.

Enough about fashion — looks are great, but as we all know, performance in the saddle is what really counts. When I did take my first ride in my Raphael boots, they felt surprisingly comfortable. Instead of feeling awkward and stiff as a board, the boots felt like they hugged my legs. My first several rides in the Raphaels did help to break in the area behind the knee. I was able to accomplish this with only mild discomfort, and the boots felt much better behind the knees after logging several rides. As an aside, a pair of lifts were included with the boots to help with the break in.  Originally, I had intended to ride in my Raphaels to get them broken in and then save them for showing only. BUT since I really enjoy riding in them, this notion disappeared faster then a tub full of horse cookies around the barn.

My Raphaels are my favorite pair of tall boots to ride in, and I do regularly school in them. Hey, just because I’m schooling doesn’t mean that my feet don’t deserve to look a little fancy, right? But in all seriousness, I specifically love to wear my pair when I’m schooling dressage. I do notice that with the slight dress boot stiffness to the leather, the boots actually help me to keep my legs quiet and in their correct position in the saddle. Maybe I feel like it would just be a tragedy to leave my Raphaels to sit around in their box waiting for their next show, or maybe my inner fashionista celebrates a little every time I pull them on … but I just know that MY pair log quite a bit of time in the saddle.

Even though at first glance, I remember being ever-so-slightly hesitant to starting wearing my brand new Raphael boots — I mean, they did look like works of art that should be on display (though the moment quickly passed, and I was in the saddle just as soon as I could throw on the boots and tack up one of my horses!). I can honestly say that I believe in the Tredstep Ireland Raphael boot. Not only are they lovely to look at, but they also feel fantastic on my feet, and they offer a simply stellar performance in the saddle. As an aside — I actually can’t wait until I wear out my current pair of field boots, so perhaps I will have an excuse to try out a pair of Tredstep Ireland‘s field boots. But I guess that will be a tad difficult to accomplish when I only seem to wear my Raphaels.

Go NEW Tall Boots (that aren’t a total pain to break in). Go Tredstep Ireland. Go Eventing.

Riding To Music: Making Dressage Fun…or More?

By on Mar 14, 2014 3:27 pm -
Wouldn't it be great if riding to music could help me achieve a trot that looks like this? Illustration by Lindsey Kahn Wouldn't it be great if riding to music could help me achieve a trot that looks like this? Illustration by Lindsey Kahn
If it were possible, I think I’d live my life to a music. One of the first things that I do after I wake up is pick out a song to cue up.  It’s a great way to start out a day, really. In my experience, a single song can set my mood. Music can help me wake up in the morning, or unwind at the end of a day. It can help me get energized so that I feel ready for anything, or help me relax if I’m a little on edge. Music can even help me to pickup my mood if I’m feeling a bit down, or keep me focused if my mind starts to wander. And after doing some reading, it appears that study after study has led many a scientist to the same conclusion–music has the ability to influence your mood, which I don’t think is a surprise.
Let’s face it…I’m a bit of a music junkie. So then, it shouldn’t really be much of a surprise to tell you that also have come to enjoy riding to music. Some days, there is nothing better then spending some time in the saddle, while hearing birds chirping and a gentle breeze in the background.  Along with your horse’s footsteps crunching in the sand and the sound of their steady breathing, that is. For me, those are the sounds of a perfect day of pure riding bliss. Other days though, I just need a little pick-me-up, of the musical variety. Especially when practicing flat work is the order of the day. Having a solid foundation on the flat with your horse is important…and well, we all have our dressage tests to practice. Some days though, it’s just a little hard to get in the proper mindset. After all, that’s why we are eventers, and not pure dressage riders, right? On more then a few occasions, I’ve found myself having trouble keeping a steady rhythm while riding. Whenever that turned out to be the case, I started to count in my head. One, two, one, two, one, two. Up, down, up, down, up, down. It was seemed to be a little too easy for my horse to slowly edge me into slightly faster working trot than I was asking for. Kudos to him for doing it without me realizing…until I started counting my beats.
Now, I don’t want to spend my time counting out my rhythm in my head while practicing my dressage. I mean, where’s the fun in that? That’s where music comes in for me. I’ve personally found music to be a great tool to help me keep a consistent rhythm while riding on the flat, but it has the potential for so much more. Depending on my goals for a particular day, I feel like I can potentially leverage music to help both myself and my horse reach them. Since I can’t actually talk to my horses (wouldn’t that be great for solving training problems though?), I can only speculate at the fact that music can influence their mood as well. What I can say for certain is that slow melodies, soft music, and even humming have had a drastic impact on the training of my oldest gelding. Ripley was my very first horse, and he came into my life over a decade ago. I certainly got a project when my parents bought him for me…a western trained basket case of an abuse situation…I definitely had my work cut out for me. During my time retraining him in dressage, I found that he responded to me humming or singing to him while riding (not at all well, of course). Ripley was typically very hot, and waiting for his rider to pull a fast one, but leveraging slow melodies seemed like it helped to take the edges off, and calm him down enough that he was more receptive to listening to me. To this day, Ripley is still very receptive to me riding him to music, which I do frequently.
Here’s the part that becomes a bit of a gray area. Various studies tend to have differing opinions on the effect that music has on horses (since again, they can’t actually talk…where’s Mr. Ed when you need him?). Since a horse is a prey animal, part of their state of being is to listen for potential dangers in their environment. Some scientists assert that playing music can actually stress a horse out, since you are blocking them from listening to their surrounding environment, and assessing potential threats to their safety. Another study, conducted at Hartpury College by Clare Carter, BSc and Linda Greening, MSc (both of Hartpury College), studied the impact of different genres of music on horses, including jazz, rock, classical, and even country music. The study was performed using the help of eight Thoroughbred geldings, and was conducted by exposing the horses to different types of music in thirty minute intervals, while observing them to see if they displayed certain behaviors. While I’m a bit of a rock girl myself, this particular study concluded that music such as jazz and rock is shown to cause horses to exhibit a number of stressful behaviors. The horses did not exhibit the stressful behaviors, however, when listening to country and classical music, and they was actually suggested to have “an enriching” effect on them. So cross rock music off the list if you have a horse that gets stressed out easily.
I guess no one can really be certain how every horse will respond to music, since they are all individuals. I certainly like the concept of using upbeat music to help motivate myself and a lazy horse, or soothing music to help relax and focus myself and a nervous horse. Personal experience has shown me that at least in my horse Ripley’s case, music seems to calm and focus him for dressage work. And all that aside, turning on the radio while schooling dressage helps makes my session both fun and interesting. My mind stays engaged, and ok, maybe I start to sing along a little bit (I do apologize to anyone standing around the arena when that happens). While I won’t be trying to arrange my own musical freestyle any time soon, I do feel like appropriate music, with a well defined beat helps me to keep my horse to my rhythm…rather than me keeping to my horse’s chosen rhythm. And who knows, maybe one day my dream of someone busting out a radio by the dressage ring at a schooling trial will help me realize my own dream of riding a dressage test to music. Or maybe not.  But you have to admit, that would be a little awesome. So readers, so anyone else share my penchant of riding to music? If so, how does it help you or your horse?
Go Dressage Beatz.  Go Music Therapy.  Go Eventing.

