Ever wanted one of those Anky saddle pads but just couldn’t justify paying over $100 for one?
We’ll never fear WeatherBeeta - Australia has your back with their cool ‘Elite’ pads.
So today I will be reviewing one!
I’m all for finding good quality pads that are going to keep my horse cool during the warmer months without breaking the bank and these weatherbeeta ones are ticking all the boxes for me so far!
At first I was a little unsure from looking at the Anky pads how some silicone on the pad is going to keep my saddle in place without girth loops or anything so that’s what turned me off the Anky pads in the first place because my saddle is known for slipping around when its not strapped into the saddle pad. I then came across these Weatherbeeta pads in a quick trip to Horseland and they stood out with there massive range of bright colours but not only that they look exactly like the Anky pads at a cheaper price with some even better extra’s that not even the Anky pads have!
the Weatherbeeta Elite pads feature:
- sueded top side with silicone grip both sides.
- girth loops.
- air venting mesh down the spine to keep some air flowing in under the pad to keep your horse cool.
- moisture wicking lining underneath
- it’s a nice thick pad to keep your horse comfortable.
So far I’m loving this pad, it’s holding up really well with just over a months use now, it’s been pretty much everything I’ve needed in a saddle pad but not only that it’s really fashionable right now!
You can pick up one of these great pads from your local Horseland store or tack store that stock Weatherbeeta products.
They RRP for $89.99 and come in a GREAT range of fun and bright colours!
I rate this product 10/10
- Laura
Owning a grey can be one of the most frustrating things in the world.
You will spend hours to make your horse ‘White’ again only for it to roll in mud 0.50 seconds later.
You could easily say it’s a continuous cycle of grooming.
One way around this dilemma is to purchase a “skinny hood”.
What is a “Skinny hood”?
A “Skinny hood”, Also known as a “lycra hood”, “stretch hood”, “hood” etc is a hood created out of lycra- initially made to be slightly smaller than the horse, so once on the horse it stretches and moulds to the horse’s size.
The pro’s to these types of hoods are that they give a more 'custom’ fit than ordinary hoods and prevent rubbing. They keep your horse clean without rubbing out half your horse’s mane. This makes these types of hoods perfect for the night before horse shows/competitions- to protect your hard plaiting and grooming work.
The cons are that these hoods rarely ever fit your horse, especially if you have a weirdly shaped horse in general, can get quite warm and sweaty in hot weather and can rub on the nose and eyes of the horse.
Today I am going to review the Horzehoods Ltd hood in princess pink with ears.
My first impression of the hood was just… Wow! Instantly I noticed the overall quality of the fabric and all its details such as its fleece nose, zipper and belly clasp.
One thing I generally struggle with when it comes to hoods and rugs is the fit, as my thoroughbred gelding is incredibly hard to fit.
His other cheaper stretch hoods didn’t fit him, and would either rub on his face causing loss of hair, or would go in his eyes. The neck would always be either too tight or too loose and would rub on his withers because of this.
However with that being said, the Horzehoods Ltd princess pink hood has been the first to actually fit him perfectly. The eye holes go evenly around his eyes, whereas cheaper versions have cut through them causing problems. The fleece nose prevents any rubbing which in my opinion is a stroke of genius. The fleece also offers extra comfort to the horse.
The fabric itself is incredibly breathable and can I say possibly waterproof? To thoroughly test out the hood- I have left it on my horse for almost 2 weeks, and throughout this time, there has been hot days, cold days and storms. On the hot days, unlike the cheaper stretch hoods, the Horzehoods Ltd princess pink hood is incredibly breathable- and during different times of the day, when checked there was no sweat or excess heat underneath, horse was incredibly comfortable too.
During the stormy weather, although his rugs were wet- his hood remained dry, as did himself underneath the hood. I must admit I was incredibly impressed.
Unlike the cheaper “stretchhoods” The Horzehoods Ltd zipper is strong, thick and sturdy and all the velcro and clasp fixtures are the same.
Finally the ears on the Horzehoods Ltd princess pink hood are not overly large or overly small, and fit the ears perfectly without causing any irritation to the horse. Likewise they are perfect for spring as they keep all the bugs out of your horse’s ears.
The only downside we can think of is that these hoods are not for a rug destroyer. They are strong and sturdy, and the fabric is high quality however they are still lycra and a determined horse will be able to create a hole.
Overall, the Horzehoods Ltd princess pink hood is just remarkable and incomparable with any other hood similar as they are in a league of their own. I am still overly impressed with the quality and make of these hoods and can recommend them to anyone- especially those who compete and need a hood to protect their hard work the night before a comp/show.
You can purchase your hoods from either:
Horzehoods Ltd (UK)
Horzehoods Ltd - Australia (AUS)
Horzehoods Ltd - France (France)
Horzehoods Ltd - USA (USA/CAN)
Horzehoods Ltd - Nederland (Nederlands)
I rate these hoods 9.5/10 and can highly recommend them, and will continue using their hoods and other products on my horse.
- Annie
HOUSE OF HORSE MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION BOX
When it comes to horse gear, unless products are trendy, they tend to go unnoticed, even if the product is great and innovative! One way to purchase new, different, and fantastic products on the market without breaking the bank is to purchase a subscription box!
Subscription boxes usually consist of around 4-6 full sized products that generally are items you would not think of purchasing, items you might unintentionally scroll past when online shopping, but great products none the less! In Australia there is a new brand of subscription box named House Of Horse House of horse offers monthly horsey subscription boxes ranging from nothing to $50.00AUD!
Today I am going to review the House Of Horse September subscription box!
My first impression of the House Of Horse September box was “wow!” The owner goes to such detail with the packaging from the actual box, to the stickers reading “sealed with a hoof” and “Open up and enjoy”, to the way they wrapped the products inside the box! Although not necessary, the detail was a nice touch that made me extremely excited to open the box up and see what was inside!
Inside sat 6 equine products and a few brochures!
The first item was a blue 'fantasmic’ brush- very much like the magic brush but a different brand- absolutely perfect for a September box as all our horses are shedding at the moment and a curry brush is exactly what we need!
The second item was a bag of liquorice! My horse is incredibly fussy and doesn’t like apples or likkits/similar so it was awesome to receive a horse treat that my horse had not tried before! I had never even considered liquorice however the moment I saw it I was glad I now had an opportunity to try it!
The third item was a donnybrook equine hoofstick and I was glad I received this product! I have been using donnybrook equine products for my horses hooves for years and as my hoofstick recently ran out, receiving this in my box meant I didn’t have to go out and purchase a new one! Absolutely perfect!
The fourth item was a sound advice horse health 'biotin trace mix’. Basically from what I can see it’s a supplement that offers optimum levels of trace minerals in a biotin base! The trace mix includes minerals such as copper, zinc, iodine and biotin premix which helps with the horses overall health! I must admit- I am impressed to see a full size supplement inside this box as horse supplements can be quite pricey! It will be interesting to see how this supplement goes with my horse!
I have saved my favourite two items for last!
The 5th equine product was a Mrs Conn’s bath day shampoo sponge! If you have ever wanted lush products for your horse, Mrs Conn’s Bath Day shampoo sponges are for you! Getting around 5 washes out of a sponge, the shampoo sponges smell like lemon meringue!
I have wanted to try one for ages however as Mrs Conn’s Bath Day is USA based, I have never been able to get my hands on a shampoo sponge until now! I am incredibly excited to try it out!
The final product is a 'I’d rather be riding’ grooming tote from Grosvenor Park Products! I absolutely love this tote and using it with all my grooming products- such a beautiful quality tote- I am almost tempted to take it with me when I go shopping!
Overall the House Of Horse September box was filled with fantastic products that I absolutely adore! I would happily purchase this box each month as I do feel like I get more than my money’s worth in each box!
I rate the House Of Horse box 9/10- only as its not the cheapest and I know some equestrians would struggle to afford it! However with this being said, that’s the only negative we could think of- unlike most subscription boxes- shipping with the house of horse box is fast and exactly when they say it will be and they go to great lengths to make sure everything is protected in the box!
