We at Divine have a small yard of 5 horses, they vary in ages from young to very old & we are going to be releasing some of our ways in which we keep our small herd healthy.
So we are kicking off today with Equine Sports Massage, this is a therapy we use on a regular basis for every horse we have. Even fully retired 30 year olds get a massage every horse loves it & it helps to keep there bodies in tip top shape.
Equine massage is far removed from someone turning up & putting hands on said horse & rubbing then leaving, its a whole new ball game.
There are many forms & ways plus many qualified people.
1- insured
2- Is qualified this is normally part of the insurance as most wont be insured if not qualified.
3 - Asks for Vet details
4 - Wants a full history of your Horse prior to treating
5 - Want to see horse move & trot up without rugs prior to treating
6 - Gives a full written report on findings
If you dont get all of the above then in our honest opinion dont go there. true professional will be happy to share any sore spots & advice on stretches & exercises they wont just leave.
We are very lucky to have a the Wonderful Nicola Robertson from 5 Star Equine Massage who looks after our yard. She is an experienced, fully qualified Equine Sports Massage Therapist who, for your peace of mind, is insured and registered with The International Association of Animal Therapists.
ALL HORSES can benefit from an equine sports massage treatment. This can range from the treasured family pony, to top quality competition horses competing in any sphere. They all can benefit…
MASSAGE SHOULD BE PART OF THE ROUTINE CARE FOR THE HORSE
Used during training and pre and post competition massage keeps muscles healthy, builds up those that may have wasted, maintains strength and suppleness and prevents atrophy even during a period of box rest or restricted work. After exertion massage minimises stiffness and speeds repair to tissue damaged as an inevitable result of physical stress and fatigue. Passive stretches help to keep or restore joints and muscles to full working capacity.
In the horse, the various massage and stretching techniques enable the horse to perform to its full potential by:
Massage can benefit the well being of the animal, release tension and aid mental relaxation. In the event of an Injury, massage is of great benefit to aid recovery and prevent atrophy (wasting) of muscles.
One thing people also need to take into account is how your horse reacts, we have used many therapists over the years & im always led by my horses. If the horses dont respond well to the therapist then they rarely come back. Just like us horses wont like every person that arrives in there domain.
Its important that they enjoy there treatment & can respond to an empathetic therapist. This is something that i think can be missed and is extreme importance.
If your looking for a Equine Massage Therapist in the NW we cant recommend 5 Star Equine Massage Enough.
https://www.facebook.com/5starequinemassage/
Other places to start looking for your new therapist is -
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The Carl Hester Collection is one of the nicest collections we have come across, not only for its design but the actual nature & quality of how the garments are made.
We are always looking for more ethical & environmentally friendly products, believe me when i say this is never easy to find. Especially in equestrian attire we require so much out of fabrics from sweaty hot, to freezing cold wet. We need our fabrics to do what they say they will.
However that was until this collection came to our attention!
Not only does it feel completely luxurious & has a cut that is exceedingly flattering. It has a fill that is made from recycled plastic bottles!
Yes Plastic bottles!!
The Ultra-lightweight synthetic down is made from recycled plastic bottles. The polyester hollow core filaments are microscopic and featherlike to naturally hold air pockets, giving it a luxuriously soft feel with excellent insulation and breathable properties. Unlike real down, when the insulation gets wet it does not affect its technical features. The filaments do not soak up the water and so dry exceptionally fast, which helps moisture to evaporate, keeping you warmer.
Plus no Birds where hurt in the making of this down, only plastic bottles.
This is one collection that is truly unisex & not one to be missed. All garments items come with there own dust bag & you really wont be disappointed this collection is more than just a name its the future.
]]>As this is my first blog for Divine Equestrian, I’d better introduce myself. My name is Jessica Allies, and I’m a one-horse dressage rider based in Cheltenham. I have a small group of clients that I coach around a full-time job and have done a lot of work with ‘problem’ horses, and rider confidence. I’m pictured below with my dancing partner, Nabretto (Kirby to his friends), and have been a sponsored rider for Divine Equestrian for the past three years…time really does fly!
Juggling a young family, corporate job, my dressage coaching, and keeping on top of my own horses can feel particularly tough this time of year. I'm a very goal driven person. I like to plan, and when things don't quite go to plan, I'm easily stressed. When I'm stressed, everyone around me suffers. Sound familiar? And let's face it, how often does everything go to plan with horses?
A little trick I've learnt is to set "aspirational training goals" rather than goals that center around major competition dates. I find this so much more flexible and fun, and kinder on my well-being 🙂 The competition dates become milestones/confirmation points in-between those training goals, not the goal itself.
I also love lists, and at this time of year I find nothing more satisfying than getting "to do" stuff down on paper, and ticking these things off when I've done them. I'm talking the little things that make the bigger things possible. Keeping this in good shape helps me keep a bounce in my stride. Keeping me a "lighter" shade of blue.
So what's coming up for #RHintonStressage?
Young Bob is entered for the forthcoming BD Winter Regionals at Novice Silver, in both the straight and music classes. This will be his first big arena / regional experience, his first long haul journey (on a lorry rather than a trailer), and his first stable away competition.
So what's my expectation?
My aim is to give him a positive experience with the travel, stabling and gain big arena confidence that will stand him in good stead for the future #trainingforthefuture. If we're able to pull off two near clear rounds in our championship tests, I'll be super proud of this young lad, wherever we end up on the scoreboard! Bobs Catago FIR technology rug and head piece (courtesy of #DivineEquestrian) will play a big part in managing his wellbeing on this big occasion.
Training goals for Bob are all about body building/conditioning, suppling and straightening with what I call "moderate" cross training work (3-4 sessions a week - with the occasional week off all-together). He's already showing a change over a pole, half steps towards piaffe in-hand, and good suppleness laterally. He's a lot more "furnishing out" to do these next few years and I'm all for preserving him for his later years! He does have a talent for self-harm, including a knack for de-rugging himself (with every strap still done up!!!). All being well, medium level competitions are well within site for Bob later this year, perhaps with a summer regional / Area Festival thrown in for experience in-between.
Monthly #RHintonStressage coaching days continue in the diary, supplemented with visiting trainers Andrew Murphy and Emily J Baker. I love helping my small but perfectly formed group of friends with their own stressage journeys .
Meanwhile - George continues to enjoy his retirement from Advanced level competition - eat, sleep, repeat. It's taken longer than I had ever imagined to convert him to barefoot. Slowly but surely he's finding his feet. Well done George. Until the next blog….
Rhiannon can be followed via her #RHintonStressage group on facebook.
]]>My New Years plans for the gang are as below; Finnegan is 8 months into his ‘resting year out’ due to sacroiliac injury. My plans for him are to keep him happy and start to fire up acupuncture and physio sessions ahead of rehab work, which will hopefully result with me back in his saddle 🤞🏼
Willow had quite a competitive year last year, I think she’d appreciate having a little less work to do this year and lots of pamper sessions 💅🏼 that said, I will be keeping her ticking over at home and would like to be aiming to compete Elementary by the end of the year.
Theia is rising 4yo and a bit of a giant, I’m extremely conscious of workload on a weak skeletal structure and so this year I plan to take Theia to as many in hand shows and Le Trec training days as I can find, to still ensure she sees the world and has nice experiences but no unnecessary strain on her back whilst she blossoms... next year will be her year 💖
One thing I have promised myself, is that I will get Timmy pony and my niece Maicee to as many competitions as possible this year. Whilst the bigger pones won’t be doing as much, it’s the perfect opportunity to really get cracking and keep chasing the confidence to grow bigger. I know how much they have to offer, they are a great team xx
Follow Katy at - https://www.facebook.com/teamlibreri/
]]>I'm also chief boot fitter here at Divine Equestrian & have been since our inception so im more than used to seeing boots, fitting boots & everything that goes with riding boots, im well versed in custom boots. So i feel im not a bad candidate to review these boots.
To start with & im not going to lie, the Price grabbed me RRP £199.95 adults & Kids £149.95
Then the colour ways grabbed me - Black, Brown, Blue/Black, Grey, Navy.
Then the size chart - widths & heights galore.
Then the fact there Leather!
Plus there grab & go boots, no made to order or Made to measure, something we really are not used to here at Divine.
So now your getting the idea i was kind of struck by these boots, there where presented to me in Blue/ Black colour & you know what i loved it. Very different to the norm but not so different you feel like your boots are announcing you before anything else.
The foot is so comfortable, its definitely a pair of boots i could use for hours without getting foot fatigue. The leather is so soft & supple but its a decent leather not one that marks at every opportunity.
They are only available in a field version, meaning that they do have laces over the front of the ankle. I am hoping that they may reconsider & make these boots in plain & field design. But for the price i can forgive the fact there is only a field option & say that they really do look amazing. With them having laces across the front it does open the boots up to every market also so i can see the reasoning.
Jumping wise these will be great as the laces give a bit more ankle movement for those who wernt aware of the reason for putting laces over the front of the ankle.
Do come up fairly high with the Bow 2cm, so they also give that lovely illusion we all dream to have & some blessed people do have long legs.
There is an elasticated panel either side of the zip giving a whopping variation of up to 4cm of extra width.
They are available in -
Standard height / standard wide - Adults & Kids
Standard Height / Extra wide - Adults
Long Height / Extra Slim - Adults & Kids
Short Height / Standard Width Adults
Foots sizes Adults - EU37 up to EU46
Foot sizes Kids - EU35 up to EU40 so potential there for an adults we spy!!
The boots also comes with spur rests as standard.
There really isn't much more to say about these boots apart from for the price there amazing & even those who like there made to measure £££'s boots would love these for everyday riding.
Blue / Black featured in pictures, along with our Gorgeous Margo Bogwhopit.
To buy direct from us at Divine Equestrian Click here
Photo credits - skylimit photography.
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It's a start to the new year and planning for the year ahead. All the horses had a little unplanned break over Christmas as I had this awful virus that seem to effect so many people, I hope you all managed to avoid it.
Anyway plans are for the year for the premier leagues for Alf at Grand Prix and Gerald and Casino at small tour all been well. Flo to do advanced medium and a hopefully a PSG by summer.
In the picture is Gerald who is by Wynton out of a Lancet x Ulft mare his grandmother is Parcival mother. This horse really is incredible, as there are a good horses and then there are incredible horses and I can honestly say Gerald falls under the latter he really is incredible.
I bought him as a 4 year and I always had high hopes for him but he is continuing to exceeded them all. We are donning the purple look which is from Divine equestrian the fleece is pikeur, lovely and warm.
Also check out Divine equestrian new range in store Cavalli Puri its superb I have the fur trim collar long coat it's stunning very warm and unbelievable price it's a god send when I am teaching.
I hope everyone is making positive plans for the coming year.
Jayne Xx
]]>We hope to get Jayne to write us a small blog during competition season so stay tuned for her Big Tour 2019.
Please give Jayne a huge welcome we are thrilled to have her on the team.
]]>I (Carrie) have always been an advocate of HKM clothing & I have jackets, fleeces & breeches all of which are at least 10 years+ old & still going strong! So I was intrested to see there develpments.
So I was very surprised to be sent a full outfit for me & one of my horses. The outfit is from the Cavallino Marino collection. \to do the garments justice I wanted to break down each garment so I could truly review each item. We always test everything we sell & if it does make the grade we don't stock or sell it.
So for my first blog we will start with the gorgeous Cavillino Marino Piemont Parka I was sent this jacket in Deep grey. Seriously I couldn't believe my luck as Grey is my favourite colour.
