#eqgear

REVIEW:

Horzehoods

Owning a grey can be one of the most frustrating things in the world. You will spend hours to make your horse 'White' again only for it to roll in mud 0.50 seconds later. You could easily say it's a continuous cycle of grooming.

One way around this dilemma is to purchase a "skinny hood".

What is a "Skinny hood"?

A "Skinny hood", Also known as a "lycra hood", "stretch hood", "hood" etc is a hood created out of lycra- initially made to be slightly smaller than the horse, so once on the horse it stretches and moulds to the horse's size.

The pro's to these types of hoods are that they give a more 'custom' fit than ordinary hoods and prevent rubbing. They keep your horse clean without rubbing out half your horse's mane. This makes these types of hoods perfect for the night before horse shows/competitions- to protect your hard plaiting and grooming work.

The cons are that these hoods rarely ever fit your horse, especially if you have a weirdly shaped horse in general, can get quite warm and sweaty in hot weather and can rub on the nose and eyes of the horse.

Today I am going to review the Horzehoods Ltd hood in princess pink with ears.

My first impression of the hood was just... Wow! Instantly I noticed the overall quality of the fabric and all its details such as its fleece nose, zipper and belly clasp.

One thing I generally struggle with when it comes to hoods and rugs is the fit, as my thoroughbred gelding is incredibly hard to fit. His other cheaper stretch hoods didn't fit him, and would either rub on his face causing loss of hair, or would go in his eyes. The neck would always be either too tight or too loose and would rub on his withers because of this.

However with that being said, the Horzehoods Ltd princess pink hood has been the first to actually fit him perfectly. The eye holes go evenly around his eyes, whereas cheaper versions have cut through them causing problems. The fleece nose prevents any rubbing which in my opinion is a stroke of genius. The fleece also offers extra comfort to the horse.

The fabric itself is incredibly breathable and can I say possibly waterproof? To thoroughly test out the hood- I have left it on my horse for almost 2 weeks, and throughout this time, there has been hot days, cold days and storms. On the hot days, unlike the cheaper stretch hoods, the Horzehoods Ltd princess pink hood is incredibly breathable- and during different times of the day, when checked there was no sweat or excess heat underneath, horse was incredibly comfortable too. During the stormy weather, although his rugs were wet- his hood remained dry, as did himself underneath the hood. I must admit I was incredibly impressed.

Unlike the cheaper "stretchhoods" The Horzehoods Ltd zipper is strong, thick and sturdy and all the velcro and clasp fixtures are the same.

Finally the ears on the Horzehoods Ltd princess pink hood are not overly large or overly small, and fit the ears perfectly without causing any irritation to the horse. Likewise they are perfect for spring as they keep all the bugs out of your horse's ears.

The only downside we can think of is that these hoods are not for a rug destroyer. They are strong and sturdy, and the fabric is high quality however they are still lycra and a determined horse will be able to create a hole.

Overall, the Horzehoods Ltd princess pink hood is just remarkable and incomparable with any other hood similar as they are in a league of their own. I am still overly impressed with the quality and make of these hoods and can recommend them to anyone- especially those who compete and need a hood to protect their hard work the night before a comp/show.

You can purchase your hoods from either Horzehoods Ltd (UK) Horzehoods Ltd - Australia (AUS) Horzehoods Ltd - France (France) Horzehoods Ltd - USA (USA/CAN) Horzehoods Ltd - Nederland (Nederlands)

I rate these hoods 9.5/10 and can highly recommend them, and will continue using their hoods and other products on my horse.

- Annie

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REVIEW:

Weatherbeeta Elite Saddle Pad

Ever wanted one of those Anky saddle pads but just couldn't justify paying over $100 for one? We'll never fear WeatherBeeta - Australia has your back with their cool 'Elite' pads. So today I will be reviewing one!

I'm all for finding good quality pads that are going to keep my horse cool during the warmer months without breaking the bank and these weatherbeeta ones are ticking all the boxes for me so far!