You can purchase the house of horse box from: www.houseofhorse.co
Happy trails!
-Annie
Don’t you just LOVE it when all your horses are shedding their winter coats!? but do you know what makes the process a little better?
a good shedding blade!!
Today i will be reviewing the EquiGroomer!
After seeing a bit of hype online about these EquiGroomers, i had to go on a hunt for them to see what they really are and after stumbling across many videos of people using them on horses with made them out to look like they has almost clipped a horse with them the results looked that good, so i went ahead and ordered myself one from Grosvenor Park Products.
I received its very quickly in the mail from them and the EquiGroomer turned out to be just a piece of hacksaw in a piece of wood…. who would’ve though that something so simply could make such a great product!
I have now been using the EquiGroomer every day for the last month or so and it has worked great and the results are definitely there after using it every day and not only that the EquiGroomer is super easy to clean, you don’t have to worry about brushing your horse for a few strokes only to having to stop and clean your brush out again.
Over all im really happy with this product and i will be continuing to use it every day!
You can get yourself one of these brushes from Grosvenor Park Products, they come in two sizes (Small & Large) and come in a great varity of colours (purple, royal blue, turquoise, green, pink, orange, yellow and red) and range from $30 - $36 depending on the size you want!
I rate this product 9/10
- Laura
NEWMARKET SADDLEY CURRY COMB WITH HOSE ATTACHMENT
Winter is finally over, and spring has sprung… But you know what has also sprung? Our horses winter coat!
My boy is shedding all his grey hair everywhere and it looks like snow in his paddock currently!
Now that the weather has settled down a little and heated up, its the perfect time for bathing!
So without hesitation, today I am going to review the Newmarket Saddlerycurry comb with hose attachment.
The Newmarket Saddlery curry comb- with hose attachment, retails for $3.95- a whopping $1 more than the curry comb without a hose attachment. Postage can range from $0-$15 depending entirely on the specials they have to offer at the time.
My first impression of the comb was quite high, The comb itself was quite cheap and appeared to have deep grooves, which in theory would grab decent shedding hair when bathing my horse- so with the price and free shipping promotion, I purchased two under the impression that I was receiving a great deal.
Communication with Newmarket Saddlery was VERY poor, the combs were posted 4 days after I had ordered them, which was quite disappointing- and when I contacted Newmarket Saddlery on their Facebook page I found them to be quite rude. None the less they claimed that due to the popular free shipping promotion, “I’m sure we can appreciate” that they are taking longer than usual to dispatch orders. They failed to advertise this, and in my opinion should have emailed us after purchase giving us an indication that postage would be delayed due to high demand.
Now when I purchased the Newmarket Saddlery curry comb with hose attachment, I was under the impression that I would receive a curry comb in the colour red with a hose attachment, in other-words; everything I needed in order to attach the comb to my hose and use to bathe my horse.
However, when it came to bath time (Once the combs had finally arrived) , I unpacked my curry combs to realise they were both in fact blue and do not come with actual attachments for hoses- but a weird screw on end on the comb and no attachment- making these Newmarket Saddlery curry combs-with hose attachments virtually useless unless you search around and some how manage to find the converter so you can attach the comb to your hose.
Likewise the curry comb its self is poorly made, and the holes that the water should come through are poorly punched through- with plastic residue in them, in theory- preventing adequate water from coming out.
In the long run, these curry combs with hose attachments are practically just useful for curry combs and not bathing curry combs- and I should not have spent the extra $1 on them.
I did contact Newmarket Saddlery again, questioning where the rest of the ‘hose attachments’ are- only to be told that the actual attachment you need to connect this curry comb with your hose do not accompany the curry combs (Minus hose attachment apparently), and when I pressed questioning where I may be able to purchase these hose attachments from, I was ignored.
Newmarket Saddlery however did change their listing on the website, now claiming in small print in the description of the curry comb- with hose attachment, that the hose attachment is not included; so at least they have done something to “guarantee” no other customer purchases under misconception.
All it takes is one look at the Newmarket Saddlery Facebook page to see that we are not the only customers who have purchased items under misconception. A customer ordered a cob bridle, which turns out to be the worlds smallest cob sized bridle, another customer ordered lycra earwigs which they had purchased back in april, and had emailed Newmarket Saddlery twice with no response (Only to be told that as the lycra earwigs are australian made, they have to wait on the product arriving themselves; which has me asking, why did you advertise this item for sale on your website if you had no stock, and why did you not contact the customer alerting them of delay?!) - and currently their weekly special is a Jodz deluxe velvet show helmet, ONLY $49.95 DOWN FROM $200!!!- which they fail to mention does not comply with the new safety standards and can not be used at shows or competitions at all.
Overall I am incredibly disappointed with my curry combs- I will not title them with hose attachment- as they in fact do not come with a hose attachment, and wish I had purchased the cheaper ones as I would have received the same product.
Likewise I am also disappointed in Newmarket Saddlery, which has apparently in the last 150 years that they have been running, not learned anything about customer service…
I will not be ordering from Newmarket Saddlery again, and can not recommend them or their products to anyone.
For the first time in Eqgear history, I am giving this product and the store selling them a 1/10.
- Annie
We all have a saddle that’s incredibly precious to us, perhaps the first saddle you ever bought- or maybe a good dressage saddle you only just managed to afford. Naturally you want to look after that saddle, oil it, nourish it, cover it to keep it safe from scratches and mice!
Today I am going to review this saddle cover from the renowned brand, Snuggy Hoods.
I must admit- my first impression of this saddle cover was quite high. Not only was it pink and cute- which in my opinion ticks all the boxes; this saddle cover also came in two sizes (S&L) making it more tailored to the two disciplines of saddles (jump and dressage) and after using their rugs and hoods before, I knew the cover would be good quality.
Unfortunately my initial impression was short lived.
The saddle cover itself is made with a beautiful soft fleece but unfortunately I found the fleece ‘thinner’ than my other rugs and quarter sheet from snuggy hoods.
The print is beautiful and cute but sadly the elastic at the boarders is weak- not holding the ends of the saddle in place very well.
The by far most disappointing aspect to this saddle cover is the sizing. When I clicked large on the website I expected it to easily fit my dressage saddle as it was the largest size available- however the saddle cover actually best fits my jump saddle not my dressage saddle- and when I have it on my dressage saddle, the moment I move the saddle; pick it up for instance, the cover falls off the two flaps of the saddle sitting on only the seat of the saddle and nothing else.
Overall the saddle cover is inexpensive, and is a nice soft fleece with a beautiful print; however due to the impression I have from my other snuggy hoods products, I was incredibly let down by the sizing, elastic and thinness of the overall fleece.
This saddle cover would most likely best suit a jump saddle or perhaps a children’s pony pad rather than a dressage, although it is labelled as the largest size.
This review is quite subjective, as I may have received a dud- and I would really like to express that all my other Snuggy Hoods products have been absolutely divine- however this particular saddle cover proved to be a disappointment for me.
You can purchase these saddle covers at Snuggy Hoods Australia
I rate this product 6/10!
Happy trotting,
Annie
Compositi stirrups….
You might have seen us review the ‘Profile’ Compositi’s last year.
Just as awesome as the 'Profiles’ but these bad boys have some more awesome features, especially for those that get a lot of knee and joint pain with the tension from normal stirrups irons. The 'Reflex’ stirrups are made from high-tech lightweight polymer, they feature wide treads with grippy footing to stabilize your feet, the treads also have a shock absorbing layer in them to relieve tension in your knees, ankles and joints. Not only that but the nice slender design of these stirrups are made so that in case of an emergency there is quick foot release for the riders safety!
In true Compositi style these stirrups do come in all 14 colours of the rainbow for the treads and 3 base colours (black, silver, carbon look and brown). However to my extensive research and knowledge the treads for these stirrups are not interchangeable like the 'Profile’ stirrups.
I’ve had these stirrups for a while now and i have fallen in love with them from the first moment i put them on my saddle, they honestly feel like my feet are on pillows when im riding and i have found that i have never lost my stirrups yet with these ones and because they are a bit more wider than the Profiles i can find my stirrups very easily compared to the Profiles that sometimes require kicking them around a little to get your feet back in them!
You can purchase a pair of these stirrups for $50 - $60 from Goodwood Saddlery, Newmarket Saddlery and any local tack store that stocks Compositi products!
I rate this product 10/10
- Laura
Bell boots.
Possibly one of the most important types of protective boots when used correctly.
Made for the purpose of protecting horses front legs from over reaching in both the paddock and arena.
There are so many kinds and styles of bell boots on the market, and for many equestrians, one of the most difficult things is choosing between practicality and 'Looks’ of the boot.
But what if you didn’t need to choose?
Allow us to introduce you to Hufglocken!
Hufglocken offers absolutely gorgeous fashionable bell boots, that are high in quality and low in price!
Today I am going to review the Hufglocken copper python bell boots.
My first impression of these bell boots, when looking on the Hufglocken website was just wow!
When they arrived however, I reached a whole new level of amazement!
The boots are made of thick quality neoprene with a patent copper python coating and reinforced edges. The fluff is only at the top rather than the whole way through the inside of the boot, which is good as it protects rubbing and also allows the boots to keep clean- especially during the winter months! And the velcro at the back is double layered meaning the boot will not attach easily during riding!
Keeping the boots clean themselves is actually surprisingly easy, all you need to do is wipe with a wet towel or chux cloth and the fluff at the top didn’t get all clumpy and grotty like I expected it to!
The actual style of the boot is absolutely stunning, the cream fluff at the top of the boot and the brown reinforcement at the bottom as well as the brown velcro complements the copper python pattern on the outside patent shell, and as the entire boot is a neutral tone, it goes surprisingly well with every colour pad and polo bandages I have thrown at it.
Likewise the price of these boots makes them incredibly worthwhile and affordable, only costing $39.00 AUD.
Hufglocken do ship internationally which is a bonus to our 'Non Australian’ readers and I believe their international shipping rates are incredibly reasonable!
Overall we think the Hufglocken copper python bell boots are absolutely stunning, affordable, versatile, and high in quality and we can recommend them to anyone from dressage riders to eventers who want something a little different!
I rate this product 10/10!
You can purchase these boots from Hufglocken or:
Keep those heels down,
Annie!
I love using half pads, but i also find it hard to get decent ones for a reasonable price that’s not going to break the bank or look ratty and tacky like some of the cheaper faux wool ones after a few uses until i came across this one.
The Caribu sheepskin half pads are made from 100% Australian sheepskin, making it super soft that you could basically use it a pillow, the half pad is contoured making it breathable and allows air flow between the horses spine and the pad itself, being sheepskin its great at absorbing sweat, it features abrasion pads on the sides to make it last longer with saddle flaps rubbing against it and has billet straps to keep it in place!
I use this half pad all the time because its looks stylish, its very comfy on my horses and i haven’t found a single fault in it yet and it can be used on Dressage, Jumping and All Purpose saddles!
You can purchase one of these pads in black or white from Caribu Horse Wear for $75.95
I rate this product 9/10
- Laura
Im not much a glove wearer until the colder weather comes around and i was after a nice pair a gloves that i could use with my iPhone without having to take my gloves on and off every time i need to use my phone while i ride but i also wanted something that wasn’t going to cost me an arm and a leg since i only use gloves over winter.
I came across these lovely gloves by Kerrits, they look professional and stylish, they feature leather like material pads on the thumb and pointer finger for smart phone usage, they are overall a suede material which makes them grip nicely to reins, between the your pinky finger and thumb - pointer finger it has the ‘Griptek’ material as well as stretchy ‘microcord’ material across the top of the gloves to make them stretch and be breathable and have a velcro closure to make them more adjustable to your hands!
I love these gloves so much and not only that they work great with phones which was the main reason for buying them in the first place!
You can purchase these great gloves from Kerrits Equestrian Apparel for $19 (currently on sale) or from Mare Affair Equestrian Apparel for $38. They come in a few colours: Black, Tan, Pewter and Otter and sizes from Small right up to Extra Large!
I rate this product 10/10!
- Laura
ANKY TECHNICAL DRESSAGE PAD AND POLOS
ANKY ANKY ANKY!
We have all seen the hype! People willing to spend HUGE on both brand new and used pads!
Is the saddle pad actually worth it?
My first impression when seeing these products online was… ‘It’s just a saddle pad? I guess they are pretty by what gives? Why are people going crazy over them?!’
Oh how I was wrong!
When my own set arrived I took back everything I ever said about these sets!
The Anky pad it’s self is thick, and padded unlike any other pad I have had before- the colour blew me away- it’s gorgeous and the feeling of the actual pad is luxurious!
The pad has wick fabric on the inside making it perfect for hot weather or hard work as the sweat just comes away- likewise it also makes the pad more breathable allowing it to be more 'cool’ under the saddle!
The gel letters are genius- literally genius! When working my horse in the Anky pad and my mattes half pad- the half pad and saddle did not slip forward once which has been my biggest problem so far!
The actual thickness of the pad is lovely and gives me piece of mind when putting a saddle on my older gelding whom is prone to a sore back from a weaving habit he has! The cool thing is- the pad compresses under the weight of a saddle meaning it still offers a bit of padding between the saddle and the horse but it doesn’t affect the overall fit of the saddle!
The only downside to this pad is the gorgeous velvet easily getting dirty, which makes sad as I need to be more precious with It- it has also been discovered that the saddle rubs off on the pad more than other pads- however this isn’t much of a problem because one wash and it’s completely fixed!
The polos in the Anky set are nothing special- they are fleece bandages and you are pretty much paying for the colour to match the pad exactly and for the name brand! Although I do appreciate both the Anky branding and then the @logo embroidered into the polos with a gorgeous copper colour!
The price of the set is ever so slightly expensive being $110 for the pad and $49 for the polos however i don’t mind the splurge and every once in a while it’s okay to spend a bit of money on yourself!
Likewise most places who stock it offer layby which is absolutely fantastic!
Overall the Anky technical collection is like the Chanel of horse wear and I do believe the hype for Anky gear is well worth it!
You can purchase this set from Impulsion - Elite Equine Wear
I rate this product 10/10
- Annie
DONNYBROOK HOOF STICK & CRACK REPAIR
These products are awesome! If you are like me and have a horse who will forever find a way to make himself lame- especially in the hooves- this is the product for you!
There isn’t much to them- you fill in the holes of the hoof with the hoof stick which is kind of like a gunk putty and then you cover the entire hoof with crack repair! The purpose being to fill in the cracks and holes which are letting bacteria into the hoof and excel healing through the crack repair!
The hoof stick comes in both black and clear- I purchased black as I use it a lot when I am grooming my horse for a show/photo shoot and the black blends in well with the hoof polish- likewise it stands out a little more on the natural hoof so I know where I applied it!
The crack repair is fantastic and actually does strengthen and hydrate the hoof after things like mud drying the hoof out- creating the crack!
The only down side to both is that the crack repair is rather oily and you will struggle to clean your hood brush that you use to paint it on with! Not too much of an issue as hoof brushes are cheap and easily replaceable after some use!
The products range from $20-$10 making them inexpensive and you will get heaps of use out of them!
All in all- I really like my set and will be keeping my eye out for more donnybrook products in the future! I am eyeing their hoof wash off next!
You can purchase this product directly from Donnybrook Equine or your local Horseland should stock them! I purchased my hoofstick from Chaballo - European Equestrian Gear & Fashion so you may be able to purchase products directly through them too!
I rate this product 9/10 and can easily recommend it!
- Annie
This product is amazing! I physically have nothing bad to say about it.
The first purpose of potties white is to put on any wounds, burns, inflamed area of your horse or even rain Rot! You will notice very impressive results! Whenever my grey cuts himself or hurts himself on something, I always use this product and I always see instant results!
