Get ahead - get a hat!

Horse riding is fun, but like many other sports, can be dangerous. There are many safety precautions that can be taken – however, falls still occur, so we discuss the most vital safety measure; the riding hat. You may think you have a valid reason for not wearing a helmet, but the truth is, there really is no excuse. Here’s why: 1.Wearing a riding helmet could save your life. 2.With the number of styles and fits on the market, there should be a helmet for everyone. 3.The Saddlery Shop has a number of modern, adjustable and well ventilated helmets available, such as the Dublin Onyx. 4.Head injuries can lead to permanent debilitation and some of the world’s most experienced riders have suffered serious falls, notably gold medal winning american rider Courtney King-Dye who fell without a riding hat and suffered a traumatic brain injury. Fitting your riding hat For adequate protection, your helmet must fit closely and the retention system must be adjusted to hold your hat firmly in place. When assessing fit, the rim of the hat should run in a line horizontally approximately half an inch above the eyebrows, round to the back of the head. Rock the helmet back and forward or gently lifted from the head and you should feel your skin move. Have you heard the news about new Riding Hat Safety Standards? Announcements have been made that the (BS)EN1384 standard will be withdrawn at the next publication of the Official Journal of the European Union. Any hats that have already been made can continue to be sold, and riders may go on using them. However, riding bodies are phasing out this standard. If you intend to purchase a helmet in the interim period, look for a hat which meets the PAS015 requirements for competition wear, such as the Gatehouse HS1, the Champion range from us at The Saddlery Shop. To see a range of articles, videos and reviews concerning equestrian and countryside matters visit www.horseandcountryside.com

Equine Magazine Reports the G2 Hoof Boot from The Saddlery Shop as 'Highly Recommended'!

We are delighted that in a forthcoming review in Equine Magazine the G2 Hoof Boot has been 'highly recommended'. Hoof boots are used for some barefoot horses, either during the transitionary period after de-shoeing, or in the longer term, as they increase weight distribution over a wide area, and provide shock absorption on concussive surfaces. The Old Mac G2 Hoof Boot stocked by The Saddlery Shop for barefoot horses has a unique, high-tech performance outersole, incorporating the unique hoof suspension system. The sole absorbs shock and aids recovery from concussion related injuries, as well as helping to prevent them. The rear of the boot and side flaps have been integrated into the sole, while the front protective shield helps prevent wear. Old Mac's G2 horse boots are an easy hoof boot to put on, and can be fastened whilst the hoof is on the ground. Comfort pads are advised for use in any hoof boot for the most natural beneficial experience for your horse also offered by The Saddlery Shop. G2s come in 11 sizes: 0-10. RRP from £149.99 per pair. Visit www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk to order online today or to make an Hoof Boot enquiry click here.

Equi-Ads Reports on The Saddlery Shop's New Hoof Boot; The Renegade!

The Saddlery Shop is one of the industry's leading authorities on on booting barefoot horses holding the largest stock of hoof boots in the UK. Brand new to the extensive range is the Renegade Hoof Boots. Extremely popular in the USA, these striking boots are available in a wide selection of sizes with an extensive fitting guide provided on the website www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk. Renegades took over three years to develop, and underwent rigorous testing. Featuring unique ‘pivoting heel captivator’ technology, if properly sized, fitted, adjusted and installed, the Renegade Hoof Boot will not rub, not even for riding distances of 100 miles. Many UK horse owners recognise the health benefits of maintaining a horse with bare feet. However, some horses take longer than others to progress from wearing shoes to going ‘bare’, and benefit from wearing hoofboots during the transitional process. Some bare horses will always need further protection when working on certain surfaces, or for certain durations, in order to remain comfortable - this is where hoofboots come in! Renegades are supplied in pairs of the same size, one left, one right hoof boot in Black only from The Saddlery Shop. Priced at £169.99. Visit the website: www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk

The Question and Answer Series on Barefoot Hoofcare Concludes; Part 5

Our blog series has been taking a look at barefoot hoof care with a variety of Questions and Answers from our customers. The questions have been answered directly by our very own barefoot hoof care expert The Saddlery Shop’s proprietor Lucy Nicholas in this five part series! This week sees the final part of the series with Question 5 concluding the feature. Question 5: I’ve noticed there are several different types of hoof boot on the market – how do I know which is right for my own horse? Every hoof boot is made to fit a slightly different size or shape of hoof. Most hoof boots are designed to fit a round or slightly longer than wide hoof, as this is the shape of most horses’ hooves when correctly barefoot trimmed. Thoroughbreds just out of shoes, and some heavier horses may have a naturally wider than long hoof, so here, the choice is more limited. The US and Europe supplies the largest volume of boots to UK customers, using British distributors. Easycare Inc’s wide range (which includes the Glove and the Trail) and the Renegade boot, designed by Kurt Lander, are very popular. New boots are coming on to the market all the time, so ask your hoofcare professional which boot would suit your horse, and research boots online. Read the manufacturer’s fitting and measuring guides (as like human shoes, all hoof boots come in sizes that fit a specific size range) and visit boot distributor’s websites to see the ranges available in the UK, in your horse’s size range. Some suppliers offer boot hire. I recommend using hoof pads in boots, as they help support the solar dome and help prevent potentially detrimental peripheral loading. Pads help to increase circulation. A wide range of Hoof Boots and Hoof Boot accessories are available from The Saddlery Shop why not visit the website today at www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk to find out more or send your own enquiry via the Hoof Boot Enquiry Page. If you keep your horse or pony barefoot or are interested in barefoot hoof care make sure you catch up with the rest of our Q&As on barefoot via our blog.

