New range, unbeatable prices!

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.

The New Easyboot Glove

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.

Suitable Clothes for Riding Horses - Horse Riding Hats

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.

Gag Bits

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.