The second purpose is to put on scars and past injuries! The potties white softens the scar tissue and with massaging helps bring blood flow back to the area promoting healing and hair growth! My gelding was covered in scars all over his hindquarters due to a horse picking on him at a past Agistment! With potties white- those scars are gone!
The third purpose of potties white is for sunscreen! My gelding is grey and has a large exposed pink skin snip on his nose! He hates the smell of human sunscreen but potties white is more bearable and I have noticed it lasts longer all day too!
I’m sure there are plenty of other purposes of the product that I have not noticed yet or mentioned, but as you can see with my examples it is a incredibly versatile cream and something perfect to keep in your first aid kit!
You can get this product from Horseland or anyone stocking it! I don’t think you can purchase directly!
Pricing is between $15-$25 which isn’t too bad as the product lasts a long time!
I rate this product 10/10 and can easily recommend it to every equestrian!
- Annie
Where I live in Australia, the cold months are absolutely freezing! It’s already beginning to become winter here! So with that in mind, today I’m going to review the Jammies rug set from snuggy hoods! The set includes a hood and a rug!
Snuggy hoods is the original inventor of the 'horse onesie’ images you may have seen floating around the interweb!
Super adorable but dysfunctional, snuggy hoods took the horse onesie back to the drawing board and have come up with the Jammies available on sale today!
I was first introduced to them because of the horse onesie however I am absolutely in love with their 'horse Jammies’. Both the hood and the rug are incredibly simple and easy to take on and off and are made of incredibly high quality fleece- which correct me if I’m wrong but is ever so slightly waterproof too!
The hood goes under the rug and makes a fantastic rub protector in those winter months- meaning you can skip the bib! The rug goes over it and fits snugly to the horse!
The straps are all Velcro and the hood includes a zip with extra padding around the nose to prevent any sort of rubbing or injury!
The Snuggy Hoods 'jammie’ set is both clever and fantastic!
I physically can not fault this product- which is probably why people like the queen endorse it!
I rate this product 10/10*** and I will continue using my set throughout the winter months!
You can purchase these rugs through Snuggy Hoods Australia!!
- Annie
PROFESSIONAL’S CHOICE ‘COMPETITOR’ SPLINT BOOTS
Im a massive fan of Professional’s Choice products and these boots didn’t disappoint!
The boots are neoprene, they feature no buckles or rings like others so to fasten them they have heavy duty velcro that sticks to the boots itself, they have a grey/white coloured padded suede striking pads on the inside to protect the splint bone, the inside of the boot is the neoprene grip material to makes these boots non slip.
I tried these boots on 4 different horses of different heights as these boots are said to be 'one size fits all’ i found that on two 14.2hh horses the inside strike pads were probably about an inch too long but obviously still usable and i had no issue with it while working the horses and they fitted perfectly on a 15hh and 16hh horses! (boots pictured is on a 15hh horse)
Overall i still love these boots and they are honestly fantastic for exercise, general riding, turn out since they are super light weight and you can purchase them from Horse Gear Outlet like i did in Navy Blue (pictured) or Hunter Green for the amazing price of $44.95 (usual RRP $94.95)
I rate this this product:
Price: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Durability: 10/10
Overall: 10/10
- Laura
One of the newest upcoming products on the Australian equestrian market is VerTag.
VerTag is a bushfire safe horse identification tag that hangs in either the horses mane or tail.
With the amount of catastrophic bushfires rising due to record breaking temperatures, I am always nervous about my horses safety during the summer months. What would happen if I couldn’t get there in time or it wasn’t safe to evacuate him?
This is why I bought a VerTag
I was first introduced to VerTag at the marketplace at AI3DE 2015 and was instantly impressed.
They claimed to have a fire proof tag that both could be read on the outside, with each tag being laser engraved with your horses name and your phone number, and details on the inside thanks to a NFC scanning chip inbuilt into the tag!
Sadly I must admit after testing the tag for just over a month, I am rather disappointed.
When purchasing the tag, they showed how a Samsung could scan the tag, however an iPhone can’t. VerTag claimed you can get cases and add-ons to your iPhone to be able to scan the tag- but after looking on the internet I wasn’t able to find anything at all. If anyone does find anything please feel free to let me know!
Another issue I have with the tag is the fading!!!
My tag was originally a strong hot pink colour, exactly like the first picture. After just over a month, the tag has faded completely, making the laser engraving nearly unreadable.
This disappoints me because give the tag another month and it will be impossible to read any details of the tag. Now my horse isn’t in a sunny paddock. He has heaps of shade options like a shelter, trees… Etc so it’s not a case that he was standing in the full sun for too long.
Sadly this means that if my horse was found by someone in a few months- the tag would be almost void, and they would be unable to really read it… Unless they knew the tag was NFC nothing obvious would give it away and they wouldn’t know what to do with the tag.
Overall the VerTag is a lovely concept but needs much more work and a few issues fixed so both, iPhone and Samsung can use it (perhaps one of those smart phone scan square barcodes and NFC) and the fading issue would need to be fixed!
The tag costed me $10 at the AI3DE which was a show special! I paid extra to have the NFC programmed for me too as I couldn’t do it myself.
The VerTag is inexpensive which is fantastic for the average equestrian as horses make us broke and horse related things usually cost more!
You can purchase your own at VerTag !
I rate this product…
Price: 9/10**
Quality: 5/10**
Usefulness:8/10**
Durability:3/10**
Overall value: 7/10**
-Annie
ROMA NEOPRENE CUSHION SPLINT BOOTS
Im going to review the Roma Neoprene Splint Cushion Boots.
I for one am one of those people that love using boots on horses especially during flat work for a bit of extra protection on those precious tendons and other lovely and important ligaments in your horses legs and these boots are something i have used on my horses on and off over the years.
So during all those wonderful boxing day sales i picked up a pair at my local Horseland store and decided to give them a try since the design and look of them had changed since i had last used them many years ago.
The boots are main coloured with a cushioned neoprene black material, suede striking pads on the inside legs that are raised and very cushioned, it then features nylon in three strips around the outside that are coloured and have the velcro on the ends to fasten the boot through some little metal rings, the boots aren’t that breathable so it does make them a hot boot during summer as the insides of the boots in the same neoprene materal just with the stitching from the nylon strips and striking pad.
After using these boots on there second time on a horse and was probably only at a total of an hour of ever being on a horse and doing only simple walk/trot work the ends on the velcro started fraying a little bit.
Over all i think these are great boot for working your horses in at home, they fit true to size, they come in some great colours and best of all they are very inexpensive.
You can pick a pair up at your local Horseland or other local tack stores that stock Roma products for only $34.95 for a pair!
I rate this product 5/10
- Laura
ELITE EQUINE ESSENTIALS WEATHER SHIELD LOOSE LICK SUPPLEMENT
If you are anything like me, you want only the best for your noble steed and dietary supplements are no exception!
So what is good?
There are plenty of different supplements on the market all for the same purpose?
What supplements do my horses need?
Belinda’s weather shield loose lick all rounder supplement purchased from Elite Equine Essentials is my choice!
This supplement, being an all rounder contains all the right minerals for your horse or pony.
You can feed this supplement in your feeds each night (like I do) however being a weather shield loose lick supplement, this can be put in a bucket (with drainage holes somewhere in your horses paddock (tied to a gate preferably so they don’t knock it over) and they will eat it by its self if they are needing a specific mineral from it! Now there is no molasses in this supplement preventing the horse from ‘over indulging’ in it.
At first I thought the horses would only eat it plain for the salt- but after watching one of my good friends stallions eating it- he completely sifted all the salt out and salt was the only thing he left in the bucket afterwards!
After having my horse, Beetle, on this supplement for just over 2 weeks- I am already seeing results, he is much shinier (healthy coat usually indicating healthy horse) and he is also starting to plump up nicely- as weight has been an issue for quite a while now!
Want more information?
Head to elite equine essentials on Facebook and contact the owner, Dannie Starr who has been more than helpful to me!