Question and Answer Series on Barefoot Hoofcare; Part 4

Our latest blog series is taking a look at barefoot hoof care with a variety of Questions and Answers from our customers. The questions will be answered directly by our very own barefoot hoof care expert The Saddlery Shop’s proprietor Lucy Nicholas in this five part series! Question 4: I’ve had my horse barefoot for three months, but he doesn’t seem to be adjusting very well. His hoof horn is breaking off and he’s been footsore quite a bit. What should I do? Lucy says... "This is almost undoubtedly due to dietary issues. Only a horse with an optimised, balanced diet will have truly healthy feet. Modern hoof care professionals (including farriers that specialise in barefoot horses) will place great emphasis on diet. Domestic horses are often fed a diet high in starch and sugar, and may also have periods with no food to eat. Neither practice is good for an equine’s nutritional status. Some horses can do well on a less-than-ideal diet and still have the quality of hoof you need to work them without shoes, but most barefoot horses need a natural diet. Good quality, low-sugar forage should form the largest part of the diet; sugar beet, linseed and copra meal [a coconut blend] are all useful for providing ‘cool energy’. Many owners of barefoot horses give supplementary vitamins and minerals. Biotin famously promotes hoof quality, and should be ideally fed in conjunction with methionine and often zinc, to aid absorption. One of the most significant minerals used to improve poor hoof quality is magnesium. I also advocate feeding a good prebiotic and probiotic. This serves as a very good nutritional insurance policy! Free choice salt should also be available. Seek nutritional advice if you are unsure; remember, good barefoot hoofcare practitioners will offer advice on your equine’s diet." A wide range of Hoof Boots and Hoof Boot accessories are available from The Saddlery Shop why not visit the website today at www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk to find out more or send your own enquiry via the Hoof Boot Enquiry Page. If you keep your horse or pony barefoot or are interested in barefoot hoof care make sure you catch up with the rest of our Q&As on barefoot via our blog. Next week we will complete the 5 part blog series with our final customer question- don't miss it!

Question and Answer Series on Barefoot Hoofcare; Part 3

Our new blog series is taking a look at barefoot hoof care with a variety of Questions and Answers from our customers. The questions will be answered directly by our very own barefoot hoof care expert The Saddlery Shop’s proprietor Lucy Nicholas! Question 3: How long will hoof boots last? – I’m trying to budget for going barefoot in the near future. The largest manufacturer of hoof boots, Easycare Inc, states their boots outlast steel shoes 3:1 on average, so if your horse wears through his metal shoes in six weeks, you could expect boots to last 18 weeks. However, boots are generally not used all the time or for every ride, so will in most cases last longer than this. The boots of the average horse hacking for an hour a day, five days a week, will last 6-18 months; this is dependent on terrain (roads being more abrasive than tracks, in general). Incorrectly sized boots will show unnaturally fast wear – for example if the breakover is too long for the hoof, this can make a horse catch the boot and wear the toe more than expected, highlighting the importance of a correctly fitting boot. I have heard of boots lasting three to four years when they were not used all of the time! Just like with metal shoes, the horse’s action plays a part in boot wear. A horse with a twist to their action or that drags their toe can wear them prematurely. A wide range of Hoof Boots and Hoof Boot accessories are available from The Saddlery Shop.

Question and Answer Series on Barefoot Hoofcare; Part 2

Our new blog series is taking a look at barefoot hoof care with a variety of Questions and Answers from our customers. The questions will be answered directly by our very own barefoot hoof care expert The Saddlery Shop’s proprietor Lucy Nicholas! Question 2: A friend keeps her horse barefoot and says that hooves need to be trimmed differently if you keep your horse without shoes. Is this true? Yes; the type of trim given to prepare the hoof for a shoe is completely different to a functional trim given to a working horse. There are two types of trim commonly performed on non-shod horses. Essentially, a pasture trim tidies the hooves of a non-working horse at grass, and is sufficient for companion or retired horses. Meanwhile, a natural (or performance) trim aims to produce hard-working hooves for ridden horses. The type of trim your horse receives depends entirely on your choice of practitioner and their understanding of your needs. A pasture trim generally just removes excess length and tidies chips, and does not shape the hoof in what is termed a ‘mustang roll’. This rounds the edge of the hoof to strengthen the hoof capsule and help the hoof withstand chipping. The natural (or performance) trim ensures the foot is properly balanced, addresses flare, trims the hoof wall trimmed to hard sole level, and applies the mustang roll. Barefoot practitioners should also discuss diet and environment at each visit. Seek recommendation, whether via friends or on equine forums, to find a recomended hoofcare practitioner. Simply removing the shoes and tidying the hoof will not produce a functional bare foot. A wide range of Hoof Boots and Hoof Boot accessories are available from The Saddlery Shop.