equiShopping.com Blog

BBC News - Machine in Newmarket helps jockeys fall safely

Now this is seriously cool!

"A racing school in Suffolk has been using a machine to teach jockeys to fall safely.  Experts said the exercise builds jockeys' muscle memory to avoid injuries when falling from horses.  The British Racing School in Newmarket has been given the fall simulator to use on up and coming jockeys.  Champion jockey John Francome, who was visiting the school, said it would "save lives and prevent no end of injuries".  The Injured Jockeys Fund purchased the machine with the help of the charity Alborada Trust.  "In my view, everyone who rides should go on this machine," Mr Francome said.  "The great thing is that it teaches riders to be proactive and do something when they come off as opposed to just waiting to hit the ground.  You don't become a sky diver without any training on how to land.  But nobody ever teaches you what to do when you fall off a horse, and if you can't manoeuvre yourself to fall off properly, you are a risk and should not be riding.  The jockeys learn to tuck their shoulders in and keep rolling to get away from the horse."" (BBC, 2010)

Check out the video here.  

Of course you can also help protect yourself in the event of a fall by wearing a correctly fitted and appropriate body protector.  Want some advice on body protectors?  Well check out our earlier article covering body protectors.  

So what is the HSBC FEI Eventing World Cup?

You'd be forgiven if you didn't understand what on earth the eventing world cup was.  It works a little differently from the football version.. 

For starters let's cut the title down.  It's sponsored by the bank HSBC and is run under FEI rules hence the long name.  It's composed of 12 events run all over the globe.  The idea is that no matter what continent you are on you have an equal chance of winning the series.  Despite there being 12 events, only your best two results count.  Of course that doesn't stop you running in more than 2 to try and get better results.... Despite the idea of equal footing if you're based in Britain you can get to about 7 events if you're prepared for a couple of days trek across Europe.  However, the new system (this year onwards) is far fairer than it used to be when they was a final held at the end of the series which was of course held in Europe - Bad luck if you live down under....

All 12 events are run as CIC*** (check out our earlier blog on the levels of eventing), although they are definitely top end CIC***s.  Points are awarded for each result - basically if you finish in the top 15.  That said, if there's over 40 horses in the class you start getting points lower down.  The massive plus side of the world cup is the guaranteed prize money.  The prize money is actually stipulated in the rules - a minimum of $25,000 prize pot per event.  What's more the top 15 at the end of the series take a share of $180,000 with the winner taking $50,000.  Compared to tennis and golf that's small talk but for eventing it's big money.  

There's quite a few more details in the actual rules but that's a general over view.  With regards to actual locations.  Every country is allowed to host on event but can apply for more if they host more than 5 CIC***s over a year - not many countries... The only other real stipulation is that there has to be a minimum of 20 combinations per event.  

As far as the World Cup goes that's it - follow that guide and at least you'll know roughly what's going on even if you can't list the past 10 winners and the number off runners of the tip of your tongue.... Next time we'll be looking at the World Equestrian Games or WEG.  We'll also be having a look at how successful the Equishopping sponsored Blair Castle International was. The director of Equishopping was seen abseiling down one of the turrets of the castle so it was set to be an action packed event from the off!!

 

equiShopping.com Blair competition winner 2010

The competition that was held in the information tent throughout the show was won by Laura Cheadle from Inverness. She was the winner of £100 of equiShopping vouchers, so she will be able to spend them with an equiShopping merchant of her choice.

What's in the pipeline for Equishopping - well the blog that is....

Thing's are looking up!  The blog is a success.  PHEWWW... More people than ever are subscribing so if you haven't go for it - right handside of this page.  Go on...

It actually occurred to me more than ever the other day how useful equishopping is.  Example.  Try putting sheep skin noseband into google.  I don't know if it's my browser but it offered me everything apart from what I was looking for including certain items that I couldn't really put in print.  Thankfully Equishopping proved the answer.  One simple search presented me with a choice of exactly what I was looking for.  One criticism of Equishopping has been that it hasn't beaten google on price.  This may be true but at least equishopping won't try and sell you sheepskin balaclavas for your event horse....

Some of you may have noticed that a few of the blog posts are being turned into articles on various sites.  Good news! Its not just my big head that thinks what I'm writing is stunning stuff....well I hope you like it anyway!

Equishopping is also going to be running more competitions in future.  The ones we've run in the past have produced some very happy winners:

"Just a note to let you know how pleased we are with the haysteamer it’s excellent and of course couldn’t have come at a better time with the shortage and poor quality of hay.  It’s been a  ‘God send’, it works well and is easy to use.  We’re happy to recommend it.

