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.

Limit the Risk of Laminitis with a Comfort Grazing Muzzle

With Spring not that far away on the horizon it is time to consider protective measures against Laminitis. The common, yet debilitating condition is caused by the inflammation, weakening or tearing of the laminae tissues which bond the hoof wall to the pedal bone. Typically thought of to be induced by obesity Laminitis can be particularly prone to occuring during the spring months as a result of prolonged consumption of lush grass. Many people choose to keep their laminitic horse or pony stabled and though this may be necessary during an acute period every owner hopes to get their horse or pony back out at pasture upon reaching a significant level of recovery. A grazing muzzle restricts the quantity of grass which can be consumed by limiting the depth and weight of each bite but without preventing the horse from eating all together. A grazing muzzle can be incredibly beneficial in order to both prevent the risk of a greedy equine developing laminitis and to ensure a recovering laminitic can spend a period of time outside safely. The comfort grazing muzzle offered by The Saddlery Shop is composed of soft webbing and equipped with padded nose, padded cheek and padded poll areas for extra comfort. The colourful nylon woven fabric grazing muzzle is adjustable and fitted with stainless steel fastenings and a D-ring, perfect for leading.