Dogwood London Blog

Police horse Chester

noreply@blogger.com (Fuse) — Fri, 6 Dec 2013 10:13:00 GMT

Not all horses are pets, some are working animals who look forward to a well-earned retirement.

However, whatever your equine does during the day, whether it's walking around their field with friends and keeping the grass down, or helping human co-workers undertake important tasks, they deserve a comfortable place to sleep at night, good quality horse rugs for different seasons, the right food, and enough exercise.

One horse we're sure gets looked after very well, who got into Bolton's news recently, is Chester the bay.

He's a big police horse who was helping his rider show a trainee mounted police officer and their steed how to patrol the town centre.

But despite having a serious job, we're pleased to see that Chester still has time for his fans. In this case it was five-month-old Logan, who was held up by his mum so that he could give the horse a pat.
The majority of horses love getting attention from people and enjoy being shown affection. The best way to do this is to make sure they don't want for anything necessary for their health and happiness.
Horses should always have access to clean water, suitable food, shelter from the elements, and only the correct horse equipment should be used to look after them.

Photo © Stuart Grout via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence

3D printed horse shoes

noreply@blogger.com (Fuse) — Thu, 21 Nov 2013 09:59:00 GMT

If you're looking for a pair of beautifully made and well-fitted English riding boots, then you need not look further than Dogwood London.

However, although we do a range of products for equines as well as riders, such as horse rugs, bridles, and tacks, we can't claim to sell horse shoes – and certainly not the most state-of-the-art types.

There's a lot of talk about 3D printing at the moment, with some of its most exciting uses being to create replacement limbs and organs for injured people. There are many other ways in which this tech has been employed though, and one is to make horse shoes.

Australian scientists have made four titanium shoes for a race horse which has been nicknamed Titanium Prints. The animal, which resides in Melbourne, had its hooves scanned by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), and then the special shoes were designed to fit from the scan.

Usually made from aluminium, horse shoes can be quite heavy – but these titanium ones are much lighter, and could help the equine race ahead of competitors.

Nevertheless, despite these shoes being lighter, they are more expensive, as is usually the case with products leading the way in their field (no pun intended).

Still, perhaps horse owners will overlook the price and purchase some titanium shoes for their animal, at the very least to see what all the fuss is about. It only requires a few people to take the first step (again no pun intended) and buy an innovative product to make it the next big thing.

Photo © Thowra_uk via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence

Apprenticeship Open Morning at Lavant House Stables

noreply@blogger.com (Fuse) — Mon, 23 Sep 2013 17:00:00 +0100

Lavant House Stables in Chichester, West Sussex, is holding an Apprenticeship Open Morning tomorrow for teenagers between the ages of 15 and 18 who are interested in having a career working with horses.

From 10am to 1pm, youngsters will be able to come to the stables, meet the horses, and the team who looks after them, as well as find out what a job working with horses entails.
The stables run a professional programme which enables those who enrol to work towards achieving NVQ levels 1 and 2 – which are equivalent to 5 GCSE's at grade C and above.
Some of the lessons will involve learning to ride the horses safely, and others will teach students stable management, providing them with valuable skills such as how to use and store horse equipment properly.

The Lavant House Stables even have horses and ponies for sale, so anyone who would like to own their very own equine might find their ideal animal.
However, if you do purchase a horse or pony, it is very important that you have a suitable stable to keep them in, a field for them to get the exercise and freedom they need to be happy, as well as the correct horse equipment with which to look after and ride them safely.
Dogwood London can help you find riding hats, saddles, boots, as well as other useful gear such as gloves, bridles, and horse rugs. Have a browse of the online store today!
Photo © will g via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence

Six horses saved from neglect

noreply@blogger.com (Fuse) — Fri, 30 Aug 2013 11:24:00 +0100

Six horses have been saved from lives of neglect this month, with the RSPCA taking three while the others were taken by World Horse Welfare.

The animals were discovered at a farm in Kent, suffering from inadequate diet, dental problems, untreated ringworm, and wounds from their horse rugs.

Horse rugs should be properly fitted to a horse – not loose – so that the material does not rub and the rug does not start twisting round, potentially causing the animal to panic.

Both owners were banned from owning equines for twelve months, fined £100, and ordered to pay £500 in court costs each.

Due to appeals by the pair, it took a while before the two organisations had full ownership of the six horses.

Speaking of the three horses taken into World Horse Welfare's care, Manny (a brown Thoroughbred), Pally, (a Welsh Cross Palomino), and Terry (a Welsh Cross Chestnut), the Field Officer stated, "The good news is that the three lovely boys are now officially ours, which I am very happy about – we can now look forward to rehoming them to new families through our Rehoming Scheme."

