Riding Club Arena Eventing at Keysoe

Sorry it's taken me such a long time to write a post! Last weekend Georgie and I went to Keysoe for the Riding Club Arena Eventing competition and all was well. Then Sunday I woke up feeling unwell, I (stupidly) still attended my RoR Club Night in Norfolk and turns out I felt super ill cause I had the flu! 
I then spent all of last week confined to my home with a fever, aches and pains and generally feeling like I was dying a little bit!

Anyway, I am now well enough to be back at work and writing! So... back to arena eventing!

Georgie and I started the day pretty early as the class was due to start at 9am but got moved back an hour for the temperatures to warm up to 10am but wanted to still leave in plenty of time not to have to rush. We were the first to arrive but parked out the way in order for Georgie to figure out where everything was while B and I wondered round for him to see everything and take it all in. He settles much better when he's had a good nose around! 

I stood minding B while he snacked on grass while Georgie when and walked the course. It turned out to be really quite twisty and turnie but the course was well up to height and looked like it would be an interesting course.
While Georgie walked the course she realised, much to her dismay, that she had forgotten her back protector and it wasn't like we were close to home! That'll teach me not to do a role call before we leave like I always do!
Luckily our wonderful friend Rachel had hers with her and being the same size as Georgie, luckily it fit! Phew, crisis averted.

It didn't take too long for Georgie to warm up and be ready in the collecting ring for her number to be called. I got in position with my camera and hoped I wouldn't be too rusty and I got some nice photos. 
B was on fine form and in a much better space than he was the weekend before for the show jumping, there was no tense atmosphere just a nice friendly fun vibe!
They made their way in to the ring and off they went. B flew over the show jumping fences which came first, they were by all means up to height but he had a big spring in his step! Wasn't long before a twist and they were at the cross country fences, again really nice jumps and well up to height (and turns out they're made by our brand ambassador company's son, small world hey!). 
B was absolutely flying, and it came to jumping the penultimate fence, a smart 90 degree turn back on yourself and over the 110cm joker show jump fence to finish. Really frustratingly B had it down; darn it!

It wasn't about the result though and Georgie and B finished really happy to have got round and that he had jumped out of his skin. We finished the day with a bacon roll while sitting in the trailer out of the cold! It really was very cold after having snow all week! 

I am really pleased with how my photos came out, it's always lovely to have the sun come out as the camera can pick up some really nice natural effects! 

Cross Country Colours by GGGear, Storm Chase Gloves, Rose Gold Spurs from Eclat Equestrian.

After a busy couple of weekends I am not quite sure what competitions Georgie has lined up for herself and I am on the hunt for my own horse so I am sure there won't be a dull moment!
Oh and we're very excited, Georgie and I, as we have been picked up continue to represent Smart Grooming as brand Ambassdor's for 2019 making that 4 years on the trot! We absolutely love Smart Grooming, so do click on the link to see what lovely products they do!

What have you all been up to?

Sophie x

Smart Grooming Review - Smart Mane &Tail thinner, the Multi use tool

It's been rather a long time since I did a smart grooming review, naughty me!

Then again the Tattersalls sales have started and horse aren't going to transport themselves, that's my excuse anyway!

So where was I? Oh yes, my very favourite horsey company Smart Grooming. Georgie and I aren't brand ambassadors for nothing, we genuinely do believe in these unsung heroes and their wonder products. Showing season may have ended but I well remember getting up at 4am to plait, wash and spruce and their wonderful products make it quicker and easier to get your horse show ring ready. 

A little while back they sent me a couple of mane and tail 'Smart Tails'. Sadly I haven't been able to try it on Beanies tail yet but I will - Georgie keeps beating me to it and I'm not there to take any photos. Saying that, in the mean time I have had to thin out his name, so rather than pull his mane (which often makes horses head shy, or reluctant to be plaited because they always think you're going to yank their hair out) I'd see how the Smart Tail worked. 

You what I'm talking about, you're mid-way through the perfect plait, but you have to pull it tight to get it to stay in..only for your horse to have other ideas and shake their head, or fidget. So, I tried to Smart Tail on thinning out his rather thick mane, which has a tendency to get pretty heavy in the middle.

