equiShopping.com Blog

Relieving stress and making your life easier this season.

The new season’s coming up and chances are your packing the lorry for the first time this year.  If you’re anything like us they’ll be a few things that either need replacing or have simply disappeared off the face of the earth. 

First off, there’s all those bits of tack like breastplates and stud girths that chances are won’t have been used through the winter.  Plus, some off the stuff may have only just lasted till the end of the season so are crying out to be replaced.  On that note have you checked your stud kit recently? If you haven’t stored your studs properly they’ll be rusted and anyway they’ll probably be worn down from use.  The easiest way to wreck your farrier’s carefully crafted stud holes is to use rusty, beaten up studs. Equishopping has a range of studs but our top tip is to shell out that bit more for the better studs.  You get what you pay for with studs.  Also getting self tapping studs will save you lots of hassle but only if  you can put studs in straight and are well practised or you’ll mess up your stud holes. 

How about whips.  We all have our favourite stick and they’ll never be another one like it but sometimes you just have to let go... Sticks fixed up with duck tape really don’t good so check out our range of sticks.  From short jumping sticks to long elegant gold schooling whips we’ve got it.

Going down the body we come to over reach boots.  No I seem to have ended up with lots of right foot boots and one left foot one – I think some replacements could be next on the list.  Whether it’s XC boots that have served you well for years but have finally given up the ghost or your white dressage wraps that no longer shine so brightly we can help.  Just check out our selection of boots. 

With the first dressage test of the season fast approaching there’s that minor issue of plaiting...ARGGHHH!!! However, we’ve got some quick tips to save you from the horror – or a bit of it at least... Buy some new plaiting bands as they will have perished over the winter and will snap when you try to use them.  Then BIN the old ones.  Whatever you do don’t keep them as “spares”.  Next step is to properly pull your horses mane.  Either using a metal pulling comb.  Seriously, don’t use a plastic one because the spines will snap off!  We also know that some horses totally abhore having their mares pulled so have a browse of our mane pulling range which includes products such as the “solo comb” that we think could make your life less stressful. 

One final finishing touch.  Quarter markers are an easy way to make your horses apperance a whole lot smarter.  Some people somehow manage to do these with just a brush and a bucket of water but if like me this a step too far have a look at our quarter marker stencils that save you the hassle. 

Next time we’ll have more ideas for smartening up your act and making your life easier but for now that’s it. 

Olympia - Why Britain still hosts the best show world over.

There's been a lot of talk recently about how events are finding it difficult to run through a recession and the cost of equestrian sport etc etc... However, as we speak the christmas extravangaza that is Olympia rages on.  But why is Olympia so successful? 

The quality of the competition is the same as else where - Just look at the entries for the FEI World Cup Qualifier which has some of the best riders in the world.  With that competition goes the suspence.  

Having been to see the Nations Cup at the Dublin Horse show a few years back I remember very clearly watching Nick Skelton and Arco jump.  An absolutely packed stadium of rowdy and happy people fell totally silent to the extent where you really could have heard a pin drop as everyone watched with their heart in their mouths.  When he finished there was somewhat of an explosion.  Olympia's the same except there's a difference.  When you watch Olympia the crowd are genuinely happy and there's a party atmosphere so when you do get that elusive clear round in the top classes there's proper appaulause - like serious celebrations...

Then there's that location thing.  London may not be one of the most exotic location in the world compared to the sun, sea and sand location of some shows on the continent but its got something quite special.  I've always though it quite strange to go to London to watch showjumping.  Central london showjumping has that magic factor, only the British could put a show smack bang in the middle of our biggest city.  

Plus, at Olympia there's entertainment in excess.  Go anywhere else and, yes, they'll be stands and stallion parades but at Olympia there's all that and more.  Put it this way - Olympia got the cast of the critically acclaimed West End show "War Horse" to perform the finale.  They just go a step further.  By the way, if you haven't seen "War Horse" it's well worth going to see. You can buy tickets here.  