But first off what struck me with this mid length Parka was its softness, to touch it feels as soft as silk. This lead me to that thought of "god this wont last 5 seconds", the second thing that struck me was its shear beauty the fabric is shinny giving it that edge. The next was the fit, well I expected it to come up small, but to my utter surprise it came up big, so big I can fit easily a gilet & fleece plus a baselayer!
Its always nice feeling when you get an item of clothing in your usual size & find its big! So thumbs up HKM!
Anyway back to the jacket, its got some fab Features, Breathable and windproof, Dirt resistant, Highly insulated, Durable and hardwearing, Synthetic fur trim on the removable hood, 2 outer pockets, Built in back slit, Inner pocket, Elasticated waist band, Covered 2 way riding zip, Machine washable & suitable for tumble dryer.
So back to my thoughts, honestly i love it! its also light which is very different for a Jacket of this length but it makes riding in it really nice.
I didn't think this coat would stand up to me I may look clean in these pictures but I can assure you with 5 horses, I'm one of those people who wrecks jackets. I literally have to have loads as like most horse folk I'm out in all weather normally caked in Mud, horse flob, hay & sloppy feeds not to mention a nice light dusting of powdered supplement on top so it has to do a job as well as look nice this jacket I feel ticks these boxes very well. I've worn it out to appointments & whilst riding so I think I've tested it really quite well & its lived up to the test. Its now in my favourites pile, you know the one you literally wear to death, ooops did I say that!
The only down side is its not waterproof, which can be a pain especially for those of us who don't have horses in barns & indoor schools. But thankfully the weather can be kind & when its not torrential rain this coat is awesome. Its also a pretty awesome price too. The nice thing is it's washable & tends to not let anything stick to it.
£110.95 I think you will agree its a good price for a good jacket to order email or phone us or PM us on Facebook.
]]>I work a normal full time job, up at 5am to do the 3 horses and ride before work, commute 3 hours daily, compete and still manage to make the ponies look glam (I tend to have hay in my hair).
I never had my own horse growing up, I saved up with my husband to buy our first house and kept a little aside for my first real team mate, my lion hearted Finnegan.
I couldn’t afford a ready made horse and I wanted a project - I had spent many years helping people with their horses, that I wanted something that was my own at the end.
Lots of blood sweat & tears went into Finn, he was exciting and terrifying at the same time but we always had so much fun!
We were competing regularly BSJA, BD and unaff Eventing, anything we could get our hooves into! We were doing well for ourselves, until I discovered Finn had ulcers in 2015, he spent 9 months out of action 😢
And so, along came the impulse buy Willow a semi-backed youngster - somehow by luck or magic I’ve produced this beautiful girl who is out competing at BD; getting areas qualifying scores in 2 outings. Willow is also proving very promising with jumping. I’m very excited about our future! 💕
More tears with Finn since, as he now has sacroiliac issues and so sadly, he will never get back to where he was. But that’s ok, Finn has a home for life whilst I secretly plot how to get a 4th in without the husband knowing!
Finally my 12’2 pocket rocket Tiny Timmy, who is ridden by my nieces. I get them to as many shows as possible, I absolutely love watching them grow together!
My favourite brands are Eskadron, Stubben and Pikeur, which is great as Divine stocks them all plus much more - so I can shop whilst on the train to work saving valuable
Thank you for reading Katy x
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So riding tights, best invention ever or what! I love them so comfy, don’t have to worry about zips and poppers digging in, which is great for someone like me who is past the age of the washboard flat stomach (sad but, true).
Due to all of the above, as soon as I saw Eurostar had released their own version I was really excited as their products are great quality and they have a great tendency to use innovative materials and technology which is always a good thing. :-)
So as usual, super-fast delivery from Divine Equestrian and at home I find a happy parcel with these inside (maybe some other bits too ….. cough). So out of the packet they come, they feel super sleek and slippy but, I am thinking that’s a good thing for when wiggling into them.
Once on they feel lovely, fit well and unlike other brands the waist band is slim and actually it is much more comfortable which actually surprised me. So the next test is to ride in them, happily I had a lesson booked the next day so out for a test drive they go.
Firstly my trainer commented immediately asking me about them as she said they look lovely on and super flattering, this makes me happy lol, score 1.
They are great to ride in, plenty of give but, still hold you in the right places. The vents definitely make a difference but, I am thinking I will appreciate this a little more when it is actually warm, although I did not feel cold in them considering how thin they are, score 2.
The silicon does what is says on the tin and I am big fan of silicon seat as it has so much more give than suede and yet still gives the added grip which is great for dressage. They are sticky without gluing you to the saddle which is perfect, score 3.
I only had one complaint about them and I have noticed that Euro-Star are not the only ones doing this now but, the pocket at the back is just a bit odd? You can fit a phone in there but, god forbid you need it in an emergency and it sits quite low down so I would worry I was going to crush it. When empty I could feel the zip in the small of my back which was a definite irritation, so had to hoik my pants up to cover it lol. :-(
Overall, I would recommend these for anyone that likes the new riding tight trend as I do, as at the end of the day they are comfortable, trendy and practical. They are a little pricier than competing riding tight brands currently out there but, you can easily see why when you get them as the material is something else and the quality is fantastic. I am looking forward to seeing how they hold up as some of the other brands I wear have not worn so well, I doubt I need to worry about this at all knowing Euro-Star mind.
Alex with her lovely horse Alf in her Euro-star Althletics riding tights.
Happy shopping Divinettes. :-)
Take a look at these riding tights here - https://www.divineequestrian.co.uk/collections/euro-star/products/euro-star-athletics-full-grip-riding-tight-navy
We do recommend going up a dress size in these
]]>About my horses-
Giorgio ii
George is a 16.2hnds 2001 british bred Trakhener x TB (by Achtetermann out of a Devils Jump/Atlantus mare). Owned, backed and produced by Rhiannon since 2004. Rhiannon describes him as her “gift horse”, teaching her more than 10 different horses could have in the same time frame. What he lacks in ideal confirmation for advanced level dressage, he makes up for in heart. Rhiannon says he’s taught her the rewards of correct progressive training, appreciating biomechanics between horse and rider, and the tools/techniques to create the sound advanced level athlete that he is today.
