A Look at Grazing Muzzles with The Saddlery Shop

Lucy Nicholas of online retailer The Saddlery Shop offers this advice on restricting grazing with a muzzle this spring, for horses prone to weight gain or laminitis. They are something of a necessary evil for some owners, but a grazing muzzle can be a useful tool. By using a muzzle, your horse can still be moving around the field and socialising, but will be getting limited spring grass that has high levels of non-structural carbohydrates (NSC). Top Tips! 1.Introduce the muzzle gradually by starting off using it in the stable - reward your horse with a treat through the hole in the muzzle when you put it on and take it off. Once outside, feed grass through the hole to help him understand the principle. Leave the muzzle on for short periods, gradually building up the time it is on. 2.Most manufacturers recommend leaving a muzzle on up to a maximum of 12 hours, so don’t leave on for too long, as you may restrict the passage of food too much! 3.Remember that grass needs to be at least two inches long for ponies to be able to draw up some grass and not get too frustrated. If your horse is hungry and cross, this is not a good scenario! Dengie Horse Feeds performed a preliminary scientific study nine years ago to see how much grazing muzzles restricted grass intake. Bite depth, weight, area and volume were measured to ‘determine the effects of a grazing muzzle on bite parameters’ - the study showed a 75% to 86% reduction of intake. In addition to a comprehensive range of spring and summer items including a wide range of grazing muzzles, The Saddlery Shop offers a selection of great summer rugs, all below RRP. The site offers free delivery for orders over £75, and £4.99 for orders £75 and under. Visit www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk.

The Saddlery Shop now offers Neue Schule Bits!

The Neue Schule collection of bits offer an innovative range of bits for horses and ponies across all disciplines including hacking, jumping, showing and dressage. Neue Schule bits are ergonomically designed, curved and many include the trade mark lozenge. The Neue Schule innovation and designs are driven by the needs of horse and rider. This holistic approach represents a “new school” in bit design philosophy whilst years of first hand practical experience is distilled into any new design. Neue Schule leave no stone unturned and their development process include computer models and simulations followed by practical trials. The Saddlery Shop is now proud to offer a selection of over 50 Neue Schule bits including loose ring snaffles, full cheek bits, Pelhams, Eggbutts and Waterfords to name but a few. Why not visit the website today at www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk to see the Neue Schule bits available.

Protect your Horse with a Fly Rug from The Saddlery Shop

A fly rug or fly sheet, is a lightweight horse rug often used during the summer months to keep a horse both cool and protected from sunburn and bites from the flies and insects often taking up residence in the pasture at this time of year. The spring and summer months can be a dangerous time for horses in the paddock as just like humans, horses are susceptible to sunburn. Some horses will have skin that is extremely sensitive to intensive sunlight and UV rays, so fly rugs are not only a sensible purchase – they can be an absolute necessity too. The sun can also cause substantial damage to a horse’s coat, and if you’re competing on a regular basis, this could affect your chances of making an impression in the show ring! A Fly Rug also keeps your horse’s coat shiny by preventing a build up of dust and dirt. A Fly Sheet ensures the main body of the horse is fully protected from biting insects which can cause problems such as infections and sores. Some fly rugs are equipped with belly flaps and neck covers can help to offer a further buffer from harmful and irritating insects. Fly masks can also be essential to protect the equine eyes from pesky flies and in some cases certain designs can prevent a pink nose from becoming painfully effected by sunburn. The Saddlery Shop stocks a wide range of horse rugs from turnouts to fly rugs, all offered at some of the lowest prices on the Internet. We are one of the largest suppliers of Horseware rugs in the UK, plus we offer a range of other well known brands including Mark Todd and Weatherbeeta in each section to fit every budget. Why not visit the website today to see the range of fly rugs and summer rugs to keep your horse protected and comfortable? www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk

Fashion on a Budget with The Saddlery Shop

The Saddlery Shop was recently featured in Local Rider Magazine looking at how to stay in fashion and keep up with equestrian styles on a budget. Here is what the article had to say on keeping you 'in-vogue' in the saddle without breaking the bank! "If you are looking to splurge your cash this spring on some riding wear, then you will be pleased to know there are some great offers to be had to help stretch your pennies and pounds further. One of the best ways to shop wisely is to purchase slightly out of season - if you buy last Autumn’s stock now, you will find the garments are cheaper than the new spring/summer 2014 items, although they are exactly the same weight and composition, as a warm Autumn day and a chilly Spring day are very similar! Naturally when purchasing riding wear, look out for clever design elements like a bottom zipper that can be unzipped when in the saddle, longer sleeves that allow for warm wrists when riding with the arms bent, and close fitting garments that don’t flap about. Breathable materials are of course comfortable on a chilly day that may see you working up a sweat in the saddle! Designers are always coming up with clever additions for your comfort, such as adjustable drawstrings to allow for different thickness of layers, or wrist gaiters to exclude draughts! Colour wise, the typical equestrian / countryside colours are still fashionable, and probably always will be - chocolate browns, dark greens and sky-blues are perennial favourites, reflecting the natural colours of the countryside. For kids, bold primary colours for boys and purples, lilacs and pinks for girls continue to be popular.' A huge range of equestrian clothing bargains are available from The Saddlery Shop including fashionable clothing for men, women and children alike. Why not visit the website today and snap up a bargain on spring clothing such as T-shirts, fleeces, jackets and much, much more?

The Saddlery Shop - best for boots!

Online retailer The Saddlery Shop is one of the largest retailers of hoof boots for barefoot horses. This means consumers can get excellent deals, in terms of price and stock range of styles and sizes; however most importantly, they will get specialist service and advice on barefoot ‘booting’. “Hoof booting is a specialist subject,” explains The Saddlery Shop’s co-proprietor Lucy Nicholas, author of the popular JA Allen book, ‘The Barefoot Horse - an Introduction to Barefoot Hoofcare and Hoof Boots’. “We hold the largest stock of hoof boots and accessories in the UK, and own barefoot horses; hence, we have extensive experience regarding fitting the right make and model of boot to the horse in question,” Lucy explains. “It certainly isn’t a case of ‘one boot fits all’.” The Saddlery Shop offers free advice, and produces a Measuring Guide for customers, which allows them to provide a detailed enquiry if they are interested in purchasing hoof boots. “We believe that our booting experts are the most experienced in the country, in terms of sheer numbers of boots advised on, and sold - we regularly 'remotely fit’ boots with good results, and also help advise customers on limitations to the success of their barefoot regime, for example their horse’s trim or diet. Hoof boot enquiries are generally answered within four working hours,” Lucy adds. To see the wide range of hoof boots and huge host of other equestrian equipment at below RRP prices, visit the website: www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk