Ponytail's beauty products!

About a month ago, I discovered the Californian brand Ponytail.

The brand has been created by Nicolle Lubman who is passionate about horses and who works in cosmetics. The idea of creating the brand came from the fact that many brands do not indicate the ingredients they put in horse's products. Nicolle wanted to create safe products adapted both for the horse and the rider.

The range now has 5 products that have a really elegant packaging:

There is a shampoo named "Bubbles & Bucks", a styling spray "Mane Stay", a shining serum "Show Pony Shine", a dry shampoo "Trot the Spot" and a leave in conditionner "Ready to Roll".

Today, I am going to tell you all about both products I tried today: "Show Pony Shine" et "Ready to Roll".

To let you know about the products and to show you the results after using them, we have a special guest with whom Totem will have to share the spotlight with, Veryquool, french saddlebreed of 4 y.o. 

Totem tried "Show Pony Shine", the shining serum and Very used the leave in conditionner "Ready to Roll". 

To use the serum, you have to put a small amount on your hands, rug them and massage the horse's coat with it. You really have to put the product everywhere on your hands so that you do not do marks on the coat.

Here is the result on Totem after I applied the serum:

The serum is really nice to use. It has moisturizing properties and it is made of argan oil, avocado oil, jojoba oil and macadamia seeds (yes, all of this in one product!).

Let's now move to the special guest, Very, and to the "Ready to Roll". The conditionner is really easy to use. You just have to spray it on the coat and then brush the horse with a soft brush.

Here is the result:

With the product, dust goes off really easily. The product smells really really good (it is made with eucalyptus, peppermint and lemon essential oils!). 

Some pictures of the models after their Ponytail beauty session:

To get more information about the products and get the retailer list, click HERE.

Shine with style!

Fouganza innovation: half chap socks!

It's been a while since I had not talked to you about Fouganza, Décathlon's riding brand!

This article will make you forget about my mistake as it is targeted on their new innovation: the half chap socks!

The concept: the sock is reinforced at the level of the calf level so that you can ride without half chaps, without hurting your legs.

But why would you ever want to ride without half chaps?

Well, for many reasons! Some people just like riding without them. Also when the weather is really hot, it can be annoying to put your half chaps in leather on as you will get really warm. You can also put the socks in your locker for the day when you will forget your half chaps (don't tell me it never happened to you, I would not believe you).

It can also be useful when you start this wonderful sport that is horse-riding and that you do not know if you are going to enjoy the activity or not. Then, investing in a pair of half chaps can be risky if you realize on your second lesson that being flung to the ground horse-riding is not your sport. Then, the half chap socks can be great for you!

For the time being, only two sizes are available: from size EU 35 to 38 (UK 2.5 to 5) and from EU 39 to 42 (UK 5.5 to 8).

The socks can be washed in the washing machine and they are available on Décathlon's website (UK: http://www.decathlon.co.uk/black-half-chap-socks-id_8279196.html). They cost 17.95€, £14,99.

Waldhausen boots are dead, welcome Norton boots!

After 5 months of collaboration in order to protect Totem from himself, I can officialy declare that the Waldhausen stable boots (Article here) are done. They have been a great ally during these five months, as Totem did not hurt himself once!

They broke around the fetlock area, the neoprene lining because of frictions did not resist and now there are some holes in the stable boots.

Mmh yummy!

I could have bought another pair of Waldhausen stable boots as I was happy with them but the Norton stable boots were sold with a 30% discount. 

At the time I wrote this article in french, Totem was wearing the boots for around two weeks. But now we are in May, and I can tell you that the Norton stable boots lasted for 4 months, the exact same period as the Waldhausen.

The Norton boots are a bit difficult to place on the horse leg at first but once they took the shape of the leg (after 2 use), they become really easy to use.  

Sometimes we can read that the stable boots can nearly have the same effect as standing bandages but on Totem it does not. Totem is always a bit congested on its hind legs before exercising and the stable boots do not help at all on this matter.

Last information, I bought a stable boots pack (fore legs + hind legs). On the picture, it is the fore legs boots I put on the hind legs (no use for me to put the boots on Totem's fore legs). It is ok to use them like that, the legs remain well protected, they are just a little less high than the hind legs boots.

Métalab spurs

As I was spending my holidays in "Le Touquet", last August with Totem (by the way I totally advise you the stables, horses are really well treated and there are a lot of riding paths), I went to the showjumping on the wonderful grounds the stables own.

Of course, I could not stop myself from going shopping but I stayed reasonable and only fell for Metalab spurs, the Prince of Galles kind, with rubber on the sides.