“Its not all about the ribbons and titles, its not even about the fun we’re still having riding at GP in training / HC. It’s about the special bond we’ve developed on our journey together”
Competitive successes
- Midway Intermediate I Freestyle Champion 2017
- Midway Intermediate I Non Freestyle Reserve Champion 2017
- Small tour championship finalists at Intermediate 1 2016, one of few amateur horse/rider combinations to qualify. Achieving a PB score with over 70% in the Inter 1 freestyle.
- Consistently qualified for the Petplan Championship finals upto Intermediate 1 level.
Quakin Horatio
17hnds Bob is a 2013 british bred Oldenburger by Hotline, out of a Dimaggio mare. Purchased direct from his breeder as a 2yo - Rhiannon has backed and is following the same steady building blocks inspired by the TTT - Andrew Murphy and Charles DeKunffy.
“When I met Bob he was very plain and unassuming to look at, but very inquisitive and bright eyed…I instantly took to his cheeky character and nifty neat balance throwing shape! Pedigree is most definitely on his side, certainly at an immediate advantage over George and destined for GP in years to come”.
Raffaelus
17.1hnds british bred Hannovarian gelding by Rafarge (Rohdiamant) out of an Atlantus mare). “Alf joined George and I as a yearling, straight from his breeder. He grew into such a gorgeous impressive horse & the judges loved him. Everywhere we went people enquired after him. I backed him as a 3 year old and had trained him to medium level. Sadly he suffered a field injury and was pts. We were devastated. Our paths will meet again ”
Divine Equestrian says "We are really pleased to be working with Rhiannon, our paths have crossed more than once & we have always been inspired by her".
]]>When I saw this jacket online at Divine Equestrian I just knew I had to have it! Did I need it? No but, I had to have it ha ha. So off I go to check the finances and see what I can scrape together as not only do I need it, I need it NOW!
Suffice to say after planning beans on toast for dinner for the next few weeks (other half was in for a shock) I happily popped online and very satisfyingly placed my order.
As is always the case with this awesome company, it arrived the next day. Horror of all horrors, I was at work so had to wait till 6pm that evening to get to it, longest day EVER!
So I dash through the door yelling at my other half ‘have you got my parcel?’ He dutifully appears with parcel in hand, good boy. J Now I am one of those weirdos that has to open everything carefully, I think I Like to drag the excitement out. A few minutes later, there it is and it is just beautiful. Straight to a mirror to try it on.
Now as you may know from my previous Cavallo review, I am a bit of a fan of this brand for many, many reasons and I am happy to say that as expected this jacket was up to their usual fantastic standards and did not disappoint!
The night blue colour is just stunning. It’s not quite navy so a little different as you see so many classic navy blue jackets, which have their place but, it is nice to have something slightly different within that classic scheme. The fit as always is perfect, I am quite curvy and really appreciate Cavallo for taking that into account when they make their clothing as you can tell as soon as you put them on, they are really made for women.
So I have now been wearing this jacket most days when it is not too warm but, I am not going to lie it has not gone near a horse, it is far too pretty. So I have been wearing it to work instead and have actually had quite a few comments from work colleagues on how nice it is. I have not worn it in the rain yet but, I am really not worried as I know that the Cavashell and Aquaskin technology they use is super-efficient and will keep me dry.
I would highly recommend this jacket to anyone; it is super comfortable, practical and yet still manages to be incredibly stylish. Both the night blue colour and the silver are equally gorgeous with a silver zip and streamlined pockets. The branding is subtle and classy and not in your face which is nice so stop reading and go out and buy yourself one of these, remember YOU NEED IT!
Written by Alex Whisken for Divine Equestrian
All readers of this blog can gain 10% off the SS17 Cavallo collection, just use discount code - Cavallo10 on checkout.
https://www.divineequestrian.co.uk/collections/cavallo
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So instead of jumping in we needed to trial first, why do we do this you ask? Well as a retailer we feel it is really important to know our products as how can we truly sell anything without the knowledge behind it! We pride ourselves on this fact & we feel due to this we offer far more in terms of our customer service than most of the other retailers in this field.
I had previously used a Myler comfort snaffle for quite a few years with my horse Castle Troy. He was a big 18hh DWB but he loved the feel of the Myler comfort snaffle so much so I kept him in a snaffle all the way to Advanced level.
Bitting is such a contentious thing & it does like most things in the equine world move & change with fads & fashion. Back when I was a teenager it was fashionable to use bubble bits & Pelhams & french link snaffles.
Then it was a bit with peanuts then different types of metal. I once spent a whole day trying to find somewhere I could buy a German silver snaffle bit! So yes I feel all your pain 🙂
The trouble with all the above was that all the bits had a tendency to pinch in one way or another.
Plus we never gave a second thought as to the horses own mouth conformation!
Nowadays I’m much more safe when I bit, I don’t tend to try to many different bits as I have a good idea normally on what will or won’t work & once I find something that works I tend to stick to it. Good or bad that is what I do.
Now when it comes to my PRE (Andalusian) & bitting I get quite stressed, he’s not easy to bit & has suffered for years with multiple Diastimas (gaps between his teeth) his contact as a youngster due to these issues wasn't good. He also has a big tongue so peanut type bits he has never got on with.
When I saw the Myler 36 forward tilt ported barrel mouthpiece, I instantly thought ‘my god Galante would probably really like that bit’. He hates bits that sit on his tongue (which is most let’s face it ) The forward tilt of the port on this non-collapsing bit give tongue room even when the horse is off the contact, it is really the ultimate in comfort. However it is only a medium port so there is some tongue pressure for when you need the horse to re-focus on you.
Did i mention how excited i was to try this bit!
