Horse Riding Advice

Lightweight Easycare Trail Hoof Boot Beats the Competition!

2011-06-03T11:19:00.000+01:00

Did you know.... The new Easycare Trail hoof boot is on average around 20% lighter than a similar size in a Cavallo Simple boot? The lighter weight the hoof boot is, the easier it is for your horse. People don't think about the weight of a metal shoe and how it influences the horses movement, and boots are no different! You shoudl condition your horse to regular boot use before using them to do extremely long rides, the same as you should build a horse up in work with meal shoes. All of the Easycare range of hoof boot are designed with these little important details in mind and will help to ensure you have a brilliant booting experience!

Farrier trimming your barefoot horse? We have the perfect barefoot boot for you!

2011-05-25T10:42:00.000+01:00

The new Easyboot Trail hoof boots have recently been launched across the world, with many sizes selling out and a massive demand! Thanks to our UK barefoot enthusiasts for supporting this great new product.

According to the manufacturers, EasyCare – “The Trail is a change of direction for EasyCare and a renewed focus on trail and pleasure riders. Many of our past hoof boot designs have been targeted to the competitive long distance sports of endurance and competitive trail. Although we will continue in that market segment, you will notice more attention given to non-competitive trail riders who are looking for an easy-to-apply boot at a competitive price point. “
What change would you like EasyCare to focus on in the future? Let us know and we will pass on your comments.

Winter Footwear at Bargain Prices!

2010-10-28T10:59:00.000+01:00

It has been a very wet and cold start to the winter here in Devon, and we have all been very glad of some good warm boots! The Saddlery Shop stocks a wide range of footwear for riding and yard work, and some that don't look out of place on the high street too! The Dublin River boots are a very popular style of boot, that have a waterproof membrane to keep you dry and warm whatever the weather throws at you! For even colder times, the Harry Hall Snow boot is perfect for snuggling you feet into, again it has a waterproof liner. When only wellingtons with dom the Sherwood Forest neoprene lined wellies are a must if you are standing around for a long time on a cold yard.

Christmas cards and Equestrian Christmas gifts

2010-09-29T11:39:00.000+01:00

As much as we all hate to think about it, it is fast approaching that time of year again, and here at The Saddlery Shop we have stocked up with all manor of horsey gifts, Christmas cards with horses on and even equine gift wrap! There are all sorts of horsey gifts ideal as stocking fillers, from horse playing cards and keyrings to horsey hot water bottles and mousemats. We also have a great range of pink horse and pony gifts for pony mad girls, as well as more crafty items such as paint your own money boxes and horse mosaic art sets.

Less Than 1/2 Price Jodhpur Boots at The Saddlery Shop!

2010-08-16T11:24:00.001+01:00

Grab a pair of these Harry Hall Oak jodhpurs boots, they won;t be around for long! These Harry Hall riding boots are a bargain, top quality Harry Hall ladies jodhpur boots discounted to less than half RRP. The Harry Hall Oak riding boot is a waxy grain leather jodhpur boot with integral heel support. These Harry Hall ladies riding boots also feature a stirrup rest, elasticated side and Goodyear welted sole.

Zedonk Born at Wildlife Preserve!

2010-07-30T11:21:00.000+01:00

A zedonk, an unusual cross between a donkey and a zebra, is attracting attention at the Chestatee Wildlife Preserve in Dahlonega after being born there about a week ago. The animal, which has a zebra father and donkey mother, has black stripes prominently displayed on her legs and face.C.W. Wathen, the preserve's founder and general manager, said the foal has a zebra's instincts. Wathen said she sits up instead of lying on her side, as if she's staying alert for predators. Donkeys and zebras don't usually mate, but zedonks turn up occasionally. Wathen said that in about two weeks, the zedonk will begin roaming the property with the rest of the animals. What a cute little girl she is!

HUGE Riding Clothing SALE Now On!

2010-07-28T09:59:00.000+01:00

The Saddlery Shop has just started their massive summer riding clothing sale! Sale jodhpurs, discounted Tottie clothing and cheap Harry Hall are just some of the bargains to be had! Check out our Ladies clearance clothing and Childrens clearance riding clothing sections for some brilliant deals on horsey gear today before the bargains are all snapped up!

WIN a pair of Easyboot Glove Hoof Boots!

2010-07-20T11:03:00.000+01:00

The UK supplier of the Easycare range of hoof boots, Trelawne Equine Ltd are holding a competition to give away a pair of Easyboot Glove hoof boots complete with a pair of 6mm comfort pads. To be in with a chance of winning, all you need to do is become a fan of Trelawne Equine's Facebook page and 'like' the special competition entry statuses that will appear between now and the end of August. The winner will be draw on 27th August, good luck! For full terms and conditions, click here

Horse and Pony Games and Gifts

2010-07-13T10:05:00.000+01:00

Here at The Saddlery Shop, we have just taken delivery of some fantastic gifts and games for horse loving men, women and children! We have miniature horse racing games, soft and cuddly horse toys and a great new board game for horse or pony mad children called ponyopoly. Pony-opoly is a very simple version of the Christmas 2009 hit Horse-opoly, suitable for approximate ages 5-8. This simple but very addictive game is great for parents and grandparents to play with their children and features lots of familiar breeds and the currency used is treats! Also for children, we have a fantastic horse shaped bag and light up horse pens for all ages.

Katie Price at The Saddlery Shop!

2010-06-24T11:44:00.000+01:00

We have just taken our first delivery of some of the Katie Price equestrian range. We are excited to be able to offer this range, as it really is something different from other equestrian clothing. If you have a horse mad child, you need to see the 'I love horses' T shirt, they also make them for women and all her range is highly fashionable as well as being extremely good quality! The KP equestrian clothing is very good value for money, as you can use it at the yard or high street and it will look equally top notch. If you like pink and maybe a little horsey bling the Katie Price Equestrian range is for you!

You Can Now use PayPal at The Saddlery Shop!

2010-06-21T09:50:00.000+01:00

The Saddlery Shop is pleased to announce that customers are now able to pay for their orders at our online tack shop by PayPal. This now gives the flexibilty to use mastercard, visa, solo, electron, maestro, as well as Pay Pal. We take security very seriously, and are also subscribed to the Internet Shopping is Safe and Internet Delivery is Safe Groups as well as being part of the Security Metrics Indentity Theft protection scheme. We use sagepay as our payment gateway which is the UK's largest provider.

Dry, Cracked Hooves? You Need an Easysoaker!

2010-06-18T13:38:00.001+01:00

This is a good post taken from Trelawne Equines blog today, if your horse suffers from cracked hooves, especially around nail holes this is for you!
It has been a few years since I have been able to write about potential problems with dry hooves in the UK, but we are last seemingly going to have a summer which although long overdue presents new challenges for horse owners! One such problem is dry hooves. Hooves need a certain amount of moisture to retain their elasticity, and it can be even more of a problem with a shod hoof that will begin to split and crack if allowed to dry out. An ideal solution is to have an area around the water container (to simulate drinking from a river in the wild) large and wet enough to soak the horses feet when they drink. In practice, this is not always possible or convenient, and water will bring with it the inevitable mud (unless you are lucky enough to have a custom built watering area with a waterproof base) which we would all prefer to avoid whenever possible!
The EasySoaker is the ideal solution to soak and medicate if necessary the horses hooves, and is a very versatile boot that can be used for a number of applications as well as soaking. Soaking your horses hooves in an Easysoaker can help with sand cracks, seedy toe, white line disease, thrush, contracted heels and abscesses as well as helping to alleviate the symptoms associated with navicular, contracted heels, corns and founder.

Vettec Products for Easyboot Glue On Hoof Boots

2010-06-16T20:38:00.001+01:00

The Saddlery Shop has added the vettec products recommended for use with the Easyboot Glue On to our range! We will be stocking the Vettec adhere, which is the adhesive compound use to secure the boots to the hoof wall, the Equi-pak CS and the tools needed to use the products. We chose to stock only the Equi-Pak CS as our UK climate is so very wet (apart from as I write this post!) and thrush of some sort is almost inevitable. Equi-pak CS is also a fantastic tool for shod horses with bad thrush, or those prone to thrush. We felt it was best practice to always use a product that will inhibit (and even help to address the problem of) thrush so that when the boots were removed after the recommended 5 - 10 days there would always be a nice healthy looking frog to reveal! We are also offering a complete Vettec starter kit with everything you need to apply the Glue-on hoof boots including a handbook and instructional DVD.

