Tack; The White Saddle!

I blogged about Tekna a while back. Overall my reaction was positive. But is it just me, or does synthetic tack of any kind, create a hard-to-avoid, immediate judgment of; novice, cheap etc? It seems that way. But maybe this new company will convert some... So far, it seems responses have been pretty positive.. What do you think?

Upon looking at their website recently, I found this...



Yes, that is right! A white Dressage saddle! I don't think it will win with the traditional group of professionals and amateurs, but it's quite interesting. I'd like to see this being used.

And that's not all.. I could see a little girl and pony sporting this...



I know the traditionals among the crowd will run away when they see these nontraditional colours, but I actually think they have a place, somewhere...

Equestrian Exterior; Fashion & Horses.

It's always neat to me, when you see designers combining high fashion with equestrian themes. I would not be caught walking in those high-platform shoes alongside my horse, which can be seen below in multiple counts. But its fun to see how the two worlds combine. Not always practical or functional, but sometimes it does work..



















**All above photos copyright to their rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.

Top Picks; Equestrian Gifts of 2010 Part 1

It is that time of year...again. It comes so fast I tell you! Black Friday, which I presumably avoid - a day of horses and riding seems much more appetizing - is just not my thing. But you have to admit, the news about deals, sales and merchandise priced below anything you'd see any other time of year, is sometimes eye-catching. But it's never that appealing, unless it's related to horses of course! ;)

In honor of the season upon us, I thought I'd share with you a slew of things I wouldn't mind adding to my "wish list."

Here are my top three of very many...

Custom Woven Throw Blanket from SmartPak


Newmarket Fleece Throw from SmartPak (Love this!)


Oxer Napkin Holder (Ok, less exciting, but I think it's befitting and could so see this on my kitchen table!) from SmartPak


More to come!

The Royals & Equestrian Lifestyle

It was announced earlier this week that Prince William, the elder of two children of Prince Charles and late Lady (Princess) Diana Spencer, will wed Kate Middleton next Spring or Summer. The couple, Wills & Kate, have been dating on and off for about eight years. Prince William proposed to the beautiful Ms. Middleton with none other than his mother's engagement ring, the beautiful sapphire surrounded by 14 diamonds.



Besides the engagement and the wedding, I was interested to know if Ms. Middleton had an equestrian background. You are probably aware that the royal family is quite involved with equestrianism and most specifically polo. Would Ms. Middleton fit in with the royals' equestrian activities?

I have always adored the late Princess Diana. Her beauty, her fashion sense, her class. She looked tough and keen, but at the same time soft, approachable and lady-like. So first, I wanted to learn more about Diana's own equestrian involvement.

From Associated Content, from Yahoo, here is what they said in an article about the late Princess Diana; Princess Diana: 7 Intriguing Facts About the Late Princess of Wales and Horses

"Elegant equines and equestrian activities have been part of royal tradition for countless generations. From medieval jousting to modern polo matches, from festivities to funerals, and from coronations to contests,horses have played an important role in royal history.

How did the late Lady Diana, Princess of Wales (and first wife of British Prince Charles), feel about horses? Was the princess a willing participant in equestrian activities?

Here are seven intriguing facts about Lady Diana, the late Princess of Wales, and how she related to horses.

As a child, Princess Diana grew up around horses.

Lady Diana Francis Spencer grew up on a country estate, where she had her own pony. Her family had stables filled with equines and practiced both horseback riding and equestrian driving.



As a schoolgirl, Diana received an honorary award for caring for her pet guinea pig. The British schoolgirl became a kindergarten teacher in her late teen years before marrying 33-year-old British royal Prince Charles of Wales at age 19.

Princess Diana of Wales loved animals, but she hated horseback riding.

Although Prince Charles of Wales has been an avid polo player and fan, his first wife Diana did not share his passion for the ponies. In fact, she curtailed her equestrian pursuits as a teenager after suffering a nasty spill from the back of a horse.

Even so, Princess Diana did encourage her sons (Prince William and Prince Harry) to learn to ride and to enjoy horses.

For her own fitness and recreation, Princess Diana preferred aerobic exercises, roller skating, running, skiing, swimming and other sports pursuits over equestrian activities.




Despite her reluctance to mount up and ride a horse, either sidesaddle or astride, the 5'10" and photogenic Princess Diana was frequently photographed in equestrian carriages, particularly on official and high-society occasions for the British royals.

Of course, Lady Diana Spencer did not do the driving.

Lady Diana Spencer rode in a horse-drawn carriage to her wedding to Prince Charles."

And what about Kate Middleton, the future Princess?

Here is what HorseSmart had to say;

"Today, Prince William announced his engagement to Kate Middleton, with a Royal Wedding expected next year - and it's believed a shared passion for equestrian sports helped to bring the two together.

Ms Middleton is rumoured to share the Royal Family's enthusiasm for country sports, and has a particular fondness for polo - something which should give her plenty to talk about over the dinner table with her future father in law, Prince Charles, who plays the game regularly.

