Give Your Horse Some Relief!

Equine allergies can be a hugely debilitating problem leading to equines suffering from discomfort and frustration. This often is displayed in what is known as headshaking. There can be a variety of causes which lead to headshaking but nose nets have been found to help a huge amount of horses that are displaying headshaking behaviour as a result of a pollen allergy or irritation from midges and flies. The Net Relief Muzzle can be fitted directly to your bridle to reduce symptoms whilst under saddle. Unlike traditional nets that cover the whole muzzle the contoured, shaped design covers only the top half of the muzzle. Once in place, it is unobtrusive, allowing saliva to escape from the mouth freely and does not interfere with the horses breathing. It can remain on the bridle at all times and places no restriction on the type of bit or noseband used. Permitted by both British Eventing and British Dressage the Net Relief Muzzle is fully adjustable attaching to the noseband via hook and loop straps allowing it to be adjusted up, or down and tailored to every horse. The Net Relief Muzzle was found to improve headshaking in 79% of equine sufferers during a clinical trial conducted at De Montfort University. So give your horse some relief and purchase him a Net Relief Muzzle today from The Saddlery Shop. Available now in a range of colours and sizes, just click on the link!

Perfect for Spring; The Horseware Newmarket Adela Ladies Jacket

The Horseware Newmarket Adela is the perfect jacket for the coming spring months. The ladies jacket is made from super lightweight 180g fleece material which through it's microfibre design is breathable and flexible providing warmth, without the risk of overheating. Equipped with a hood to keep cosy on the colder days or to protect you from sudden showers. Not to mention the fact that the classic Newmarket design is utterly timeless for every equestrian! The fully machine washable Newmarket Adela is jacket is highly practical with a full zip and zip side pockets; perfect for your phone and other essentials when riding or dog walking. Available in sizes XS-XL and available now from The Saddlery Shop!

Light Up the Darkness!

We think these caps from Horseware Ireland are a fantastic idea. Incorporated within the 100% cotton Horseware Ireland Cap is a simple switch which activates five LED lights within the centre peak of the cap producing instant light! Ideal for walking the dog, early starts out competing or completing late checks, the Horseware LED Light Up Cap is an absolute bestseller! The intense 12 hour beam allows you to light up the dark hands free and complete your tasks easily. Equipped with 3 spare batteries the Horseware Ireland LED Light Up Cap is a long term solution! Available in Navy or Green in classic Horseware style and priced at just £8.99! Snap up this useful bargain today at The Saddlery Shop!

Advice from Lucy Nicolas in Preventing and Managing Laminitis

Laminitis is condition which can affect many horses and ponies in the UK. The disease causes pain and discomfort as a result of inflammation of the internal laminae tissues which in some severe cases can result in the epidermal and dermal tissue bonds being torn and damaged causing the pedal bone to drop and rotate. Laminitis is more common during the Spring and Autumn months, often linked to obesity and also associated with mechanical trauma, stress, hormone problems, toxaemia and sometimes with steroid treatment. Lucy Nicolas shares her advice in preventing and managing laminitis. "We know that stressed grass is usually high in sugar. Spring is the time when the grass tends to start growing – sunny days and cool nights especially are said to ‘hold on’ to the non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs), e.g. the sugars in the grass. So research pasture management and get to know your own horse’s pasture. It is a good idea to lower the dietary sugar in your horse’s diet in any way you can following a low starch, low sugar diet year-round, but spring is an especially good time to assess this. It can be advisable to have your hay analysed to assess its sugar content and soaking it can reduce the sugar content. Where possible maintain or increase your horse's exercise to maintain good circulation, overall health and combat excess weight. Do not allow your horse to become overweight, as this is a trigger factor for laminitis. If likely to over indulge you can use a grazing muzzle to limit the intake of fresh grass intake your horse or pony can consume. If you can reduce the amount of time your horse grazes – bringing him in early, especially on sunnier days but do ensure he has enough dietary fibre to offset reduced grazing, whether through restricted turn out, or a muzzle." If your horse or pony has unfortunately succumbed to laminitis the RX hoof boot can be an incredibly useful addition to your equine kit. The RX hoof boot provides the ideal therapy hoof boot for equine laminitis sufferers. Sole support, essential for the laminitic horse, is achieved through using the RX boot on a bare (non shod) hoof as the boot is equipped with shock absorbing Easycare comfort pads inside. The supportive and stabilising boot allows the horse to benefit from increased circulation and when sufficiently recovered undertake controlled exercise or turnout once the hoof has stabilised which can aid healing. RRP from £62.50. Size guide and stockist info available at www.trelawneequine.co.uk or call 0844 2578585.