Meet Aidan Keogh: Tredstep Ireland Founder and Irish Team Rider

By on Feb 5, 2014 12:00 pm -
Aidan Keogh and Master Tredstep at Pau. Photo by Jenni Autry. Aidan Keogh and Master Tredstep at Pau. Photo by Jenni Autry.

When I had the chance to attend the American Equestrian Trade Association International Trade Show last month, my brain just about went on overload. Literally. With a seemingly endless number of booths to tour and many new and exciting products for both the equestrian and equine alike, well, let’s just say that AETA definitely was the place to be to see every item you could ever possibly need (or just plain want) for riding. Attending the trade show is akin to window shopping; the mental list I made of gear I’d like will probably span many years of birthdays and holidays to come.

In the midst of my wandering around, I was fortunate enough to be able to chat for a bit with Aidan Keogh, owner and founder of EN sponsor Tredstep Ireland. Aidan has the privilege of training with William Micklem, and you may recognize him from his performances this past season with Master Tredstep, AKA Wilson. Recent outings for the pair include having the honor of representing the Irish team at the Nations Cup in Aachen, as well as competing at Les Etoiles de Pau CCI4*. I feel very lucky to have had the chance to speak with Aidan, not about his training or competition schedule for 2014, but about some of the innovation and exciting developments we will see from Tredstep Ireland this year. After all, what better place to talk about drool-worthy new products then at AETA?

As you might already be able to tell, I get excited for brand new products for the equestrian and equine alike. Really excited. Like a kid waking up on Christmas morning excited. So you may not want to go shopping with me if you can’t handle having to wait for me to look at everything that is brand new at the tack store (don’t say that I didn’t warn you). So as a self-admitted new product junkie, I’ll confess that the design process has always fascinated me. How much fun would it be to sit around and dream up new products?

Aidan and Wilson at the Nations Cup in Aachen, Photo by: Jenni Autry

Aidan and Wilson at the Nations Cup in Aachen. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Well, it seems that I found a kindred spirit in Aidan because his passion for Tredstep’s products and the design process was entirely evident. As someone who rides six horses a day, Aidan knows first hand what dedication and hard work in the saddle really means. For anyone who ever has experienced boots that rub, breeches that chafe, gloves that wear out or any other gear that ends up being just plain irritating at the end of a ride, let’s just say Aidan has most likely experienced the same thing at some point during his riding career. Which is why, as a rider and new riding gear enthusiast, I’m so thrilled to see a hard working and dedicated eventer be so involved as a product designer. Designs for the rider, by the rider. Exactly as it should be, in my mind.

Naturally, one might wonder how in the world someone who rides half a dozen horses on a daily basis AND works on designing and testing a full line of riding apparel would have time for things such as eating, sleeping or any kind of leisure activities at all. I can say that I don’t actually have an answer for you. But somehow, Aidan seems to be able to fit everything in his busy schedule. In all fairness, Wilson helps by pulling double duty as well; not only does he assist Aidan with product testing, but if you page through a Tredstep catalog, you’ll have a chance to see his handsome mug featured within its pages. And according to Aidan, “Wilson never complains” when he assists with product testing. So apparently, they make a good team both on and off course!