An inspirational woman and a very worthy cause!

2010-06-10T11:00:00.000+01:00

Susi Sadler is an amazingly strong woman, and her story is truly inspirational! Susi is going to take part in the Mongol Derby, a butt-searing 620 mile ride across the steppe on semi-wild Mongolian ponies! She will have just 5kg of kit, no back up crew and will be miles from civilisation, and is doing it in order to help a very worthy organisation, operation smile . By completing this ride along with only 34 other riders, Susi is hoping to raise enough money to give 33 children back their smile.
The drive behind this ride, is due to Susi herself suffering a horrific facial injury. Trelawne Equine (the UK distributer of the Easycare range of hoofboots who The Saddlery Shop work closely with) are donating a set of gloves for Susi's barefoot horse, Rudi to enable her to be able to put the miles and miles of training in she needs to prepare for this week long marathon.
Susi writes about her horrific accident on her website dedicated to this challenge and her cause www.600miles.org (you can also sponsor her directly via her site if you wish to).

H2go Bag - The Wheelbarrow Water Carrier!

2010-06-09T09:30:00.000+01:00

The H2go bag is one of those products that you look at and think 'why didn't I think of that?'. Such a simple but effective way of transporting water where you want it, no more buckets slopping water everywhere in wheelbarrows, or stretched arms and damp legs! The H2go bag has won numerous awards including:
Winner of Innovation of the Year at BETA International 2010
Gold Winner for Industry Awards Gardening Equipment Product 2009
Winner of Garden Answers Magazine Best Innovation Award 2008
The H2go bag is a bag made to fit neatly inside your wheel barrow to make transportation of up to 80l of water quick and easy. The H2go bag has been designed with a fitted spout making it easy to pour, and a cap which is permanently attached. The H2go bag comes complete with a non slip mat to place in the wheel barrow.

New Breed of Fly Mask- Updated!

2010-06-08T13:34:00.001+01:00

The About tack fly visor was introduced to our range just a couple of weeks ago, and has lept to being one of the most popular fly products we sell in such a short time! The About Tack Fly Visor is a product we discovered by accident, and just had to stock! It is a revolutionary fly mask for horses and ponies, that ensures the horse keeps cool and comfortable with no danger of the mask interfering with the horses eyes. Every detail has been carefully thought through, the colour has been chosen to ensure the horses head stays cool, but the black mesh allows maximum vision. The Fly Visor was designed in the US by a qualified engineer (who also happens to be an avid horse lover), and has been tested and refined over several years to get to where it is today. The fly visors innovative design ensures that even hard-to-fit horses get plenty of eye clearance. Soft stretch mesh encompasses the nose and underside of the jaw, ensuring a snug fit, whilst providing a little extra protection against biting insects. The medium will fit most horses from 14.2hh through 16.2hh, if your horse takes a cob or full size bridle medium is the size for him. They may look a little different, but this is the secret of their success as they will not touch the horses eyes or eyelashes, even if the horse has an unusual shaped head. This is an email we received today from a satisfied customer in Rutland:

"Just thought I would write a bit about the About Fly Tack Visor. I put it on my horse and thought it was brilliant - it didn't touch his eyes or his eye lashes and he didn't mind the 'contraption' at all. We all thought he looked like a bee keeper in it! When I turned him out in his field (he lives with 1 mare and 1 gelding) the gelding took to his hooves and wouldn't go near my horse. I haven't laughed so much for a long time. The mare didn't react at all, but the other gelding stayed a very save distance away from this being from Mars, who had just entered the field. So far the Fly Visor is ok (he has only had it on for 1/2 day so far) and I always take them off at night, so that they can see better. I bought a medium size and my horse nearly always take large and it fits just fine. It took my a while to work out how to put it together, but then I am blonde!"

Torn Gaiters on Easyboots

2010-06-04T10:14:00.001+01:00

When using any kind of hoof boots, the most common thing The Saddlery Shop tell customers is that fit is paramount to the success of the boot. If the customer finds the gaiter on their Easyboot Epic, Bare, Grip, Edge or Easyboot Glove Hoof Boot rips or comes apart after use in the first month, this is almost certainly due to the boot not fitting the hoof correctly. If the boot is too long or wide, the hoof will move up and down in the boot which puts pressure on the gaiter causing it to fail. A hoof boot that is too long for the hoof will also slow the horses natural breakover which can lead to overreaching and damaging the boot with a hind foot. The boot below was not a snug fit, which caused the hoof to move up and down in the boot putting pressure on the gaiter which caused it to tear.

Easy ways to achieve a better fit with your Easyboots
If your Epic, Bare or Edge is a little too big in either the width or length a quick solution is to put a pair of of 12mm comfort pads in the bottom of the boots to help size it up. Another easy fix if your boot is a little too big in the length if it is a Bare or Epic is to change out the backstrap to a size smaller. With the Easyboot gloves, the addition of a power strap will often help keep a boot firm that is a fraction loose.

Laminitic Ponies and Grazing Muzzles

2010-05-26T10:53:00.000+01:00

When you have a horse or pony diagnosed or predisposed with Laminitis, one of the first things the vet will tell you to do is restrict the intake of grass. Most grazing muzzles will allow your horse to drink but not graze at all. One of the best designed muzzles, that will allow your horse or pony to have some grass, is the Greenguard grazing muzzle . Unlike other grass muzzles, the green guard grazing muzzle will still allow small pieces of grass through its slotted base thus allowing you to keep the horse or pony in a large field or with companions. Exercise is paramount to laminitis too, so being able to keep the laminitic pony in a large field still is extremely beneficial both physically and mentally. A matching greenguard headcollar is also available to keep the grazing muzzle in the optimum position. The greenguard grass muzzle is made in two sizes, pony to fit most horses upto 13.2hh and cob/full for ponies and horses over 13.2hh.

Wintec Saddles from only £189!

2010-05-21T11:03:00.001+01:00

The new style Wintec 250 is on a limited special offer of only £189.99! The NEW Wintec 250 all purpose saddle is an ideal GP saddle for those wanting Wintec quality and performance, at a lower price. The Wintec 250 combines the look of a traditional leather saddle with the durability of a synthetic saddle by using the latest synthetic leather look materials and synthetic equisuedes. Wintec 250 general purpose saddles are hard wearing, lightweight and easy to keep clean, the ideal saddle for everyday use in all weathers as they don't require the cleaning involved in a traditional leather saddle.

New range, unbeatable prices!

2010-03-30T10:37:00.000+01:00

We have just taken delivery of a fantastic new range of jods and accessories by Sherwood Forest. This range is such amazingly good quality but at a really brilliant price! They are a little different from the usual black beige and navy's, giving a very practical and comfortable ladies jodhpur that not only look good but won't break the bank! Ladies jodhpurs start at just £17.99, these fun polka dot jods are only £28.99!

All the jodhpurs in the range are soft, strechy and comfortable to wear, but also very durable making them outstanding value for money. There are some fabulous childrens jodhpurs too, some with embroidery and others with fun printed seats.

Comfort pads a must in Hoof Boots?

2010-03-19T12:58:00.001Z

The following a very interesting post from Trelawne Equine's blog (Trelawne Equine are the UK distributor of the Easycare range of hoof boots)

A barefoot horses hoof differs in many ways from a shod horses foot, but one noticeable and very important feature is the way the hoof loads when it hits the ground. A naturally bare hoof will support the weight and shock accross the whole foot, unlike a shod horse that loads peripherally (on the wall of the hoof alone). The hoof wall was never designed to take the whole load, and unless the shod horse is working in a fairly deep surface it will miss out on this important additional support. Other than on a totally flat surface such as a road (which it is advisable to only walk or gentle trotting uphill due to the shock involved, although this is obviously substantially less bare hooved than shod!).

When using a hoof boot, you are creating a flat surface for the hoof to walk on, no matter what the terrain. In order to counteract the potential for peripheral loading, it is advisable to always use a pad, and replace them when they become too flat to support the sole. A 6mm medium or soft comfort pad is ideal for horses that have no preexisting problems, and can be used in any of the boots including the Easyboot Glove.

If the horse is sore or has limb problems including minor things such as windgalls or sore shins as 12mm pad would be beneficial. All riding hoof boots other than the glove will take a 12mm pad without the need to alter the sizing.

Taka Rugs only £99, hurry!