First of all it was given a good wash and shampoo. Then conditioner was put in and that was brushed through, making sure to remove all the tangles. Now it was nice, soft and tangle free it was towel dried to remove most of the water, then I brushed the mane onto the 'wrong side' so the underside of his mane was now on the outside. Then with a Medium thickness Smart Tail I brushed it lightly through the mane to remove some of the thickness.

By doing so I wasn't removing big lumps of hair from the root like I would do if I was pulling the mane, which could leave you with a patchy thin mane. And that is absolutely not what you want! It took out some of the weight and thickness, without taking too much out. That's the beauty of having the different teeth and blade strengths.

Without taking too much hair out, I evened out the entire mane until it was one uniform thickness, thus eliminating a thick middle mane and the subsequent golf ball plaits that would have resulted if I didn't thin it.

All the while not pulling the hair from the root, and not damaging the hair follical - It's all very well in the summer when you horse has lovely thick aerated hair follicals, but come mid-winter when you horse has a neck cover on 24/7 and you've got suffocated hair frolics (making the hair more likely to die and fall out) and rubbed patches, then you'll wish you hadn't pulled it so vigorously all summer!

The result, a nice even thickness, and because you're not hurting your horse it means they're less likely to fidget and pull away from you every time you come to plait, and when you do need to plait up, your plaits are even and uniform in size.

To finish, take your thinning scissors and give the ends a trim to make your mane all one length, without it being dead straight.

The Standard Smart Tails come in course, medium and fine and are £15 each 

I even spotted Smart Tails in my local tack shop - Gibsons Saddlers in Newmarket. Oh and some whisker trimmers too!

The 'yellow handle range' (above) Smart Tails are £22 and come in course, medium, fine and super fine.

Or if you're feeling like splurging then the wooden handle 'professional range' of Smart Tails are £30 and also come in course, medium, fine and super fine.

All can be found in the new Smart Grooming Site - Totallysmart.com

Burghley Trot Up - My Favourite Outfits

So following the success of my Badminton Trot up blog post I did a while ago which had so many views I wanted to write another one for the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials 

It's not often we get to see riders scrubbed up and looking their best so I quite like doing a post celebrating what outfits I like most.

Nicola Wilson - 

Photo by Horse & Hound Twitter

At Badminton I picked Nicolas outfit as my favourite and Burghley didn't disappoint. Yesterday had varying degrees of temperature and weather so I think for a cold wet day Nicola looked really good.

The brown jacket compliments the shoes, and the black skinny jeans are a staple to knit the outfit together. The colours are on trend for Autumn! And as with Badders, I love a pair of ankle boots!

Pippa Funnell -

Photo by Horse & Hound Twitter

I really like this outfit of Pippas. The cream trousers are a brave choice around horses at the best of times (we've all had beautiful immaculate jodhpurs covered in slobber or what not just before the big moment, am I right?) so for a trot up in front of the press is especially brave, but they go so well with that top! The colours are, like Nicolas outfit above, on trend for the season, and I love the pattern.

The boots are lovely, and with a good wedge heel are good for running in.

Very nice well done Pippa!

Ben Way - 

Photo by Horse & Hound Twitter

Ben was featured in my last post and not much about his outfit has changed, It's similar with a few small changes, but it's classic and I'm alright with classic. Those navy chinos compliment the green tweed and the shoes bring it all together.

He's also really cute so that helps! Cute, well dressed gentleman. A+

Lynn Symansky -

I think before I start I must admit that this outfit is my favourite of the day. It's bright and gorgeous and I love it. That yellow rain coat is divine. I mean, I couldn't pull it off but it compliments her hair colour and the horses colour! 

Much like Pippa a light colour trousers is brave with horses but they go so well with the jacket. Finished with sun glasses and a scarf accessories are great! 

Wills Newton -

Photo by Horse & Hound Twitter

Another striking jacket andcombined with the bright chestnut of her gorgeous horse Newmarket Vasco One, it is works.

Not too flashy with just black jeans and black shoe boots but practical. The detail at the back of the jacket is pretty and brings it a little bit extra.

Dee Hankey -

Photo by Horse & Hound Twitter

 I really like this outfit. Fedoras are my new favourite accessory this winter and works super well with this outfit. The black of the jacket and the hat, outshot by the jackets brighter statement sleeves works really well. Not sure on the shoes though.. 