This supplement is cost effective also, I paid only $38 for a 5KG bucket and there are refill options costing much less!
Elite Equine Essentials also has the pick up or postage option- meaning if you live in South Australia you are more than welcome to pick up your supplement to save yourself the postage costs!
As you can see in the photos, my gelding ate the supplement right out of my hand! This means he senses certain minerals/vitamins that he lacks!
If your horse no longer wants to eat it right out of your hand or straight from a bucket it can be a sign that they don’t actually lack any of these vitamins or minerals enough to need them!
Head to www.elite-equine-essentials.com.au
To order your belinda’s weather shield loose lick!
I rate this product 10/10 stars!!
- Annie
This item was requested by a few people and very long awaited but it is indeed the Mac’s Equine Pee Wee Bit!
I know a lot of people out there think the thinner the bit the more harsh and harder the bit, but not in this case!
The Pee Wee bit in my opinion is probably one of the softest and nicest bits on the market. The bit is designed that its basically ‘floating’ in the horses mouth which prevents the horses tongue from getting pinched against teeth, bruising the mouth (mainly the palates), makes it easier for the horse to eat and drink with the bit in and basically makes the horse feel like there isn’t anything in their mouth! the bit also features sweet iron on it to help stimulate saliva to prevent the horses mouth from drying out but also making it more pleasurable for the horse as it tastes sweet!
The bigger rings on the side of the bit do not come into contact with the sensitive sides of the horses face, and folds back onto the small bars on the side which prevents those bigger rings from touching the horses lips. The side bars are positions just outside of the lower jaw and it only come into contact with the jaw when contact with the reins are made to give the horse clear signal and to move away from the pressure.
The Pee Wee bit does feature a chin strap NOT a curb strap!!
the chin strap is only there to keep the bit in place and prevent it from sliding through the horses mouth.
So it does not in anyway put pressure on the chin and give a curb action to it!
We use these bits on just about every single one of our trail horses and they work so well and the horses respond perfectly to them, we also find they are the best bit to use on a horse when they have a beginner rider on them too that doesn’t quiet understand how to control a horse properly.
It is best to make sure you fit the bit correctly so they should sit straight so you get the full correct usage of the bit! (as shown in the 4th photo)
I recommend these bits to anyone that wants to give them a try!
they RRP for $99.00 and can be purchased from macsequine.com or a local tack store that sells them!
I rate this product 10 out of 10!
- Laura
I know what some of you are thinking “ew PVC bridles, no thanks” and trust me i was one of those people until i ended up at a fantastic place trail riding all, everyday.
It just so happens that all our horses use PVC bridles from Mac Tack and i was blown away at the quality of them compared to others PVC bridles on the market.
Most PVC bridles on the market will either go stiff, hard and crack over time from the sweat of your horse and a mixture of being exposed to the heat and sunlight.
the Mac Tack bridles hold up incredibly well and we have tested them in all conditions from rain, mud, heat, sunlight, sweat you name it and these bridles are still in great condition, and still super supple to use, no cracking or stiffness!
Mac Tack bridles are fully custom to what you want right down to sizes, colours of your cheek straps, browband, keepers to even the colour of the buckles!
There are tones of colours to pick from and bridles start as low as $28 right up to $88 (depending on what type of bridle your after)
I couldn’t recommend these bridles enough we literally have one for every horse we ride, they are great for everyday use, they require very very little cleaning since they are synthetic pvc so all they need is a quick wipe over with a damp cloth!
I rate this product 10/10
head over to Mac Tack to order one of these great bridles!
- Laura
I received this product from Horse Gear Outlet to try and at first I was sceptical, how could a tiny strap remove my summer worst nightmare… Impossible.
But I was wrong, I was very wrong.
This product is fantastic and blew me away with its effectiveness.
We tested it in the cross ties of the stable. With nothing on his face, Beetle was being tormented by flies and he was very unhappy with the situation.
He was throwing his head around to avoid them and kicking them off his legs and swishing his tail violently. He was not a happy beetle.
I then put his bridle on with the fly armor and he was a total different horse. The flies were gone, they flew onto the cheek pouches once and flew as far away as possible!
He was fly free whilst I worked him and the flies only came back when I took the bridle off.
HGO has limited stock of fly armor left and I have not been able to find anywhere else that sells it!
The packs at HGO cost around $4.50 as opposed to the original price of $30!
I would honestly recommend this product to anyone during summer and rate this product 10/10 !!
-Annie
HV POLO ‘DARNALL’ DRESSAGE SADDLE PAD
So im a total sucker for HV Polo products, and i don’t know what it is about the brand that draws me to it!
Anyway recently i had just upgraded to a Dressage saddle and i figured it would be nice to own just ONE nice saddle pad and a dressage cut one at that to go with my lovely new saddle and so i came across this one at my local Horseland store and brought it and i also figured it would be good to compare it with the Roma ones that are the ones i always have used, so this review is basically going off comparing this ‘up market’ HV Polo saddle pad to your ‘down market’ plan Roma Grand Prix saddle pads.
So the first thing i noticed with the HV Polo saddle pad was the Billet straps and the girth strap.
The billet straps are velcro but the webbing is very thin compared to the Roma which is a lot thicker and looks like it would hold out for a few years of use compared to the HV Polo.
The girth strap on the HV Polo don’t have velcro on them to make it easier to strap you girth through and is also very thin webbing.
The saddle pad also features the quick wicking material on the underside, HV Polo written in the middle and the HV Polo logo on the left side of the saddle pad.
Overall the saddle pad looks super stylish and looks fantastic for summer, It does the job that i need it to do but for the price you pay, you are honestly just paying for a the brand name and not really the quality!
You can purchase one from your local Horseland stores or other tack store that supply HV Polo products.
They RRP for $89.99
I rate this product 8/10
- Laura
By now i think every white, grey and coloured horse owner in Australia has probably used this product by now and its either been a fail or been a success for them.
Lucky for me it has been very successful when i used it on the lovely Paint mare Pippa for a wedding!
So i will go through everything i did to make her sparking white that she was almost blinding everyone!
In the weeks leading up to the wedding we washed her at least once a week with Equinade Showsilk Shampoo and kept her rugged as much as possible (as seen in the 'Before’ photo).
On the wedding day we washed her TWICE once with the Showsilk shampoo first and washed it out and then we used the Glo-White, I know a lot of people make the mistake of just washing once with just the Glo-White but i find it wont work as well since you haven’t washed all the dirt out of the horses coat first.
When using Glo-White i do recommend wearing gloves because the shampoo is purple and it can/will stain your hands. (unless you don’t mind having purple hands!!)
The consistency of the shampoo is kind of thick, and the best thing to help rub it into your horse without having to use loads of the shampoo is to use a sponge (those thin dish sponges you can buy at the supermarket are great for this and are super cheap!) or a soft body brush you don’t mind getting wet.
pour a little bit on your horse at a time and rub it in well, once you have rubbed it in all over your horse let the shampoo sit on the horse for NO MORE than 10 minutes otherwise it WILL stain your horse purple!!
Once you hit that 10 minute mark hose the shampoo out of your horse straight away, once you have done that you can go over the places you missed with your sponge with the shampoo on it and repeat!
You can purchase Glo-White at any tack store that stocks Equinade products and RRP’s for $15.95 for 500ml or $21.95 for 1L
I rate this product 5/10!
- Laura
This mitt will be your life saver if you did not clip your horse over winter.
The first time I used this mitt I was greatly impressed! Never have I gotten so much hair out in one shot! The mitt will fill up with hair as you curry and then just peels off the mitt leaving it clean and hair free!
This mitt is very cost effective- only costing me $7.95 and will save you hours of time using a regular curry comb/brush.
The biggest seller for this mitt is that one side is detail and the other just sheds the horse- but also the thicker side gives your horse a massage as you clean!!
Bonus!
The mitt comes in many different vibrant jelly colours-to suit your colour theme and easily slips into any grooming kit.