For high-quality horse rugs and other equipment to keep your animal comfortable, such as fly sheets, please visit Dogwood London today.

Dusting off my riding hat

noreply@blogger.com (Fuse) — Mon, 22 Jul 2013 09:56:00 +0100

Some say, if you haven’t ridden a horse for years, it’s just like getting back on a bike. Personally, I think it’s easier.

Growing up in the New Forest, riding both a bike and a horse – not at the same time I hasten to add – were activities I participated in on a regular basis. Living within 150 square miles of ancient woodland and open heathland gave me plenty of opportunity to go cycling and riding whenever possible, breathing in the fresh outdoors and eyeing up the beautiful scenery.

Sometimes I would ride in the paddock – this was the case if it was a windy day or if I hadn’t been riding for a while and wanted to brush up on my skills or learn more advanced techniques. On one memorable occasion, I went horse riding in the paddock with my sister. After donning our riding hats and boots, we rode single file; she on her horse behind me on mine.

Enjoying our leisurely ride around the enclosure, I suddenly heard this ‘thump’ and turned back to see my sister sat on the muddy ground. Turns out, her horse bit my horse’s bum, who then retaliated by kicking him, knocking my sister off in the process. Fortunately, no-one was harmed and I found the incident highly amusing.

At the age of 18 I moved from the New Forest and, now having the ability to drive, relied on my motorised vehicle to get me from A to B. The change in lifestyle meant I didn’t have much need for horse riding or cycling, so I pretty much gave them up.

City living became my new focus as the years went by, but I’m still a country girl at heart and always end up going back to my roots. However, it was only really when I met my – now closest – friend that I gave cycling and horse riding another go – and it wasn’t what I had expected.
Getting back on a bike after ten years wasn’t like they say – it’s not that easy. Every twig, stone and branch I rode over, gave me a dreaded feeling that I was going to come tumbling down to the ground below. Fortunately, after about an hour, I soon picked it up and was ‘flying’ down hills at ridiculous speeds.

Horse riding, however, was a different matter entirely. As soon as I got back on a horse, sitting upright and proud, strolling through the countryside and taking in the scenery, I immediately felt at home.

In fact, it was choosing a secure riding hat that was the most difficult task out of the whole experience. Rummaging through a box of them, trying on every shape and size I could find, it took an age to find one which felt relatively comfortable and fitted correctly. There is no doubt in my mind that, if I took up riding again on a regular basis, I would make sure I buy a riding hat which is safe and secure, guaranteeing comfort and reassurance on every ride.

Laura Collett suffers fall while training Kauto Star

noreply@blogger.com (Fuse) — Mon, 15 Jul 2013 13:00:00 +0100

Twenty-three-year-old horse rider Laura Collett, who hopes to compete for Team GB in the 2016 Olympics, has suffered a serious injury while training Kauto Star on Tweseldown Racecourse, Hampshire.

She had been riding the Cheltenham Gold Cup winning horse to prepare it to compete in dressage, when she suffered a fall.

Thankfully she was wearing a riding hat and it appears that she has escaped head injury, but she still sustained damage to her lungs and kidneys so has been kept under sedation.
Kauto Star's owner stated, "Laura's making good progress and we are hopeful there isn't any brain damage.

"She has got other injuries – some kidney problems – but everyone is optimistic and we hope she gets back in to the saddle in due course."

Reportedly the event rider woke up briefly and reacted well to family, which is promising progress.
Dogwood wish Laura all the best and hope she gets discharged from hospital soon!

Photo © Tim Simpson via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence

Horse riding into the future

noreply@blogger.com (Fuse) — Fri, 5 Jul 2013 13:36:00 +0100

So, L has been having riding lessons for just over a year and a half and she's a very happy young rider. Her riding boots are thoroughly worn in, she has two pairs of well-used jodhpurs, and her riding hat has been put to good use when protecting her in a couple of falls.

As a family we are learning to have horses and equine pursuits in our lives and we often accompany L up to the fields so that she can look after "the boys". L now rides Jake quite often and the owner is extremely surprised and pleased with Jake's, and L's, progress.

L is determined that horses will continue to feature in her life and as she makes plans for a future career, the strongest contender, at the moment, is for her to join the police force. She hopes that she could combine this with her love of horses and go into the mounted police division.
As a non-horsey mummy, I find this somewhat daunting, but she is strong-willed, a natural leader, and her love of horses certainly seems to be something she will not grow out of easily. So, perhaps this could be the perfect vocation for her.

