If you're anything like us, our horses are our world, so not being able to see or spend real quality time with our beloved equine friends is going to be tough but necessary. So, to get our horsey fix, we've compiled 11 of our favourite YouTube equestrian videos to help you learn, laugh and enjoy! 

With the current government advice, avoiding the crowds will hopefully help stem the coronavirus outbreak. But, what we can do to keep ourselves and our horses entertained, when competing and clinics are off the agender and self-isolation could mean even less physical content with each other at the yard?  In this blog, we share eight ways you can keep busy with a positive focus.    1. Find some new pole work floor plans. There are some great video tutorials on Facebook, IGTV (Instagram videos) and YouTube. Our Pinterest Polework Exercises Board gives plenty of inspiration for riders wanting to inject a new lease of life into their pole work.   2. If you're instructor is unable to come...

Staying home will stem the coronavirus outbreak, but what if you’re healthy — bored and an equestrian?  In recent days, many employers have asked employees to start working remotely, or announcing that schools might get cancelled? Will events be cancelled for weeks in light of the Coronavirus?  In many cases, the action is prophylactic — no one at work or school may be sick yet — though with each passing day, more of these decisions are being made in response to the growing number of cases of Covid-19, or the risk that contact with large groups of people could exacerbate transmission of the virus. The closures are a way to enforce social activity, a crucially important public health...

Have you got a dressage test coming up?  Ever received lower marks than you had hoped for?  Over rode or under shot the centre line?  Wobbled your way up to the C marker?   We have been talking with our sponsored dressage rider Rachael Lane, to share her top TEN tips on how to ride the perfect centre line! First and foremost, give yourself time! You have forty-five seconds after the bell has rung to enter the arena, so don't panic; take a deep breath, you've got plenty of time to get round the arena before heading in to ride the test. The next tip has likely been told to you before, so remember to LOOK AT THE JUDGE.  As you enter the arena, fixate on the end of the arena, and ride straight...

History of tweed Tweed was originally developed in the Outer Hebrides, it was created by crofters that used the wool from their sheep, to shield them from the brutal Scottish winters.  Tweed was exceptionally popular with farmers and land owners when they were over seeing their lands as it was warmer, comfortable and to an extent waterproof.  They would use their ‘Hack’ to ride and check over the estate, hence the hacking jacket. Tweed is in fact a typo made by a Merchant in London, the Scottish actually referred to it as ‘tweel’, which stems from the Scottish word for twill due to the structure and manner in which it was made. But the Londoner had no clue about this and thought the nam...

Fundamentally staying comfortable, warm and dry, whilst riding and doing yard duties in our British climate, is at the top of our list of priorities for most horse riders heading into Autumn and winter! We discuss top tips with British Equestrian Brand designer, Liz Hayman.  "It is simple, but many of us get it wrong!  If you’re heading to the yard, waterproof gear is essential, especially in the UK. Whether you are training or competing, outdoor weather can be unpredictable! Waterproof and breathable fabrics will keep you dry and comfortable, which we can all agree is pretty important in horse riding. With this in mind, we have created a comprehensive guide on waterproof versus water-resistant, as well on tips...

In this blog, we glean some tips from Liz Hayman, MD of British equestrian clothing brand Equetech for her top tips on making the right impression when it comes to your outfit, regardless of the equestrian discipline. "Dressage Queen If you're looking to impress the judges as you head down the centre line, then make sure you create a fantastic first impression by having a neat and tidy appearance. A well-fitted jacket not only looks aesthetically pleasing, but it will make you feel more confident and allow you to focus on your riding if it's comfortable and non-restrictive. I spend a considerable amount of time researching technical fabrics for our clothing and competition wear is no exception. I look for fabric p...

So we asked our Designer Liz Hayman for her tips on finding the best breeches for guys... "Men look great in a competition jacket, shirt or blouson. But all of the above are nothing if your bottom half looks a bit neglected. They are the connection to the saddle, the supportive and protective layer. The most important part of your riding attire… Men’s Breeches." "Essentially, you need great breeches to perform your best in the saddle, and it’s trickier than you might think. To help you get your men’s breeches spot on, we’ve given you our buyers guide on all things breeches, to give you the final word on fabric, colour, quality, fit and discipline. You should never settle for po...

Most horse riders don't really think about their foundation wear in detail. It's still a fairly taboo subject to talk about equestrian underwear for riders, and in most cases we just suffer in silence! This latest blog talks about how underwear has developed across the centuries and what horse riders can expect from equestrian underwear today!  The first simplest form of underwear was probably the loincloth, although Ameila Bloomer first created the ladies bloomers, in 1849. The body of Ötzi the Iceman, who died in the Tyrolean Alps more than 5,000 years ago, sported a loincloth, made from goat skin, under his furry leggings! The underwear served many purposes as well as used as additional layer t...

Want to catch the judges’ eye for all the right reasons this showing season? Transform your showing outfit into a winning look, fit for HOYS with these awesome top tips from our MD & Designer, Liz Hayman.  Win Best Turned Out Wearing the right clothing for the show ring will ensure you look professional. Giving the correct first impressions to the judges is crucial, but this doesn't mean that you have to rush out and buy a whole new outfit! At lower levels, show judges tend to be more lenient on correct dress codes so while a tweed show jacket is traditionally correct, a smart black or navy competition jacket will equally suffice. Colour Choices Choosing the right colour can make the d...

We have all done it, got to a competition, maybe even running late, and we have started looking for something we 'need' only to realise we have left it at home! Often we can find someone parked up nearby that is kind enough to lend us whatever it is we have forgotten to pack, sometimes it's a quick last minute dash to the on site tack room, but don't get caught short again - check out our list of 20 essentials every Horsebox should have packed in it! 1. First Aid Kit. A well stocked first aid kit for both you and your horse is a must, hopefully you will never need to use it but just incase it's better to be safe than sorry. 2. Fresh water and water buckets. For washing off your horse after your competition and of c...

With more and more venues running competitions throughout the year, winter competing obviously brings about a different set of problems to those experienced during the summer months, most notable is how to stay warm. Thankfully, today's technology has created some amazing insulating fabrics with excellent thermal properties. The style, design and cut of competition clothing coupled with the rules of the competition venue or affiliate regarding competition attire, limits your ability to add layers for warmth. So, what to wear without the expense of two competition wardrobes; one for winter and one for summer without looking 2 clothes sizes bigger in the winter? Invest in good quality thermal underwear. Equetech's Arctic Thermal...