Classic Eventing Nation

Say hello to Mount St. John Freestyle, Charlotte Dujardin’s newest promising ride who has been dubbed “Mrs. Valegro” by adoring fans. Emma Blundell’s striking 9-year-old Hannoverian (Fidermark x Donnerhall) grabbed headlines last week as Charlottee did a masterclass demonstration at Olympia.

“Mount St. John Freestyle, she’s a horse I’ve been riding for four years now.  I had her when she was 5-years-old, she’s now eight. She’s just come on beyond belief,” Charlotte said. “She’s got a heart of gold. I have to say, she gives me glimpses of Valegro in the arena.”

“She’s incredibly brave when she goes in. I have never put her in an atmosphere or an environment like that before, so I wasn’t really sure how she was going to be, but I have to say she felt absolutely incredible. There were moments of riding where you feel emotional because she has the talent that she just gives and gives and gives.”

Watch out world — there’s another dressage superstar in the making.

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Ladies and gents, Christmas is closing in, and with our proximity to the arrival of Old St. Nick, EN’s 12 Days of Christmas is going to get increasingly more jolly. Wait until you see what’s coming for you today!

We can always count on Horseware to get us into the holiday spirit. This is the company whose signature weatherproof, rip-proof, downright dark magic-infused blanket is green and red, after all! Did you catch their new Christmas commercial? Featuring top riders, ponies with impressive tree decorating skills, one very adorable little kid, and some magical snowglobe action, it’s a holiday must-watch.

In addition to the fabulous advent calendar giveaway they’re running on their own Facebook Page, they’re spreading the love to Eventing Nation, too. Today — and today only — you can enter to win a seriously amazing prize: A deluxe outerwear set for human, horse, and hound!

This prize pack will include a select Horseware winter jacket, turnout blanket, and dog blanket to keep everyone you love warm and toasty through the rest of this winter and many winters to come (except for your cat, who will just have to stay curled up in your duvet for 21 hours a day like always).

Enter below for your chance to win a genuinely epic trio of Horseware Goodies! The contest closes at midnight tonight:

Photo by Mike Mozart/Flickr/CC.

Why spend more than you need to? Here are 20 dollar store finds for around the barn:

1. Shallow tubs: Use these shallow tubs to soak their feet. Fewer spills and easier to maneuver than a large bucket.
2. Diapers: These things are expensive! And if you’re like me and have your horse on pasture board, they don’t last very long. You can buy a variety of sizes and amounts at the dollar store to keep your foot wrapping costs down.
3. Duct Tape: To fix, wrap, rig, and use on just about anything you can imagine. You can never have too much duct tape!
4. Scissors: useful for cutting the duct tape and bandages, but also great for other barn chores.
5. Petroleum Jelly: For those of us that have horses with bell boots. Every once in awhile, my horse gets rubs from his, so I apply this generously to his ankles and it soothes the irritation.
6. Thermometer: A must-have for a horse person. Know your horse’s normal temperature so that when he is sick you’ll know for sure if there is a difference or not.
7. Mouth Wash: Do you have a horse that rubs his tail constantly? Try applying a bit of antibacterial mouth wash! It can fight that pesky itch your horse is experiencing.
8. Baby oil: This is a two in one, because it can help with dandruff as well as sheath cleaning. For horses with dandruff, mix mouth wash and baby oil in a spray bottle (50/50) and apply in the problem areas. As for sheath cleaning … well I won’t go into detail on how to do it, but baby oil can be used as your cleaner!
9. Washcloths: A great item for bath time, clean ups, and many other barn happenings.
10. Moisture Eliminating Box: Put this in your tack trunks, tack lockers, tack rooms, etc. This will help minimize mold on your expensive gear!
11. Lint Roller: You can use this on your own clothes as well as your saddle pads (specifically show pads). It’s a good way to stay on top of clean show gear.
12. Laundry Detergent/PreWash: I have a lot of white saddle pads (apparently I enjoy laundry?) so using the prewash helps a lot, and buying detergent and spray for just a dollar keeps my costs down from the million horse loads I have to wash!
13. Multi Tool: A great and handy item to have on you, specifically for hay string cutting!
14. Socks: Long socks and especially zocks made for riding are expensive and wear quickly. Buy some long socks here for everyday riding and maybe treat yourself to a nicer pair for shows. (Extra sock tip: every year I got to black Friday and buy long Christmas socks. They usually only run me about 25 cents apiece and I get to have Christmas cheer all year long!)
15. Shallow Baskets: Use this for your polo wraps, jump boots, bell boots, etc. I use one of these baskets because it fits perfectly in my tack trunk!
16. Fake Flowers: What a great and cheap way to decorate your jumps! These would normally cost you much more than a dollar anywhere else.
17. Mini Tupperware: Perfect for your supplement organization. These colorful ones are four to a pack but you can also get 10 white top ones in a pack. Up to you if you’d like to go crazy and spend more than just a dollar!
18. Mints: We know what these are for. And our horses do, too!
19. Spray Bottles: Useful for fly spray, show sheen, water, the aforementioned dandruff killer, etc.
20. Measuring tape: You’ll think you don’t need one, and then soon you’ll kick yourself in the butt for not having it!

Total spent: $20!

For more barn bargaining tips as well as an online horse show for only $19, head to BetterDressageScores.com!