Once, when she was spotted watching a game of polo intently, the subject of Ms Middleton's interest in polo was brought up. She reportedly joked:
"I’ve got to pay attention to every second, I’ll be discussing the game in minute detail later on.”

However, interestingly, when it comes to riding, Prince William's wife-to-be is unlikely to be subject to a photo opportunity any time soon, as she is reportedly allergic to horses. However, she has been spotted several times at leading equestrian events such as the Badminton Horse Trials and Cheltenham Festival.

Middleton is also a keen fan of country pursuits, recently pictured in the newspapers hunting alongside her future relations - which some experts believe was a signal of an impending wedding announcement."

Ah, well. I guess we can't all get what we want! ;). Not all royals are going to enjoy the equestrian sports like Zara Phillips, for example.

Top Picks; Winterizing - Blankets

Winter is here. Most of your horses have probably been wearing their blankets for about a month. If you're lucky, you have just went to your trusty storage bin and pulled out last years blanket. But if your like so many who are the lucky owners of blanket destroyers or that long-time blanket is reaching the end of it's life, you're probably looking or have looked at the many available, colorful, classy or new tech blankets on the market today.

I enjoy blanket shopping. The price, I am not a fan of. But in most cases you get what you pay for. And in most cases, Horseware (to name one of my favorite brands) owners are quick to point out their 3,4 or 5 year old blanket with pride. Maybe your horse (A) wears it's blanket like a dream. Kindly cradling it around, avoiding the tiniest part of fencing out of line within it's 10 acre pasture that any horse (B) would otherwise use to destroy and free itself of the confines of it's blanket.. So in that case you could probably tell me, "why buy such an expensive blanket?! This one (enter affordable brand here) has lasted me two winters so far!" If your horse is like example B, I am sure you would laugh and point to your trash bag filled with yet another "affordable" blanket down the drain..

I am not saying that you can't find an affordable blanket that is well-constructed. No, I am just saying that if you look at the long-term, affordable might not be realistic.

Enough with my blabbering. I wanted to share with you some of my favorite blankets.

One of my most favorites is the Rambo Wug. I'm not sure how long this blanket has been around, but I've seen it for at least a couple years. My most loved features are the high neck. It also has the two buckle closure, which I quite like. It now comes in three new colours; Plum(?) and silver, a blue and silver and soft chocolate with silver. It features all of the great quality and weather protection from the Rambo line of Horseware.


And now, for something different...

May I introduce you to TurtleNeck.

Here is what their website says;

"
The TurtleNeck® concept was developed by our founder Glen Hathcock because he wanted a better turnout for his own horses. His comments below give us an insight into his motivation.

“We had a genuine problem finding blankets for our show horses that fit properly and did not rub the shoulders or the withers. When we tried to use larger sizes for our horses they had gaping holes in the neck opening and they hung dangerously low. We once had a colt hang a hoof in a nylon belly strap while rolling and the ensuing panic it caused was the last straw. We were in a position to do something about it and we did.”

The company set out to create a turnout rug that would resolve these issues and provide a high degree of safety for horses. The first change was the installation of detachable elastic belly and leg straps to eliminate the possibility that any horse would ever be bound by unbreakable nylon straps. Our next change was redesigning the pattern with extra room in the shoulders and neck then we added heavy elastic binding in the neck to keep it from gaping open. The stretch in the neckline was tested and a ratio determined that kept the neckline snug against the horse yet comfortable. Finally we added the elastic binding in the shoulder gusset to allow it to stretch in conjunction with the elastic in the neckline and straps when the horse ran and played. The result was a blanket that moved and stretched with the horse in every direction but remained snug. An added benefit of the new snug design was that it kept the horse’s body heat inside the blanket and prevented wind, rain, sleet, or snow from entering through the neck opening. After extensive testing the first TurtleNeck was brought to the market in 2003. Our brand is now recognized by many horse owners and retailers as being a uniquely superior product that stands up to our motto “The Ultimate in Protection and Safety.”

So those are only two of my favorite blanket Top Picks for winter. What are yours?

Show Jumping; Georgina Bloomberg Falls At Competition

Show Jumping's 27 year old rider, Georgina Bloomberg had a "scary" fall off her horse Radio City, featured bottom left, according to various on lookers, while competing at the Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament on Friday. Ms. Bloomberg, founder of Riders Closet and named by Forbes Magazine as one of the "Most Intriguing Billionaire Heiresses," was competing in the Gambler's Choice when her saddle slipped and she fell.


Georgina is said to have fractured her spine and suffered a concusion. Unconcious immdediately after the fall, she later walked off the course, un-assisted according to her Spokesman, Kenneth Kraus.

We wish Ms. Bloomberg a safe and speedy recovery.