Gina Ruck -

Photo very kindly provided by Nico Morgan. Thank you 

Gina's outfit is beautiful. I love the paisley smock top/dress and nipped in at the waist adds contouring, and the belt and long boots match. I love a good matching belt and boot combination. 

I also love it when an outfit compliments the horse too and these are a perfect pair! Runner up in my favourite outfit for sure

Charlotte Agnew -

Photo by Nico Morgan! Love it!

I love this photo by Nico Morgan it's so fun and cheeky. The detail on Charlottes top is really cute, and with simple plain jeans and tassel boots it's boho chic, much like her outfit at Badminton. Very nice Charlotte!

Honourable mention - Ben Hobday. It just isn't a trot up without swooning over Ben. I think I speak for everyone that we cannot wait to see you back well again, riding and looking more dashing than you do now. Get well soon Ben! 

I know this post is a little short but unfortunately I cannot be at Burghley, but horses aren't gonna ship themselves!

Please feel free to share your favourite Burghley trot up outfits with me via Twitter @sophiexjane or @gsshowing and I look forward to seeing second trot up outfits? Who will, shock horror, wear the same outfit again I wonder!

Show Ring Essentials - What I Have In My Basket

After reading showing mad mum Julia Gaukrogers post this week "What's in your basket? Baby wipes and gin" in Horse & Hound I thought I'd do a little blog post of my own about what show ring essentials I take into the ring with me in my basket when grooming for Georgie.

1) All my Smart Grooming products, obviously! -

As their brand ambassador and avid user of their products, of course my basket is going to contain these things! They're absolute life savers and however much prep you do leading up to them entering the ring, there will always be last minute smudges or brush over.

I'll use all of these in the run up. Coat shine to make him sleek, soft and shiny, leg and body whitener on his white socks, mane and tail detangler, perfect plaits - you name it!

2) Water -

A big essential item is water and lots of it. In summer showing its going to be sunny and hot (well, we hope!) so keeping the rider and yourself nice and hydrated is really important.You both sweat a hell of a lot in the ring so replenishing that with some nice cold water is a must. Don't want people feeling faint during their class now do we?

3) Brushes -

It wouldn't be a proper grooming kit without brushes. Both to wick dirt and dusty off but also to do quarter marks etc.

Make sure to give them a good washing after each use to stop them getting grubby and holding onto the dirt, oil and dust, otherwise you're just putting them back into the horses coat.

4) Hoof oil - 

Whether on grass or in an arena you always have to hoof oil your horse or pony. Things will stick to it and it will rub off a little but you must make sure you always do them before going into the ring. Shiny nice hooves make a final touch.

5) Baby products - 

I take in both baby oil and shampoo. You know the situation where you're just about to go into the ring and your horses gets a mark on its leg. You can't just leave it there so a quick dab of shampoo on a damp cloth and you can rub that mark off in no time at all. 

As well as highlighter I like to also have some baby oil to hand to just put a little on their noses before they go into the ring.

6) Cloths -

I do take more than 1, usually older tea towels for rubbing (a slightly damp) over the body with a little bit of super shine on to really make the coat gleam. As well as a dry towel for getting rid of Beanies slobbery saliva off his lips and chin, it's all about finishing touches.

7) Hair brush and hair wax. 

Usually to seal in stray hairs after plaiting we use styling wax, just helps get them looking neater.

Hair brush to run through a soft sleek tail to get rid of any tangles.

8) Plaiting equipment - 

Plaiting would obviously of been done long before entering the ring but it's always good to take to the ring side with you. You'd hate to be a bit stuck sprinting back to lorry to get your plaiting stuff cause you've got an unravelled plait 10 minutes before your about to go in! 

Honourable mentions are polos or treats to give your pony after they've been in the ring, no matter how they did. They've worked hard and should be rewarded.

Another mention is perhaps a sponge and saddle soap, you never know when you might need to rub it over your tack.

Everyone has different things they like to take with them but these are my essentials, what types of things do you use? Maybe I might pick up a new amazing product I didn't know about!

Hope to see some of you at Hickstead this weekend,

Sophie x