Having been riding in a Double bridle for the last few years with Galante, as this was the only option he was comfortable in, it was lovely to have Galante back in a snaffle bridle but not just any old snaffle bridle we chose the Stubben Freedom bridle. (btw we offer trials on these bridles)
I introduced the bit to him & then started having a little play in hand standing by the side of him & moving it around, once I was happy that he was happy, we moved to the arena & I jumped on.
Instantly I could feel a positive difference, I felt like he was moving into the bit rather than ducking behind.
Once I had fully got him used to the bit on a long rein I started to bring him up into a competition frame. He still felt extremely positive so I started moving him around laterally, his Half passes were brilliant, he stayed to the contact & I could even lift the shoulder by a half halt.
Galante has a nasty habit of grabbing hold of the bit & pulling using his ridiculously big wannabe stallion neck against me, as a way of getting away from me when I’m asking a bit more of him. I was worried he would get away from me, he tried it once & to no avail. He never bothered again after that & hasn't tried again since.
I then played with all the collected work & then changes which are still green & very airborne however he felt so comfortable & relaxed they were better than ever, needless to say the days that followed were all the same great work. So I decided to bite the bullet & take Galante to our trainer in the Freedom Bridle & the Myler 36
He felt mega more together happier & more stable in the contact. He was really happy to be forward to the bit & my two days away training where brilliant & we kicked it up yet another gear. I can honestly say I’m thrilled with the bit.
I will continue to ride in it now & compete plus i will be trying my tricky mare in this bit also.
So all in all i think this is the most positive review i could ever give, im no Bitting expert & dont try to be but Myler, make it fairly easy for a change with there amazing designs. We now have so many more options for our horses thanks to Myler.
Worried about which bit to choose? Well just drop us a line & we will be only to happy to help or go to Mylers own Facebook page
Needless to say we also feel the Stubben Freedom bridle is a great bridle to choose also.
Even though we haven't added the Bits yet to our website you can buy through us, just contact us, by Telephone, email or messages through our social media.
]]>Let me introduce the team first of all; My current European young rider horse Nibeley UJ Lady Lara, or Lara for short (I know it’s quite a mouthful!) She is 10 years old and has been with me since she was 6. Together we have trained up the levels from Medium to PSG/Inter 1.
This year is our second season at young rider level. We are aiming for the young rider Europeans again this year representing Team Ireland.
My other horse is Dutchman or Jack. Jack is a 9 year old Gelding by Jazz. I have had him since last summer and he is very talented, we are working together towards Grand Prix and hoping to compete at U25 Grand Prix next year.
Now that the important ones are introduced, now to introduce me :-)
I am Alex Baker, a 21 year old Irish Rider. Currently I am working for Anna Ross at Altogether Equestrian as a rider. I have been working for Anna for 2 years now, where I have learnt and improved so much about everything!
Training up the levels, training and backing youngsters, travelling abroad and social media to name a few.
Before working at Altogether Equestrian, I worked for Fiona Price-Jones at Sport Lusitano. I trained with Fiona whilst I was at school and then progressed to be a rider for her when I finished my A levels. Fiona taught me many things about horse management and training as well as breeding.
I fell in love with dressage when I was 12, trying to drag my (very long) first horse round a few prelims with highs of 60% and my passion just grew from there. Taking opportunities to ride anyone’s horse round a dressage test.
What I am most excited about right now; I am trying to train a horse to Grand Prix for the first time, learning how it is supposed to feel and the heightened need for the perfect balance and accurate aids is mind boggling at times but when it works is so thrilling. Jack and I are nearly ready to go out and try an Inter 2, we have 8 ones and baby piaffe/passage at the moment. Getting there!
Being on the Divine Equestrian team means so much to me, they have such an amazing collection of everything you need to be smart and fashionable with amazing quality. Before becoming a sponsored rider I was a customer of Divine Equestrian, the first thing I noticed about this shop was the huge range of all the best top named brands Pikeur, Eskadron,Cavallo and Cavallo boots and many more.
A personal favourite product is the Catago brushing boots that I bought last year. There is such a range of different colours that makes it easy to colour match either the Catago saddle pads or what I did which was to match it to my own numnah and riding boots (grey!).
It is easy to find bandages in every different colour of the rainbow but brushing boots are harder and I know that many people prefer the less hassle of brushing boots but of course it is still important be matching!
Lara and I have been sporting the new Euro-star SS17 Lychee colour this season! It looks amazing on her, coming out as a bright pink it goes well with her being black. I love my polo top and wear it on the yard and off! It is slightly longer so it is better for tucking in, and is a lightweight material that dust, hay and shavings don’t stick to. (Which is always good in my books!).
Thank you again Divine Equestrian for this opportunity and looking forward to writing my next blog for you all!
Follow me at -
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Stübben Virginia Dressage saddle review Part one -
We have been very lucky here at Divine to become ambassadors for Stübben UK, we have been big advocates of Stübben for years & could not be happier.
Stübben has all the things we love in companies, Quality, innovation & customer service. So to be now able to use one of their saddles is a great honour for Carrie (Director of Divine Equestrian).
I Carrie have owned horses all my life & whilst I do class myself as an amateur rider i have produced all my own horses for many years let’s just say over 30 years. Stübben was most definitely the Brand to have when i was growing up.
So When i was given this opportunity of working with Stübben i was extremely excited BUT I also had the old demon thought in my head, you know the one “ Stübben are great but there not forgiving on your backside”. This thought kept rolling through my mind & I was praying that this wouldn’t be the case.
So the day loomed when John & Sue from Stübben UK turned up, I was a little on edge more so as the horse we had chosen to use the saddle was my not long home backed Baby 4yo Hanoverian. So I had the added stress of Jasper behaving, let’s face it can be hard enough with horses but a just backed one trying a saddle he’s not used to the feel of could be a challenge!
John decided that they wanted me to try there new Dressage Saddle the Virginia, I was told that this was their basic dressage model so I wasn’t expecting much.