We've got the proof as well.  Check out Olympia's sponsors which range from the Hilton to Renault.  As a business venture Olympia's great as it's totally sustainable.  As long as we can get a World Cup qualifier there'll be other international classes.  So you can jump at Olympia and do some world ranking climbing if you play your cards right.  So Olympia makes for a very profitable week.  If we get the world's best turning up we'll pull in the crowds and the sponsors and the prize money will be there.  The rest looks after itself.  

So there you have it.  Oympia really is head and shoulders above the rest.  Not just for all those reasons but because it's a celebration of the horse as a leveler.  A private box will set you down a few bob at Olympia but those same wealthy individuals will rub shoulders with the small boy who got a ticket at the back with a bad view for his christmas present.  All of them will cheer when the Puissance wall is cleared at some some ridiculous height or when the world cup qualifier is won by a fraction of a second.  For an hour at least they're equals, both caught up in the contagious euphoria of Olympia.  Of course the horses go back to the stables and munch away at a carrot totally unaware of the service they've done the world.  

How to stay warm out competing and look smart too!

We've all faced the problem of going out competing and having to look smart in the cold weather.  Generally, our smart competition gear isn't the warmest of stuff.  However, Equishopping can save the day!!

First off for the showjumpers.  If you aren't jumping at Olympia then you can get away with wearing a smart jacket ie no hood, black or navy but insulated.  Those of you jumping for the crowds will have to freeze - Oh it's a hard life... This applies equally for eventers warming up.  Go and shell out on a decent smart jacket because it'll make everything soo much warmer and if you're warm, you'll ride better too!!  Plus, if it rains you'll be safe inside that cosy waterproof shell. 

 If jackets aren't your thing then a gillet or waistcoat can be worn over a show jacket before you go in and gives you much more freedom.  I'm told gillets meet the approval of the fashion police as well. 

Buy a new pair of gloves!! Firstly because any insulation in them will have be compressed over time and they simpy woin't be as warm anymore.  Secondly because glove manufacturers have heard our plight and started making warm but smart gloves - finally!  Check out a selection here. 

At the other end of the body - feet! In an ideal world we'd be able to fit thick socks into competition boots but unfortunately that would leave us with hugely oversized boots in summer.  The best bet then is to keep your boots in good condition.  Supple leather retains heat more than dry brittle leather.  Plus, if your boots crack and leak then your feet will be swimming in ice cold water. The solution, either clean your boots meticulously with Equishopping's wide range of leather care products or buy a new pair if they're past redemption. 

Now this next suggestion may seem fairly obvious but wear a belt! That way you can tuck your shirt into your breeches and it will actually stay tucked in and keep out the drafts! Check out Equishopping's range of belts, from the funky to the traditional. 

One final tip.  Wear a stock instead of a tie as it'll keep your neck warm just like a scarf. 

Happy competing!!

Free advertising - you simply can't lose out!

It's not uncommon to hear people comment on the price of advertising horses.  Current prices are sky high and when you're selling a low value horse advertising can take a large chunk of your profits.  The theory behind paying more is that you are paying for a premium space where your ads are displayed to a maximum audience.  That's one business model.  Now look at it from another angle.  Here at Equishopping we let you advertise everything from horseboxes through to grade A jumpers's. For free.  So what's the idea behind it? It's not because no one would pay to advertise with us it's because we think we're far better off letting you advertise for free and you seeing what else we offer.  We're confident that's the best way forward because you'll like what you find.  The bottom line is - you simply can't lose! It's free and will take you about 3 minutes to do.  

One problem with a lot of free advertising sites is that they have a huge number of lower value horses without much balance.  At equishopping we like to keep the balance between high and low value.  That way we have buyers with the money coming our way but we keep our traffic up as we've something for everyone.  Simple really.  So, yes, we offer free advertising for the right reasons - no catches.  We hope you'll agree...

But how on earth do you write an advert.  Not just an average one but one that'll have the phone ringing all day long for the right reasons.  The first step is no be truthful in your description.  There's very little point trying to lure buyers in with over exaggerated claims that they'll soon see aren't true.  However, just because we don't exaggerate doesn't mean we can't make ads stand out.  The trouble is with exagerating is that everyone does it - how many times do you read "stunning" in an advert title - the reality could be somewhat dimmer.... Play to your strong points.  Every horse under the sun has some plus points even the most difficult of beasts.  

