Half Term is upon us and many of us are working out what activities can be enjoyed as a family. The weather is not always kind at this time of year to be honest it's rarely kind at this time of year, so sadly many will think of indoor activities. To me, being stuck indoors is an absolute travesty at any time of year, especially Autumn. As the leaves turn, Mother Nature brings us beautiful muted hues, brooding or sharp skies, exhilarating yet devastating storms and cold crisp still days. In the UK we are lucky to have a plethora of footpaths, wooded areas, coastal walks, fells and dales, national parks, historic buildings and gardens which can be enjoyed for free or at little cost and where we can revel in the majesty of Autumn. So if I&...

It seems a shame that we only really talk about gift ideas in the run up to Christmas as I am a firm believer that there is always a reason to show someone they are very much appreciated. So, for those whose sensibilities do not allow them to even think about Christmas in October then consider this blog as a gift guide to express your appreciation to that special someone or as a guide for a great Birthday gift. For those amongst us who are highly organised and have already started Christmas shopping, then at Equetech we have that perfect gift for a horse loving, country loving special someone. With gift ideas for pony mad, unicorn loving kids, to sophisticated accessories, we have something to suit every age, budget and occasion www.equetec...

Pony Club mums are a rare and special breed. These often beleaguered superstars think nothing of the stupid o'clock starts in getting child and pony ready for competitions/clinics/rallies, they've adopted the role of chauffeur extraordinaire, they've become experts in mucking out, grooming, plaiting, clipping etc. and are the most efficient of bank managers. But most of all, a Pony Club mum is their child's biggest supporter and at times, biggest critic. As unsung heroes, your offspring will not always recognise that during the cold winter months, standing around will make you cold. Whilst they gleefully build up a bit of heat riding at competitions or training, you are left standing around watching and thinking up ingeni...

With more and more venues running competitions throughout the year, winter competing obviously brings about a different set of problems to those experienced during the summer months, most notable is how to stay warm. Thankfully, today's technology has created some amazing insulating fabrics with excellent thermal properties. The style, design and cut of competition clothing coupled with the rules of the competition venue or affiliate regarding competition attire, limits your ability to add layers for warmth. So, what to wear without the expense of two competition wardrobes; one for winter and one for summer without looking 2 clothes sizes bigger in the winter? Invest in good quality thermal underwear. Equetech's Arctic Thermal...

If you are anything like me, your poor feet hate the damp and cold of winter; my sorry feet suffer horribly with the irritating itch and pain of those dastardly chilblains. If I don't manage my feet I can end up with chilblains adorning every one of my toes for most of the winter months! Winter parties can become a bit of a trial as finding beautiful party shoes that hide my now swollen and hideous feet is depressing and nigh on impossible! So, what can be done about this debilitating problem? According to the NHS, if you suffer with this irritating problem then prevention is key. Below are some suggestions to help guard against chilblains: Limit your exposure to the cold. This is sage advice if you don't own dogs or hor...

It seems that daughters wish to grow up so fast, aspiring to be miniature versions of their mothers. As "Little Ladies" they ransack your wardrobe always seeming to dress up in your most expensive clothes and shoes, leaving you praying they'll still be intact when you next go to wear them. Nowadays, fashion brands including equestrian and country fashion brands, design junior versions of their adult range, hopefully alleviating any possible damage to your favourite clothes! One of the most popular pieces in this year's Autumn/Winter range is the Equetech Snaffles Poncho. This beautiful equestrian themed fashion piece is the perfect matching mother/daughter outer garment combining timeless style with the cosy. Featuring...

It's that time of year when the weather is so changeable it becomes a trial to work out what to wear for the day. Luckily, we can layer up and luckily we have the ability to add or remove items of clothing as the temperature increases or decreases ‐ our horses do not have this luxury. So not only are we faced with a wardrobe dilemma for ourselves, we are faced with a wardrobe dilemma for our horses. I know lots of horse owners that believe if they are cold, their horse will be too and conversely, if they are feeling warm, their horse must be too. Unfortunately this isn't always a good way to work out how to rug your horse. Not only do horses and humans have differing body temperatures (humans 36.5 to 37.5 °C, horses 37.5 to 3...

It's that time of year again, one of the most important in the fashion diary ‐ the Fashion Weeks from around Europe and New York. The buzz and excitement surrounding the big four; New York, London, Milan and Paris, where the world's top designers showcase their fashion vision for the upcoming seasons, culminates in Milan. The creative visions showcased on the catwalks this Autumn will filter down to the high street for Spring next year. However, let's revisit the trends showcased throughout February/March 2017 for this Autumn and how Equetech have brought these on-trend designs to your equestrian wardrobe? Duvet Coats Having featured heavily on the catwalks was the increasingly popular duvet/quilted coats. We've all ex...

The Poncho has a long and varied history, it is commonly associated with the Americas where we think of a bright patterned garment made from a heavy Sheep wool or Alpaca wool but it was believed to have its origins as far back as 500 B.C., typically worn by the Paracas, Pre-Inca Culture. However, in more modern times the humble poncho was adapted for use by the military in the 1850s and then further adapted to double as an item of waterproof military clothing and a ground sheet for use in WWII. As with all good ideas the poncho has definitely stood the test of time but nowadays is worn as a versatile and beautiful fashionable statement piece. A simple yet stunning garment, the poncho is easy to wear, suiting all body types as one size fi...

The BYRDS (British Young Rider Dressage Scheme) Under 25 Championships is a very popular and successful competition which has been hosted for the last 16 years by Sheepgate Equestrian Centre, Boston, Lincolnshire. Held every August this prestigious event runs National Championship classes at Prelim, Novice, Elementary, Medium and Advanced Medium, as well as the FEI Team tests at Pony, Junior and Young Rider levels. The UK currently has some exceptionally talented young rider, horse/pony combinations, which was reflected in over 370 combinations from across the UK riding in excess of 1250 tests over 6 days! Equetech is a big advocate of encouraging young riders, so this year, Equetech sponsored the Preliminary Championships which saw 30 o...

We are entering that time of year where strong winds cause us to hunch our shoulders against the pervading chill, tease our hair out of its restraints or ruin our carefully coiffed hairstyle and all this before the biting Northerly wind makes its presence felt! As horse riders we are constantly dealing with the aftermath of hat hair and for those that support us either on a daily basis or at an event, time doesn't always allow for beautiful hair and standing at the side lines allows the cold to permeate into the bones. Luckily for those that like to keep their hair out of the eyes, want their ears and necks to remain toasty, hide hat hair or want their hair to look stylish with minimum effort, Equetech has an array of stylish scarves an...

Are you looking for the ultimate waterproof all season's jacket? The Equetech Trilogy 3 in 1 Jacket is a practical yet stylish design concept loosely based around the Rambo Duo rug. After buying her horse the Rambo Duo, Equetech Managing Director, Liz Hayman was struck by the simple yet clever concept of this versatile rug and wanted to rework this concept to design a stylish jacket for equestrians and lovers of outdoor pursuits. Realising that many people do not want a closet full of equestrian jackets; a jacket for the colder winter months, a waterproof for colder wet days, one for the warmer spring weather, a waterproof for the warmer wetter days and so on, Liz explored designing a jacket for all seasons. The Trilogy 3 in 1...