However out came this beautiful Saddle, soft leather with Patent bits, yes PATENT every blingy dressage rider’s most favourite thing!! I asked John again just to confirm that it was a Basic range saddle?? He replied with yes, I think I was starting to annoy him at this point lol.
I asked ok so how much will this cost??
How does £ 1837.50 sound??
It nearly floored us as we are so used to prices of £2,500 - £ 3,500 being banded about for saddles of much lesser quality these days!
Anyway once I had got over the fact this saddle was so affordable on it was popped, we all stood back & commented that it looked like it had been made for Jasper. Jasper was most approving.
It was at this point the technical elements of the Stübben saddles where pointed out to me. First thing which is the most important is the Tree, Stübben have invested loads into their unique Steel Spring tree. Not only is the design amazing but it is also an Adjustable Tree, now I hear you all shouting!!
When I say Adjustable the Tree points are adjustable by using a specially devised piece of equipment called aptly Change a Stübben device. The tree points can change in width from 28cm – 32cm. Major Tree changes can be done also by sending back to Stübben, so you really can try to have a saddle for life.
The next small but helpful thing is the Panels have screws to make the removal for flocking much easier, the panels are traditionally flocked with Wool.
For more info on the Stübben Steal spring tree click here http://www.stuebben.com/site/stubben-info-5727/saddle-tree-5382/
There are also many different options available on girthing, Gussets & Tree -
Long Billets
NT Saddle tree
Fourth Billets
Gusset Panel
Flap Straps
So next was my test ride, I decided to lunge Jasper for a few Mins first before getting on board. One I wanted him to get the feel of the saddle & two it was a cold rainy morning & he was fresh! If im honest I just didn’t want to face plant in front of John & Sue.
After 5 mins I parked him up at the mounting block & got on, instantly I knew I liked the Virginia as the moment I sat I felt it gently helping to put me into a lovely alignment. The knee rolls support but don’t block & the seat is deep yet open, I’m not a fan of being locking into a saddle and whilst this saddle does definitely help you it doesn’t give you the feeling of being blocked. The narrow twist really helps us ladies as well, my hips could drop a lot easier.
Instantly Jasper moved better & considering he had only been backed a few weeks at this point he moved a lot straighter as well. I felt I could get my leg on better & generally ride much nicer. I could of rode round for hours but he’s a baby so a walk, trot & canter on both reins with loads of neck scratches & polo’s had to suffice.
The major thing was the seat ITS NOT HARD, sorry to shout but I had to. The seat is in fact extremely comfortable so can we lay this to bed now??
Stübben have most definitely moved with the times & are producing majorly innovative & horse / rider friendly equipment a lot of time & research goes into their designs & it really does show when you try them.
So that’s it for now Part one of my blog complete, our next blog will be about how we prepared Jasper for the BEF Equine bridge selectors day & how the Stübben Virginia dressage saddle is getting on with us both now we have had more hours together.
If anyone wants any further info on this wonderful saddle please do get in touch, our saddle can also be viewed in Store at Divine’s Boutique shop as well as loads of other Stübben equipment.
sales@divineequestrian.co.uk
Or contact Stubben Direct
Stubben UK have there own Facebook page, so do go give them a look & like -
https://en-gb.facebook.com/St%C3%BCbben-UK-Ireland-1255283567834842/
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I have always been a huge Cavallo fan and as always this stunning gilet did not disappoint.
The thing I love most about Cavallo is the fit, they are so flattering in the way they cut their clothing, you honestly don’t notice till you try something on, look in the mirror and go ‘Dang I look good!’.
I have a fair few items of Cavallo clothing now and am always super surprised that others I know don’t really know anything about them. They have all heard of other big name brands but, not Cavallo. I am always the first to say you need to try them, very similar if not slightly cheaper and just a good quality and always look so good on.
Firstly the colour of this gilet, prune……eeeeekk basically a gorgeous yummy purple and no girl can ever have enough purple in her horse wardrobe. It is truly stunning with a lovely sheen in the sunlight.
It is also very lightweight but, super warm, making the most of their winter high technology. It is so comfortable to wear due to the stretch sides, making any movement easy. Even jumping up and down and wind milling your arms (yes I have actually tried this).
The Helen softshell Cavallo gilet is a both water repellent quilt and wind and waterproof softshell whilst also still being breathable, making it highly practical for most English weather.
I have mainly been wearing mine with a lightweight long sleeve tee underneath and have found it has kept me at the perfect temperature whether out on an hours leisurely hack or a hard hours schooling, this has been in sunshine and much cooler weather.
I absolutely love mine and have and always will recommend Cavallo to everyone I know as they really do design and make the most gorgeous clothing lines.
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We hope to have our saddle in the next week, we will be doing a full on-going Tried & tested blog as we will be using this saddle on our beautiful 4yo British Hanoverian.
Not only that but you will be able to to see the saddle in our Shop & you can also try it yourself.
All we can say for now is our trial ride in this saddle went extremely well. Both horse & rider felt improvements straight away.
The Price of this saddle is also amazing at around £1,950.
For more information please go to Stubben website - http://www.stuebben.com/
Also take a look at there Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/StuebbenUK/?fref=ts
Please give there Facebook page a like also while your there :-)
Dont forget to keep popping back to see how we progress with this Saddle & take a look at our Stubben products not forgetting our Stubben Equi-soft Girth & Freedom Bridle Trials available now.
http://www.divineequestrian.co.uk/collections/stubben-girths-bridles
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By Divine Ambassador Alexis Whisken
So on a sunny September day up in Eccleshall I became a model for a day. I had never heard of MakeBe until visiting the Divine Equestrian store and website and I have to admit upon first seeing these breeches online and on the hangar they did not jump out at me, I thought they looked a bit odd in all honesty.
However, for my modelling debut, Carrie asked me to put a pair of these on. Well what can I say, I was astounded and did not want to actually take them off.