Video and photos are the best way to show off those strong points.  I mean decent photos though, in good lighting, taken on a good quality camera or you're wasting your time as no one can see what their potential purchase is.... The other point with videos is that unless horses haven't been backed or you've got lots of photos in the ad don't use a picture of the horse being held or of its head.  Go for the action shot that actually shows the horse working.  

It's also very important to have all the details in your advert.  There's nothing more annoying than having to call about a horse just to find out how big it is! Plus, most people just won't bother and move on... Furthermore, when you give contact details make it very clear when you'll be available or if people should leave a message for example.  If you don't get back to people or they can't get hold of you they'll very quickly lose interest... 

Go for it! If you use Equishopping you just can't lose.  What's stopping you?

The eventing top 100 are out - a few thoughts...

It's that time of year again when BE publish the final point based standings for the season.  Check them out here.  You'll notice fairly promptly that Andrew Nicholson (the leader) has well over 2000 points whereas down in 70th you're looking at about 150 points.  That's a gargantuan difference in points- I'm thinking like...super human?!

Another interesting point is the difference and in some cases similarities between the grassroots riders foundation points table and the overall riders table for foundation points.   BE created a separate Grassroots table to give amateurs a chance against the 'pro's'... The thing is though, the so called amateurs really aren't that far behind the "pro's", give or take 20 points.  Bear in mind 20 points is only 2 PN wins.  So was it really worth splitting everything up? 

Someone said to me that they simply didn't stand a chance against the "pro's" for want of a better word.  Is that really the case? The tables don't suggest it or if they do it's a matter of a few wins either side.  When you're talking about 100 points plus that's not much of a difference.  Perhaps the real reasoning behind the so called gap is quality of horses or standard of riding - should we have BE100rich and BE100poor now? 

Looking at both sides of the argument - to split or not to split it seems both sides of the argument have strong points but the difficult task is to distinguish the factors that can't make this decision - you can't have BErich and poor based on how much a horse cost someone.  Whatsmore, there's so much more to producing horses.  It's also worth remembering that horses are the best levellers in the world - they really don't care whether they sleep in brand new luxury stables or in a converted cow shed.  As long as they're fed, warm and dry etc they're happy so perhaps the pro - am gap is less of a big deal.  Plus, if you keep thinking that any psychologist will tell you you're on the right tracks.  

Lets look higher up the levels to the likes of * and **.  Forgive me for not including **** in that but the number of amateurs competing at that level is quite low (sorry guys).  Perhaps the definition of amateur needs changing?  "Grassroots" only goes up to PN so once you're above that everyone's in the same boat.  The trouble in splitting amateurs off at the higher levels is that it's terribly difficult to define an 'amateur' and a 'professional'. Plus, there's also evidence that the higher up the levels you go the less desire there is for a split.  Personally I think a split would take something away from eventing.  Knowing where you stand in terms of the entire sport is no bad thing although I can't stand it when people say "oh, I've beaten so and so who went round Badminton last month".  Nooo! You're allowed to think that but it makes you sound so silly! 

So for now I think we've got it right.  A split lower down gives people a chance and higher up you're put in your place.  Plus, does it not mean so much more to come 10th in a proper Novice than come 5th in a protected amateurs Novice should it ever exist.  

Strangely enough the publication of the top 100 usually signals the time when most stores unleash the Christmas Demon of  tinsle adorned doors and elves in the fruit aisle a few weeks prematurely.  Equishopping's holding on until December but if you're after an early bargain check out our bargain page. Can you imagine having your christmas shopping done before the mad rush in the week before christmas? Sounds good...

WEG - A 5 minute round up.

Following our 5 minute summary of the World Equestrian Games (WEG) grab 5 minutes and check out our 5 minute summary.  

So the dressage was a success with 3 silvers for Laura Bechtolsheimer, also her high scores make her the most successful british dressage rider ever.  Team GB also claimed a team silver in the dressage - the first time Britain have ever won a team dressage medal.  The Inaugral Para-Dressage competition was a British run away victory by far with 13 medals, seven of which were gold, three silver and three bronze.  Lee Pearson led the nicknamed "Magnificent Seven" with 3 gold medals making them the most succesfull GB team at a championships ever!