We will continue to watch her riding lessons with great joy and, sometimes, a sense of trepidation as the exercises get trickier and the jumps get higher. And if you are considering taking your child to have riding lessons, I say, do it. It's fun, gets them out into the fresh air, they have to work hard and listen, and they learn respect for animals and each other.
Happy riding lessons everyone.

Behind the Scenes of Jackdaws Castle; Jonjo O’Neill’s Training Facilities

noreply@blogger.com (Fuse) — Thu, 27 Jun 2013 10:34:00 +0100

If you’re a fan of horse racing, there’s nothing quite like getting as close as possible to the action. Attending your local race meets is one thing; but wouldn’t it be great to see your favourite horses off the track?

Leading UK-based racehorse trainer, Jonjo O’Neill, boasts some of the most impressive training facilities in Europe. Jackdaws Castle has played host to legendary racehorses and big winners such as Synchronised, Sunnyhillboy, Holywell, and Tarquin du Seuil.

So sit back and be prepared to be wowed as we take a behind-the-scenes look at Jackdaws Castle; Jonjo O’Neill’s incredible racehorse training facilities.

The Gallops

The bulk of a racehorse’s training programme revolves around regular workouts on the gallops. Jackdaws Castle proudly boasts the finest National Hunt training facilities in Europe and features both grass and all-weather gallops. The 500-acre estate features three-mile horse walks; all allowing horses to enjoy a diverse exercise plan without the need to use public roads or bridle paths.

Jackdaws Castle has three, mile-long grass gallops with varying inclines. Equipped with sprinkler systems to ensure optimum underfoot conditions, the gallops provide a thorough workout for the horses.

Ever prepared for the Great British weather, Jackdaws Castle also has a five-furlong Eurotrack gallop and a one-mile Polytrack gallop. If the weather isn’t on the teams’ side, these facilities mean the horses are still able to get their workouts. With a whole host of specialist equipment, Jonjo and the team are able to replicate underfoot conditions to keep training consistent.

Indoor School

Indoor schooling also forms a hugely important part of a horse's training regime. Measuring 25,000 square feet, the Indoor Complex at Jackdaws Castle includes a 215 x 130 feet schooling area, horse walkers and much more.

This facility is especially important in the training of young horses. As well as a replica Eurotrack surface for the training of novices, Jackdaws Castle’s indoor school also includes a number of facilities for yearlings.

These include training hurdles, helping prepare novices before they advance to the outdoor school. The facility also includes starting stalls. These help the team introduce young horses to this central piece of racing equipment; helping to prepare them for their first race.

Equine Swimming Pool and Solarium

Jonjo’s training facility doesn’t just focus on preparing the horses for racing. It also includes a number of state-of-the-art equine spa facilities; each helping in the recovery and rehabilitation of horses.

The equine swimming pool relieves pressure on joints, bones and ligaments, whilst providing enough resistance to ensure a thorough workout. Not only this, but swimming can also help maintain an injured horse’s fitness levels without causing any extra damage.

The equine spa also includes a solarium. Jonjo and his team see this as a hugely important piece of therapy equipment and use these solariums to gain a competitive edge over other horses on the track.
The three solariums are powered by special infrared bulb heaters and provide a pleasant warming sensation that is proven to relax tense muscles and improve circulation. The solarium also provides horses with much-needed vitamin D – something which is essential for joint and bone health.

Equine Therapy Bays

The final facility we will look at on this virtual tour of Jackdaws Castle is the therapy bays. These bays use magnetic pulse therapy (MPT) to help improve a horse's recovery from injury and lessen the severity of certain injuries.

This relatively new treatment is completely safe for the horse and is purely therapeutic. It has been known to reduce pain and inflammation, increase circulation and help with horse rehabilitation. Jonjo’s equipment includes a Temperature Therapy machine, providing continuous and programmable ice or heat therapy.

So there you have it; a sneak peek at behind the scenes of Jackdaws Castle. Getting to see horses in training – and then battling it out on the track – is a must for any horse-racing fan. By getting closer to the action in this way, you can see exactly what goes into training a winning horse.

Jonjo O’Neill is a leading name in the racing industry, having trained a Grand National winner and many other Grade One winners. Racing enthusiasts can visit Jackdaw’s Castle or even own a racehorse that will be trained by Jonjo and his team.

To body protect or not to body protect

noreply@blogger.com (Fuse) — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 12:16:00 +0100

As I have already mentioned, apart from L, we are not a very animal-centric family. I had a budgie once as a child, but finding it stone dead and stiff on its perch one day rather put me off any further attempts at pet ownership.