The fit was beautiful and so flattering with the high waist, the material is like nothing I have felt before, I literally felt like I was wearing a second skin as they molded to me so perfectly.
Suffice to say I had to buy these breeches, it would have been a crime not to. I have now had them for about a month and I have lived in them.
The silicon seat sticks you to the saddle nicely without leaving you feeling like you cannot move at all. After being covered in dust and horse slobber, a quick wipe and they look good as new and I swear they now fit me better than they did at the beginning.
Do not be fooled by the pictures people, these breeches are amazing and I cannot recommend them enough, I would 100% definitely buy another pair in a heartbeat.
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When we saw the Easy Rider collection from Euro-star we just knew instantly we had to have it in our shop.
What instantly grabbed us both where the fabrics, so soft & the colours, the hard task was setting about which breeches to choose. We instantly felt that the Easy Rider Frea breech was the one, but little did I know that I would actually fall in love with these breeches.
It’s a long wait from ordering winter stock to actually receiving it so when I opened the box that contained the Frea Breeches I instantly remembered why we bought them.
These breeches have some major plus points not only are they Full seat Breeches, they also have gorgeous silicon swirls on top of the full seat. This means that you literally have the best of both worlds. They also have the ER logo & stud detailing on the back of the waist band & a gorgeous swirl pattern again embroidered on to the seat pocket.
Two front pockets edged with leather like material really set these breeches off. I thought they might be restrictive but in fact there not at all, the waist is lovely a Mid / high waist so it really fits most ladies very well & there is no showing things you don’t want to when picking horses feet out!
Oh & did we mention they are WATER REPELLENT ?? Also with wick-able material that has a 4 way stretch??
Once I had my pair on which was ridiculously easy as they are true to size ( if anything possible a little generous) I couldn’t wait to get in the saddle to really test them. Once in the saddle I was very comfortable the silicon does give you more stick ability that most of the silicon breeches I’ve tried & wear daily. I’m one who doesn’t like feeling stuck in the saddle & I will say they didn’t make me feel that but I definitely felt more stabilised than normal especially when my PRE was practising Flying changes & I mean Flying literally :-0
Off the horse & around the yard i found these breeches really comfortable, nothing really sticks to them that a quick brush down with your hand wont fix, meaning there very practical as well as beautiful. They wash really well also, all in all these are one of my favourite breeches & i will definitely be found in a pair of these most days over the course of this winter.
Breeches available is Mid Grey (which is slightly darker in real life ) & Dark Brown.
Available & in stock now at Divine Equestrian
RRP £115
]]>Catago is a growing Brand in the UK & we are so happy that so many of our customers are appreciating the quality of this wonderful company, as always with Divine we do pride ourselves on being able to provide high quality products.
Earlier this year Catago very kindly sent us Catago Cooler Rug, we are always looking for nice fitting rugs which don’t cost the earth. Plus we will never recommend a product or sell one that we haven’t already tried it is our company ethos & we believe that this way we really can give better customer service through in depth knowledge of our products. Luckily Catago agree's with us & allowed us to try the Cooler Rug & ¼ sheet.
With owning many different breeds of horses we struggle with fit when it comes to rugs especially on my beautiful PRE. With this in mind we decided that we would put the cooler rug to the ultimate test & try this rug on Galante with the knowledge of if it fitted then it would be a good one for everyone else.
So the box arrived & in there was the most beautiful Red Cooler rug what immediately struck me was it is very similar to another top brand sold in the UK only half the price! We had ordered a 6’6 rug which is the true size of Galante but again is something we worry about as you never do know how there cut. But I was very pleased & relieved to find out that the rug is indeed true to size & fitted Galante beautifully even around his neck & shoulders. The gorgeous Red colour of the rug really does set it off well & it looks extremely classy without being over the top. Galante is Grey but this colour as you can see above really looks amazing on a Bay as well as Black horses.
I have been using this rug now since we had it which is now over 6 months & it truly is a lovely & highly practical rug, I have had no rubbing, it hasn’t & wont stretch as it has properly stitched edges & it does what it says it wicks really well. I use mine for travelling, cooling down & as a base layer when needed on colder nights.
The rug is available in Red, Anthracite & Black
Its features –
100% acrylic with wool effect. Ideal as transport rug or after training as the material transports excess heat and sweat away from the horse.
The rug has black binding, double front closure, detachable cross surcingle’s and elastic leg straps.
They are an excellent price as well & easily stand up against other more well-known brands on the UK market.
One of the best features is the removable surcingle’s,which gives you the option of how you want to use the rug, high quality buckles mean there is no issues on fastening the rug even after multiple washes & wears.
Oh & it does indeed wash well, however a quick hoover will remove any bedding that has stuck prior to sticking in the washing machine.
They also would be very easy to embroider just like similar but more expensive cooler rugs on the market.
In fact it our next thing to do still is to embroider ours.
The Catago Cooler Rug is available to order from Divine Equestrian – RRP £79.00
That’s a lot of rug for not a lot of money!
]]>Catago is a fairly new brand to the UK but we can tell you the quality is high, as always with Divine we do pride ourselves on being able to provide high quality products.
I was very quick when the Catago stock landed to snaffle myself a gorgeous Saddle pad in Anthracite grey. We don't get many high quality saddle pads in grey & this is seriously one of my favourites. Keep watching for our Tried & tested on this ;-)
Anyway back to the 1/4 sheet, when i was shown these i was in shock as we do struggle to get high quality 1/4 sheets. Many manufacturers go for wrap round sheets, which are OK but if like me you like to be away from the exercise sheet then these are for you.
Catago very kindly sent me a 1/4 sheet to trial & test of which i was over the moon about as my old Thematex sheet was knackered. So a new 1/4 sheet was very much needed, i wasn't even worried when they said it would be red.
When it came & i got to try it i was even more impressed, the sizing is great. My PRE is between a 6'6" & 6'9" in rugs. The Catago exercise sheets come in Small, Medium & Large.