I chatted with Aidan at length about his own creative process. A lot of time goes into the creative development process and testing designs (and testing, and testing and testing them some more). According to Aidan, “versions (of a new product) are tested until they are ‘good,’ and bad designs are trashed.” When talking in general about new generations of products in store for Tredstep Ireland, Aidan did say new designs are “made to address a problem, not just to launch a new style or a new color.” That’s truly exciting for me; during the course of my normal (or non-equine related) shopping, I can say that, in some stores, I see the same or very similar designs year after year. Except in a new color. But the shirt still might be too short, or the zipper might always get stuck. You get the picture. Suffice it to say that as someone with high performance expectations for my gear, I appreciate designs with continuous improvement in mind.

When speaking about the development of a new product idea, Aidan did say that process involves first “getting the what and then figuring out the how.” While Aidan makes such a feat sound like a simple and straight forward philosophy, I can’t begin to imagine all of the imagination and research that goes into not only identifying unmet rider needs, but trying to create an innovative solution to meet those needs. Innovation is key; I get excited over a new design when there’s a new fabric or technology involved, and innovation can simply be combining elements in a way that’s never been done before. The most important thing to me, as a rider, is that my attire and gear enhance my skills in the saddle and that they don’t hinder me from riding the best I can.

The Brand New Symphony Nero breech! Photo provided by: Tredstep Ireland

The brand new Symphony Nero breech! Photo provided by Tredstep Ireland.

So what were some of the exciting finds that I came across while wandering around the Tredstep Ireland booth? Well, for starters, I stumbled upon a brand new Symphony collection breech! As a current owner of a pair of Symphony breeches, the news of the brand spanking new Symphony Nero breech was very welcome news to my ears. The design of the Nero is everything you’ve come to expect of Tredstep; however, the breech is made of Tredstep’s own ExCell fabric, and it sports an even more attractive price point. Retailing for just $89.99, the Nero breech is definitely affordable as a great pair of schooling breeches (especially, ahem, for those of us who like to have several different colors on hand).

According to Aidan, the Nero breech will be “more available to more people.” The Nero is already available for those of us who like to try to stay on the cutting edge; it can be purchased exclusively through Dover Saddlery until March 2014 and then will be more widely available. I can also say that I’ve heard some rumblings that there will be some other new generation products launched during 2014, and I, for one, will be anxiously awaiting their unveilings.

Go Innovative Designs for the Rider. Go Aidan. Go Tredstep Ireland.

Tredstep

My Annual Equine Checklist: Ready for Spring Edition

By on Jan 18, 2014 10:30 am -

Let’s face it — a number of us are currently battling a case of winter woes. Cold weather. Snow. Ice. I’m pretty sure that many people are just sick and tired of hearing about it; I know that I am. All things considered, this is a great time of year to run through some important checks to make sure that you are ready for spring (once it decides to arrive). Even for those of you who are currently lucky enough to be south of the Mason-Dixon line, don’t stop reading; my checklist is helpful no matter what climate you live in! So what items on are my pre-spring checklist?

1.  Tack and Gear: Do you usually throw your saddle back on the rack after a ride? I’ll admit it; I’m guilty of neglecting my tack on occasion. What I do swear by, though, is making sure that I give all of my tack an extra thorough annual cleaning and check-up. A complete cleaning, conditioning and oiling of my tack has helped it to stay well preserved for me after years of use. Something that is a must on my list is checking all of  my tack for spots that are weak or are starting to dry rot.

Since we depend on our gear so much, and many of us don’t give a second glance when tacking up, it is oh-so important to make sure to conduct periodic checks to make sure that everything is good working order. Ensure that you check pieces that experience heavy use for weakness: reins, stirrup leathers, girths, and bridle pieces. I know that the last thing that I want is to experience a set of reins or stirrup leather snapping on me while I’m riding. Take the time to check and take care of your tack, so that it won’t let you down — literally.

2.  Horse Trailer (and Tow Vehicle): Trailer maintenance is important! When we load up our horse and rack up miles out on the road, basic safety checks can be overlooked. Make sure that you check our trailer over thoroughly by asking some of the following questions: Are the tires properly inflated, and is there any dry rotting or cracking in the sidewalls? Is all of the hardware in good working order — window pin cups, tie rings, etc? Are the trailer ties in good condition? Is the floor under the mats sturdy, or is there any rotting? Is the electronic braking system functioning as it should be?

A good idea is to have your trailer inspected annually, at a dealership or garage, by professionals. Someone with a knowledgeable eye might catch a safety issue that you have overlooked. Also important is making sure that your truck or tow vehicle is well maintained. Make sure that your tires are in good condition and adequately inflated, that your hitch is in good shape, and that you are conducting regular maintenance (such as oil changes).

