Top 10 Picks to Keep You and Your Horse Cool All Summer Long

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Don’t let high temperatures keep you out of the saddle! Check out our favorite products to keep both horse and rider cool despite the summer heat.

Girl riding bay horse bareback on a hot summer day.

August is here and summer is truly in full swing. And, as much as we love long sunny days at the barn, most equestrians know that sticky humidity and too-hot temperatures can take the fun out of ring work. On particularly sweltering days, we certainly encourage rest days or trail rides over hard schooling. But, for those days when the weather is just hot enough to be uncomfortable, we’ve picked out ten of our favorite summer items to help keep you and your horse cool while exercising.

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Best Holiday Gifts for Horse Lovers

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It’s Christmas in July at Dover Saddlery and we’ve rounded up our favorite holiday gifts!

English rider in the saddle leaning down to hug her grey horse's neck.

It’s never too early to start your holiday shopping. This year, beat the winter rush and start shopping at Dover Saddlery now for gifts that any horse lover, rider, and equestrian will adore. To make your holiday shopping easier, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite items, whether you’re looking for stocking stuffers or show-stoppers — we even added a few ideas for your non-horsey friends and family. So, get in the holiday spirit early and take a look through our top 15 holiday gifts for horse lovers! Now, check out our 2019 updated gift guide here for tons of fantastic holiday gifts for the equestrians, pets, and loved ones in your life.

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6 Gifts to Celebrate Dad on Father’s Day

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Dad standing next to young daughter on bay pony for Father's Day ride.

We love the beginning of summer for a lot of reasons – longer days at the barn, warm weather, and great summer riding attire – but one of the best parts is celebrating Dad on Father’s Day. Whether your dad is a serious horseman, a casual rider, or simply your biggest fan on show days, we’ve picked some of our favorite products that Dad is sure to love this Father’s Day.

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9 Camp Essentials That Are Perfect For Summer Riding

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Two young riders at summer camp with arms around each other standing next to a chestnut pony and a black and white paint pony.

The sun is finally out and summer vacation is right around the corner, which means it’s time to get ready for riding camp! Summer riding camp is every child’s dream: fun-filled days spent outside with horses and other young riders, fine-tuning horsemanship skills, and making new friends. It’s important to stock up on riding gear that will keep your child cool and comfortable during long days at the barn. We have put together a list of our most popular camp essentials that your child will love to help take the guesswork out of your pre-camp shopping trip.

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In the Saddle with Tik Maynard: Top Eventer & Natural Horsemanship Trainer

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Tik Maynard

When entering the equestrian field some athletes find themselves focusing on one discipline to specialize in. Others, like Tik Maynard, top eventer and natural horsemanship trainer, enjoy trying their hand at many different disciplines and skills within the sport. Some of you may remember seeing Tik and Mini Horse Ruby participating in a few clinics at the 2018 Massachusetts Equine Affaire late last year. After those demonstrations, we got a chance to sit down with Tik to learn a little bit more about his successful equestrian career and just how he balances so many hobbies and skills both within the equestrian world and out!


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Finding the Right Breech for You

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English rider dressed in show attire riding bay horse.

Breeches are an essential part of any English rider’s wardrobe. Once you’ve tried them, you’ll never go back to riding in jeans, whether you’re training, showing, or even heading off on a leisurely trail ride. Dover Saddlery is here to help find the right pair of breeches for you.

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Finding the Perfect Riding Boots

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Black and white image of an English rider dressed in show attire riding a horse.


If you or your child is new to riding, your instructor may have mentioned the prerequisite of riding in a boot with an approximately 1” heel. The small heel is meant to prevent a rider’s foot from sliding through their stirrups. Although it is not fool proof, finding the right pair of riding boots is important for your safety, comfort, and efficiency in the saddle.

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

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Equestrian Services International Logo

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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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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Jessica4

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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