Ours was a large size & i would say this easily would fit either horse rug size 6'6" - 6'9", however if you had a very slight 6'6" horse then i'm sure a Medium would fit!
The Velcro straps that attach to your saddle are longer than some other makes we've tried & the Velcro also has a longer section so really do have a lot more adjust-ability.
I warmed up in mine on the 2nd morning of my lessons with Andreas Hausberger & it didn't move an inch. It was also super easy to remove when the horse was warmed up. To Andrea's surprise between Galante & Myself we where able to hide our vivid pinkness under my coat & G's 1/4 sheet. My god did Andrea's have a shock when we finally unveiled ourselves haha.
The outcome is a super Exercise 1/4 sheet, which comes in Black & grey as Standard but also has a super Red colour in the new collection at the moment ( please see above picture) .
They are an excellent price as well & easily stand up against other more well known brands on the UK market. They also would be very easy to embodier just like similar but more expensive 1/4 sheets on the market. In fact it our next thing to do embroider ours.
We stock these sheets & currently have Black & Grey in stock, priced at £52.50
http://www.divineequestrian.co.uk/collections/catago
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http://stable-equestrian.net/tried-and-tested/eskadron-range-from-divine-equestrian/
]]>I was a little sceptical at first as I remembered years ago the sizing of the clothing being more for tall skinny folks. Which of course is fine, but everything I’m sadly not meaning that I personally did not have many euro-star clothes.
So as part of this euro-star kindly agreed to let me have a pair of Breeches to try, I was very excited but in the back of my head I was dreading that they wouldn’t fit.
The box arrived & in there where a fabulous pair of Judith Full grip seat breeches in Blue.
I have to say I was in love, my kind of colour my kind of style. I had them on our shop counter & just kept admiring them & feeling very lucky that euro-star had agreed for me to test them.
Time came & I finally tried them on, I have to say I don’t think I have ever been so scared but to my surprise, they not only fitted, they were on the generous side in my normal size! I think I nearly fainted with joy.
Our lovely euro-star Rep had told us the sizing was very good & as that was my only reservation I can’t tell you how happy I was as if you have never tried euro-star clothing you’ve never lived & you’re seriously missing out!
The quality is just amazing I lived in these breeches for 3 days, I actually tried them on & refused to be parted with them. I did take them off to go to bed but other than that I wore them, rode in them, and worked in them plus everything else…
Comfort is extremely high in these breeches there made with the rider in mind so everything is thought of right down to the ankles being of thinner material. Makes it so much easier to fit your boots on with. The seams are stitched to perfection meaning there is not a single area or point where there is a flaw or something to rub you.
I decided after the initial excitement that I would obviously wash the breeches & then put them at one side to use whist partaking in two days of training with my horse a 9yo PRE Galante Training Adv Level dressage & my trainer Andreas Hausberger.
Now anyone who knows Andreas will know he is one of the Chief riders of the Spanish riding school of Vienna.
So you can imagine we really do get put through our paces & I’m glad I had a chance to put the breeches to such a test .
Here we are on day one not only modelling our euro-star Judith Breeches, but the euro- star SS15 Aqua Crystal Saddle pad & Bandages. (Note hind bandages & tail up are to enable us to do in hand work easier without the tail or bandages getting in the way).
The breeches had washed extremely well & not only felt amazing, they looked amazing. The grip seat didn’t stick me to the saddle as one normally thinks when you say the word Grip seat. They did give support but in no way hindered my riding. As a mid-rise waist they also sit in a nice place on the waist line & stayed there with no dropping or digging in.
Day two was an early start & the breeches even though being put through the mill the day before & being stuffed in the truck overnight where just as lovely to wear. I wore them for the full two days & really did get put through some tough work with Andreas but the breeches where fabulous I didn’t have to think of them once they did their job & kept me looking fab able to sit & ride my horse to his fullest potential.
I can honestly say hand on heart if there was a choice of marks from 1-10 I would give these breeches 11.
We now can’t wait for our stock of euro-Ssar breeches to arrive this autumn.
The Judith Breech is euro-stars entry level full grip breech & retails at £120, if you are interested in ordering a pair of these breeches please do contact us at Divine Equestrian & Carrie will only be too happy to order you some in.
http://www.euro-star.de/home-en/
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We will also post Sponsored Riders Reviews & Customers.
]]>High waisted & full seat I was quite impressed from the first opening of the box, however I was even more impressed when I felt the material. Instantly you could tell they where high quality from first feel. I personally love the new materials breeches are being made in now.
Then there is the added bit of bling on the back of the breeches, being a true matchy Dressage queen I do love bling.
I spend time riding & sitting in front of computers in my breeches I live in them so comfort is absolutely paramount. I hate anthing that digs in, I have found that some high waist breeches can sometimes dig in especially when sitting down.
However I have had no issues at all with the Silver Stream 3/4 Alos seat breeches & found them to be one of the most comfortable pairs of breeches I have ever worn.
I have found the material very stretchy yet supportive & the full Alos seat is not restrictive in anyway, the other nice thing about the material is hairs don’t stick to it, so you can literally brush them off with your hand easily. Another plus for me owning Huskies & Horses at this time of year.
Riding wise I found them brilliant, supportive yet comfortable the full seat just add’s that final bit.
I have worn these breeches well & I can honestly say they are one of my top 5 recommended breeches so far. The cut & comfort level is high, plus they really do look smart. They also wash well & seeing as when I try a product I do try it I can assure you all i've washed & washed these & all the bling is still present.All in all these breeches get a 5 out of 5 rating from me.
The only downside for me is I only have them in the Pinky/red colour & whilst it is stunning it’s not quite me. I'm on the larger side & I do like not to stand out to much.
However the plus is these breeches also come in a gorgeous Blue & for competing they also come in White.
Available to order Via Divine Equestrian or HKM
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