Dover Saddlery’s 2019 Valentine’s Day Gift Guide

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Searching for a gift that will win the heart of your favorite equestrian this Valentine’s Day? Look no further: Dover Saddlery has made it easy this year by rounding up our favorite gift ideas; whether the special someone in your life has two feet or four! Our 2019 Valentine’s Day Gift Guide has gifts we know you’ll love for a range of prices that will fit any budget. Take a look through our top 10 gift ideas – we hope your heart skips a beat!

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Blue Ribbon Gifts: Dover Saddlery’s 2018 Holiday Gift Guide

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The holiday season is underway and that means it’s time to start thinking about your gift list! This year we’ve pulled together a handy 2018 Holiday Gift Guide to make shopping for the equestrians in your life simple and easy. We even have a few gifts your non-horsey friends will enjoy, making it easier to get your one-stop-shopping done with Dover Saddlery. Take a look at our top twenty Blue Ribbon Gifts for the 2018 Holiday Season.

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Guest Blog: Crucial Footing Care with Equestrian Services International (ESI)

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Crucial Footing Care

The Team at Equestrian Services International offers the necessary tools and services for premium footing maintenance

The installation of an arena with premium footing is just the first step in the process of maintaining maximum performance in a riding space over time. At Equestrian Services International, a major component of the team’s mission is to work with their clients to make sure they receive the tools and continued service for top quality footing performance year after year. From some of the world’s top competition venues to private farms of all sizes, each location receives personalized support for the maintenance of arena footing.

In ensuring the continued health of their footing blends, ESI focuses on three major areas of maintenance: regular grooming and surface clean up, proper irrigation, and the annual full tilling and grading servicing.

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Guest Blog: Absorbine Bute-Less® Performance – Why You Should Make the Switch

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Managing your horse’s joints as he gets older can be difficult, especially when he can’t always tell you specifically what’s bothering him. If you notice your horse comes out stiff or sore at the beginning of your ride it may be time to invest in a quality joint supplement to help ease his discomfort. An effective and comprehensive supplement to support the stress of daily training and competition will go a long way towards maintaining your horse’s overall comfort all the way through to his retirement.

With so many equine supplements on the market today it can be hard to find an appropriate combination that will address all of your horse’s needs. Hear from Absorbine in their guest blog as they share the testimonial of Brooke and Ellie, a hunter jumper team, and their successful 30-day trial on Absorbine® Bute-Less Performance to learn why you too should make the switch today.

 

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Do-It-Yourself Horse Popsicles

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With summer heat rising, keeping horses cool and comfortable can be challenging.  A cool bath, perhaps with an invigorating brace, refreshes your horse after a sweat inducing ride. But if you’re looking for a cool treat to give your horse after a hard workout, or something to keep him busy in the stall or out in the paddock, we’ve created three fun do-it-yourself popsicle recipes to try out this summer. Start by figuring out what fruits and vegetables your horse likes and dislikes, and pay close attention to the list of foods you should not feed your horse. If you have further questions, please contact your veterinarian or equine nutritionist.

 

 

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In the Saddle with Jessica Thoma: #TripleAmputeeEventer

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Jessica Thoma’s journey as a rider amazed and inspired us all at Dover Saddlery, and we wanted to share her story with you.

Jessica lives in Tennessee and has been riding for more than 20 years. She first learned how to ride on school ponies, later moved up to a Mustang, and she now owns, with her family, a total of 10 horses. Five of them are a herd of miniature horses! Her introduction to the equestrian world began with learning how to ride Western, but her focus quickly changed to English after watching numerous videos of professional jumpers and eventers complete their courses. She started learning how to jump bareback because she could not afford to buy an English saddle at the time, and when Jessica’s parents gave her a three-day event video game, she was hooked. It soon became her dream to become an eventer and to show at recognized events.

Jessica’s story so far may sound familiar to your own; many could say they, too, began their riding career in a similar manner. But Jessica has started writing a story that’s

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entirely her own as a #TripleAmputeeEventer. In 2017, she began to feel sick constantly, and eventually developed a severe rash that prompted multiple misdiagnoses. Her condition drastically deteriorated. Finally, through a biopsy of a lesion on her side, her doctors discovered she had Polyarteritis Nodosa (PAN), a rare type of vasculitis in which the blood vessels within the arteries become inflamed and cause organ damage. Jessica nearly died three times during months of hospitalization, and ultimately underwent surgery to amputate both of her legs and her left arm. After a long ordeal, Jessica is finally back home with her horses and family.

We recently interviewed Jessica Thoma to hear firsthand all about her inspiring journey as a #TripleAmputeeEventer, her plans to continue riding and to work in the equestrian field. She loves to draw and play video games, but at her heart, synonymous with her love of riding is her passion for teaching people, especially kids, how to ride. For those who want to learn more about Jessica, she also keeps her supporters updated on her progress through Facebook (Jessica Thoma) and Instagram (@TripleAmputeeEventer).

 

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Guest Blog: EquiOtic™ – The “Real” Approach to Equine Probiotics

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Curious about introducing probiotics into your horse’s nutrition plan? Hear from EquiOtic themselves to answer all of your questions about the difference between EquiOtic and other probiotics available— and how you can help support your horse’s gastrointestinal health to the fullest!

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How to Dress the “Super-Sensitive” Horse for Fly Season

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Most of us know a horse that absolutely hates bugs. Even the sight of a bug has him stomping, flinching, and swishing his tail all day long. Some horses, such as Thoroughbreds, have very sensitive skin and get easily irritated by flies and other insects in turnout. A susceptible horse like this may need the complete coverage of a fly sheet, fly mask, fly boots and fly spray, or any combination of these, to stay comfortable. Does this sound like your horse? Check out a few of our suggestions for products that go beyond your everyday fly spray and can help you and your horse beat the bugs this summer.

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The Inspiration Behind Kelly Herd Equestrian Jewelry: An Interview with Kelly Herd, Head Designer and Owner

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Kelly Herd Stirrup Bracelet

With Mother’s Day fast approaching we sat down with Kelly Herd, Head Designer and Owner of Kelly Herd Jewelry to get some inside information on one of the leading brands of equestrian jewelry. A piece of Kelly Herd Jewelry perfectly captures the essence of the equestrian rider and the numerous designs that have been created easily translate from the barn and beyond making your next Kelly Herd purchase perfect for Mom.

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In the Saddle with Holly Andrews: An Inside Look at the Ariat® Divino

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holly andrews ariatHolly Andrews, Senior Director of Global English Footwear, has been a manager of English Footwear at Ariat for the last 25 years. She was one of the first employees at the company and built the English category to be what it is today. Holly started riding when she was seven, competing on the A-circuit at age 11 and rode in hunter, jumpers and medal classes throughout her early riding career. As an amateur rider, she has primarily shown in the Hunters and has had the opportunity to ride with many top trainers. For the last several years, she has ridden with John French and competed at top shows including Capitol Challenge, Del Mar National, and HITS Coachella. She now predominantly competes on the West Coast. Continue reading →