This mitt did exactly as described ‘grooming mitt’ and has already been a life saver!
I honestly rate this mitt 9/10 and would recommend it to anyone!
I purchased my mitt from Horseland however you can get these almost everywhere!
-Annie
The Magic brush is the original of these 'new age’ horse brushes- and it is believed that majority of the population associated with horses believes for this reason it is the best and the cheaper versions are not as good.
I have to admit, I too believed this until recently when my new Fantasmic brush arrived!
I payed $4.95 for my Fantasmic brush and got it in the pink colour. I was very very sceptical however the moment it arrived I was impressed! It was almost exactly like the magic brush- except with a different logo.
The cheaper brushes- such as the Roma copy cat look almost identical to the magic brushes, however feel completely different. I believe the Fantasmic brush stood out for this reason as mine felt almost the same as the original.
When I used the Fantasmic brush on my grey gelding (who is like a mud magnet) I was greatly impressed! The mud just flew off him, and after using my finishing brush on him, he was softer and cleaner than he had been for ages- to the extent that other agistors were asking me if I washed him (I didn’t ha ha!)
I think the Fantasmic brush is a fantastic budget friendly alternative and I can easily recommend it to everyone- no matter the horses hair type!
I rate this product 8/10 and I purchased it from Horse Gear Outlet!
- Annie
AZTEC DIAMOND TECHNICAL LEGGINGS:
Now if you know me by now you have probably cottoned on to the fact im obsessed with Riding Tights at the moment and now with SO many brands bring out their own im always on the hunt to find out who’s is better.
So at the beginning of the year i saw someone talking about Aztec Diamond breeches on Tumblr and saying how fantastic they were and so i HAD to go suss this brand out and have a look myself and so i did and i loved the items they had so i started following them on all social media to keep up to date on all things Aztec Diamond, Soon they started releasing these tights and every time they put them online they would sell out super quick and i heard nothing but good things about them and then i decided to see what all the talk was about!
A few weeks ago i purchased the black tights with the Aztec Diamond logo on the left leg and loved them as soon i they arrived, they fitted fantastic, they dont have anything thing on them to help grip you in the saddle which is probably the only downside to them but i found myself sitting okay in the saddle and i wasn’t sliding around which was something i was expecting but not having grip on them makes them perfect to wear out in public, to the gym or just doing choices around the farm, i rode in these on a 4 hour trail ride in a stock saddle and half an hour of arena work in a dressage saddle and they were super comfortable.
The tights are made from a heavyweight Lycra which makes them supportive and they have good wicking to keep you cool on those hot days.
These Tights come in 3 different designs and colours (black, grey, navy). They are RRP for £18.00 ($39.34 AUD)!
I rate this product 7 out of 10!
- Laura
It’s a product that is becoming popular in the Eventing scene and even in the Dressage arena and is used by well known professionals including Carl Hester and Charlotte Dujardin!
The saddle pad is very tailored to your saddles shape unlike other pads, it features a waffle patterned lining underneath for temperature control and breathability and an inner layer to wick away sweat, instead of your normal billet straps it has Velcro straps that are on elastic that hook onto your saddles D-rings for a better fit, the girth straps are double Velcro to prevent slipping, it features a swan neck design at the wither to prevent pressure so it’s cut to the shape of the front of your saddle which makes it great for high withered horses!
The saddle pad sits great after long hours of fast riding which made me fall in love with it more, it kept the horse fairly cool which I loved and overall I think I might just start a collection!!
They come in many shapes and colours with a choice of cotton or suede material!
They RRP for $89.99 - $99.99 and can be purchased from Brighton Saddlery or Tack Shack
I rate this product 5 out of 5!
- Laura
One of the most popular Australian rider wear brands in my state at the moment is QJ Riding Wear. So I thought I would take the opportunity to review my pair of QJ breeches that I received for my birthday in October last year.
As a gift from my parents, I received one of their earlier model grey breeches. I actually knew about them before my birthday as mum ordered them online for me but when they arrived they didn’t fit, so I ended up contacting the owner and visiting the store to try on a larger size!
The owner was kind enough to allow me to exchange them for the right size, even though they were a sale item at the time!
When I first began using my QJ breeches I was in love! They have this gorgeous stretchy fabric, their knee grips are soft and grippy and they have these awesome deep back pockets that hold everything! (Phones, carrots, money for riding lessons… etc etc)
They are thin and breathable which makes them great for summer, and in winter they hold the heat in, which I know really contradicts my first ‘breathable in summer’ comment, however they surprised and were so warm… Bonus!
I have taken these breeches around the world to Germany to ride in there during the middle of winter and had no issue with being cold.
The only downer I have to say about these breeches is the colour fading within all of 2 months. I found within a few wears of these breeches exposed to the Australian sun and a few washes the gorgeous gun metal grey faded to a ugly poo brown colour (Pictured in last image) which really disappointed me as I thought they would last longer.
Something to add is that I would also not recommend retiring to bed after horse riding in these breeches. I found the waistband folded over (Might have been because i’m a fatty) and then would be stuck folded over until I washed and ironed them again!
This issue is easily fixable with a belt though!
Overall these breeches are comfortable, and I am all for that. Alot of joddies and breeches I own these days look fantastic but feel like something I want to take off first chance I get. These are comfy enough to spend a day in with no issues what so ever!
The owner, Beck Casey is just lovely and makes QJ a shopping experience rather than a trip. She has always been happy to answer my questions on Facebook and you can see she really does take pride in QJ.
I rate these breeches 3/5 stars! I think because they were an earlier model, they are not as great as some of the newer more evolved breeches QJ has to offer today, with that being said I will definitely be ordering more breeches and accessories from QJ in the future!
-Annie
I personally love a thin saddle pad to use for day to day riding especially during summer that isn’t heating up and sweating your horse up quick under the saddle like a thick one would.
The thing I love about these saddle pads are the shape of them, they fit perfect to your all purpose or jumping saddle, they have a high wither cut to give clearance for those high withered horses but not only that they feature faux wool at the wither to prevent rubbing!
The saddle pad also features the usual Velcro billet straps and girth loops to keep it in place and prevent slipping and come in a massive range of colours including some with coloured binding!
You can purchase one of these saddle pads at almost every local tack store that stocks Roma products and come at the great price of $34.95!
I rate this product 3 out of 5!
- Laura
SHERWOOD FOREST TWO TONE YIELD JODHPURS:
I always love having a bit of colour in my equestrian clothing collection and i came across this pair that stood out to me online and they were at a great price so i went ahead and brought them.
When they arrived, i tried them on and they were a little tight at the waistband but still wearable so if you do decide to by a pair i suggest go up one size bigger, the jodhpurs are cotton and thick which make them great for winter. However i have owned this particular pair for just about 4 years now and i had just been totally let down by the quality of them, from the first every time i rode in them to now they ALWAYS get holes at the seams of the crotch and back, they faded in colour super quick, the pocket is made of super poor quality thin fabric which has a massive hole in the side so i can no longer use the pocket without worrying something is going to fall out while i ride.
You can purchase these Sherwood Forest Two-Tone Yield jodhpurs from Tack Shack for $59.99 and come in a massive range of colours each season!
*my navy/magenta pair came from the 2012 season*
I rate this product 1 out of 5!
- Laura
Safety is the #1 priority when it comes to riding and a good helmet is always the first thing on top of that list!
Back a few months ago in summer I was on the hunt for a lightweight helmet that had lots of air vents in it due to the environment I was riding in which was in a valley between some mountains with very limited cool breeze blowing through with temperatures almost getting to 40*c (104*F). The helmet I had was terrible to wear in that heat so I went researching and came across this helmet which I was a little unsure about since I’m not the biggest fan of Zilco products but I was very surprised by it and now I love it very much!
This helmet is also the exact same as the Dublin Airation but for a cheaper price!