I hope equishopping is thriving and wish you continued success."

The only down side is that I'm not allowed to enter Equishopping's competitions!! Although perhaps the dog could.... In all seriousness, our Haysteamer competitions was a smash hit and is definitely a growing must have.

Don't forget we're on facebook as well - come on, you know you want to be our friend!

Plus, if there's any queries, rants, jubilations or just general hellos you only need drop me a line - oli@equishopping.com (promise I don't bite - unless...)

If you want to find out more about me - Oli Lawrence - check out my website.  I'm also toying with the idea of doing a blog from Dell's point of view.  I mean what's it like with 4 legs as a lean mean jumping machine?  I haven't asked him what he thinks yet though - hoping he won't give me the middle hoof!

 

 

Competition wear - what, when and how?

Chances are you've already got show kit but having just had to buy a new stock I realised how wide the equishopping range of competition wear is.

Thinking along credit crunch lines check out this jacket with 30% off.  For eventing, dressage and showjumping black and blue jackets are fine.  Tweed jackets are also fine although if you're hunting tweed is the norm.  The only exception is that at intermediate eventing and above you need a black or navy jacket.

The tails problem! It's actually only compulsory to wear top hat and tails at ** or above eventing.  That said, most people tend to wear them at * as well.  Despite BE discouraging this practice - whatever people tell you about not having to chances are you'll fit in more wearing one... Top tip for top hats.  Unless you're willing to shell out for a custom made Patey chances are your top hat won't fit perfectly.  Fear not! All you need to do is get a bit of foam tape used for fitting hats around the head band and it'll fit like glue. Sorted.

Helmet wise, eventers tend to wear 'skull' helmets with a coloured silk XC and swap to a black silk for the SJ.  Although quite a few have separate helmets specifically for showjumping which can of course be worn for the dressage as well- yes please!

As well as that if you're eventing at novice or above you can wear a 'beagler' for your dressage test.  It's worth noting that these aren't actually protective but some say they look more elegant....

Wow, that's just the hats and jackets! The choice is yours and mostly comes down to preference....

Before we move on though, check out Equishopping's range of hat covers and silks - there's some pretty funky ones!

Breeches wise it's cream, white or beige for nearly everything.  My only thing here would be getting white breeches clean - horses have that annoying habit of slobbering down the only clean clothes you have...

Finally we're down to the boots.  Seniors (above 17) are actually supposed to wear full length boots.  However, given the price if you couldn't run to a pair then boots and gaiters can look pretty good - will people really notice?... The advantages of a proper pair of long riding boots are fairly big though, they give a lot more support to the leg and will really help you get a more secure leg position which can only make you safer... worth thinking about.

Doh! I've missed two things out.  Underwear and shirts/tops.  White or cream is the usual for shirts.  I'm pretty sure there's no rules governing what pants you can wear so go for it.  Although, specific underwear for riding is more comfy!

equiShopping.com are proud to be supporting Blair Horse Trials this weekend

Hello,

We are sponsoring the traders drinks reception so hopefully you will be able to make it and we will see you tomorrow night if you are there. Alternatively if you would like to have a chat with us during the day you can get me on my mobile.

equiShopping.com is also sponsoring a couple of classes and running a competition for the public to win £100 worth of equiShopping vouchers to spend with our merchants which can be entered in the information tent.

Here's hoping we all have a successful weekend

Kind regards

Davina Thawley
Director
Tel 0845 299 7916
Mob 07866 725566

www.equishopping.com

All the little things that I bet you'll forget!!

So you've built up to it all season and you've entered you're first international! Congratulations! Just a few pointers.

First thing remember to register both horses and rider with the FEI. Chances are I'm the zillionith person to tell you but if you don't they won't recognise your result.

At FEI events it's compulsory for horses to wear a bridle number outside their stable at all times.  Most 3 days will give them to you with your rider packs but at one day internationals you're on your own!  Guess what? The tack shops know this too so don't get caught in the trap of having to fork out silly amounts for a bridle number.  Instead check out equishopping's range of bridle numbers!

Next thing.  If you haven't worn event grease before - more likely if you've only done a seasons worth of novices you'll go along to your first 3 day and find that all the horses wear event grease for the XC!  Never fear Equishopping has a choice of event grease!  Top tip - some event greases just don't come off! So if someone offers you a container of event grease don't use it (they're fed up with it)! Some brands are impossible to get off afterwards and you'll end up showjumping on the final day with event grease still on!