At first I was a little unsure from looking at the Anky pads how some silicone on the pad is going to keep my saddle in place without girth loops or anything so that's what turned me off the Anky pads in the first place because my saddle is known for slipping around when its not strapped into the saddle pad. I then came across these Weatherbeeta pads in a quick trip to Horseland and they stood out with there massive range of bright colours but not only that they look exactly like the Anky pads at a cheaper price with some even better extra's that not even the Anky pads have!

the Weatherbeeta Elite pads feature: - sueded top side with silicone grip both sides. - girth loops. - air venting mesh down the spine to keep some air flowing in under the pad to keep your horse cool. - moisture wicking lining underneath - it's a nice thick pad to keep your horse comfortable.

So far I'm loving this pad, it's holding up really well with just over a months use now, it's been pretty much everything I've needed in a saddle pad but not only that it's really fashionable right now!

You can pick up one of these great pads from your local Horseland store or tack store that stock Weatherbeeta products.

They RRP for $89.99 and come in a GREAT range of fun and bright colours!

I rate this product 10/10

- Laura

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REVIEW:

House of Horse Monthly Subscription Box

When it comes to horse gear, unless products are trendy, they tend to go unnoticed, even if the product is great and innovative! One way to purchase new, different, and fantastic products on the market without breaking the bank is to purchase a subscription box!

Subscription boxes usually consist of around 4-6 full sized products that generally are items you would not think of purchasing, items you might unintentionally scroll past when online shopping, but great products none the less! In Australia there is a new brand of subscription box named House Of Horse House of horse offers monthly horsey subscription boxes ranging from nothing to $50.00AUD!

Today I am going to review the House Of Horse September subscription box!

My first impression of the House Of Horse September box was "wow!" The owner goes to such detail with the packaging from the actual box, to the stickers reading "sealed with a hoof" and "Open up and enjoy", to the way they wrapped the products inside the box! Although not necessary, the detail was a nice touch that made me extremely excited to open the box up and see what was inside!

Inside sat 6 equine products and a few brochures!

The first item was a blue 'fantasmic' brush- very much like the magic brush but a different brand- absolutely perfect for a September box as all our horses are shedding at the moment and a curry brush is exactly what we need!

The second item was a bag of liquorice! My horse is incredibly fussy and doesn't like apples or likkits/similar so it was awesome to receive a horse treat that my horse had not tried before! I had never even considered liquorice however the moment I saw it I was glad I now had an opportunity to try it!

The third item was a donnybrook equine hoofstick and I was glad I received this product! I have been using donnybrook equine products for my horses hooves for years and as my hoofstick recently ran out, receiving this in my box meant I didn't have to go out and purchase a new one! Absolutely perfect!

The fourth item was a sound advice horse health 'biotin trace mix'. Basically from what I can see it's a supplement that offers optimum levels of trace minerals in a biotin base! The trace mix includes minerals such as copper, zinc, iodine and biotin premix which helps with the horses overall health! I must admit- I am impressed to see a full size supplement inside this box as horse supplements can be quite pricey! It will be interesting to see how this supplement goes with my horse!

I have saved my favourite two items for last!

The 5th equine product was a Mrs Conn's bath day shampoo sponge! If you have ever wanted lush products for your horse, Mrs Conn's Bath Day shampoo sponges are for you! Getting around 5 washes out of a sponge, the shampoo sponges smell like lemon meringue! I have wanted to try one for ages however as Mrs Conn's Bath Day is USA based, I have never been able to get my hands on a shampoo sponge until now! I am incredibly excited to try it out!

The final product is a 'I'd rather be riding' grooming tote from Grosvenor Park Products! I absolutely love this tote and using it with all my grooming products- such a beautiful quality tote- I am almost tempted to take it with me when I go shopping!

Overall the House Of Horse September box was filled with fantastic products that I absolutely adore! I would happily purchase this box each month as I do feel like I get more than my money's worth in each box!

