On the eighteenth day of Christmas my horse gave to me...

On the eighteenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

This product is probably something you will all turn your nose up at. In fact it wouldn't surprise me if you clicked the X before reading on once I tell you which product I am going to recommend today.

The eighteenth product I want to recommend is.....Fairy liquid.

I will of course review the other shampoo that I use to get Ceaser's dirty bits white, but today I thought it would be worthwhile telling you why I think fairy liquid shouldn't be a write off!

I remember using fairy liquid to bath my horses when I first got them, about 14 years ago. Back then I didn't give it a second thought, but last year when someone recommended using plain, old, simple fairy liquid to get the toughest of stains out of Ceasers coat I turned my nose up at them. I wanted the best for him and if this meant spending £6 on a bottle of shampoo for him, then why not?


However, when I failed to find a relatively cheap equine shampoo that actually worked to remove dirt, urine stains, poo stains and grass stains I decided to give fairy liquid a go. 

We all know its supposed to remove grease and if its good enough to use on our pots and pans that we eat off, then why shouldn't it be good enough for our horses coats?

Fairy liquid is honestly only one of two products that I have since found that actually works. It removes most yellow stains and mud, but at only roughly £1, I don't mind slapping it on and rewashing several times. 

Most of the competitions we have been out to this year I have used fairy liquid to bath Ceaser the night before. It may be cheap looking and some of you probably prefer spending £6 on a pot of equine shampoo that doesn't really work, but, if you own a coloured that you're struggling to get clean then give fairy liquid a go...you may be surprised!

Please let me know your results, or if you have any other whitener tips! I am always open to ideas to get my scruff pot clean! 

Tweet your tips to @FurryMane or comment below. 

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On the tenth day of Christmas my horse gave to me..

On the tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

I am adamant that Ceaser wears boots whilst being exercised and at bed time, so as you can imagine I am also very picky about what boots I use on him and the level of protection they offer. 

The tenth product I want to recommend is the Barnsby brushing boots. 

I got these quite cheaply from Olympia last year and have been impressed with them ever since.

I have a pair of brushing boots now that are always falling off mid-ride and I am forever having to get off and put them back on. I went for a good canter on a hack with a few friends a couple of weeks ago and mid-gallop one of Ceaser's boots fell off, pushing me to use these more than I had been doing. 

Despite originally wanting to save them for competitions I have been that impressed with them that I now use them all the time. They have not once became loose when being used and are very easy to clean if they do get dirty.

They also have a nice, double hook and loop high density boot made out of neoprene material. 

At just £25 per pair you really wont find a better or smarter brushing boot on the market that does the job. Whenever I use them I can feel confident that they will protect Ceaser's legs whether we are jumping or schooling!

For more information visit the Barnsby's website. 

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A day in the life of a journalist and show rider....

This past week has been absolute all go. Last Tuesday it was decided by Equestrian Life magazine that I would be covering the Pony Club Championships held at Cholmondeley Castle on the 16th and 17th. I could have stayed all weekend reporting but I had already previously planned to compete at Arena UK on the 19th with Ceaser.

The atmosphere at The Pony Club Championships was simply fantastic. I think if I had to describe it in one word though it would be electric. Everyone was buzzing and surprisingly enough I did not see one child cry. All were in good spirits and focused more on having a good time.

I don't think I'll ever get used to sitting in the "officials and sponsors" tents at competitions like the championships, having lunch with the rich and famous. Every time I mentioned I was a journalist everyone made the same "oooo" noise and told me how exciting it must be.

Yes, days like these make all the endless hours I spent in a lecture room for three years at university seem worthwhile. The blood, sweat and tears over lost work and a hard dissertation all suddenly now seem worth it, now I'm exactly where I want to be and doing exactly what I have always dreamed of doing.

Every person I met at The Pony Club Championships was willing to talk and answer all the questions I had. It does seem funny that without the press pass around my neck stating who I am, I'm just like everyone else. Yet, with my press pass I'm someone people want to talk to and are keen to be approached by. It is a lovely feeling, being able to make someones day by promising to try and get their photo in to a magazine or giving them a mention.

A particular Pony Club team didn't do too well in the mounted games but I promised I would try and get a photo of them in Equestrian Life and they were soon all smiles again. It is a lovely feeling and I am so fortunate to be able to give people a voice and show their beautiful ponies off.

Fingers crossed I am heading down to Cheshire this coming weekend to cover another Pony Club event. If you're there please tweet me @FurryMane and I will try and get round to meeting up with you to conduct a short interview. (I'm nice I promise!)

**

Saturday and Sunday saw me once again running around like a headless chicken. Because I had been away for the two previous days Ceaser was filthy from being out and in need of a good bath. Just as I was about to bath a livery asked me if I would take them on a 3 hour round trip (which ended in being more like 4/5 hours) to see a pony for sale. Of course I happily obliged and got home very late which meant bathing and plaiting a moody Ceaser who just wanted his tea!