The Showjumping team finished up 9th 

The Eventing team banished all critics winning team gold  led by William Fox-Pitt with an individual silver.  All counting team members jumped clear showjumping with Pippa Funnell finishing 5th despite a break from top level eventing.  Mary King finished up in 6th to add yet another placing to a career spanning era's and era's of eventing.  However, German's Michael Jung won by a clear mile - in fact several light years!

Britain didn't actually send a driving team to WEG but the endurance team finished 6th despite team medal hopes being dashed by GB's leading horse, Nazeeka, failing metabolic tests at the final vet gate.  Britains reining team packed a hefty punch for a small reining nation against the reining giants of America and Canada.  Both British riders finished in the top 20 with a 10th and 15th place.  Yeha!

The British reining team somersaulted their way to 8th place in the teams competition.  Britain's first ever WEG vaulting medal was won by Joanne Eccles with her father lunging performing a' candle in the wind' routine.  

As far as the individual disciplines go, thats it.  Things were a little different with WEG being held in the USA this year but was still a success all round.  There'll always be the problem for non olympic sports getting funding to travel over seas on both sides of the Atlantic but for Britain to make such an impact across the board is a major achievement.  To top it all off Britain topped the overall medal table by miles with 9 golds, 7 silvers and 3 bronze medals putting team GB a total of 5 medals above Germany who finished 2nd overall.  

Just like WEG representing equestrianism from all corners of the globe Equishopping hopes to branch out across Europe.  We've already started with horses advertised with us from a wide variety of countries - so how about joining one of the only free global market places?

The World Equestrian Games...soo much better than the golf.

Type WEG into google and you'll be presented with some rather good news.  GB already have a medal in the dressage and as I type are one step closer to bagging some medals in the eventing.  That's not to mention the Show Jumping where things are looking up as well! Basically, it's going very well for Team GB.  Got 5 minutes spare? Well what are the World Equestrian Games? 

 

For starters they're being held at Kentucky in America this year.  Which means flying about 450 horses from Europe over the Atlantic.  No mean feat! There's also different classes.  The eventing team flew business class.  It's about 10,000 euros per horse and when the horses arrive there's a 42 hour quarantine period.  The logistics of the flights can be a little tricky as horses travel separately to riders which leaves riders somewhat preoccupied with wondering what their horse is up to a 10000 feet.....

There's 8 different competitions going on: Eventing, Dressage, Show Jumping, Reining, Driving, Para-Equestrian Dressage (first time), Endurance and Vaulting.  One controversial point is the availability of funding to non Olympic sports.... but that's an entirely different can of worms.  

I think an explanation is due for the lesser known sports.  Reining is western style riding's version of dressage.  Endurance is what it says on the can and Vaulting is literally gymnastics on horse back.  Driving consists of a series of tests much like eventing but without the jumping. You get the idea - lots of little bits added together. The actual driving is split into 3 separate competitions Driven Dressage, Marathon and Obstacle Cones Driving.  

Team GB's medal hopes? Well the dressage is already in the bag with a silver from Laura Bechtolsheimer although we didn't manage to beat Edward Gal's and Moorland Totilas' horde of 3 golds.  In reallity this means Laura won as Moorlands Totilas is verging on not being a horse, more some dressage machine that has the effect of making people cry spontaneously at the sight of him trotting down the centre line....

Team GB are well in contention for the Eventing but as always the final day will leave many people without finger nails... The Show Jumping competition is a fabulous opportunity for the British Showjumpers to render multiple critics speechless given some criticism over the past year. GB also have some strong contenders in the other disciplines to bolster our predicted medal tally.  However, placing beats on that is a dangerous business....

For anyone that wants to find out more check out the WEG website - www.alltechfeigames.com - be warned though, you'll have to put up with a frightfully annoying background voice in places....

Equishopping didn't sponsor WEG this time around but in the imminent future when we're a large multi-national company we'll have a think! However, we did sponsor Blair Castle this year which the BBC heralded as a showcase of Britain's Eventing prodigy - 2012 heeeere weeee come! Pheeew, whirl wind tour of WEG. Done.

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 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