I rate the House Of Horse box 9/10- only as its not the cheapest and I know some equestrians would struggle to afford it! However with this being said, that's the only negative we could think of- unlike most subscription boxes- shipping with the house of horse box is fast and exactly when they say it will be and they go to great lengths to make sure everything is protected in the box!

You can purchase the house of horse box from: http://www.houseofhorse.co

Happy trails! -Annie

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REVIEW:

Snuggy Hoods Saddle Cover

We all have a saddle that's incredibly precious to us, perhaps the first saddle you ever bought- or maybe a good dressage saddle you only just managed to afford. Naturally you want to look after that saddle, oil it, nourish it, cover it to keep it safe from scratches and mice! Today I am going to review this saddle cover from the renowned brand, Snuggy Hoods. I must admit- my first impression of this saddle cover was quite high. Not only was it pink and cute- which in my opinion ticks all the boxes; this saddle cover also came in two sizes (S&L) making it more tailored to the two disciplines of saddles (jump and dressage) and after using their rugs and hoods before, I knew the cover would be good quality. Unfortunately my initial impression was short lived. The saddle cover itself is made with a beautiful soft fleece but unfortunately I found the fleece 'thinner' than my other rugs and quarter sheet from snuggy hoods. The print is beautiful and cute but sadly the elastic at the boarders is weak- not holding the ends of the saddle in place very well. The by far most disappointing aspect to this saddle cover is the sizing. When I clicked large on the website I expected it to easily fit my dressage saddle as it was the largest size available- however the saddle cover actually best fits my jump saddle not my dressage saddle- and when I have it on my dressage saddle, the moment I move the saddle; pick it up for instance, the cover falls off the two flaps of the saddle sitting on only the seat of the saddle and nothing else. Overall the saddle cover is inexpensive, and is a nice soft fleece with a beautiful print; however due to the impression I have from my other snuggy hoods products, I was incredibly let down by the sizing, elastic and thinness of the overall fleece. This saddle cover would most likely best suit a jump saddle or perhaps a children's pony pad rather than a dressage, although it is labelled as the largest size. This review is quite subjective, as I may have received a dud- and I would really like to express that all my other Snuggy Hoods products have been absolutely divine- however this particular saddle cover proved to be a disappointment for me. You can purchase these saddle covers at Snuggy Hoods Australia I rate this product 6/10! Happy trotting,

- Annie :)

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REVIEW:

COMPOSITI REFLEX STIRRUPS

Compositi stirrups....

You might have seen us review the 'Profile' Compositi's last year.

Just as awesome as the 'Profiles' but these bad boys have some more awesome features, especially for those that get a lot of knee and joint pain with the tension from normal stirrups irons. The 'Reflex' stirrups are made from high-tech lightweight polymer, they feature wide treads with grippy footing to stabilize your feet, the treads also have a shock absorbing layer in them to relieve tension in your knees, ankles and joints. Not only that but the nice slender design of these stirrups are made so that in case of an emergency there is quick foot release for the riders safety!

In true Compositi style these stirrups do come in all 14 colours of the rainbow for the treads and 3 base colours (black, silver, carbon look and brown). However to my extensive research and knowledge the treads for these stirrups are not interchangeable like the 'Profile' stirrups.

I've had these stirrups for a while now and i have fallen in love with them from the first moment i put them on my saddle, they honestly feel like my feet are on pillows when im riding and i have found that i have never lost my stirrups yet with these ones and because they are a bit more wider than the Profiles i can find my stirrups very easily compared to the Profiles that sometimes require kicking them around a little to get your feet back in them!

You can purchase a pair of these stirrups for $50 - $60 from Goodwood Saddlery, Newmarket Saddlery and any local tack store that stocks Compositi products!

I rate this product 10/10

- Laura

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REVIEW:

HUFGLOCKEN BELL BOOTS

Bell boots.