2010-03-02T17:30:00.000Z

A quick 'heads up' that we are selling off our Weatherbeeta Taka rugs complete with a FREE fleece at over 45% off, only £99.99! We are anticipating our stock will only last this week, so don't miss out, grab a top end rug for an unbeatable price before we sell out- once they are gone they are gone! The Weatherbeeta Taka freestyle detach a neck combo combines the successful contour design with the exclusive Freestyle System. The Weatherbeeta Taka provides unparalleled fit, protection and freedom of movement. The outer of the Taka turnout is extra heavy duty and breathable premium strength 1260 Denier material, and delivers fully waterproof and breathable comfort for your horse. The detach-a-neck feature of the Taka offers greater versatility, allowing your horse to be with or without a neck cover as required.

Peewee Bit £15 Off - 1 week only!

2010-02-16T10:11:00.000Z

For one week only, The Saddlery Shop are offering the Peewee bit cheaper than ever before, just £29.99! You will probably never see this again, so hurry and buy one before the price goes back up on the 23rd February. The Peewee bit is a revolutionary new bit imported exclusively by The Saddlery Shop for sale in the UK. The Pee Wee bit is constructed with stainless steel bit rings and side bars, but the mouthpiece is made from "sweet iron" which oxidises to produce a sweet taste that horses enjoy. The Peewee bit is very unobtrusive, and most horse prefer the feel and action of the bit to an ordinary thick snaffle. The mullen mouth prevents the palate from being jabbed, and there is no nutcracker action. The sweet iron mouthpiece tastes sweet and keeps the mouth soft. This is a one of kind bit, every good horseman should have one in their collection, and now is certainly the time to buy one!

Gatehouse HS1 Riding Hats on SALE!

2010-01-28T11:48:00.001Z

Start your riding in 2010 in the safest possible hat! The Gatehouse HS1 is one of the safest riding hats on the market, being the only riding helmet in the UK to pass all of the following safety standards : Snell E2001, PAS015, BSEN1384. This Gatehouse riding hat has also has passed a unique test which simulates a rider falling into a fence rail, or having a secondary hit by a horse's hoof unlike any other riding helmet. The Gatehouse HS1, also known as the High Spec 1 is probably the safest riding hat available on the market today. For just 1 week (until 9th February) you can buy this superb riding hat exclusively from The Saddlery Shop at a 20% discount! This jockey skull cap uses the latest materials making it also incredibly light and comfortable to wear. The carbon fibre reinforced shell of the HS1 hat has unbelievable strength and lightness. Riders that have had serious falls in this hat have been told by doctors that they can't believe they didn't sustain far greater injury. If you are a rider that wants serious protection, this is the riding hat for you! The Gatehouse HS1 is available in black or lightweight silver.

Cleaning the Velcro on Old Mac Multipurpose and Easycare Hoof Boots

2010-01-25T11:46:00.000Z

The UK wholesaler for Easycare hoof boots, Trelawne Equine has a very useful post on their blog today regarding the cleaning of the velcro or hook and loop fastenings on their hoof boots....
Have you ever come back from a ride, removed your Old Macs Multipurpose Hoof boots, Old Mac G2's or any of the gaitered Easycare boots such as the Easyboot Epic or Easyboot Glove and wondered how to clean the Velcro? The warehouse personnel at Easycare have come up with a great little trick- using a simple dog/ cat brush (their own Velcro Cleaner) on the Velcro to remove grass, hair and whatever else is stuck. They use it on both the hook and loop sides of the Velcro, it will also rejuvenate loop side if is has lost its 'stick'. We at Trelawne Equine think this is a brilliant idea, and will help ensure your boots last even longer and perform as well as they did the first day you use them!

FREE comfort pads with your hoof boots!

2010-01-18T14:35:00.000Z

For 1 week only, you can get a free pair of comfort pads with your Easycare hoof boots from The Saddlery Shop. You can choose between 6mm medium density comfort pads, and 12mm medium density comfort pads. Hoof boots must be purchased as a pair (even if sold singularly) and qualifying boots include the Easyboot, Easyboot epic, easyboot edge, easyboot grip, easyboot glove, boa horse boots, Old Mac multipurpose hoof boots and Old Mac's G2. For 6mm comfort pads, use the code freepadsjan6 or for 12mm use the code freepadsjan12 at checkout. Make sure you order soon, offer expires 26th January 2010!

Keratex mud fever powder

2010-01-15T15:59:00.000Z

I discovered another very good use for Keratex mud fever powder over the last few weeks, as a disinfectant 'talc' for inside hoof boots! If like me, you have a horse or pony that has a problem severe enough to necessitate the use of boots over an extended period, there is a chance of bacteria and damp within the foot. A sprinkling of this every morning inside my Shetlands Easyboot Epic Hoof Boots with soft comfort pads has kept her soles looking clean and thrush free!

MASSIVE JANUARY SALE NOW ON!

2010-01-10T11:21:00.000Z

The Saddlery Shop's huge equine January Sale is now well under way, and our cheap rugs, sale riding wear and discounted horse riding equipment is selling out fast so don't leave it too late to look or you may miss out! We have 100's of horsey bargains for example upto 1/2 price horse rugs and upto 1/2 price riding clothes, all leading brands such as Mast, Weatherbeeta, Mark Todd and many more.

Size 3.5 and $ Easyboot Gloves almost here!

2009-12-14T10:34:00.000Z

The larger sizes in the fantastic Easyboot gloves are almost here! The Easyboot Glove hoof boot are one of the most successful ever designed, so simple in their construction which helps make them supremely lightweight and easy to fit. The Easyboot Glove has until now been available in 9 sizes: 00 - 3 in 1/2 , but the two newer sizes 3.5 and 4 will help cater for the larger footed horse. The measurements for the new glove size 3.5 will fit a width 132-135mm and length 142-145mm, the size 4 glove will fit a width 136-139mm and length 146-149mm.

Mark Todd 20% off!

2009-11-16T15:16:00.000Z

The new winter Mark Todd clothing range is now live with 20% off until the end of November! Mark Todd produce some really stylish and practical clothing for men, women and children. The Mark Todd waterproof over trousers are particularly nice, being waterproof, breathable and reinforced. These over trousers are available in mens and womens styles are are far superior to anything else on the market

The Riders Rasp: The Barefoot Horse Owners Essential Tool

2009-11-12T14:22:00.000Z

The innovative Riders Rasp launched at the beginning of 2009, has already taken the hoof care market by storm in the US, and already showing similar trends here in the UK. The Riders Rasp allows the horse owner to optimise the care of their horses feet and save money- not something you would expect to hear in the same sentence! The Riders Rasp has been designed for barefoot or unshod horses, or horses that have lost a shoe. This innovative rasp can be safely used by horse owners to control flare, round or roll the edge of the hoof wall (mustang roll), and maintain a quick breakover in between professional trims. Every barefoot horse owner knows the importance of keeping the hoof in balance and maintaining the Mustang roll, and the Riders Rasp will allow the horse owner to maintain the hoof in the correct shape, thus allowing longer periods between professional trims.

Sponsorship opportunity!

2009-11-06T10:34:00.001Z

Easycare's UK distributor, Trelawne Equine Ltd are offering a years hoof boot sponsorship in 2010 to one lucky rider and thier barefoot horse(s). 'We are looking for a rider that is as passionate about natural hoofcare as we are' says Lucy Nicholas, director of Trelawne Equine. If you are a highly motivated and successful rider within your discipline, please apply direct to them for more details via the contact form here.

DELIVERIES UNAFFECTED BY ROYAL MAIL STRIKES

2009-11-03T10:09:00.000Z

The Saddlery Shop would just like to reassure our customers that our deliveries will be unaffected by the Royal Mail strikes. Express delivery is sent exclusively by courrier and orders placed before 12pm are despatched the same day. Standard delivery orders over £20 are sent by standard courier, all standard delivery orders are expected to arrive with the customer within 3-5 working days as usual.

Champion Cobra Body Protectors on Special Offer!

2009-10-19T11:55:00.000+01:00

We have a limited number of the Champion Cobra body protectors on special offer this week, if you need to replace or buy a new body protector, this is one of the best on the market so worth a look! The Champion Cobra Body Protector is a major step forward for horse riders in the use of safety wear. After comprehensive research and development, Champion have accomplished a design that functions in performance whilst being comfortable to wear.
The Cobra is individual in that numerous issues have been addressed to enhance comfort, breathability and flexibility, without compromising safety.

Horse-Opoly and other great gifts!