3.  First Aid Kit: If you’re lucky, maybe you haven’t had to look in your medical supply kit recently. Many folks have supplies to tend to the run of the mill bumps, scrapes and bites that are pretty commonly seen. However, it is also important to be prepared for other common injuries and illnesses as well. Do yourself a favor and pull out your first aid kit, and start out by checking expiration dates — go ahead and toss any expired items, or crusty looking old bottles of unknown origin. Next, try making a list of items that you need to replace … and do so while you don’t need them! Here’s a preview of what my personal first aid kit contains:

  • Thermometer (normal range is 99-101 degrees)
  • Betadine
  • Alu-Spray
  • Gauze pads
  • Bute
  • Banamine or Naquasone
  • 4 (pre-wrapped) polo wraps
  • Poultice pads (legs wraps and for the hoof)
  • Sterile eye flush solution
  • Hoof pick
  • Thrush solution
  • Vet wrap
  • Oral dosage syringe

4.  Helmet: I can’t stress enough how obsessive I am about being safe by always, always, always wearing a helmet while riding.  Riders4Helmets, an organization whose goal is to educate equestrians about helmet safety and encourage proper helmet usage, recommends replacing your helmet every five years or so. Use your annual equine check-up as an opportunity to check the date of manufacture on your helmet. If it is over five years of age, you may want to consider replacing it, per the recommendation of Riders4Helmets!

Do you have your own annual checklist to run through? What items do you think are missing from my list?

Go Being Ready for Anything. Go Spring. Go Eventing.

Barn Work Boot Camp: Winter Edition

By on Jan 9, 2014 12:00 pm -

Since the holidays have passed us by, we’ve officially transitioned from the most wonderful time of the year into those couple of months when many of us wish we could hibernate during the deep freeze. I always like to think of January and February as being the “lost months” — the time of year when the weather is crappy, the footing is crappy and it’s dark by 5 p.m. And quite a few of us have been facing the infamous polar vortex over the past few days. When it’s cold enough outside that you feel like your eyeballs are going to freeze and your fingers are going to fall off, I give up. I don’t really do the whole freezing in the saddle thing. Just cue my riding withdraw.

With the recent decline in my own time spent in the saddle, I’ve challenged myself to get creative. Since I feel like I’ve relocated to some sort of frozen tundra, my main equine related activity has been in the form of barn work. The pathetic amount of in-the-saddle time that I’ve logged has been spent going out for hacks — which, I’ll admit, is a nice mental break for both myself and for the horses. But since I’ve caught a premature case of spring fever, I’ve been feeling jittery. Relocating further south for a few months just isn’t in the cards for me. But surely I shouldn’t just be taking a vacation from training over the next couple of months; there just has to be some way to get myself ready for training once the warmer weather (finally) arrives. Since the barn work never stops, I think I can work with that. I feel an idea coming on …

Sure, I’m no fan of setting my alarm for 5 a.m., so that I can get up to do barn chores in the pitch dark, but maybe just a simple paradigm shift is in order. I’m going to (try to) stop looking at my chores as work. Instead, they are going to be part of my own newly devised Barn Chores Boot CampL Winter Edition. I’ve assembled a list of skills that I need to keep well-honed during the winter months so that I am ready to get back to business in the saddle when favorable conditions return. Here’s the training plan that I devised for myself:

1. Strength Training

Not all of us have automatic waterers at our barns. Or heated buckets. I have neither. So one of my daily chores is swapping out frozen buckets for fresh ones — filling water buckets and carrying them to hang in each stall. Optimal training conditions include carrying two buckets at once. The goal? Don’t let the water slosh out onto your legs and feet. The number of reps really depends on how many horses you have. Difficulty may be increased by filling the bucket more or by walking across difficult footing without falling. I also have opted to use six-gallon buckets as opposed to the normal five-gallon ones. After you are used to the six-gallon buckets, anything smaller feels like child’s play.

2. Speed

By the time I’m done the mucking, feeding and watering, I’m understandably feeling frozen. But the good news is I’m coming down the homestretch. So what’s left? Changing (or layering) blankets and wrapping legs. Well, since everything is going slightly numb at this point, time is of the essence. The faster I can throw on or pull off blankets and wrap, the sooner I’ll be able to get inside and have the feeling return to my fingers. Personally, I’ve started to time myself. You could even use your eventer watch if you want — betcha didn’t think you’d have an off-season use for it. The main idea though is to “go speed racer go” to get chores finished up — and when is a talent for speed ever a bad thing?

3. Agility

While outside in the cold, I’ve got layers upon layers on (of everything, and I mean everything), and I find that I have trouble moving with any sort of finesse. Moving bales of hay and bags of bedding can be a little difficult. It is especially awkward to try to climb up stacks of hay to toss down some bales when I feel like my range of movement is limited, what with all of the extra clothing. Never fear, here’s just another opportunity to improve! Climbing up and down hay stacks requires me to be nimble and light of foot; if I can master flitting up and down while I feel like a marshmallow, I can only imagine how my agility will improve!

4. Rhythm

Step, slosh, slip. Step, slosh, slip. Step — you get the picture. Trudging through all weather conditions? Feeling a little blue about it? Well, pip pip! I’ve turned my sloshing into practicing my rhythm. You can never be too on the beat, and here is your chance to practice (your dressage score down the road might thank you). If you need to count in your head when starting out, that’s totally fine! You can even increase your level of difficulty by trying to keep your rhythm while crossing surfaces of mud or ice. Though often necessary in the course of my barn work, it’s not a recommended activity.