I love most sports though, and for a while was a great follower of horse racing. For several seasons on the trot (sorry) my young son G and I would watch the national hunt racing season with great interest. From our armchair vantage points we began to know the horses, the trainers, the form, we could even spot the colours of the silks and we had a pet horse (not literally) which we followed avidly as he competed all over the country. The Last Fling tragically fell and died in the 2002 Grand National, where he had been leading for a long time in the race.

L was four when this happened. She didn't really know much about it, but she grew up loving horses (not necessarily horse sport) even though the rest of us were football, rugby, and athletics mad. She was a brave girl in a house full of non-equine-based sports fans.

When it finally came time for L to start having riding lessons, I was determined that she would be safe. Although I know you can rent riding hats from most stables, we wanted L to have properly fitted kit which was her own and would make her feel safe. By going to Dogwood London I was able to ensure her riding hat and riding boots were fitted correctly and of the highest quality. I was a happy mummy as L went for her first riding lesson in her brand new boots and hat.

It was apparent very quickly that she would progress at a fast pace and that she loved riding. Then out of the blue a colleague asked me what sort of body protector she was wearing. I hadn't really thought about it as she was only a beginner and they are expensive pieces of kit, but, having written about horse riding accidents on many occasions, and having listened to a number of horsey people say they felt all novice riders should wear one, I was sold on the idea pretty quickly. Yet, looking around at the riders having lessons, it was about a forty-sixty split on young riders with body protectors and those without. The last thing I wanted was for L to feel self-conscious, as if she was being forced to ride with stabilisers on her bike when all the other kids are firmly on two wheels, but as she was starting to canter in her lessons I felt sure a fall could be imminent.

So, we got one properly fitted at Dogwood, and L wore it to her next lesson. She seemed happy to wear it. It was a good lesson, but as she was asked to complete a particular movement her horse decided he was not going to comply and L had her first fall (only a little one – the horse stopped, but she carried on going) and I was mightily relieved that we had invested in the extra piece of safety equipment as she landed flat on her back, but was left with no serious damage or pain etc.
Okay, I'm not an expert and I know there are many people who don't wear body protectors because they feel they are ineffectual in a serious accident, but L said she felt more confident in hers and it made a difference to her posture as well. She has never been riding without it and, for me, this is a good thing.

So, we are body protector converts…but you still won't get me on a horse!

Canter leads lead the way

noreply@blogger.com (Fuse) — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 09:05:00 +0100

It's finally June, the wind is no longer howling and the indoor school is almost a pleasure to be in.

There were six horses and riders in L's last lesson – L was on Sultan, who looked a wee bit sleepy.

The instructor announced that the riders were going to practise their canter leads – I had no idea what that meant, but I was soon going to find out.

Apparently, being on the correct canter lead means making sure the horse is striding out on its appropriate leading leg when going into canter. The entire ride got their first canters all on the correct canter lead. Hurrah!

But they were just riding large so it was fairly easy – when a rider needs to make the horse change direction, such as going over a jump on a show jumping course, this can become problematic.
At the next exercise, the riders had to canter their ponies over a diagonal pole in the middle of the school, turn into the corner going into trot, then come off the corner on the correct canter lead.
L had trouble waking Sultan up on her first run, but having got him going, she carried out the exercise the best of the bunch, despite, so the instructor said, the need to give her horse "baggy reins".
Next the riders had to go over a series of poles set in the middle of the school. I was completely confused by it all, but the riders all checked their horse tack and seemed to know where they were going. Initially there was some confusion about the series, but the two lead-out riders eventually got their bearings and off they went, changing their canter leads as they went into the corners.
It looked like fun and was great to watch. The riders seemed exhilarated too.

By the time L took her turn, Sultan had more or less given up, having stood for a while on this warm afternoon. It took several sharp taps of her whip to get him going, and he didn't like it, so L got a sharp buck for her trouble. She very nearly lost all contact with her saddle and almost ended up flying right off. Yet she held on for dear life, got her riding boots back into place and kept cool under her riding hat. When she eventually got Sultan going she managed the exercise very well – a couple of wrong canter leads, but she got him back on the right lead with great efficiency.

At the end of the lesson everyone was exhausted, including the frazzled non-horsey mummy on the sideline, but there were lots of hugs and big pats for all the ponies and a very happy drive home for L and me.
Photo © J Venn

Dark December riding lesson

noreply@blogger.com (Fuse) — Tue, 4 Jun 2013 16:15:00 +0100

A few blogs ago I mentioned L's much-longed-for first riding lesson, she was 13 and it was a dream come true for her that she was being given the opportunity to learn to ride.