2009-10-07T11:53:00.000+01:00

We have some fantastic Christmmas gifts in stock now, including Horse-Opoly; a 'Monopoly' style board game with horse themed pieces and board spaces! The Saddlery Shop stock horsey gifts for men, women and children starting from only £1.99 and ranges from horsey socks to horse playing cards!

NEW design for Wintec Saddles

2009-10-02T14:22:00.000+01:00

The Wintec 2000 GP saddle is just one of the Wintec saddles to have had a full make over. The new Wintec 2000 has a host of new features including performance panels, point girth strap and ergonomic stirrup bars. The Wintec 500 GP and Wintec VSD (dressage GP) are also redesigned and we have special prices with around 20% off RRP at the moment to don't miss out!

Winter Tottie Now on Sale!

2009-09-22T10:55:00.000+01:00

Tottie clothing for Autumn Winter 2009 is now in stock here at The Saddlery Shop, and everything is below RRP! Tottie has really excelled themselves this year, with gorgeous warm fleeces and stretchy fashionable rugby tops. Have a look at the full range and put some on your Christmas list now!

NEW Caldene clothing offers

2009-09-18T16:21:00.000+01:00

Here at The Saddlery Shop we have managed to secure two great offers from Caldene, a name synonymous with quality. The Caldene ladies Chepstow gilet is a stylish padded gilet, ideal for riding or casual wear. The Caldene active fleece lined jacket is a comfortable and fashinable blouson style jacket for riders and spectators, ideal to keep you protected from the wet weather.

Dublin Valley Boots MAD PRICE!

2009-09-11T10:44:00.000+01:00

Dublin Valley tall boots have just gone on sale in black, very similar in style to Mountain horse and Tuffa but a fraction of the price while on offer (normally £109.99!). Here at The Saddlery Shop we are always looking for the best bargains in equestrian clothing so make sure you check the site out regularly to pick up on the hottest deals in the equestrian industry!

Great Value Winter Turnout Rugs from The Saddlery Shop

2009-09-07T16:50:00.000+01:00

Winter is nearly here, for better or worse, but don't your horse get the winter blues and make sure they keep warm and safe with a winter turnout rug.

The Saddlery Shop are here to help with a great range of quality winter horse rugs and are taking delivery of new winter rugs all the time. Add on to that the fact that The Saddlery Shop offer turnout rugs at the lowest possible prices and it's really looking cosy for your horse after all.

The Saddlery Shop's current star pick comes from Masta, who in usual style have done it again with the brilliant Zing range of low priced and high quality winter turnout rugs.

A personal favourite, and a bargain to boot, is the Zing high neck turnout rug which is a bargain at only £58.99!

Grab a Bargain on a Wintec Isabell Saddle

2009-09-01T15:48:00.001+01:00

The Saddlery Shop have just dropped prices again on the very popular Wintec saddle range. Wintec provide some of the best quality saddles in the business and The Saddelry Shop have a great selection of saddles from wintec in stock.

A few examples include is the Wintec Isabell Saddle in both flocked and cair panel styles. Both of these are beautiful and high quality dressage saddles designed in conjunction with world dressage champion Isabell Werth; these Wintec Isabell saddles can be snapped at some of the lowest prices on the internet from The Saddlery Shop!

Don't miss out on a bargain priced Wintec saddle while they are available!

New Sizes Coming for the EasyBoot Glove

2009-08-28T10:09:00.000+01:00

The Saddlery Shop is eagerly awaiting the arrival of the new sizes in the revolutionary EasyBoot Glove!

The EasyBoot Glove range of hoof boots will soon be available in size 3.5 and 4 which will allow larger hooved equines to use the latest in booting technology too!

As great avocates of barefoot hoorse riding we are pretty excitied about this as it opens barefoot riding up to even more riders.

Summer Horse Rugs Now on Sale!

2009-08-26T11:31:00.000+01:00

The Saddlery Shop have a fantastic horse rug sale on now!

Why not pop by and see the fantastic range of horse rugs including fly protection rugs and sun protection rugs as well as lightweight turnout rugs and much, much more.

The saddlery Shop beleive in quality for your horse and the rug selection offere comes from top branded and trused equestrian names such as Masta, WeatherBeeta, Mark Todd, Saxon and many more.

The New Easycare Fit Kit

2009-05-29T16:43:00.000+01:00

The new Easyboot Glove and Easyboot Glue-On hoof boots represent a revolution in hoof boot design. They are both very lightweight, simple and fit the hoof like a second skin. As the Easycare Glove and Easycare Glue-On hoof boots do not have any hardware or fastenings, achieving a good, close fit is more important than ever.

Each shell in the Easycare Fit Kit has only 4mm of width difference between itself and the next shell size. This tight gap between sizes helps ensure a snug fit, but it also means that there is little room for error in measuring and determining the proper size of boot.

The Easycare Fit Kit is the ideal way to quickly and easily determine which size Glove or Glue On is the best fit. The Fit Kit allows consumers to fit their horses feet correctly before ordering, to ensure a perfect fit first time and preventing wasted time and money trying many different pairs.

The shell used in both the Easyboot Glove and Glue-On is flexible and has a great deal of stretch. Although taking the measurements is a good start to check if the shape and size of a horses hoof should fit one of the new hoof boots, the Fit Kit is the only way to properly determine the correct size.

The New Easyboot Glove

2009-05-26T10:50:00.000+01:00

The Easyboot Glove is a brand new, innovative hoof boot giving a form-fitting, seamless fit. The Glove hugs the hoof and responds just as a naturally bare hoof would. The Easyboot Glove is flexible yet tough, and adds traction to the hoof whilst allowing a free stride and quick break over. In the same wasy a glove fits a hand, the Glove hoof boot provides protection without stifling mobility. The material the Easyboot Glove is made from stretches over the hoof and clings to the wall so that debris stays out of the boot, even through sandy and muddy conditions.

The Easyboot Glove must be carefully sized and fitted to the hoof. The horses width and length measurements must fall within the same size of glove for this boot to be successful. The Easycare fit kit is the ideal tool to determine the suitability and/ or size of the Easyboot Glove for a horse’s hooves. The Power strap is also available to give a closer fit if desired. Accurate metric measurements and a snug fit are essential to the success of the Easyboot Glove, and it is recommended the Easyboot fit kit is used to determine size when possible.

The Glove is suitable for Horses with slightly longer than wide hooves, and ideal for long distance riding, endurance or all day rides but equally suitable for any horse whose measurements fit the size chart correctly for day to day riding, schooling and competition (where permitted). This hoof boot is the best choice for horses that have a tendency to over reach or brush due to the lack of hardware and faster break over. The Easyboot Glove is not usually suitable for horses with flared or wider than long hooves, or hooves that do not fit within one glove size category.

The Easycare Glue-On Hoof Boot

2009-05-19T16:51:00.000+01:00

The Easyboot Glue-On shell has been developed as a high performance hoof boot and an option for horses in speed and long distance events. The light weight shell style hoof boot has thin walls that allow the boot to stretch and form to the hoof, the end result is a seamless one-to-one fit that resembles a second skin. The Easycare Glue-On is the next best thing to a naturally bare hoof, giving protection without excess weight or bulk.

This hoof boot is designed to be disposable, being used once or twice and then thrown away. Glue left on the inside of the boot may affect performance. It is not recommended to leave the Easyboot Glue-On hoof boot on for more than 10 days in a dry environment or 5 days in a humid environment. It is possible to purchase an easy boot glove gaiter and covert these boots to gloves if desired to extend the life of the purchase, but all glue must be removed for the boot to continue to work successfully and not cause rubbing or bruising to the hoof.

All portions of the shell can be modified or trimmed down if desired. The rear of the shell can be lowered or even removed to accommodate horses with low heels. Trimming the heel area will not affect the application or holding power of the glue (but would negate the ability to fit gaiters Accurate metric measurements and a snug fit are essential to the success of the Easycare Glue-On , and it is recommended the fit kit is used to determine size when possible.

The Easycare Glue-On hoof boot is suitable for horses with slightly longer than wide hooves who need a reliable boot for endurance events, competitive trail rides, multi-day rides/ holidays or any occasion where the horse needs a low maintenance hardware free hoof boot. Width and length measurements need to fit within one size to work correctly.

The Glue-On is not suitable for horses with flared or wider than long hooves, or riders who want a boot that can be reused .