5. Hand-Eye Coordination

When I can’t feel my hands and am trying to scoop frozen manure out of the stalls to fling into the muck cart, a certain finesse is needed. When I’m outside and bundled up for work in the cold (remember the layers upon layers we talked about?), I feel a little cumbersome. Not to mention the fact that when my hat slips down, I have a bit of trouble actually seeing. No matter … a true Barn Warrior will not hesitate and will fling that manure right over the cart into the cart each and every time.

6. Mental and Physical Prowess

Is it cold? You betcha. Are you going to complain or try to shirk your barn duties because of it? No way! Having the will power to keep chugging along even when the wind chill is well into the negatives and your eyeballs feel like they are going to freeze in their sockets is really helping to strengthen your mental resolve. Plus, actually being able to run to a heated tack room keep moving and get the barn work done when you feel like your fingers want to freeze and break off? Well, when you’ve accomplished this, you can officially (well … unofficially) call yourself a Barn Warrior.

Cheesy?  You bet you #@& butt it is! Does it actually work? Who knows. What I do know is this — you can make anything fun if you want to. Since I’ll be outside freezing my butt off while doing my barn chores every single day no matter what, it definitely helps to picture myself as working to stay sharp so that when I hop back up in the saddle for real, I don’t miss a beat! Whatever it takes to help get out of bed every morning and stay motivated to face the cold and dark, right? Hearing excited nickers helps too (though I wonder if my horses are happier to see me or the grain buckets I’m carrying). Am I the only one who has to try to entertain myself while doing barn chores in the winter? Did I miss listing any activities that should be included in my Barn Work Boot Camp regimen?

Go Barn Work Boot Camp.  Go Winter Warriors.  Go Eventing.

My 2014 Goal: Keeping It Simple

By on Jan 1, 2014 1:00 pm -

Life is Good...A Great Philosphy to Follow. Screenshot via www.lifeisgood.com

Since 2013 has officially now come to a close, and I’m sitting here one yet another New Year’s Day…it’s another time for reflection.  Reflection of what I feel that I’ve accomplished in the year that has just ended.  And what I plan to (try) to do or achieve moving forward.  The coming year always seems to hold a great deal of promise from this particular day!  I know that I usually find myself falling into the habit of making a list of goals for the year at this point.  In fact, I already jotted down a few things, before I stopped myself…that first list is now crumpled up and sitting in my recycle bin.  Those “goals” were way too specific, and I fear that I was setting myself up for some kind of disappointment if they didn’t happen when and how I was picturing them.

 

As an equestrian, I feel like I owe a responsibility to 1) improve my own riding, and 2) to keep each of my horses fit and happy.  Each of ‘my boys’ are in a very different place in their life and training.  Instead of setting far-reaching and specific goals for each of them, I want to be fair and realistic.  I am most certainly going to have a different plan for my senior-ish horse then I am going to have for my two younger geldings; but my over-arching goal for all of them is that they are happy, healthy and fit.  The how is what is going to differ.

 

Ripley, for example, has been in my life for over a decade.  He was my very first horse, and we’ve had years together to see just about everything…I don’t really think there is much left for him to learn.  Though he might still have some lessons left to teach me.  Anyway, Ripley has now reached his early 20s, but is still in great health and loves to go out for rides.  My goal is to keep him fit and happy, and only doing as much as he can handle; since I know him so well, this is certainly manageable.

 

As for my two youngsters, Mark and Rufus–at a high level, I obviously want both to progress in their training this year.  I really don’t want to get any more specific than that though; every horse has a unique personality and their brains all work a little differently.  Therefore they learn differently–by different methods and at different speeds.  It is very tempting, and would certainly be very easy to say “I want so-and-so to be to their first starter trial by a certain date” BUT I am going to stop myself from doing this.  One of the reasons that I decided to “grow my own” prospects was so that I could enjoy the journey.  I love watching both Mark and Roo grow up from foals, so why not take my time with their training and enjoy every step, rather then rush to get to showing?

 

Personally, I think that we can stop and learn a lot from our horses.  They usually always content and happy, and wait to face obstacles until they are set up in front of them.  They don’t anticipate or worry about what is coming in the future, but seem to relax and enjoy each moment as it goes by (unless, of course, you are taking a little too long to get to their stall with their grain bucket!).  They don’t sweat the small stuff (unless it’s a plastic bag floating around).  This year, I’m going to try to take a lead from my horses, and keep things simple.  My goal?  Keep things simple.  Enjoy each day.  Work as hard as I can (and play as hard as I can!).  Enjoy each step forward and celebrate the victory.  And most importantly, HAVE FUN!

 

Go Keeping It Simple.  Go Working & Playing Hard.  Go Eventing.

The Night Before Christmas: A Girl and Her Pony Edition

By on Dec 25, 2013 9:00 am -
Me and my youngest Me and my youngest "pony" Rufus. OK, NOT a pony, BUT it's the thought that counts.

Hi EN Readers! This year, I was inspired to write my own Christmas poem — a sort of spin on ‘The Night Before Christmas” with the two main subjects of the poem as a little girl and a pony. Hopefully you all enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it. I even got a little teary eyed when I read it out loud after I finished it, so you’ve been warned. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone; no matter how you celebrate your holidays, I hope that they are truly fantastic. I know that I’ll be spending a little extra time giving each of my horses a hug and extra treat (or extra treats … as in plural!).