I had booked the last lesson of the day at the riding school, so I could take her after work on a Tuesday. It was a dark December evening and L was over the moon with excitement and nervousness.
We had already bought a riding hat and jodhpur boots, and L got into our car clutching the hat excitedly on her knees. The riding school is 25 minutes away, but because I hadn't driven the route for a long time, and I wasn't sure what admin we would need to complete upon arrival at the school, I decided to leave 45 minutes ahead of the booking time.

We were all smiles at the outset of our journey and we dashed through our little town and out onto the country roads towards the riding school. There's really only one major road in and out of A_____ and it's a nice, fast dual carriageway, but, oh dear, as we joined it the cars were completely backed up over a mile and a half outside A_____.
"Not to worry," I told L, "It's probably just a bit of rush hour traffic and we've given ourselves plenty of time."

We continued to chat eagerly about horses and how great it was that L was really, truly going to have riding lessons, but I could see the time ticking away and the traffic was just not moving.
We sat…and sat…and sat.

About 20 minutes before the lesson was about to start I rang the school and the cheery instructor told us not to worry and that it would be okay if we were a few minutes late.
Five minutes after the booking time, and still a long, long way away I rang again. The instructor was sorry, but the school would need to close soon. My heart fell and I could see from L's forlorn face that she was heartbroken. She was still clutching her riding hat on her knees and I've never seen anything sadder.

At the earliest opportunity, and an hour and a half after setting off, we managed to turn the car round to go home. I was gutted.
It turns out that a sequence of accidents on the roundabouts around A_____ completely snarled the whole area up and we were just caught in an unfortunate traffic jam. The following week, we were at the school 25 minutes early and L's lesson was brilliant.
She hasn't looked back.
Photo © J Venn

Badminton Horseless Trails - a parkour challenge

noreply@blogger.com (Fuse) — Tue, 28 May 2013 16:16:00 +0100

We can all admit to being a bit tired sometimes, but when your horse needs to get out and about, you pull on your riding boots, don the riding hat, and give it the exercise and fresh air it needs to stay healthy and happy nonetheless.

Sometimes it's difficult to get yourself out of bed, but it's impressive how quickly you feel more awake when on a horse! I would go as far as to say that it is definitely on par with a strong coffee!
However, would you ever feel energetic enough to undertake the jumps your horse can perform so gracefully, without your steed?

One 22-year-old from Merseyside has been videoed jumping, flipping, and rolling his way through 28 fences of the Badminton Horse Trials Cross Country Course.
Challenged to attempt the course parkour-style by his girlfriend – herself a horse rider – he did complete the 6km course, but not within the usual allocated time limit given to those with equine help.

On horse-back, competitors cannot take longer than 11 minutes and 13 seconds to finish all the jumps. Without a horse it took the springy, gravity-defying 22-year-old almost four hours.
Still, we are very impressed...although perhaps he should have had a riding hat or some other form of protective gear on just in case?

Mmmm, I smell wet riding boots

noreply@blogger.com (Fuse) — Wed, 22 May 2013 10:37:00 +0100

So, it was a beautiful day in May for a riding lesson. Actually, it was cold, the wind was blowing, the heavens had just opened and – even though we were in the inside school – it was dark, dull, and cold. Still, L was on her horse and looked happy.

The Saturday class contained seven ponies and riders; the warm up had gone well and L had cantered a good 20 metre circle into a large circle. It went well and she looked pleased.
The riders then practised accurate flat riding over off-centre poles. They were doing the exercise in rising trot and the point of the manoeuvre was to correctly steer their pony over the middle part of each pole. L and her pony Seamus did it very well. In fact, the instructor praised L for not being distracted by her pony's grunts and general noisiness.

Next, the exercise increased in difficulty. The riders had to trot their mounts over the first pole at the far side of the school, then take the pony out to the centre of the school where they had to go over a second pole, trotting a circle back around to take the centre pole again. Then they had to steer the horses back to the last pole which was further over, toward the edge of the school at the far end.
The instructor said it was quite a difficult manoeuvre and yet almost all the riders completed it without too many hitches. Of course, one of the other girls in the class, B, on Jasmine, had a hard time as the springy little bay just wanted to run and run, and then return to the back of the ride. B managed to complete the exercise by taking her pony in the opposite direction to the rest of the horses, but it's a good job her horse tack was secure as it looked like Jasmine just wanted to shake everything free, including her rider.