Mark Todd Long Leather Riding Boots; Perfect for Eventing!

The start of the Eventing season is beckoning with the first events just around the corner. When eventing, in order to ensure your attire fits the bill, a long pair of boots is a must-have with a functional, practical and chic pair of boots that are equally at home in the Dressage or Show Jumping ring or on the Cross Country course providing an essential piece of kit. The fantastic Mark Todd Long Leather Riding Boots are beautifully crafted unisex riding boots made of high quality Italian leather with an aniline leather lining. These stunning boots provide a shaped leg design following the contours of the leg for an elegant look and are equipped with a slightly higher cut on the outer of the boot to provide an exceptionally fashionable look. Neatly shaped around the ankle the Mark Todd Long Leather Riding Boots ensure a smart, sleek look with a subtle kick-back to give a close but comfortable fit. The boots feature a rubber injected sole for good grip whilst in the stirrups, full length zip at the back with a leather pull tab and a elastic fastening tab at the top. The water resistant boots also feature double spur rests and an embossed Mark Todd signature on the outside of the heel. Available in Black only in Unisex sizes 4-10 from www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk. Priced at £104.00.

Spring Clean Your Equine!

So you have spring cleaned the house and now it is time to start at the yard. With your equine shedding their winter coat and the sun breaking through, this is the perfect time to get your horse or pony back to looking their best. So where to begin? Well the basis of a beautiful summer coat is to effectively getting rid of the winter one so first use a rubber curry comb in a circular motion to bring up all the dead hair out from the coat. Once the loose hair is removed brush your horse all over with a good quality body brush such as the pictured Roma Pattern Body Brush to get rid of any left-over dust and grease. Choose a warm day when the sun is out to give your equine a bath. Choose a skin friendly shampoo such as the Dermoline Tea Tree Oil Shampoo. The soothing anti-bacterial shampoo is conditioning containing natural Tea Tree oil which cleanses and conditions the coat and skin. Make sure you wrap your horse or pony up warm and keep him stabled after his bath. Once your horse is brushed and bathed don't forget the feet! Give your horse's feet a good pick out and scrub and then apply a moisturising hoof grease such as Effol Hoof Ointment in order to strengthen horn development and prevent hooves from drying up and softening. To finish off why not give your equine a spritz with the fantastic Canter Mane and Tail Conditioner from Carr, Day & Martin. This can be used all over to give the coat a great shine but is particularly useful for detangling stubborn knots in manes and tails. So give your horse a spruce up; he will certainly appreciated it and both of you will be able to enjoy him looking and feeling fantastic. All of the grooming products described are available from www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk along with a huge range of other of other items.

The Saddlery Shop Reaches Finals of National Retail Awards

Exciting news for all of us here at The Saddlery Shop as we are thrilled to announce that our saddlery business has reached the finals of the national retail awards. British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA) holds national, annual Business Awards and The Saddlery Shop is proud to be one of the national finalists in the ‘Retailer of the Year Award: Mail Order/Internet retailer category’. The Saddlery Shop is the UK’s fastest growing online equestrian retailer is run by co-proprietor Lucy Nicholas, who set up the business seven years ago. Together with her family, Lucy sold their bricks and mortar shop, ‘The Riding Habit’ saddlery in Kent in 2006, to concentrate on the rapidly-growing internet business, The Saddlery Shop. Today The Saddlery Shop holds one of the largest ranges of horse bits held in stock in the UK, along with a wide range of other equestrian goods. Here is what Lucy had to say about the nomination “We’re delighted to have reached the finals of such a prestigious award, particularly as we were nominated by our customers,” said Lucy. “In the best traditions of a specialist retailer, we always endeavour to offer a personal yet professional service – and it’s satisfying to know that our efforts have been rewarded.” Our fingers are firmly crossed as the final aspects of voting takes place with our trade suppliers casting their votes to add to the votes already cast by our customers and BETA organises a series of mystery shops and incognito telephone calls. The winners will be announced later in February.