Suitable Clothes for Riding Horses - Horse Riding Hats

2009-02-11T10:19:00.000Z

When learning to ride a horse or pony, the closer you can get to correct riding clothing the more comfortable and safe you will be whilst riding.

An absolute essential that should never be overlooked is the riding hat. Riding hats come in various sizes and styles, the two most commonly seen are the skull cap or jockey helmet and the traditional riding hat with a peak (often referred to as a velvet riding hat).

Whichever riding hat you choose to use, they should always be kite marked, and ideally conform to the British standard for riding hats of BSEN 1384 and the PAS 015. Choosing a riding hat of at least these standards will ensure that the rider is fully protected whatever the choose to do on the horse, be in riding in the confines of a manege or galloping and jumping across country or whilst hunting.

A lot of modern riding hats include some form of ventilation which is often also seen as essential by people that ride on a regular basis, as they help to prevent your head from becoming overly hot and sweaty whilst horse riding.

The skull cap was once the most popular and safest type of riding hat, and was used by jockeys in particular, as well as everyday horse riders. Silks or hat covers are used with the jockey skull cap to give it a peak and its often colourful appearance, and because of this they are a useful everyday riding hat as the rider is able to use different hat covers for different occasions.

The other popular style of horse riding hat is the traditional looking velvet covered riding hat, that has a built in peak. These hats are most often seem in horse riding competitions, especially show jumping or dressage or when showing horses.

Jodhpurs and Breeches for Horse Riding

2009-01-29T13:45:00.000Z

Specialist leg wear for riding has been developed to help overcome the common problems normally associated with riding in ordinary trousers or jeans. Loose fitting leg wear without reinforcement will often lead to chafing, rubbing and even pinching of the calves particularly by the stirrup leathers. The problem is far more common with English saddles with their thin stirrup leathers, than with the wide straps of a western saddle, with which is it usual to wear jeans.

The vast majority of riding in the UK is English style, and jodhpurs and breeches are the accepted leg wear for women riders, and male riders, and child riders usually wear jodhpurs as opposed to breeches.

The difference between jodhpurs and breeches is the bottom of the leg; breeches finish at or above the ankle bone (but always below the knee) and fasten with a button or hoop and loop closure. Jodhpurs should finish below the ankle bone with a turn up of approximately 1”.

Breeches are more suited to wearing long boots or half chaps and gaiters as they dramatically reduce the bulk around the ankle.

Jodhpurs are ideally for use with short boots such as jodhpur boots, and they can be secured with jodhpur clips to keep them in place. Jodhpurs and jodhpur boots are the correct dress for young riders as it encourages correct leg position and grip and allow a riding instructor to see what the child is doing with their heel.

Both jodhpurs and modern breeches are most usually made from a 4 way stretch material, with reinforcements at the knees called knee patches. Both jodhpurs and breeches are made to fit closely to help avoid the material twisting or rubbing, and should be comfortable around the waist when in a sitting position. The usual fastening for riding leg wear is a hook and bar fastening with a zip for ease of fit, but pull on style jodhpurs and riding breeches are also very popular.

The Peewee (Pee Wee) Bit

2009-01-22T15:03:00.000Z

The peewee bit is a revolutionary horse bit produced in Australia, but invented by a horseman in America called Peewee Stevenson. The Saddlery Shop imports this nifty little bit and we wholesale and retail the peewee bit, as well as offering a hire service for the peewee bit.

The mouthpiece of the Pee wee bit is a fine mullen mouth, which allows the horse plenty of space for his tongue, and being made from sweet iron also encourages the horse to salivate and keep a soft mouth. The Peewee bit is generally constructed from stainless steel for strength and durability, and has two small arms that enable the rider to communicate far more effectively with the horse without using the horses mouth directly. The side bars put pressure on the side of the horses jaw when activated by the riders signals, and encourage the horse to turn and listen without discomfort being imposed on his mouth.

The peewee horse bit can be used in two different positions, the standard and correctional position. When in the regular position, the pee wee bit sits passively in the horses mouth and follows the curve of the horses tongue. When pressure is applied to the rein, the bit merely pushes down on the tongue and bars evenly and without excessive pressure in any one place. The lack of joint prevents the bit from jabbing the roof of the horses mouth or causing a nutcracker effect on the horses bars. In the correctional or remedial position, the peewee bits’ mouthpice sits in a curved shape up the horses tongue, which helps to prevent the horse from attempting to put their tobgue over the bit. When the bit is activated through the riders rein, the bit rolls down slightly more into the tongue which gives a slightly stronger signal than in the regular position.

The pee wee horse bit is very popular bit for use on Thoroughbreds and Arabs, particularly in the endurance and racing world. TB’s and Arabs tend to have very petite mouths with a large tongue, thus not allowing a lot of space for a bit to sit comfortably, hence the slenderness of the Peewee bit is ideal for such a mouth conformation. The pee wee is currently available in two sizes; standard and large but will also be available in a medium size in 2009 for horses smaller than 6” but bigger than 5 ½” (or with fleshy lips).

Hackamore Bridles & Bitless Bridles

2009-01-12T14:39:00.000Z

The Hackamore is one of the options for horses that need a method of control that does not involve a bit in the horses mouth. Also known as a bitless bridle, at The Saddlery Shop we stock the two most popular and readily available forms of hackamore, the English and the German hackamore.

Both the English hackamore and the German hackamore are used on your existing bridle with the noseband removed, and the hackamore attached to the cheeks as you would a traditional metal horse bit. The control is achieved by the use of nose and poll pressure, and as such care must be taken when fitting the hackamore bit to ensure the noseband is fitted above the soft cartilage of the horses nose to prevent nerve and cartilage damage from occurring. The hackamore should ideally be fitted approx 2 fingers width above the last soft part of the horses nose- it is equally important not to fit it too high or the rider may find a lack of control!

The English hackamore is regarded as one of the least severe forms of the bitless bridle, and has a relatively short shank. The back strap is either leather or a combination of leather and a chain, the latter being slightly more severe in its action. The nose of the English hackamore is usually padded with fleece on a wide leather strap to minimise pressure.

The German hackamore has a much longer shank and a chain style noseband and curb. It is often advised to use a thick noseband cover to prevent pressure and rubs, and as with any hackamore, the German should in particular be used with care by an experienced rider.

There is no doubt some horses prefer the communication achieved though nose pressure to the relatively invasive action of a traditional meal horse bit, but they tend to work best on relatively well schooled horses that respond well the leg aids as it is common to experience some loss of steering compared to a metal bit.

Gag Bits

2008-12-23T10:31:00.000Z

Gag bits are seen a lot less in modern times, but were widely used on strong horses before the advent of the more modern bits. Continental style bits are often referred to as gags incorrectly, as a true gag has a much more extreme action.

Gag bits come in a similar pattern to traditional snaffle bits, but with one key difference - the cheeks have a hole top and bottom to allow a specially designed gag cheek piece to pass through the cheek as opposed to being buckled directly onto the bit ring.

The gag cheeks are usually made from all leather, of leather with a nylon core, the later often being preferable from the effect point of view as the release is quicker and more obvious to the horse than an all leather gag cheek which is less malleable (although aesthetically more pleasing than nylon it could be argued).

The action of a gag bit is to raise the bit up in the horses mouth, thus exerting potentially a great deal of poll pressure, and pressure on the corner of the horses lips. The mouthpieces also influence the effect the gag has on the horse, a jointed will also give strong bar and palate pressure. Gags should only be used by experienced riders with sympathetic hands, as their ability to raise the bit in the horses mouth is extreme and could potentially cause injury if used incorrectly.

Shanked and Curb Bits - Kimblewick Bits

2008-12-19T10:02:00.000Z

Kimblewick bits are often used on ponies or horses with smaller heads as an alternative to a pelham.

The Kimblewick bit still uses the curb action but to a lesser degree as there is not so much poll pressure and leverage. The exception to this is the slotted cheek kimblewick bit, which has 2 slots in the cheek giving 3 possible options for the reins, either around the bit ring as is usual, or in the upper most slot which lessen the effect of the poll pressure and curb use, or the lower slot which gives the effect of a short shank, and greater poll pressure and curb use.

The slotted Kimblewick is the bit most usually seen on ponies and horses ridden by competent adult or child riders as it can be severe in the wrong hands. The standard Kimblewick cheek is a plain ring, and used with one pair of reins.