The last exercise involved trotting over a pole in the middle of the school, then cantering directly away and coming around again to canter over the pole for a second time, followed by cantering large around the school. It required, apparently, enormous levels of focus and control. Seamus trotted up amiably enough, but then couldn't make up his mind whether he wanted to trot or canter away after the first pole. Eventually, L gathered herself together and made him perform a good last canter.
All in all, the lesson went well. No one fell off, most of the diagonals were correct, and the exercises made the girls focus hard on where they were asking their ponies to go.
Sadly, by the end it was still cold and dull, and as we removed the horse tack, saddles, and bridles and returned them to the tack room at the end of the lesson, the heavens had opened.

Mmm, wet riding boots always smell so lovely in the car on the way home, don't they?

Thoughts on riding lessons from a non-horsey mummy

noreply@blogger.com (Fuse) — Mon, 20 May 2013 12:07:00 +0100

My daughter has been learning to ride for about 16 months now. At 14, we almost felt she had missed the horse-boat, as it were, but it turns out that the teen years, with increased strength and self-awareness, can be the ideal time to take up equine pursuits.

L has always loved horses, and for years and years begged us to let her have one, ride one, muck it out…etc. She would have done anything really, but although we are a sporty family, horses (animals in general, really) were not our thing. Then, we met a lady who lives nearby and has a field, with, crucially, two horses which live in it. She asked if L would like to help look after "her boys" – L jumped at the chance.

At 13, L was beginning to think that she would never have a life which included animals, let alone her beloved horses. She had spent too much time in her room while the rest of the family watched football, rugby and even golf on the TV, and spent many days at home with her step-dad while mum (me) and son went around the country to athletic competitions. No, there was never a time for horse riding.

Then, when No 1 son went off to University shortly after L's 14th birthday and, as she had shown a strong commitment to the boys, we decided it was time for her to learn to ride.
Having kitted her out with a riding hat and riding boots – joddy boots, the man in the shop told me – off we went to the stables for our first lesson. It was a dark December evening and wasn't destined to be the dream start we had desired.

Johnny Depp may need to practise his riding skills

noreply@blogger.com (Fuse) — Tue, 14 May 2013 10:42:00 +0100

Unless you've been living under a rock for the past few decades, you will have probably heard of Johnny Depp. The famous actor has accomplished many wonderful things during his career, but he may be facing his most difficult challenge yet.
Currently, the celebrity is playing the role of Tonto in the new Hollywood blockbuster ‘The Lone Ranger', but is apparently having some problems during the horse-riding sequences. It has been claimed that Mr Depp wants to do all the stunts himself, but unfortunately, it seems he keeps falling off his mount.
He has suffered so many accidents that the film's producers are reportedly concerned his tailbone may eventually sustain permanent damage.
Horse riding is a difficult skill to master, but – much like all activities – it just requires practice. Fingers crossed that Mr Depp has been provided with appropriate equestrian clothing, such as a riding hat, in order to prevent him from developing further injuries.
The Lone Ranger should be released later this year and, personally, I'm looking forward to seeing Mr Depp's riding skills on the big screen.
Photo © ATempletonPhoto,com via Flickr under Creative Commons Licence

Essex pub to become "equestrian centre"

noreply@blogger.com (Fuse) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 15:30:00 +0100

Stop me if you've heard this before – A horse walks into a bar, and the bartender says, "Why the long face?"
This is one of those jokes which seems to defy logic. For starters, why would a horse go into a pub in the first place? Moreover, is it even possible for a bar to accommodate one of these creatures?
However, several horses may soon be entering a pub in Essex – because the venue is being converted into an "equestrian centre".
Reportedly, the Wheatsheaf pub has been closed since 2006, but plans have been approved which should transform the site. As well as constructing a "riding arena", the venue will also feature buildings such as a post office, a restaurant, and shops.
Therefore, visitors might be able to take their steeds for a ride, enjoy a quality meal, and then perhaps purchase the latest in equestrian clothing. In addition, it has been claimed that the finished site may help to improve rider safety as well as benefit the local community.
Furthermore, the project should involve building a home within the area. Considering that the site seems to be catering towards participants of equestrianism, I hope designers plan on including a bridle suite for the animals.
Get it? Bridle suit? Horse bridles? Fair enough, I'll try to make fewer jokes and focus on writing these pieces instead.
Photo © aldenchadwick via Flickr under Creative Commons Licence