The Oscar Pro is designed to help with air flow and cooling for the rider, the inside is removable mesh lining for easy cleaning to pop into the wash, the helmet is ultra lightweight, the black colouring down the middle of the helmet is matte black with carbon fiber paneling on the sides and reflective piping with the chrome logo on the front and let’s not forget my favorite thing I love about this helmet…. The adjustable dial on the back to make the helmet fit your head perfectly!
The only downside to this helmet I have had is the fact the black matte colouring scratches up pretty easy but is not noticeable unless you are looking at it up close but other then that I have really enjoyed using this helmet so far!
You can purchase one of these helmets from your local tack store that sells Zilco products or your local Saddleworld store!
RRP $129.95 - $144.95
Available in the sizes Medium - Large.
I rate this product 3 out of 5!
- Laura
COMPOSITI PREMIUM PROFILE STIRRUPS:
One of the most ancient quarrels all time between riders are what are the best stirrups to enhance the riders performance in the saddle!
There are jointed stirrups and light weight aluminium stirrups… Freejump stirrups are amazing but the fact that they cost around $400 is a huge turnoff… So what is the best?
One word: Compositi
The light weight stirrups are made in Belgium for maximum equestrian performance.
With wide rubber treads for balance and to help you keep your stirrups, the Compositi stirrups put your leg in a great position and are wide enough that if you loose your seat and need to bail you won’t get dragged!
These stirrups are cheap in comparison to most stirrups in the market and you can usually find these for around $30AUD! What’s really cool about Compositi stirrups are that you can get any different colour tread for them! They won’t ever need a tread replacement however with that being said you can purchase black treads for show jumping and then any other colour to match your eventing colours or home colours!
I love my pair of Compositi stirrups with both my pink and blue treads and can hardly fault them!
So how do the Compositi stirrups weigh up?
Price: 4/5 stars
Quality: 5/5 stars
Range: 5/5 stars!
Honestly stirrups are different for every rider and their needs however the Compositi is a great all rounder and defiantly something I can recommend!
Happy riding,
-Annie
PROFESSIONAL’S CHOICE SMx COMFORT FIT WESTERN GIRTH:
Working with trail riding horses, we always want something that is going to be comfortable for the horse that’s going to be ridden for long hours but not only that its really good for that one grithy horse so we brought one of these fantastic girths and has worked a dream!
It is 100% Merino wool for the horses comfort with heavy duty webbing, It is moisture wicking and non chafing, The Merino Wool lining is removable with heavy duty Velcro so it is easy to just pop in the wash to clean it. It has rust resistant stainless steel D- rings and buckles making it excellent if you happened to ride in the rain or through a river/creek and a roller buckle to make it a thousand times easier to get that girth done up.
I love this girth a lot for all the right reasons, its very durable and i know that because we have put this girth to the test very well.
The girth RRP’s for $54.95 - $110
comes in Brown or Black.
Can be brought from Professional’s Choice or your local tack store!
I rate this product 5 out of 5!
- Laura
Magic Brushes…. we’ve all heard about them but are they any good? do they even work? these are the questions most people ask when they see them!
Last November i was introduced to the Magic Brush. At first look i thought they looked hard since they are plastic including the bristles but surprising the bristles are kind of soft and the bush itself is obviously very light weight compared to others on the market.
From then on i have used the Magic Brushed each time i go to ride and i find the horses LOVE them because the brush also massages them but not only that the brush brings up all the dried sweat and dirt that gets trapped under the horses coat, It’s a very ideal brush to use when your horses coat is changing especially in spring to remove that shaggy winter coat and bring out a super glossy summer coat and all you need to do is tap the brush on a hard surface (pole, fence post etc,) to clean the fur out of it, The brush is fantastic to use as a sweat scraper and to use while shampooing and washing your horse, It’s also great to use to remove loose fur on saddle pads, rugs and on your own clothing,The bristles of the brush are an in between softness and firmness that can be used on horses legs and hooves as well, None of the bristles on the brush fall out because of the awesome design and the best part of it all is that it’s 100% waterproof and you can chuck it straight into your washing machine to wash it!
The Magic Brush is made from very high quality materials which make the brush nearly indestructible!
The Brushes come in 3 colour sets with 3 brushes in each
- Lollipop (yellow, blue and red)
- Neon (pink, green and orange)
- Purple (grape, white and bright purple)
They RRP around $29.95 and can be found in most tack stores!
I rate this product 5 out of 5!
- Laura
Equissage is a leading equine therapy massage system that is both safe and easy to use!
‘Australian owned and made, the Equissage Cycloid Vibration Therapy (CVT) device is a multi-unit horse therapy massage system specifically built for equine used to stimulate blood circulation, assist with lymphatic drainage, relax muscles and help with increased joint mobility’
Now I know what you are all thinking, Does this product actually work?
…And here is where EqGear comes in!
I have used this product numerous times on Beetle throughout the year that I have owned him, after being worked that is, and I have found a dramatic difference every time!
Now Beetle isn’t the youngest horse, at 15 when I bring him back into work after 2 weeks or so off he tends to be stiff and sore and unwilling to work. After working him he can tend to be a little tight too.
However the moment the Equissage goes onto his back he instantly relaxes and loosens up- usually gets quite peckish too (Has been caught trying to eat a sweat scraper) which are good signs for a horse owner! (Not eating the sweat scraper part)
During his 30 minute therapy session Beetle tends to nap and just chill out and afterwards he is generally always in a dopey smug mood!
The cool thing about Equissage is that it comes in many different colours and there are so many options when purchasing a unit!
One can easily purchase a system themselves and then pay the Equissage off by giving treatments to people and charging per 30 minutes, Or they can just pay for individual treatments/borrow from a friend!
Equissage’s are not big and chunky and fit easily into a tack locker/car as your saddle would! The Equissage is also battery powered so they are easy to use at shows and competitions!
Equissage is also great for people with back problems or arthritis- so you could easily give it a multi use!
I honestly love Equissage so much and I will use it at whatever chance I get and can easily recommend it to anyone I meet- there are so many great reasons to use it regardless to your horses age, breed and discipline!
I would rate this higher if I could but that wouldn’t really work so with that being said, I rate this product 5/5!
If you are interested in purchasing or you would just like to know more contact Equissage SA Emma!
Happy riding!
-Annie
CHAMPION TAILS SILVER HIGHLIGHT STAIN REMOVER:
One of the biggest issues for grey owners is being able to keep your grey white.
If you are pulling out hair every time you see your grey rolling in a mud patch or your heart stops a little every morning when you go to your greys turnout for feeding and you find a big unwelcome stain on your grey’s face… You are one of us! The #greyhorsestrugglecrew
Welcome!
I used to be like this, covering my horse all over with hoods, tail bags, rugs galore… And then I found the champion tails silver highlight stain remover.
Beetle had the runs and I had to leave him in a muddy paddock the night before a show! I was on an overload of stress trying to work out how I could keep him clean overnight and then I found this product in the Horseland catalogue!
With an RRP of $21.95 the Champion Tails silver highlight stain remover is easy to use and doesn’t leave your horse boarder line purple like some ‘whitening’ shampoos do!
All you need to do is make a paste by adding the powder to a cup of hot water to then pour in a litre container! Easy to use at shows too!
This product is a life saver- a shining knight in armour at the end of a muddy tunnel! Thanks to this product beetle was white for his show and his tail didn’t have that yucky yellow tinge many grey tails have!
I couldn’t recommend this product highly enough!
I rate this product 5/5 in quality and 5/5 in price! This product isn’t just for grey’s but for horses with white socks and truly is something every horse owner needs in their grooming box!
Goodluck everyone and happy showing!
-Annie x
DUBLIN DENIM LOOK PULL ON BREECHES:
Recently i took a trip to my local Horseland for their mid year June sale and stumbled across these breeches at a fantastic cheap price for something coming out of Horseland so i though “what the heck lets try them!” and so i did, i wore them for 17 hours in the saddle trail riding this whole week so i would really know how these breeches hold up and i was pleasantly surprised.