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the stable,
the hay in the loft was stacked from floor to gable,
the aisle way was swept and AM grain measured,
as prompt feeding in the morning for the four-leggeds is treasured.

The horses all dozed peacefully in their stalls,
while in their dreams they ran with new Jolly Balls,
Even the barn cats had curled up to sleep,
And the barn mice scurried to find crumb without even a peep.

When out in the drive there arose such a roar,
that several drowsy heads popped over their stall doors,
The diesel pickup truck slowed down and came to a stop,
When what should happen, but the door opened with a pop.

A small girl hopped down onto the ground
And her boots started moving–clearly barn bound
All bundled up in a scarf, coat and mittens,
She paused to leave some toy mice for the big barn kittens.

The heads started bobbing, and eyes shone bright,
because the girl’s special visit was such a delight,
stopping at each door with a carrot in hand,
the girl gave each horse one treat as planned.

When all of the sudden came a soft nicker,
and the girl gasped and hurried all the quicker,
She moved towards the stall at the end of the row
Where a small pair of ears were pricked & eyes were aglow.

The girl’s face broke into a smile
and her best friend, her pony snuffed her face all the while,
She dug out a special apple from her coat
and another nicker broke out from the pony’s throat.

He took the special treat, crunching and munching
While the girl looked on with a shiver, fingers in her mittens bunching
She pulled off the mittens, sticking one hand inside her pony’s rug,
And wrapped her other arm round his neck to give him a hug.

The pony stopped crunching and bowed his head,
to hug the girl back, to make up for words that couldn’t be said,
For he was her pony, and she was his girl,
and they had a bond like none other in the world.

The girl and the pony together were froze,
until the girl gave her pony a kiss on the nose,
To the girl, her pony was the most wondrous sight,
and she whispered to him, Merry Christmas to you and have a good night!

Hamilton BioVet: Poultice Boots With A Secure Fit

By on Dec 23, 2013 1:30 pm -
Not-So-Classic Re-visit: Ripley models the STAYONS Poultice Boot over a STAYONS Instant Hoof Poultice Wrap Not-So-Classic Re-visit: Ripley models the STAYONS Poultice Boot over a STAYONS Instant Hoof Poultice Wrap

Today, I’m bringing you the fourth and final part of the Hamilton BioVet STAYONS series; if you haven’t done so yet, make sure that you check out part one, part two and part three of the series because you have definitely missed hearing about some phenomenal first-aid products. While the STAYONS Instant Hoof Wraps are just fantastic, using them in combination with a STAYONS Poultice Boot helps to secure and protect the wraps.

It is always a bit of a process to get a hoof properly wrapped up. By the time you get a poultice or wrap applied, the next step is fitting a boot over it. I’ve used a couple of different types of boots in the past, the most recent of which was made out of nylon and had a leather bottom. Now, that boot in particular worked well for me in situations when I was dealing with an abscess and needed to turnout as much as possible. But the major downside? The nylon boots are size specific, so depending on which of my horses needed a hoof wrap, I needed to use a different size.

STAYONS Poultice Boots help to protect and hold STAYONS Instant Hoof Wraps securely in place. The STAYONS Poultice Boot is specifically made for use with the STAYONS Instant Hoof Wraps, and they are also reusable. They are recommended for use as an in-stall hoof poultice cover; they can also be used during hand walks or during turnout in a small area (as appropriate). The boot is designed to fit most hoofs. In my case, the Poultice Boot is able to fit both my 16-hand Quarter Horse Ripley and my 17.3-hand Dutch Warmblood/Thoroughbred Mark.  As I’ve mentioned in the past, it is difficult trying to keep supplies on hand that work for all of my horses, since they are so different in size. That means two sets of certain items, so anything that is specifically designed as a one-size-fits-all item to allow use on different horses is always a huge plus in my book.

When I apply a STAYONS Poultice Boot, it certainly goes onto the already poulticed hoof very easily. Like the Poultice Hoof Wrap, the Poultice Boot is also very easy to use; you simply pull the boot on over the hoof that is already wrapped and use the adjustable Velcro straps to secure the boot.  Afterwards, just use either some vet wrap to secure the top of the STAYONS Instant Hoof Wraps that is sticking out from the boot; or in my case, I very carefully used a wrap.  And that’s it … it’s that simple!

So let’s recap why the STAYONS Poultice Boot should be a must-use with your STAYONS Instant Hoof Wraps:

• They are reusable. Just make sure that you re-check the hoof every 12 to 24 hours, and then reapply!

• STAYONS Poultice Boots are designed so that they fit most sized feet. I’m able to use them on my normal sized horse and my horse with extra large feet.

• The wraps are designed to work with or without caulk or shoes.

• Use of the Poultice Boot is quick and easy since it features adjustable Velcro straps that help to get a secure fit.

 And one more reminder… don’t forget — you can visit Hamilton BioVet’s website and shop using the code ENFREE, which is a special code that gives EN fans FREE SHIPPING until the end of December. Who doesn’t love free shipping. Anyone? Anyone at all?

Go Hamilton BioVet. Go New and Improved First Aid Kits. Go Eventing.