Many horse riders could be too heavy for their steeds

noreply@blogger.com (Fuse) — Mon, 8 Apr 2013 10:39:00 +0100

A recent news story caught my attention this week. It reported on the results of a study which suggested that equestrianism could be facing an obesity crisis.
I realise I might have to clarify that statement. I don't mean that participants have been purchasing horse rugs in XL sizes, but rather these people could be getting too big for their riding boots – in a manner of speaking.
It has been stated that when mounting a horse, an individual should weigh less than 10% of the animal's mass. To put that into perspective, if a steed is about 500kg, the rider should be approximately 50kg.
However, the results of the study – published in the Journal of Veterinary Behaviour – suggested that many individuals could be too heavy for their mounts. In fact, it appears that only 5% of riders could be within the above limit.
Moreover, approximately 32% could be so heavy that they may place the health of their horses at risk. As a result, their steeds might suffer from various problems, such as back pains, arthritis in parts of their legs, and could even become bad tempered.
Now, I realise this is quite a sensitive subject, but perhaps riders should consider investigating how much they weigh before jumping in the saddle. As a spokesperson from the Association of British Riding Schools put it when speaking to the Daily Telegraph: "What's more important – saving someone's blushes, or saving the horse's back?"
Photo © Just chaos via Flickr under Creative Commons Licence

Moonwalking pony becomes YouTube hit

noreply@blogger.com (Fuse) — Tue, 5 Mar 2013 09:40:00 GMT

Any seasoned horse rider should be familiar with the rules of dressage. Defined by the Fédération Equestre Internationale as an activity where the "horse and rider are expected to perform from memory a series of predetermined movements", this competition is adored by many participants and spectators alike.
Although these events are usually best enjoyed live or on the television, I may have found a very entertaining variant recently while browsing videos on YouTube.

Three, a mobile phone company, has recently uploaded a clip onto the website which shows a Shetland pony pulling off some really snazzy moves. Dancing to Fleetwood Mac's 'Everywhere', the equine star only stops his moonwalk when someone drives past on a tractor.
As a rider wasn't involved in the pony's performance, I doubt we can really compare this video to dressage – but can you imagine this moonwalking equine in a competition? I bet the animal would do rather well!
Now that the video has gone viral – with more than a million hits since I started writing this blog – hopefully Three will give the pony a nice present, such as a new horse rug.
Closing the advert, the clip ends with the caption, "Silly stuff. It matters." – which is coincidentally what I try and write about when I do these articles...

BHS campaign aims to prevent horse riders from suffering traffic accidents

noreply@blogger.com (Fuse) — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 15:35:00 GMT

Although according to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) many horse riders do not particularly enjoy taking their animals on the roads, sometimes they have no choice. Coming into contact with vehicles can be dangerous, especially because loud noises or fast moving objects can panic steeds – potentially resulting in a traffic accident.
According to the British Horse Society (BHS), approximately 3,000 collisions involving horses and other road users occur annually. While individuals can take various precautions to prevent themselves from suffering injury during an accident – such as purchasing a suitable riding hat – the BHS has conducted an advertising campaign which might help keep people safe on the roads.
The scheme, which took place within Lanarkshire in Scotland, involved attaching posters to the backs of ten buses. Running over a four week period, the "Hit the brakes, not my horse" campaign hopefully affected motorists – persuading them to slow down and give riders plenty of space.
It has been reported that the scheme was well-received by the majority of equestrianism participants. Furthermore, if the number of traffic accidents involving horses decline in the area, other locations could adopt similar campaigns – hopefully keeping individuals safe on the roads.
Photo © Bill Ward's Brickpile via Flickr under Creative Commons Licence

Donkey's braying foils thieves

noreply@blogger.com (Fuse) — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 13:45:00 GMT

If you are a regular follower of this blog, you've probably noticed that I tend to write about matters related to horses. This shouldn't come as much of a surprise considering that we provide equestrian clothing – but today this article is going to be a bit different.
I thought for a change I would write about donkeys, or more specifically, a 10-year-old donkey named Xavi. This poor animal was recently stolen when a group of thieves attempted to rob a general store in Juan de Acosta – a town located in the north Caribbean.
Approximately 12 hours before the theft, the criminals stole Xavi so they would have something to carry the illegally-obtained items away on. At first, it appears the theft went quite well, the group had taken supplies such as oil, tuna cans, and rum, and were placing the goods onto the donkey.
However, unfortunately for the thieves, Xavi then started braying – which attracted the attention of local police officers. Choosing to run, the group abandoned Xavi as well as their ill-gotten gains and fled from the crime scene.
Following the botched robbery, all the stolen items were returned to the merchant and Xavi was reunited with his rightful owner.
As for the thieves, I'm sure they learnt a valuable lesson – crime never brays.
Photo © M Francis McCarthy via Flickr under Creative Commons Licence

Horse riding could help internet addicts

noreply@blogger.com (Fuse) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 14:46:00 GMT

The internet is truly a wonderful thing isn't it? Just imagine, if this technology did not exist, you would be unable to view this blog. In fact, none of these articles would ever get written!