The mouthpieces most commonly associated with Kimblewicks are the mullen mouth or Cambridge/ported mouth, the kindest mouthpieces in general, and the jointed Kimblewick. As with the jointed pelham, the jointed Kimble wick lessens the action of the curb and although useful for some horses that dislike excess curb pressure the action of the bit is compromised.

The Kimblewick is a useful bit for small strong ponies, and especially is used with an elastic curb chain to minimise the risk or too much pressure, can be safely used (under supervision) by novice children on strong ponies.

Shanked and Curb Bits - Pelham Bits

2008-12-15T12:46:00.000Z

Horse Bits with a curb chain often have a shank for added poll pressure as well. Bits that have a shank and a curb are often some type of pelham horse bit, which is classed as a fairly strong bit. The pelham family of bits work mainly on the curb groove and utilize poll pressure to gain control of the horse, particularly in exciting situations such as in company.

Rugby pelhams are often used as an alternative to a double bridle in the show ring for horses that do not have a mouth big enough to comfortably use the combination of a Weymouth and bradoon at once. The rugby pelham has the addition of a loose ring attached, which gives the appearance of a double and work slightly less directly on the mouth than the traditional pelham.

Common mouthpieces in either the rugby pelham or plain pelham are mullen or rubber covered mullen which are considered the mildest, Cambridge mouth or port mouth which are ideal for horses that need a little extra space for the tongue, and jointed or French link.

A jointed pelham or French link pelham work well on some horses, but less so on others as their action is somewhat of a compromise with the action of the curb being lessened by the broken mouthpiece of the bit. The shank provides quite a strong poll pressure in all cases, and all pehams should ideally be used with double reins to allow the rider to control the signal to the horse more precisely. If the rider cannot manage double reins, pelham roundings should be used to gain a half way effect, but the disadvantage is that the curb will always come into effect whether needed or not.

The Continental Cheek Bit

2008-12-12T10:53:00.000Z

The continental bit is know by many names including the bubble bit, dutch gag and 3 ring bit. Some confusion can arise as the correct way to refer to a bit with 4 rings in the cheek i.e. a small top ring, large main ring and two further small rings, is as a 3 ring bit. This bit is often called a 4 ring bit, and the shorter style continental bit as a 3 ring (only one small ring top and bottom) which is incorrect and can lead to much confusion!

Continental bits were invented to try and emulate the effect of draw reins on show jumpers in the ring, and as such should not be looked upon as a particularly kind bit (especially with some of the more sever mouthpieces) as they are capable of a lot of leverage and hence poll pressure.

Being a cross between a pelham and a gag, often referred to as a Dutch gag this cheek causes the bit to raise up in the horses mouth slightly as the true gag does, but also asks the horse to lower at the same time through the use of poll pressure which can send quite a confusing signal.

They are not as strong as a pelham, and there is no doubt that some horses, particularly those that need persuasion to break at the poll, do seem to like the action of the cheek as it gives control without a curb action.

The 2 ring continental is a more modern addition and has become very popular for horses that do not need the strength of the 3rd ring and thus does away with the bulk of a spare ring. Correctly, both the 2 or 3 ring should be used with two reins, one on the main ring, and another on a lower ring to ensure the action is properly monitored by the rider. Care should be taken with fixed mouth versions of this horse bit as they can tend to ‘stick’ in their action and not release immediately which can cause confusion and fear for the horse so are best avoided if this is the case.

Full and fulmer cheek bits

2008-11-25T11:53:00.000Z

Most commonly seen on young or green horses still learning to bend and flex, as the long cheek of the bit puts pressure on the whole side of the face when pressure is applied to the rein. These horse bits also have the advantage of not allowing the bit to be dragged through the horses mouth if the horse opens their mouth wide or yaws a lot in resistance to the riders aids. These horse bits should be used with fulmer keepers which help to keep the bit safely in place against the cheek piece, and also have the added advantage of allowing the bit to exert a little poll pressure to encourage a rounder outline when pressure is applied.

The full cheek is the eggbutt version of this type of cheek, again more suitable for novice riders as less unintentional vibration will be felt by the horse. More experienced riders and more highly schooled horses often prefer the fulmer cheek, which has a loose ring (no chance of pinching as it is well away from the horses lips) so enables clearer communication between horse and rider.

Again, I feel it is important to look at these bits as a stepping stone or temporary measure wherever possible in order to make sure the horse and rider do not become dependent on the effect of the full cheek to make a turn. Once the horse has a good understanding of the seat and leg aids involved in making a turn, the horse should be schooled in an eggbutt or loose ring bit instead.

The eggbutt cheek

2008-11-17T15:20:00.000Z

The eggbutt cheek was the next step on from the loose ring- a more complicated closed joint that does offer some advantages in certain circumstances. The primary advantage was to prevent pinching of the lips in the days where the loose ring bits were badly made. It should be noted that a badly made eggbutt with a loose joint can also cause a nasty pinch, so again this highlights the need for careful selection of what you put in your horses mouth! The eggbutt bit is generally suited to more novice riders that are less steady with their hands, as the cheeks lessen the effects of the tiny vibrations from the riders hands which are often unintentional whilst the rider is still learning their balance.

For more experienced riders a loose ring is normally preferable as a finer and more subtle signal can be communicated to the horse. The variation on the eggbutt cheek is the less commonly used D cheek. Primarily used by racing yards, this cheek is almost more similar in action to a full cheek, giving a flat ‘edge’ to encourage the horse to turn his head but without the danger of the long shanks of a full cheek to get caught up. The D cheek is a more positive cheek than the eggbutt, and should only be used on a temporary basis when possible to avoid the rider relying on the use of it to turn the horse. As soon as the horse is more responsive to the leg and seat aids to turn, and listening to the bridle the horse should be stepped back down into an eggbutt or loose ring to progress the horses schooling more correctly.

The different basic cheeks available on bits and their uses- The loose ring

2008-11-11T10:55:00.000Z

Conventional horse bits have 5 commonly seen groups of cheeks namely the loose ring, eggbutt/D, full/fulmer cheek, continental cheek, shanked bits. The two most popular are the loose ring and eggbutt, and all common mouthpieces are available in one cheek or the other. It has been said that the mouthpiece of the bit is for the horses comfort, the cheek is for the rider benefit which can be true in some cases. The loose ring is one of most commonly seen cheeks, and ideally used on youngsters and by more experienced riders with steady hands. The loose ring bit has the benefit of enhanced communication with the horse, which is beneficial if the rider has good hands and a careful contact. However it can also detrimental in wrong hands with a rider that moves inadvertently as the horse will feel every little vibration down the reins be they intentional or unintentional!

Some people are wary of loose ring bits, as there is a common misconception that modern loose ring bits can pinch the lips of the horse and make them sore. When bits were first mass produced they were made with a flat ring passing through a round hole, and it was possible for the horses lip to get trapped and pinched with such a large gap ensuing. With modern horse bits, in almost all cases (there are still some very badly made imported bits with loose joints out there to which this doesn’t apply) the ring is round with a round close fitting hole which makes all but the absolute finest of skin impossible to trap. Horse Bits should be checked regularly for signs of wear, as joints can stretch, especially if there has been undue strain placed on them when a horse has trodden on its reins for example. Symptoms of pinching are the horse reacting to a contact sharply, or marks on the inside or outside of the lips.

Riding gloves

2008-11-03T14:46:00.000Z

Gloves for horse riding are often an over looked piece of riding kit, but in my opinion quite a vital one!! The obvious riding clothing is the riding hat, jodhpurs and riding boots, but for often only a little extra cost, a pair of appropriate riding gloves ride and one you would rather forget.

Gloves that are made for riding differ slightly from conventional gloves, the basics being a good grip on the palm to allow the rider to keep hold of the reins. There is nothing more scary than losing control of a horse because the reins slipping through your bare hands! Good quality riding gloves like the Roeckle Ulla glove will be thin enough to give feel, but tough enough not to wear quickly even when using rubber grip reins. They will be reinforced between the little finger and ring finger (to help the glove resist wear where the reins are held) across the palm and sometimes around the edge of the palm by the thumb too. They need a stretchy comfortable back and good fastening to prevent rubbing and twisting whilst in use. Again, as with everything investment in a good quality pair of riding gloves will mean comfort and years of good service from your horse riding gloves.

Gloves enhance the grip, which is essential on reins made from plain leather. On reins that have good grip such as rubber grip reins or continental web reins, the gloves serve to protect the riders hands from the reins which can easily cause rubs and blisters due to their abrasive nature.