At first, their price scared me a little (43€! (talking about that, I did not understand it all, on Métalab website, they cost 53€...), but still, I wanted to try my first pair of spurs covered in rubber, hoping that the price would be related with the spur's life expectancy.

After 9 months of using the spurs around 2-3 times per week, they remain the same (that would have been a great scam if not...). They are really nice to wear, you don't feel them and the fact that they are covered in rubber and also that they have a technology that makes that they cannot slip (picture below) make that they do not move at all while you are riding.

I am really satisfied with them!

Small advice however: with these spurs, it is better to get leather or fake leather straps as the nylon ones slip from the "S" holes (let me reassure you, not when the spur is on the boot, only when it's not).

PS: The "souvenir" picture of Totem and I having a great time during our holidays:

Sure thing: we will be back in Le Touquet for the next holidays!

Waldhausen's surcingle

Around a year and a half ago, I bought my first surcingle.

I was looking for a good quality surcingle with many rings to have many options when I am lungeing my horse with side reins.

I found in my usual saddlery the Waldhausen surcingle that costed 69.95€.

For a surcingle, I found the price to be a bit expensive but I purchased it anyway as it seemed to be really resistant and had many rings.

I now own it since a year and a half and everything is still looking right. It is really comfortable for the horse and you do not need to use a saddle pad to protect the horse's back as it is really ergonomic. 

It was quite a big investment but I am really satisfied with it and I think that I will keep it for a long while!

Hervé Godignon competition jacket

This weekend was my big come back to showjumping, after 7 years where I did not compete at all! Despite a really deceiving result, I had a big satisfaction: my new competition jacket!

I found it during the sale, only two days before my competition! I got a discount of 50% so the jacket costed me 150€ instead of 300€.

Hervé Godignon at 300€ - 50%

The Hervé Godignon coat is really nice to wear, the fit is great and fabric is light, tensile and really elegant. Furthermore, it does not hinder the rider's movement at all during the jumps. I highly recommend it!

The only negative point is that it gets dirty really easily. After the round, you really have to put it back in its case to avoid the dirt to get on it.

Some pictures of the competition coat in action:

Yes, my face looks awful!

Fougamash

As explained in my article about Waldhausen stable boots here, Totem hurted himself on his hindleg, near the hoof.
As it is really close to the ground and thus to the straw and dirt, the vet put him on antibiotics so that the injury does not get infected.
However, it has been impossible to make him take the antibiotics, even with the help of apples or even mixed with applesauce.

Thus, I tried to hide the antibiotics in a mash. Having finished my big 15kg bag from winter, I bought two small bags at Fouganza (Décathlon equestrian brand).

A bag costs 4.95€ and weights 1.5kg. I succeeded in doing 4 small mashes with each bag. The 5 big spoon of antibiotics that were hidden in the mash got absorbed by Totem without having him realizing what was happening.

These bags are really convenient when you do not need big quantities and they look really tasty as Totem did not leave a crumb behind!

Waldhausen stable boots

Recently, Totem blocked himself twice in his box.

The first time, he only got some scratches. However, on the second time, a piece of his skin near his hoof got teared off. I had to call the vet so that she cut the piece of skin that could not be stitched back. The invoice was quite expensive and I guess it has been quite painful for Totem...

To avoid that Totem gets hurt again and that my wallet gets empty every other month, I invested in a pair of Waldhausen stable boots.

It is the second time that I am purchasing a Waldhausen branded product (the first time was a surcingle, I definitely have to write an article about it!). The boots costed me 39.95€. I have using them for around a week and I am really pleased with them.

The boots are covering all the leg from under the knee to the hoof. They remain in place overnight, are easy to put and easy to wash: the grey part can be detached to be wash separately. 

Until now, Totem did not hurt himself again : good point for Waldhausen!

Equiline's full seat breeches

It has been a few weeks since I had the chance to start riding with a full seat Equiline trouser.

I got really lucky when I entered my usual saddlery: there was an Equiline trouser left at -70% in my size. I got it at 58€ instead of 200€!

I highly recommend it! It is perfect to ride, the shape is great and it is really nice to wear it, you don't feel it at all. The fabric is perfect. The pockets' shape is perfect so that you cannot loose your keys or your phone while riding.

Details are really nice, like the small Equiline logo at the back of the trouser.

I could never have bought an Equiline trouser at a full priced but if I find another one on sale, be assured that I'll purchase it. They are my favorite trousers! Really elegant and comfy!

At the time I am translating the article to English, nearly a year passed by and the breeches are still in a perfect condition and of course, they still are my favorite!

