With the arctic, winter weather that arrives in January and February, keeping your feet and toes warm can be difficult during long hours outside while you take care of barn chores and spend time with your horse. The right pair of riding boots is the place to start with ensuring warm feet, but if you have a hard time keeping toes warm, these tips can help get you through the winter comfortably. Continue reading
Last month, Chronicle of the Horse featured our very own CEO, Stephen Day, in a fascinating interview and story of his career in the equestrian world. Steve started to ride when he was twelve years old and hasn’t stopped since. He has worked with prominent trainers and Olympic riders, started riding schools, managed riding facilities at a Playboy Club, owned a range of equestrian supply companies, trained many OTTBs and currently has farms in Hollis, Massachusetts and Aiken, South Carolina. Continue reading
As winter progresses and the air gets even colder, it can become difficult to keep your hands and fingers warm while riding, mucking stalls, filling water buckets, changing blankets and taking care of everything else at the barn. The right pair of winter riding gloves can go a long way in keeping your hands warm, but if you struggle with cold fingers here are some tips to help you stay warm so you can enjoy the time at the barn regardless of temperature. Continue reading
Every New Year’s many of us make resolutions to improve areas of ourselves and our lives that will help us be happier and live better in the new year. As equestrians, so much of our life is about the time we spend with our horses, so this year we came up with some resolutions just for riders. Not sure what to commit to doing this year? Here are some of our favorite New Year’s resolutions for horseback riders: Continue reading
This time of year is full of special holiday memories that will stay with you forever, such as loving time spent with family, the recollection of a warm, delicious meal or a particularly memorable gift that made a dream come true. As you make your own memories today, we wanted to share some of ours from over the years. These are our favorite holiday memories of equestrian gifts we received that still hold a special place in our hearts. Continue reading
For many equestrians, horses are not their only four-legged friend, and a barn dog is not usually very far away. With the weather turning colder, you may be leaving your dog home more often when you go to the barn or even shortening your walks for fear that your pup is cold. While it’s true that time spent outdoors may be limited in low temperatures, you can take some key steps to help your dog stay warm and happy so he can continue to enjoy time with you on walks and at the barn this winter. Continue reading
Dogs just seem to go along with horses. Spotted at many barns, show grounds and homes of equestrians, many riders keep a smaller four-legged friend nearby. While a vast array of dog breeds, including mixed breeds, would make excellent companions for both riders and horses, the same breeds of barn dogs are often seen repeatedly in the equestrian world. It seems that many riders may have a preference for particular dogs, and for a reason.
11-year-old Taylor McFall, whose mom is Rolex eventer Jen McFall, has a dream – the same dream as many of us – she yearns to own her favorite pony. Taylor has been leasing Kilbarry Prince, a 14 year old Connemara pony with a hunting background that makes him a fearless eventer, and the pair’s time is almost up. Taylor was told by her parents that they don’t have the budget to purchase the pony, and when the lease ends in November he will likely move on to a new home. Not to be dissuaded, Taylor said that she would like to purchase Prince herself because she didn’t want to lose him.
Dover Saddlery is excited to once again help support Riders4Helmets in its initiative to promote helmet use by equestrians for International Helmet Awareness Day 2014, on July 12th. This day provides an opportunity to purchase select top-of-the-line helmets at specially discounted prices for one day only. Additionally, Riders4Helmets will be hosting a series of educational webinars featuring leading equestrians and experts in head injuries and helmets.
The first International Helmet Awareness Day was held in 2010, and is geared towards educating equestrians on the benefits of wearing a properly fitting and certified helmet every time they get on a horse. Currently, 16 helmet manufactures and retailers from eight different countries come together to help pass this message on to their customers.
In honor of International Helmet Awareness Day, we will be sharing a variety of helpful and educational helmet related information here on our blog until the day comes. We will also be running a series of contests, so make sure you follow us on Facebook for a chance to win. And of course, don’t forget to come back on July 12th to purchase your dream helmet!
Today, Denny Emerson joins us, and shares some tack room memories that he has in this colorful post:
It might be a couple of nails driven into a barn wall, holding a couple of dry, cracked and ancient bridles. In the corner, a sawhorse, and on those splayed and splintered legs, the dusty ruin of what was once a cowhand’s treasured saddle.