Lastly, riding gloves can also serve the simple purpose of keeping the riders hands warm, this is especially important with young children who quickly loose the feeling in icy little fingers which is very painful for them! Cold, numb fingers are also very difficult to use effectively, and efficient and safe riding is greatly hindered by frosty fingers (and not very pleasant either)!

Chaps and gaiters

2008-10-27T11:04:00.000Z

With such a multitude of equestrian products available to riders today, it can often be quite confusing as to what certain commonly seen riding clothing is used for. A common question we are asked is what the difference is between chaps and gaiters is.

Chaps are the most commonly seen form of riding leg wear other than jodhpurs, and come in two types; full chaps and half chaps. Full chaps are usually either made from suede or a waterproof material, and similar to riding trousers cover the whole leg. Full chaps have zips extending down the outside of both legs to enable the rider to get them on and off easily, and stop at the top of the leg at the back leaving the posterior free for added ‘feel’ in the saddle. The waist is adjustable usually at the front and back to provide an ideal fit. Half chaps are the far more popular option of the two, and only covers the portion of the leg below the knee to the ankle. The zip fastening on half chaps is again on the outside of the calf, and there is usually an elasticated panel just behind the zip to allow the half chap to conform to the riders leg and give a close fit (which is essential to the success of the chaps- a loose chap will spin or slip down resulting in a rubbed or sore leg). Half chaps are usually made from suede, faux suede or neoprene which all provide protection and a comfortable fit but do not look as smart as smooth leather which is why half chaps are used for general everyday. Gaiters are similar in design to the half chaps, but are made from smooth leather and have the zip fastening down the back of the leg which allows a much neater fit.

Gaiters are primarily used for competition to give the impression of a long leather riding boot (when used with an appropriate short jodhpur boot) but can be used for everyday riding if desired. Gaiters generally cost more to buy and look worn more quickly due to the materials they are made from (and the position of the zip makes them slightly more tricky to get on and off too!) so we usually recommend half chaps for everyday riding and gaiters kept for competition use. One good pair of jodhpur boots is often enough for everyday and best use, as the gaiters cover most of them and as long as the toe is not scuffed the overall appearance will be neat.

Riding boots versus short boots and half chaps

2008-10-20T14:09:00.000+01:00

Often a common question especially from new riders, is which is better; long riding boots or short riding boots and half chaps? In an ideal world, a pair of long leather riding boots made from boxed leather with a flexible ankle are ideal to ride in, but the price and functionality (having to change into them everythime you ride and out again after) is normally prohibitive!

The problem with long rubber riding boots, is although they often look and fit the calf as well as some leather boots the flexibility in the ankle is missing which can be a great hinderence especially for new riders struggling to attain the correct leg position. Riding instructors tend to prefer young children to wear jodhpur boots so they can see the position of the childs leg more easily (it is easy to draw your heel up inside a long rubber riding boot and yet from the outside it looks as if your heels are still level thus giving a false impression!) and teaches them the feel for the correct leg position more easily.

Usually the best solution is a pair of robust jodhpur boots, or even a good quality yard boot that is safe to ride in coupled with half chaps. This gives the riders calf protection from the stirrup leathers, but allows far more flexibility in the ankle which helps with achieving a natural leg position more easily. Suede half chaps also help the rider to grip with the calf more effectively with I always find a help, particularly on more lively horses! With a yard boot, it is simple to just put the chaps on before riding and remove them after, without the need to replace your footwear.

Mucking out equipment for use around the yard and field

2008-10-17T12:53:00.000+01:00

There are a multitude of handy gadgets available to the modern horse owner, but choosing a few good mucking out tools wisely often saves money and time in the long run. As with everything, it is always cheaper in the long run to buy the best you can afford, and this is especially important with stable equipment that is going to get regular, hard work. For the stable, there are different forks designed to work best on different types of bedding, such as the fynalite shavings fork, which logically works best on a shavings or aubiose bed. The fynalite forks are very tough and have sprung steel heads which resist being bent out of shape (I haven’t managed to break one yet and one of ours is 10 years old!) and don’t wear particularly even when used on concrete floors. Cheaper shavings forks we tend to find last on average 1-2 winters before being virtually unusable, so being only 2 - 21/2 times the price, the fynalite forks really are a very good investment!

The straw forks for long fibre beds are also very tough, with lightweight handles and 4 hardened prongs for ease of use. Shorter adults often find the children’s funky fork an ideal tool with its shorter handle and lighter weight, but all the quality of the full length version. For the field, no horse owner should be without an equine manure scoop, also known as a horsey poop a scoop! This consists of a large ½ bucket on a metal handle, with a separate metal rake. These are now available in a wide range of bright colours as well as the standard black, and come in two heights, standard and tall manure scoop (for taller riders). If you are fed up from an aching back whilst ‘poo picking’ your field, invest in an equine manure scoop and you will never look back!

More Horse Toys

2008-10-13T12:06:00.000+01:00

There are a number of horse toys available for horses to play with in the stable and field, and some of these can be especially useful if your horse has to be confined for long periods for reasons of illness or injury, such as a tendon strain or laminitis.

The most ideal toy is the Snak-a-Ball, which is a hard plastic ball designed to be used with pony nuts of similar, and encourages the natural foraging behaviour of your horse. You may have even seen some slightly more unusual animals using them in zoos as they are very tough and very useful for other animals such as zebras, monkeys, anteaters and other more exotic species to use! The pony nuts are put in at one end and the stable toy has to be rolled and manipulated by the horse in order to get them to drop out of the other end. This is an ideal way to encourage trickle feeding and prevent bolting of the food which can lead to choking, which can be a problem especially with greedy ponies.

Other useful toys include the tongue twister, a sturdy plastic ball that swivels and is attached to a wall and can be filled with 2 little Likits (Likits are described in a previous post). When the horse tries to bite the treat, the ball swivells away and the horse has to work to get hold of the tasty reward. Stable toys for horses help to enrich the equine environment and ensure the horse remains mentally relaxed which also aids a quick recovery.

Keeping your Horse Entertained with Stable Toys

2008-10-09T12:33:00.000+01:00

There are a number of stable toys for horses on the market, but as well as being fun for your horse to play with, they also provide some important enrichment to your horses environment. It is often unavoidable to have to confine our horses for a number of reasons such as stabling at night during the winter, but this is essentially a very unnatural and sometimes unnerving position for a prey animal such as a horse to be in, so it often helps to provide some form of entertainment for them to distract them and make them feel at ease.

The most popular stable toy is probably the Boredom Breaker, a simple but effective toy consisting of a smooth plastic ball suspended from a rope with a pair of plastic plates designed to take a "Likit", a hard, sweet tasting horse treat available in a number of flavours.

Little likits can be inserted either side of the ball itself which provides further amusement, as the horse wants to bite the treats but has to work hard to get even a few licks. This helps to pass the time, and most horses enjoy the challenge of trying to seize the tasty reward, but make sure you place the toy away from a wall or most horses are clever enough to quickly learn they can trap the toy against the wall and get a good bite of the treat!

These stable toys can also be useful for horses that weave or kick the door. In this case it is usually ideal to place the toy in the doorway so that the horse encounters it when he looks out of the door which will often then distract him from the intention to perform a vice.

Types of Metal Used in Horse Bits

2008-10-08T11:16:00.000+01:00

Many hundreds of years ago, horse bits were made from metal alloys which often included nickel or copper. Over the years, stainless steel was discovered and bit production was moved over to this much cheaper and stronger material which seemed to offer the ideal solution.

Nickel is know not to be the ideal material to have in bits as it can be prone to snapping without warning, and causes allergies in some horses in the form of small pimples around the lips and mouth.

Copper however, although soft can be very useful when mixed with other metals to give a much more palatable taste.

Stainless steel is very strong and can be formed into almost any conceivable shape, but to a horse is essentially a very ‘dead’ metal. There is no taste to it and is very difficult to mark which indicates its hardness. This tends to have the effect of drying the horse’s mouth and often causes a tense or rigid jaw in response to the very inert metal in their mouths. If you were to put a stainless steel fork in your own mouth and suck on it for a few minutes, you will see how it is very difficult to keep the saliva flowing when there is no taste stimulus.

Copper and sweet iron are commonly seen in horse bit production today, and with the modern thinking, there is good reason to think that almost every horse would prefer to be bitted in a bit made from one of these metals that is able to oxidise and has a ‘taste’. It is also said that these metals when used in conjunction with each other produce a minute (and harmless!) electrical charge that also helps to stimulate saliva production in the horse mouth, which helps to prevent cracked or split lips and a sore or hard mouth.