Fouganza laced boots

Some days ago, my beloved Fouganza "Paddock" boots broke, letting me alone after 4 years by my side.

Really satisfied with them, I decided to buy a new identical pair as they are to me an excellent choice regarding quality and price matters. Fouganza is selling them for 69,95€.

First of all, I find them pretty (they exist in black and brown). I own the brown ones and the color perfectly matches with my chaps. Also, at the back of the boot, there is a zip which is closed by a nicely detailed button.

Secondly, a thing I had forgotten from my first pair, when I wore them for the first time, my feet did not hurt. I did not need the usual 2 to 3 weeks of adaptation. Avoid suffering during two weeks, this is a big yes!

Thirdly, they are easy to take care of. Firstly thanks to the zip, not need to tie them. Then, regarding care, they do not need a lot of attention. On my last pair, I put some oil around once per year and they were just fine.

Last thing I discovered after checking Fouganza's website, they are under guarantee for two years!

Cavalor's Top Action

Hi everyone!

Today, I am going to tell you all about "Top Action" from Cavalor.

Totem lost a few pounds when we changed his type of hay to improve his intestinal flora. Thus, I wanted to find a solution so that we would not see his ribs anymore. A friend who has a thoroughbred horse advised me with Top Action.

I bought a bag at my saddlery. It costed my 15€ for 25kg. I started to give Totem 1,5L per day in addition to his regular food.

Top action are big tasty granules (Cavalor says that, I have not personally tasted them, however it suits Totem very well!). The fact that the granules are big force the horse to chew them longer than a normal sized granules which let the first digestion phase to be more effective.

The complement also helps the horse to keep a healthy intestinal flora and makes his coat shiny.

It's been two weeks since I started to feed Totem with Top Action and on the energy level, I cannot feel any difference (perfect as energy was not the point). However, regarding weight matters, I am starting to see a difference.

Here is a picture on the first day of Top Action and then another taken two weeks later. It looks really effective to me (ps: in addition to Top Action, Totem is eating grass around 30 min per day)


1st day of Top action



After a week of Top action

 

After two weeks of Top action

KP Equestrian: "Putting Glamour into Horse-Riding"

After having lived for a few months in London, I got the chance to go to the Olympia London International Horse Show.

Being used to the horse fair in Paris (Salon du Cheval de Paris), I was expecting the same kind of event, with a lot of equipment booths. I was super excited with the idea of finding the saddle pad no one will have in France!

Unfortunately, saddle pads were way more classic than the ones we can find in the alleys of Paris' horse fair.

However, a brand surprised me a little: KP Equestrian.

This brand is all about girly stuff and pink everywhere!

It was created by Katie Price, a former English model, know between other facts for her breast surgery. Katie launched herself into the equestrian world, the music world (she finished second in the Eurovision competition where she represented UK), the books (already 4 autobiographical books have been published).

Here are some products developed by the brand:

Boots in Italian leather, 499£

Sweatshirt "Born to Ride", 34.99£

Insect repellent rug, 39£

After seeing these products, I have to admit that I was really not interested by the brand. But then, I discovered these fences, and became in love with them:

Katie Price trying the fences

Ok, it looks a bit like "Barbie is riding her pony" but it is so pretty!

If you are looking for fences, this is where you can find them:  HERE 

Comments about BR Melange Classic saddle pad!

I finally got the time to take pictures of my BR Melange Classic saddle pad that I was introducing here.

Here are some pictures of it:

After having used the saddle pad during a month or so, it was time to comment!

Positive points:

-the saddle pad is really nice and elegant and matches really well with Totem's dark coat

-the shape is great

-the fabric used for lining is perfect: breathable and perspiration is absorbed easily

Negative points:

-the girth straps get damaged quite easily (see picture below) and we can see some yarns after a short while, however, it is not a big issue...

-the saddle pad's parts that are in contact with my saddle are starting to peel a little

Conclusion: really nice saddle pad with just a small remark on the fabric quality. It is a shame as due to that I prefer not to put it on Totem too much so that it does not get damaged and so that I can keep it longer.

However, at the price of 36,9€, it is a goof investment and I will not hesitate to purchase another saddle pad from BR.

Pinterest going crazy about Equestrian!

For all those of you who like nice pictures, here are some links to Pinterest account, devoted to our favorite animals:

• Pegasebuzz
• Jijijenn (board Equestria)
• EquiVogue (my favorite, that has several "pinboards" as Art Horse, Beauty horse or Horse Fashion) 
• You know I had to have a horse related pinboard
• There is nothing like the bond between a girl and her horse
• The wind of heaven is that blows between a horse's ears

If you know others, do not hesitate to let a comment with a link towards them!