They were super comfortable, not restricting as they are pull on’s with no buttons or zips in the front of them, They feature a ‘ribbed' waistband that resembles something off a pair of sweat/track pants but that was the one thing that made them super comfortable, the material of them is the same as a pair of regular Dublin Jodhpurs which are cotton stretchy and moves and forms with your body, being breeches these pair do not have Velcro or the lycra sock at the bottom of the legs like normal breeches do they are just like…. jegging? i think is the best way to describe them, very easy to pull your tall socks over them, they feature fake stitched pockets on the back however there is a real zip up pocket on the front that can comfortably fit an iPhone 5 into, they have self fabric knee patches and all the stitching on them is pink which goes very nicely with the denim look material.
My only problem i have found with them so fair is the fact they are so stretchy and the waste band isn’t tight enough and i find they fall down a lot on me and it doesn’t help that these breeches don’t have belt loops to fix that problem but overall im very happy with them especially for the price i paid!
You can purchase a pair of these breeches from your local Horseland store for the great price of $39.95!
Available in Kids sizes right up to Adults.
I rate this product 5 out of 5!
- Laura
NICKER KNOTS SODALITE DREAM CATCHER TACK CHARM:
Hey guys!
Today i have decided to review the Dream Catcher bridle/saddle charm from Nicker Knots.
Recently i have decided i wanted to ‘personalize’ more of my tack and give it something else to stand out but also im someone who has bad anxiety and panic attacks so i was on the hunt for something to help me and make my tack look awesome!
I started to do a bit of research on what things can help with anxiety and panic attacks and certain gemstones kept popping up in my google search, I then came across Nicker Knots who are selling gorgeous bridle and saddle charms with gemstones!
I got chatting with Nicker Knots (who by the way are VERY helpful and lovely to speak with) who suggested me gemstones that could help me out and so i picked a gorgeous ‘Sodalite’ gemstone to go on a sliver Dream Catcher charm.
After ordering it i got it in a few days so shipping was very fast!
The charm came in a cute little bag and the charm was exactly as pictured, the charm is very well made. However the clip may be a little small to clip onto certain saddles and bridles depending on how thick your ’D’ Rings are on you saddle or how big your buckles are on your bridle but im sure you could always ask for a bigger clip when you order if you think your D rings and buckles would be too big for it.
The 'sodalite’ gemstone 100% worked for me!
If you after something like this charm i highly recommend the Nicker Knots Dream Catcher charm, they are available for $15 each with very cheap postage in Australia and world wide!
You can find these charms at http://www.facebook.com/nickerknots
I rate this product 5 out of 5!
- Laura
AXIOM 1800D 300G FILL TURNOUT COMBO:
It’s now officially winter in down under land (Australia) so I feel as though my review today is definitely appropriate.
I am reviewing the Axiom 1800 denier 300G fill turnout combo rug (In sexy leopard print)
If you are as blessed as myself, you will own a horse with a great taste in rugs. They will appreciate the pattern and comfort of the rug and will let you know when the time for a new one (new fashion season) approaches! (Aka: ‘The rug wrecker’)
Who am I kidding? It definitely is not a blessing at all!
For myself, I am starting to have a mass grave for all the rugs my lovely thoroughbred has ruined (RIP). He has removed neck rugs from combos, torn holes in the untearable, removed straps and ripped parts of the rug I didn’t even know were possible to rip!
I am always on the hunt for a new rug, and that is when I found the Axiom 1800 denier 300G fill turnout combo rug! The 1800 denier is stronger than the weatherbeeta freestyle 1680 denier rug which was recommended for rug wreckers like my boy, and the 300g fill keeps him incredibly warm on the frosty and cold days!
As soon as I found their leopard print option I was sold, and purchased one for a bargain price of $105.00 with $19 shipping! (Bought on ebay)
I have had this rug for over a month now and it has been flawless- My thoroughbred has not been able to even scratch this rug and it has remained white (Despite all the mud) for the entire time it has been on!
Even though my thoroughbred is so embarrassed by the sexy leopard print, it makes it easy to spot your horse and it looks great!
If you want a cheap, reliable and strong good looking rug for your horse I couldn’t talk higher about the Axiom 1800D 300G fill turnout combo! you can purchase these rugs on ebay from a seller called ridelo11060 ( http://www.ebay.com.au/usr/ridelo11060 )
I rate this product 5 out of 5!
-Annie
KERRITS FLEX TIGHT II RIDING BREECHES/TIGHTS:
My first impression on them when i first heard of these breeches i was very unsure, being a product from the USA and not seeing them first in person was a bit worrying but not only that it was the material they were made out of that had me worried the most, i was after something that was definitely not made made out of nylon that would make me slip around in the saddle and working as a trail rider i needed something that would be comfortable to sit in the saddle for 6 hours a day with.
So i started to try and find some reviews of them and low and behold there wasn’t many around so i then turned to some fellow equestrians from the USA that had more of an idea then i did about them, from there i had people telling me not to buy them because they were a very thin on the material side and got holes in them very easy. However i ignored there comments on them and i was still mixed emotion about buying then but then decided to just go and purchase them anyways!
In a matter of only 2 days i had the Kerrits Flex Tight II full seat riding breeches/tights in my hands.
The material felt a bit nylon-ish but you could feel there was a decent about of cotton hidden somewhere, they were VERY stretchy and the full seat is not suede like other breeches but was another fantastic synthetic suede material. I tired them on and they fitted like a dream and felt incredibly comfortable, the material over all was very thin and they did feel like wearing just a pair of normal tights!
The next day i tired them out in the saddle, the Kerrits special Gripstretch full seat synthetic suede had me glued to the saddle in all the right ways with its special paneling, the material and stretch of the breeches/tight moved with your body and wasn’t restricting like other breeches and was very comfortable to ride around in for hours!
Unfortunately one of the horses i was riding decided to rub his head on my leg and the buckle on the bridle caught the breeches and put a little hole in them which was soon fixed with a quick stitch up.
Over all these breeches/tights have been fantastic, especially the the hot summer sun, they feature a pocket on the right side big enough to comfortably fit an iPhone 5 in, they have belt loops and look classy and professional enough to wear at home schooling or out in the show ring.
They come in a great variety of different colours every season and come in sizes Small right up to 2x Extra Large and retail for the great price of $99.00 from Kerrits or for the same price but in Australia with super fast shipping Dressage Selections
I give this product 4 out of 5!
Happy Riding!
- Laura
SABELLA TURQUOISE 100G GLITTER GEL TUBE:
My first impression of the gel was the odour- reminding me of the glitter paints I used in primary school however putting that aside there are both positives and negatives to the concoction of Sabella.
Sabella glitter gel is a horse friendly paint that allows you to express yourself through your horse! Inexpensive and fun- Sabella comes in a variety of colours and if kept well can last a decent amount of time.
When opening the tube, the Sabella jumps out at you as if it was saying ‘I am eager to be used’.
The instructions indicate that you should clean your horse/pony before use as the glitter will stick better and stay on longer so once Joey was groomed I got out my brush and began painting the desired object on his hind quarters. I found that the brush holds the glitter however releases the glue so I wasn’t getting a desired effect on his coat- with that being said I found that fingers work so much better!
You will need to be quite generous with your Sabella gel to get the dark desired outcome as it comes out quite weak and you will find that once it starts spreading around on your skin- it easily can become a sparkly mess in your hands!
You also need to make sure your horse/pony doesn’t roll whilst the gel is drying too and you will need to give it at least 10 minutes (good weather) before it dries!
If your horse has a short coat you will experience less of a effect as I found that the gel holds better to long coats- however with that being said you will need to work with the coat and not against it as that is when the gel becomes quite messy (Notice the arrow on his shoulder- my boo boo)
Overall the Sabella 100g turquoise glitter gel has a retail of $16.95AUD at http://www.sabella.co.nz/ or $11.95 at https://www.horsegearoutlet.com.au/ and is easily the best money you will spend! You can get hours of enjoyment out of your Sabella products and when prepped and painted well can easily last you a week!
I rate this product 3 out of 5!
Good luck and happy painting!
-Annie