Modern bits such as Sprenger and Myler utilise these metals in their bit designs, and with the anatomical design of the mouthpieces tend to offer the horse the most pleasant bitting experience possible.

Neck covers for horse rugs: When to use them

2008-09-30T11:17:00.000+01:00

Neck rugs are a fairly recent addition to the modern ranges of horse rugs, and most horses will have neck covers for at least one turnout rug if not more. The better made neck rugs such as those by Weatherbeeta or masta will be cut generously to allow total freedom of movement for your horse, and also have features such as anti rub linings to prevent manes from being damaged and stiffening strips to prevent the neck cover from falling down in use.

Neck covers are suitable for almost every horse to wear and are particularly ideal for horses with fully clipped necks. A large proportion of a horse's heat can be lost through his neck on a cold day, and by having a rug with a neck cover on it such as the Weatherbeeta Tri-Star you will help to avoid a cold horse. Horse that have cold necks also tend to grow the hair back faster on their necks than the rest of their bodies which leads to more frequent clipping. The best neck covers zip onto the rug and are usually supplied with it, for example on the Orican turnout which keeps the warmth in, and the rain out. They feature a gap over the withers to help prevent pressure and are easily removed when not required.

Separate neck covers are available for some turnout rugs and stable rugs and they usually have a fairly universal fixing consisting of 3 points of attachment, one either side and one at the top and so are compatible with most rugs that have 3d shaped rings near the neck of the horse rug. It is always best from a fitting as well as an aesthetic point of view to choose a neck cover made for the rug you are using on your horse, as this will ensure the product will perform to its maximum for years to come.

How to check if a horse rug fits correctly

2008-09-29T09:52:00.000+01:00

The fit of your horses stable or turnout rug is very important not only to his comfort, but to the longevity of the horse rug itself. A well fitting rug does not have to endure unnecessary strain on the material or stitching that can lead to leaking or early failure of the seams, and obviously from the horses point of view a badly fitting rug can be uncomfortable or even painful if left to rub for long periods.

Ideally, the rug will be lined with a smooth material such a breathable nylon which glides easily over the horses coat and helps to prevent the rug from being caught over the horses wither and causing strain. Many modern horse rugs from equine rug manufacturers such as Weatherbeeta , Masta and Mark Todd use this type of material in their turnout rugs to improve the perfomance of them which is why it always pays longterm to buy the best rug you can possibly afford, such as the very popular Weatherbeeta Taka , or Masta Check-Teck turnout .

When the rug is put on the horse, it should be placed slightly further forward than necessary and the front done up before being slid backwards into position. The surcingles should then be tightened to allow a hands width between belly and strap. There should easily be a comfortable hands width between the chest of the horse and the front of the rug, and the top of the rug should be sitting well in advance of the withers so there is no chance of it pulling back and behind.

When the horse is in motion or grazing, the rug should finish just at the top of the dock, and the rug should not look as if it is straining on the horse at any point, but moving over the top of his coat. Sometimes even with a correctly fitting rug (especially when in moult) horses can start to get bald patches on their chest or shoulders, and shoulder guards or anti-rub vests are very useful to use under the rug to help alleviate this problem.

How to measure your horse for a rug?

2008-09-29T09:18:00.000+01:00

Modern horse rugs tend to be fairly similarly sized between makes, and excepting the very cheap imported rugs (which tend to compound the issue by being badly cut) most horse rugs are fairly easy to measure for.

Rugs are measured along the bottom seam, so to find the ideal size stable rug the easiest way is to use a piece of string or bailing twine to measure from the centre of the horses chest (roughly where you can feel the horse breastbone) horizontally around his shoulder, along his side and just past the last point of his rump. You can then measure this on a tape measure, ideally in inches to give you the size. Horse rugs are measured every 3”, and if your horse is between sizes, for example 6’2” it is usually best to go up to the next size which would be 6’3” in this example. Stable rugs without a neck are best bought at the measured size, as are cooler rugs, sweat rugs and fly rugs without necks.

Most Turnout rugs and any horse rug including stable rugs with integrated neck covers are best bought one size larger to allow greater freedom of movement for your horse. Although sizes tend to run true amongst the different popular makes of turnout and stable rugs, the cut is sometimes slightly different and can suit different shapes and sizes of equines.

Mark Todd turnout and stable rugs have highly adjustable fronts and large shoulder gussets, and are especially deep which makes them generally a good choice of rug for any large chested or hunter type horse. The Weatherbeeta rugs have a good range of fitting, and will fit most middleweight horses as well as finer types such as Arabs and Thoroughbreds. Masta rugs are a very adjustable and deep fitting rug, and fit middleweight to larger horses best, but can adjust down to fit finer horses nicely too if required.

The development of Turnout & New Zealand rugs for horses

2008-09-17T12:34:00.000+01:00

Turnout rugs are a staple part of any modern horse’s wardrobe, but are a relatively modern invention in the horsey world. The modern turnout rugs for horses are descendents of the ‘New Zealand’ rug traditionally made of canvas. The New Zealand horse rugs were the original turnout rugs produced and available commercially some 30 years ago, but had a reputation of leaking like a sieve in heavy downpours and weighing a ton when heavy! The canvas turnout rugs were also prone to ripping, but this was the only viable material to make an outdoor horse rug from at the time so horse owners put up with it until the more modern materials available today.

The synthetic materials in use today were introduced around 12 years ago, and at first were met with disdain by some in the horse community who couldn’t see how such a light thing could possibly keep their horses warm! At first some of these more modern materials were not without their problems with leaking rugs and horses sweating under their rugs, but within a few years these modern ripstop cordura and nylon based fabrics quickly became established as superior in many ways. A modern turnout rug such as the Weatherbeeta Taka or Masta check tech turnout are very different rugs from the ones available even 10 years ago.

The modern horse turnout rug is fully waterproof and breathable, is lightweight even when wet and has effective filling that means turnout rugs can be less bulky for the horse to wear yet still supply the same tog (warmth) factor. Shoulder gussets have been designed and re-designed to allow freedom of movement, and fastenings are placed in the optimum place to keep the rug from slipping behind the withers and rubbing (a common problem in early horse rugs, which often led to fistulous withers!). Coupled with the more modern linings which tend to be nylon based and thus slide over the coat more effectively, the modern turnout rug really does offer the best protection for your horse in inclement weather.

Welcome to The Saddlery Shop’s first official blog!

2008-09-11T09:43:00.000+01:00

Most of the blogging will be done myself, Lucy Nicholas - one of the directors of The Saddlery Shop and I hope to be able to cover a wide range of horsey subjects covering everything from booting barefoot horses and bitting to how to choose a winter rug. Look out in the horsey press too, as you can often see my ‘two pence’ worth in the equestrian press such as Horse and Rider or Horse and Hound.

With winter approaching, horse rugs seems to be a good place to start, and many horse owners with be dusting off their rugs and sorting out which turnout rugs are suitable for the inclement weather that no doubt is just around the corner! Horses, like humans, ideally need a wardrobe of horse rugs to cover every eventuality, and having the right rugs will help any horse owner to sleep more peacefully knowing their horse is snug and warm in a good rug. Our horse rug department has an extensive range of rugs from leading manufacturers such as Masta and Weatherbeeta and prices all below RRP. We stock 1000’s of horse rugs so you know you will get the rugs you need when your horse needs them most, as we dispatch them from our warehouse and are not reliant on our wholesalers stock like a lot of companies.

It is possible to cover all eventualities, without having quite as many clothes as the average horsey female (which most horsey partners will be very glad to know!) by using rugs to layer up and do more than one job. To ensure your horse has a rug for all seasons, the following is a suggested list:

1 Lightweight turnout (no fill or 100g max)
1 Mediumweight turnout (approx 200g-250g)
1 Heavyweight turnout with optional neck cover (approx 300g +)
1 Mediumweight stable rug
1 Heavyweight stable rug (with optional neck cover if draughty)
1 Fleece or similar cooler
1 Under rug

It is always advisable to have spare rugs in case one gets damaged or soaked through unexpectedly, so it is always wise to look out for a second hand bargain to keep for an emergency too if possible. This combination will allow you to cover all weather and temperatures with the use of layering if necessary, travelling and cooling your horse down and keeping him warm after exercise at any time of year.