Sundays heat was excruciating. If I had known it was going to be that hot I really wouldn't have gone to the show; but we did. Upon arrival we pulled four very sweaty ponies off the lorry. Even though our lorry has enough ventilation and windows it still gets very muggy in there when there is four horses on the lorry.

Anyway, this meant sponging Ceaser down once we had arrived at the show and hoping he would dry before our classes. Thankfully he did and still looked stunningly white for his class.

First up was Riding Pony which he usually does well in. Today he felt stuffy and simply like he couldn't be bothered. Which in all honesty was quite how I felt. The judged shocked me by being very thorough, checking all tack was clean, asking us to allow our horses to stretch in the go-round and then showing a gallop. The ring was small for the amount in the class and I would have liked to have shown a better gallop but knew I could save that for my show piece.

As usual I saw the competition in the class and knew I had to be one step ahead again, so out came my walk to canter in my individual show piece again. Despite Ceaser not being as quick as usual to hop in to the canter it still felt nice and we got our chance to produce a lovely forward gallop to finish off before reining back and saluting. The judge seemed pleased as she kept pointing to him when making her decision and I was thrilled to be pulled in 1st place.

By now the heat was exhausting and I felt like I could faint any minute in all my show gear.

In the Ridden Veteran we were once again up against the big hunter and show horse types that simply look amazing when turned out correctly. Ceasers show piece felt nice but I felt could have been more responsive. This reflected I think when we were pulled in a respectable 4th place. Still good considering the competition that we were up against.

So, after another pleasing day I went to check out my score sheets for the whole season at Arena UK. I am a member and aiming for the big trophies at the Presentation Evening. All season I have been working towards gaining points to win overall Champion in both classes and am pleased to say so far I am in the lead. I just need to do well at the final show which is a Championship show in September and I think I'll get it. Please all keep fingers crossed for me and Ceaser - I would be thrilled to win overall champion in both classes and will be working extra hard to gain the most points at the final show.

**

This Thursday I have a Polo lesson which if you remember me saying, my partner Mark purchased for me for my 21st birthday. I am quite excited at trying yet another new discipline and hopefully the weather holds out for me! I will let you all know how I get on.

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Love for a horse and passing my degree!

I have always said if anything was to happen to Ceaser I'd do my best to protect him and stop him from being hurt. On Sunday I proved I would be true to my words.

The day started off relatively pleasant. I knew that I had a long day ahead due to one of the liveries coming with me and her test being at 9am and mine 1pm! I may have mentioned a few times now that Ceaser wont stand at the lorry on his own so I have to take him everywhere with me. When I did get to tie him up he was just getting fidgety due to the high winds and a lady had decided to park her lorry unbelievably close to ours and all her dogs did from the inside of her lorry all day was yelp and cry.

Anyway, my time came to get on and Ceaser felt brilliant when I was warming up in the indoor arena. His transitions were spot on and the walk to canter transitions felt brilliant. I ran through my first test, elementary 44 and then thought I'd let him rest until I was due to go in. That was until my partner Mark came in to the indoor arena and said it was quite windy outside so wouldn't I be best doing some work in the outdoor warm up. That is where things started to go rather downhill. Within 5 minutes of being outside Ceaser decided the wind was terrifying and I was nearly catapulted on the floor. Luckily I managed to stay on through a few big bronks as he bolted from one end of the arena to the other, spooking other horses as he went. After apologising to a few terrified older looking riders I managed to calm him down and get him listening.

One problem though about where we were competing is, there is a children's camp not far from the competition arena. Every time I have ridden in that arena I can hear kids screaming. So, add screaming children, high winds, a very high spirited Ceaser and it seems you end up with an Elementary test completed very quickly! Needless to say, we got a respectable 60.80% which is fair I think. (remind me never to give Ceaser electrolytes the morning of a dressage competition again - whoops!)

Next was the affiliated Prelim, which I think went and felt better. Although being the youngest and on the smallest pony by far is a little unnerving.  How judges can judge Ceaser, a cob cross Connemara against warmbloods is beyond me! Anyway, we came out to the other competitors saying they didn't feel like even bothering after watching how lovely my test went so that was nice. Still, I think the judge either disliked us or didn't seem to like ponies as we got 66.66%. I was hoping for at least 68% but I did get an 8 for my riding so that was encouraging.

That is when it started to go wrong. Everyone that was with me went to warm up and get a cup of tea whilst I took Ceaser back to the lorry to get him ready to go home. Just as I was putting his fleece on the heavy rain suddenly started and the pony tied next to Ceaser panicked and swung his bum round to Ceaser. I think he then thought the pony was going to kick him, tried to swing his bum round and reared up just as I was trying to push him away from being kicked by the pony. I think it must have bent my wrist back too far or at a funny angle. Initially I was fine but after 10 minutes my arm and wrist started throbbing and I was becoming increasingly worried as it was my wrist I broke twice as a child and had to have pulled straight due to a bad kick from my smaller pony as a child.