The longer XC at a 3 day is also a noticable difference to a one day.  If you really want to go the whole hog try these nasal strips.  They're designed to hold the airways open under stress when normally they would begin to collapse (to an extent)...bad news. Be warned though, they're seriously sticky so if the dog runs off with one its going to have it stuck in it's fur for weeks...

While we're on the subject of good buys.  You've probably already got an event watch if you're doing an international but on the off chance you need a new one.  They're sooooo much cheaper on Equishopping!! Check these event watches out.

What are the levels of eventing?

You might take it for granted that everyone understands eventing and the various levels but not everyone does.  Trying to explain it to people isn't the easiest the things either.  If you weren't brought up learning to read from eventing schedules instead of 'chip and the magic key' don't worry, just keep reading...

All eventing run by British Eventing or the FEI is called affiliated eventing if it's not run by either of them it's called unaffiliated eventing.  The lowest level you can start affiliated eventing at is BE80 which as the name suggests has jumps at about 80cm high and a very simple dressage test.  You also get alot of help in these classes as they're designed to introduce people to eventing.

The next step up is BE90 (previously intro) and after that BE100 (previously Pre - Novice) with jumps at 90cm and 1m respectively.  At this point you also get BE100plus which has novice (the next level up) dressage and showjumping (although a bit easier) then a BE100 XC track.  BE100plus is the highest level a rider can ride at for the first time at BE events although this only applies to the rider so once you've done one you're sorted.  That is as long as you're over 17 as if you're younger you get your own special set of qualification restrictions but thats a whole other article....

After the BE100 comes novice with jumps around 1.15m and you start to get things like medium trot in the dressage tests.  Moving on from there you get intermediate which has showjumping fences at around 1.25m and bits and pieces like shoulder in in your dressage tests.  The XC at intermediate also becomes somewhat meatier and more technical.

The highest national level is advanced with fences at around 1.30m and flying changes in your dressage tests for example.

But thats not it.  International competitions have their own set of levels denoted by stars and letters.  * is an international novice, ** an international intermediate, *** an international advanced and above that **** ie Badminton, Burghley and Pau for example.

There are also 2 types of international competition.  A one day international (which normally has day before dressage so lasts 2 days - typical) is a CIC.  Whereas an international 3 day event is a CCI.  So an international intermediate 3 day event would be a CCI** and a one day international advanced would be a CIC***.

While we're on funny letters, if you ever look in the FEI rule book or on eventing ireland you'll see something like this "CNC* or CNC**" all it means is that it's a national class.  So a CNC** is just an intermediate and a CNC*** is just an advanced class.

There you go, looks simple now.  Trouble is it takes a while to get up to the higher grades... If you're reading this chances are you weren't brought up on eventing and want to get cracking.  I sympathies and if you want to follow my attempts to turn professional and move up the grades check out my website - www.olilawrence.co.uk As well as that check out one of the best guides on eventing by the Pony Club.

Dodson & Horrell young rider bursary finalists - Equestrian news, equine news, horse news - Horse & Hound

via www.horseandhound.co.uk

Check me out! First ever mention in Horse and Hound magazine. Have a look on p76 in 12th august issue. If everyone crosses their fingers (and toes) hopefully I'l have some more luck on the 26th August when the winner is announced!

Under rugs, shoulder pads and anti rub solutions - time to start thinking about winter?

Winter may seem an awfully long way away but if you act now you might just be able to bag yourself a bargain.  By this time of year most merchants are a bit fed up of their winter range from last season so get rid of it at fairly cheap prices.  Prime example - check out equishopping's range of bargain stable rugs with up to 50% off!  You might not need them straight away but you'll save yourself the money later on...

One of the troubles that pops up when horses wear rugs for long periods of time is that they end up with rubs on their shoulders.  Fear not - equishopping has a huge range of anti rub shoulder guards for all shapes and sizes of horse.

The next problem that will crop up, probably straight after Christmas when all the shops are out of stock is that the rugs you have aren't warm enough.  Problem sorted - try an under rug.  It's a much cheaper solution than buying totally new ultra thick rugs for just a few months of the year.  There's also some good bargains to get on these as well!

I'll leave it there for now.  I'm looking out the window and can see glorious sunshine so winter couldn't seem further away.  I just couldn't not tell you about the bargains around even if it does mean reminding you of winter!!