However, it has been suggested that many children in South Korea could be using the internet excessively, with an estimated 680,000 kids between the ages of 10 and 19 "addicted" to the net.

In order to help these individuals deal with their web obsession, some are receiving an unusual form of therapy – horse riding.

According to Sky News, one patient, who previously used computers for seven hours each day, managed to get over her addiction by turning her attention to horses. After thinking about how to improve her riding technique and caring for these animals, she apparently lost interest in the internet.

Although I am no medical expert, it appears individuals may be able to get over their web addictions by forming emotional attachments with the real world – in this case, equestrianism.

The Korean Riding Association is hoping to open up 30 more "therapy centres" by 2022 in order to help patients deal with their various obsessions. Personally, I wish the group all the best.

Now that you have finished reading this blog, perhaps you should take a break from computers. Why not don your equestrian clothing and go for a ride instead?

Are increasing numbers of students turning to equestrianism?

noreply@blogger.com (Fuse) — Fri, 8 Feb 2013 12:43:00 GMT

During university, I think I was quite a restrained student. Although I visited the pub on regular occasions, my alcohol consumption was always quite sensible. Instead of spending copious amounts of time at the bar, I joined societies, clubs, and other organisations.

Consequently, I think I experienced university life to the full – without drinking to excess.

Enough of the nostalgia, what does this have to do with equestrianism?

I read an article on the Guardian website recently which suggested increasing numbers of students were abandoning binge drinking and instead taking part in other pursuits. A spokesman from Leeds University said, "We've noticed in our bars and clubs that students are drinking less when they are out."

He added, "Although night-time drinking may be less popular, we have seen a significant interest in membership to our clubs and societies, so students participating in a massive range of activities with their friends from skydiving to equestrianism and everything in between."

It appears, as other universities are allegedly reporting similar trends, that increasing numbers of students could be taking up horse riding instead of hitting the town. If so, this can only be a good thing.

Having said this, I hope these students can afford proper equestrian clothing, such as riding hats and boots. After all, I can remember struggling to pay both my heating and electricity bills...

Harsh weather conditions disrupt events

noreply@blogger.com (Fuse) — Tue, 5 Feb 2013 12:17:00 GMT

Last year was undoubtedly a great year for equestrianism – especially considering the Olympics inspired many individuals to pull on a pair of riding boots and learn how to ride. Although 2012 was always going to be a hard act to follow, this year has so far been quite disappointing.

Allegedly, the weather has led to many cancellations across the UK. Either faced with floods or snow, some events, such as show jumping and dressage, have been called off.

Although many individuals may have been expecting disruption during the winter months, the British Horseracing Authority states that 21 fixtures have been called off so far. To put that into perspective, the same number were cancelled during the whole of 2011.

While 2013 may be turning into a bad year for horse racing, fans of equestrian clothing could be delighted with an introductory deal from Dogwood London. We currently have a temporary offer on Kingsland products – with 25% off the marked price.

These quality clothes should keep purchasers warm and comfortable whilst staying stylish. Why not check them out today? You could grab yourself a bargain.

Dogwood is now stocking Schockemohle

noreply@blogger.com (Fuse) — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 10:28:00 GMT

Are you looking for the latest in equestrian clothing?
Perhaps something to keep you and your horse looking good during the cold winter months?

Fortunately, Dogwood now has Schockemohle clothing in stock. Head on over to the website for more information.

Horses are ‘not just for Christmas'

noreply@blogger.com (Fuse) — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 09:35:00 GMT

Anyone who owns a horse knows they are more than just great pets. These animals make fantastic companions and looking after one is a fulfilling and rewarding process. Although keeping equines can often be costly and time consuming, the vast majority of owners are delighted with their animals.

With the festive season upon us, The British Horse Society (BHS) is reminding people that a horse ‘is not just for Christmas'. Reportedly, at least 1,600 equines are abandoned each year in the UK.

Although buyers may leave them for a variety of reasons, many horses could be being left to fend for themselves due to their often expensive livery costs.

In a statement published on its website, the BHS criticised an email circulated by equine retailers Horsemart. Reportedly, the company sent a message stating that "horses under £500 make great Christmas presents".

The BHS feels this was "irresponsible" and also suggested Horsemart may have been exploiting the animals for Christmas.

Horses, similar to all pets, require specialised care from knowledgeable and skilled owners. If someone is thinking about purchasing a new steed, the BHS recommends they seek advice from a reputable horse rescue centre.

These experienced organisations should be able to provide potential purchasers with lots of helpful information, such as how to attach a horse rug and necessary equestrian clothing.

Photo © breyeschow via Flickr under Creative Commons Licence