Hamilton BioVet: One-Size-Fits-All Knee Wrap Support

By on Dec 16, 2013 2:12 pm -

I hope that you’ve been enjoying the series on the super awesome and convenient line up of products, brought to you by our EN sponsor Hamilton BioVet. The company’s line of STAYONS Instant Poultices is revolutionizing the way sport horse barns stock their first aid kits and treat their horses after strenuous rides. EN truly believe in these products, and we want you to know how awesome they are! And because Hamilton BioVet is awesome, you can get free shipping on all products through the end of the month with the coupon code ENFREE. And don’t forget to enter the Wrap Your Horse’s Legs Contest Presented by Hamilton BioVet for your chance to win one of THREE prize packs! Contest entries are due tomorrow!

Ripley models the STAYONS Instant Knee Wrap Support over a STAYONS Instant Leg Poultice Wrap.

Today, I’m bringing you part three of the Hamilton BioVet series; if you haven’t done so yet, make sure that you check out part one and part two of the series, because you have definitely missed hearing about some phenomenal first-aid products! While the STAYONS Instant Poultice Wraps are absolutely terrific to use, their application goes that much easier when they are paired with the STAYONS Knee Wrap Support.

Wrapping can invariably end up being a pain — especially when standing wraps are involved! In my experience, when I am trying to put a quilt wrap in place, I always feel like I could use an extra set of hands to hold every thing in place. I wrap a quilt wrap. I reach for a standing bandage. I try to start wrapping the bandage. And, somehow, I allow the quilt wrap to loosen and slip, and then I have to start all over again. Now, when you bring a poultice into the mix, the application could potentially get more difficult. That’s when it’s really great to be able to pull out a STAYONS Knee Wrap Support!

STAYONS Support Wraps are available in Knee Wraps and as Hock Wraps. In my case, I had the opportunity to try out the STAYONS Knee Wrap Support. The STAYONS Knee Wrap Support is specifically made for use with the STAYONS Instant Poultice Wraps, and they are also washable and reuseable! They come in a one-size-fits-all design, which allows you to adjust it to fit your horse. In my case, the Knee Wrap is able to fit both my 16-hand Quarter Horse Ripley and my 17.3-hand Dutch WB/TB Mark.  Sometimes for me, it is difficult trying to keep supplies on hand that work for all of my horses, since they are so different in size. That means two sets of certain items; so anything that is specifically designed as a one-size-fits-all item to allow use on different horses is always a huge plus in my book.

When I apply STAYONS Instant Poultice Wraps, it helps make the process so much easier to pair it with a STAYONS Knee Wrap Support!  Like the Poultice Leg Wrap, the Knee Wrap Support is also very easy to use; you simply apply the support over the knee, and keep the nice, wide Velcro closure straps snug across the front of the leg only (this is very important!). The Knee Wrap is specifically designed to allow tension only across the front of the knee. After the top of the Knee Wrap has been secured, it is easy to use the bottom to help secure the lower part of the poultice wrap. Once this is complete, you can finish off with a standing wrap.

STAYON Knee Wrap and AWESOME instruction sheet

So let’s recap why the STAYONS Knee Wrap Support should be a must-use with your STAYONS Instant Poultice Wraps:

  • They are washable and reusable. Washable is always an important feature when you are dealing with horses!
  • STAYONS Knee Wraps are made to be one-size-fits-all, so you can use them on a normal sized horse or your (really) big guys or gals.
  • The wraps are designed to allow tension only across the front of the knee.
  • Use of the Knee Wrap to secure the Instant Poultice Leg Wraps only makes the application go that much faster.
  • They’re RED! OK, so maybe there is no actual medical benefit of the Knee Wraps being red, BUT it is one of my favorite colors!

 And one more reminder… don’t forget — you can visit Hamilton BioVet’s website and shop using the code ENFREE, which is a special code that give EN fans FREE SHIPPING until the end of December. Who doesn’t love free shipping. Anyone? Anyone at all? And if you haven’t, definitely check out the Wrap Your Horse’s Legs Contest for a chance win one of three gift packs from Hamilton BioVet!

Go Hamilton BioVet. Go New and Improved First Aid Kits. Go Eventing.

GoVelope: The Weatherproof Phone Case that Doesn’t Budge

By on Dec 16, 2013 1:09 pm -

Sporting my GoVelope while in the saddle...attached to the belt loops on my breeches, it just doesn't budge!

Two things that have never mixed very well have been the barn and my cell phone. Since I finally took the plunge a couple of years ago to upgrade to a smartphone, I’ve been trying my darndest to keep it safe and functional. Well, relatively. One of my pet peeves is the fact that no matter how hard I try, I’ve gone through case after case. And, let me tell you … .those things start to add up after a while. I really don’t even want to begin to try to go back and add up what they have all collectively set me back since I’ve had this phone, as I’m sure it’s cringe-worthy. I don’t think it would be a stretch to say I’m starting to approach what the phone itself cost! And the worst part? While I’ve been happy with my phone itself, I’ve generally been unhappy with the performance of said cases that I’ve used.

The exception to my problematic phone case rule has been my super clunky but quite functional Otterbox. Since my phone is basically “going to war” when I take it down to the barn, I finally upgraded to the biggest and toughest Otterbox that I could find. And it only came in black (groan). I do find that over time, the built-in screen protector of the case has gotten pretty badly scratched up. Plus, I occasionally have to take the two-layer case off because somehow hay gets down inside of it. I think we all know how hay can be so pesky when it gets down into all of the seemingly impossible places that it does!