We took Ceaser back to the yard and everyone helped put him to bed so Mark could take me to hospital. Thankfully they found no breaks on the x-ray but because of the severe pain I was in put it in a splint and sling and told not to do anything (including riding, grr!) for at least 7 days.
Although the next day I could barely move my whole arm and a lump had formed just below my shoulder and I could not straighten or rise my arm, so off we went back to A&E where they x-rayed my whole arm this time. Again, thankfully no breaks but the doctor said due to the strain my arm had been through pushing Ceaser as he had reared I'd most likely done a lot of damage inside and it'd take 3-6 weeks to heal.

I've been told not to ride for this time or do anything. Although, I can tell you now, this wont be happening. I have an important showing competition on Sunday and will hopefully be doing it, whether it be through gritted teeth and lots of painkillers! Ceaser is obviously now having a few days but everyone at the yard are all being very helpful in offering to poo-pick, lunge and muck out for me, so he wont be having much of a holiday! Although, mark is being very bossy and is demanding I actually take doctors advice for once and rest. Sitting at home is driving me nuts so I doubt i'll be out of the saddle for much longer than a few days! I've competed with a broken arm before, so this definitely isn't going to stop me!!

Amidst the bad luck on Sunday evening, I received from fantastic news this morning that I have passed my degree in Journalism. I am so pleased and cannot believe its all coming to an end. I have had the most amazing three years and am sad for it to be ending but happy that its now time for new doors to be opening.

I would also just like to thank my lovely sponsors, Prime Equine for providing me with this lovely jacket! It kept me very warm (and dry!!) at the dressage competition and looks very stylish.
Check out my page on Prime Equine here: http://primeequine.co.uk/calendar/blog/five-to-follow/

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We're movin' on up

This blog post comes following my decision to give showing another go after I declared I was never doing it again.

I am a huge believer in when you achieve something then don't try again, but go for a bigger achievement. Reach further and aim for a bigger goal.

It is not uncommon to see the same competitors attending every riding club show year after year. Often at the end of the year at the annual presentation evening they will also be the ones who collect the most trophies and it becomes a competition in itself for who has the biggest table of prizes.

So, why do they do it? Why don't people move up a level when they have achieved something special that year? Is competing at one level deemed comfortable enough for certain individuals or is the prospect of moving up to be competing against different combinations a scary one?

Is it fair to be competing against someone that always wins the classes they enter? Are you one of those people that see a certain person is entering the same competition as you, know they are going to win and so don't bother entering?

Last year, every Prelim and Novice dressage test I was entering on Ceaser he was winning and If he wasn't winning he was coming a very close second. On one particular day I arrived at a dressage competition and someone said "Oh not you again, you'll win".

Most people would love to be deemed a threat to someone and whilst I found it very flattering it did make me think; what was I doing at that level still? So we moved up to Elementary. Then when he started to get high percentages in the Elementary tests I started to affiliate. I didn't need to but I thought it would be humiliating to stay at that level, come away with red ribbons all the time and go home. I want to come away feeling I have achieved something and I have worked hard all week to get that placing or percentage.

In dressage I am often faced with seeing competitors names down in the Prelim class when they are working at more of a Medium level at home. So, we need to ask, is it fair?

Just last week at a local level show I saw two producers entering clients horses to "give them experience". Need I even say that they either won or were placed second. Although shows need to be fair to everyone and not stop anyone from competing with them, surely there should be some line that cannot be crossed?

Last year I attended a show that isn't 'Novice' level but then on the other hand isn't HOYS level. Upon walking around with a friend I was told "That has been to HOYS". The worst was "That horse won HOYS a few years back but for the past couple of years its been sat in a field doing nothing so its here now".

Should this be allowed? I do feel show organisers should have more rules of who can and who cannot attend their shows. A decision needs to be made on what type of audience this show is wanting to attract and stick to that. I hate going to a show that has been advertised as being for Amateurs yet when you get there its for HOYS ticket hungry competitors that are there using it as a warm up for their qualifiers.

On the other hand though competitors could be sticking at that level because they do not feel they possibly can move up a level or simply don't want to add to the stresses of competing in such a rosette hungry environment. Could the thought of competing against different combinations at a more difficult level be a nail-biting thought?

I know in both my head and heart (although I can dream) that Ceaser and I will end up at HOYS. I also know that we will not go much further than Medium level dressage so we physically wont be able to move up anymore.

So, where do you draw the line? Is it up to competitors to say enough is enough and let other people have a chance of winning the rosettes? Do you just carry on because you enjoy winning the reds? Or is it up to the show organisers to put a stop to horses competing below the level that they actually are?

Please get in touch and let me know - I really would love to do a bigger blog on the opinions and results that come from this.


Contact me below or on twitter @FurryMane

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