Possibly one of the most important types of protective boots when used correctly.

Made for the purpose of protecting horses front legs from over reaching in both the paddock and arena.

There are so many kinds and styles of bell boots on the market, and for many equestrians, one of the most difficult things is choosing between practicality and 'Looks' of the boot.

But what if you didn't need to choose?

Allow us to introduce you to Hufglocken!

Hufglocken offers absolutely gorgeous fashionable bell boots, that are high in quality and low in price!

Today I am going to review the Hufglocken copper python bell boots.

My first impression of these bell boots, when looking on the Hufglocken website was just wow!

When they arrived however, I reached a whole new level of amazement!

The boots are made of thick quality neoprene with a patent copper python coating and reinforced edges. The fluff is only at the top rather than the whole way through the inside of the boot, which is good as it protects rubbing and also allows the boots to keep clean- especially during the winter months! And the velcro at the back is double layered meaning the boot will not attach easily during riding!

Keeping the boots clean themselves is actually surprisingly easy, all you need to do is wipe with a wet towel or chux cloth and the fluff at the top didn't get all clumpy and grotty like I expected it to!

The actual style of the boot is absolutely stunning, the cream fluff at the top of the boot and the brown reinforcement at the bottom as well as the brown velcro complements the copper python pattern on the outside patent shell, and as the entire boot is a neutral tone, it goes surprisingly well with every colour pad and polo bandages I have thrown at it.

Likewise the price of these boots makes them incredibly worthwhile and affordable, only costing $39.00 AUD.

Hufglocken do ship internationally which is a bonus to our 'Non Australian' readers and I believe their international shipping rates are incredibly reasonable!

Overall we think the Hufglocken copper python bell boots are absolutely stunning, affordable, versatile, and high in quality and we can recommend them to anyone from dressage riders to eventers who want something a little different!

I rate this product 10/10!

You can purchase these boots from Hufglocken or:

http://www.hufglocken.com/

Keep those heels down,

Annie!

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REVIEW:

CARIBU HORSE WEAR HALF PAD

I love using half pads, but i also find it hard to get decent ones for a reasonable price that’s not going to break the bank or look ratty and tacky like some of the cheaper faux wool ones after a few uses until i came across this one.

The Caribu sheepskin half pads are made from 100% Australian sheepskin, making it super soft that you could basically use it a pillow, the half pad is contoured making it breathable and allows air flow between the horses spine and the pad itself, being sheepskin its great at absorbing sweat, it features abrasion pads on the sides to make it last longer with saddle flaps rubbing against it and has billet straps to keep it in place!

I use this half pad all the time because its looks stylish, its very comfy on my horses and i haven’t found a single fault in it yet and it can be used on Dressage, Jumping and All Purpose saddles!

You can purchase one of these pads in black or white from Caribu Horse Wear for $75.95

I rate this product 9/10

- Laura

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REVIEW:

KERRITS FLEX SPORT GLOVES

Im not much a glove wearer until the colder weather comes around and i was after a nice pair a gloves that i could use with my iPhone without having to take my gloves on and off every time i need to use my phone while i ride but i also wanted something that wasn't going to cost me an arm and a leg since i only use gloves over winter.

I came across these lovely gloves by Kerrits, they look professional and stylish, they feature leather like material pads on the thumb and pointer finger for smart phone usage, they are overall a suede material which makes them grip nicely to reins, between the your pinky finger and thumb - pointer finger it has the 'Griptek' material as well as stretchy 'microcord' material across the top of the gloves to make them stretch and be breathable and have a velcro closure to make them more adjustable to your hands!

I love these gloves so much and not only that they work great with phones which was the main reason for buying them in the first place!

You can purchase these great gloves from Kerrits Equestrian Apparel for $19 (currently on sale) or from Mare Affair Equestrian Apparel for $38. They come in a few colours: Black, Tan, Pewter and Otter and sizes from Small right up to Extra Large!

I rate this product 10/10!

- Laura

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