The other big issue that I’ve faced, is that even with the Otterbox, I never have anywhere to really keep my phone. It seems to eternally slip out of my pocket. When I’m mucking stalls. And lands in horse poo. (Ick!) I also do have a second case to keep it in while riding; it is pretty and purple! However, I can barely jam my phone into it while it is contained in its Otterbox. And with the way that it clips, I can only attach it to breeches that have belt loops (and even then it bounces all around while I ride).

Through all of these challenging conditions with my phone, I’ve always thought there has to be something better out there! Turns out … there actually is! I just had the opportunity to try out a relatively new, patent-pending phone case called the GoVelope. What if I told you that the GoVelope is a phone case that was developed by an eventer, and it is specifically for riders? Pretty cool, huh?

I had the opportunity to chat with Dr. Joanna Newton, who is the eventer and inventor behind the GoVelope(catchy, huh?). Joanna, like many of us, has a hectic schedule; she related to me that by the time she would get finished up at work and make it to the barn to ride, it would be dark out and no one would be around. While she rode Reeces, the young filly in her life, Joanna experienced difficulties finding a phone case that would work for her in the saddle. After trying cases that attach to the arm or ones that attach to the leg, only to find that they did not perform well for her, Joanna often wound up riding while leaving her phone on the arena fence.  Since there wasn’t an adequate case available in the market to fit her needs, Joanna ended up designing her very own case, and so the GoVelope was born!

While we were chatting, Joanna related the three main reasons that she really was motivated to design a case to meet her needs (as well as the needs of other riders):

1. Safety: Since Joanna often rode Reeces solo, safety was something that was first and foremost on her mind. Having a phone case to wear on her person that would stay in place without budging was really important. After all, we all fall off now and again, and if that is the case, it is important to be able to reach someone if you need help!

2. Awesome apps available: We live in the age of apps. There is pretty much an app for almost anything that you can think of at this point, and many are available to use while you are in the saddle! By having your phone handy and easily accessible, you can realize the full benefits of your apps.

3. Convenient for “rounding up the troops” at events: Ever been at an event with a large group and try to keep track of everyone … where they are now and where they are supposed to be? Part of the group is at the dressage arenas, others are at stabling and some of them are walking cross country. What a pain it is to try to reach someone to tell them to get their butt over to walk cross country when they don’t have their phone with them (because they have no pockets). By outfitting the team with a phone case that works, it can help ensure they are all reachable.

In a rush to move hay before a snow storm? No problem, the GoVelope stays in place using the belt extension! Plus...a Mark photobomb.

In a rush to move hay before a snow storm? No problem! the GoVelope stays in place using the belt extension. Plus … a Mark photobomb.

Another huge plus for me, is that the GoVelope is made in the USA. In speaking with Joanna, she mentioned that it was very important to her to have the cases manufactured in the USA, even if they cost just a bit more.

At first glance, GoVelope may not impress or dazzle you with fancy looks. It’s design is quite simple in appearance, yet I’ve found that is oh-so-functional when I need it to be. The case is available for purchase in several standard colors, including black, pewter, navy and purple. Custom cases are also available and can be made in your team colors or in another custom color or pattern. Depending on your request, a minimum order of 10 or more custom cases may be required, or smaller quantities may be available with a surcharge.

GoVelope is made out of waterproof neoprene and boasts features like a watertight zipper and a non-slip backing.  The case itself is not waterproof and is not guaranteed to help your phone survive being doused in water; however, it is water resistant and weatherproof, so you should find it to keep your phone safe while you are hosing down your horse after a workout or even if you are working in the rain. And it would hopefully protect your phone if you got dumped off in a water complex and hopped right up (so just don’t try to hang out in the water if you fall in on a warm day!).

So let’s get down to the nitty-gritty. Now did the GoVelope perform for me? I’ve been wearing it all around the farm here, for anything from getting my normal barn work done, to moving hay down, to riding. Whenever I get ready to head outside to the barn, I always grab my keys and my phone. Since I’ve been wearing my GoVelope, I never have to worry about where my phone is … or where it might fall. I’ve worn it both by attaching it directly to the belt loops of my breeches or jeans and by using the belt extension attachment (for when I had on breeches with no belt loops).

And I have to say, the GoVelope did not move while I was wearing it. Period. Not when I was mucking. Not while I was climbing up in the barn to throw down hay. Not while I was hopping up and down from my pickup truck’s bed. Not while I was mounting up to ride. Or while I was riding. I was expecting decent results when I directly attached the case to my belt loops, but I was skeptical of how it would perform when I used the belt extension attachment. I was a little surprised because I expected some slight shifting around, but it didn’t noticeably shift much while I wore it in that manner. I honestly did forget that I was wearing my phone a few times. That’s equestrian smart functionality for you, though — a case that protects your phone from the elements and follows along so well that you forget it’s there.

Use the code 12Days on the GoVelope website to receive a code for $5 off your next Dapplebay order through Dec. 20. How great is that? Happy Shopping!

Go Safe Riding. Go Phones that don’t slide, shift or bounce. Go Eventing.