Sources:
New York Times
People Magazine

**Top photo (c) to the Huffington Post. No copyright infringment intended.

HorseMania 2010 : Art in Lexington

Have you seen the horses of HorseMania 2010? In July, 89 full-zied fiberglass horses and 50 foals, were revealed to Lexington, Kentucky. Each horse was designed by the many artists involved in the project.

"No public art initiative in our city’s history has captured the hearts and imaginations of Lexingtonians and visitors as did Horse Mania back in 2000. Horse Mania 2010 promises to be even more popular!

After their public viewing this summer and fall, the horses will be auctioned off in the Keeneland Sales Arena on December 11. Proceeds from the auction will benefit LexArts’ public art programs and non-profit charities throughout the region."

Here are some examples of our favorites..

Equestrian Exterior; Kingsland Equestrian.

If you receive the SmartPak Equine cateloge, you will note some new additions to the 2010-2011 Annual edition. One of the new brands to be added to SmartPak's ever-growing array of equestrian fashion selections, is Kingsland Equestrian. (I have to mention, their website is really quite a disappointment.) "Beautifully styled, built for performance," is what it says there on the simple, yet elegant two-page cameo in the cataloge. Their prices, however, were something I wasn't expecting to see in SmartPak, but I do believe that SP has done a great job at bringing together affordable equipment and also equipment from the higher-end range in a way which is general mass, consumer friendly.


Getting back to this new addition to SmartPak, Kingsland Equestrian, I'd like to share with you my top 3 choice pieces within their collection offered through SP.

1. The Kinglands Elmira Jacket

"The Elmira Jacket not only offers incredible warmth but also a slenderizing fit to compliment any body shape. It converts from a hooded jacket to a high collar or an open collar in seconds and is water-resistant and breathable. Discrete underarm zipper provides ventilation, eliminating the hassle of removing layers while riding, simply unzip and your body will begin to cool down." - SmartPak

2. Kingsland Courmayeur Vest (I prefer in black or the 'light grey')

"Kingsland has always been known for their beautifully crafted down vests. Now they have added an elegant, yet functional, vest featuring a feminine fur-trimmed hood to the collection. Fashionable and functional, the fur-trimmed hood unzips to become a fur trimmed collar, depending on your preference. The Courmayeur vest offers unsurpassed warmth, and a lovely cut which compliments any woman's shape. It is water resistant and breathable. A definite show stopper!" - SmartPak

3. Kingsland Jessica Knee Patch Breech (I wish it came in a full-seat version)

"Ride in unsurpassed comfort and undeniable style, for schooling or for show. The new Kingsland Jessica breech gives you all the technical benefits a professional rider requires and style with their slenderizing fit and gorgeous ribbon-trimmed pockets and belt loops." - SmartPak

Friday Fabulous - Burghley Horse Trials!

September 2nd through 5th marks the return of the international four star CCI 3 day event, the Burghley Horse Trials. It's an exciting mark on eventing enthusiasts calender.

The Dressage portion of the 3day is now compeleted. Standing in first place with a score of 38.3 is Ruth Edge and her mount, Two Tyhme. Coming in a close second is Caroline Powell of New Zeland, atop the handsome grey, Lenamore with a score of 38.7.

"At the end of the second day of dressage it was all change at the top of the leader board at The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials. Former double National Champions Ruth Edge and Two Thyme have a slender lead over British based New Zealand rider Caroline Powell and the grey Lenamore. Ruth, who is a respected dressage rider, recently winning Regional Championship titles with her specialist dressage horses, produced a fluent and harmonious test from Two Thyme, who is by the Thoroughbred Broadsword, that particularly impressed German judge Martin Plewa. The President of The Ground Jury awarded the combination over 77%. “His trot work was much better and Two Thyme liked the going so much out there that his extensions were particularly good,” said Ruth whose pervious highest placing here was 17th with Marsh Mayfly in 2006. “I had heard that the cross-country was softer than last year – but in my opinion the jumps don’t get any smaller and there are plenty of places to make mistakes – but on the plus side the going is second to none.” - Two Thyme Steps to It from the News at Burghley.


One of our notable riders who is a new-comer to the Burghley Horse Trials, is 21 year old Emily Llewellyn. Emily is competing atop the chestnut gelding, Pardon Me II. After Dressage, Emily is standing in 21st position, with a score of 50.7.

We wish all the riders a safe and excellent day of cross country!

Equestrian Exterior; Tall Boots - Milo Felline.

Have you dreamed of a custom pair of tall boots? Maybe you have a pair yourself. We love looking at all the latest looks in tall boots. What types of patterns, colours and materials that are being paired together. - It's more than gorgeous footwear, it's truly art to dress your feet!

Today we are looking at Milo Felline. This company has been handcrafting beautiful boots for twenty years in Italy. From the beginning these stunning boots were only available in Europe and have only recently been available to the United States.

We love their boots. The fine quality, detail and the un-mistakable look that exudes class and high fashion.

The Building Blocks for Sales Videos; Examples

As part of our Building Blocks for Sales Videos, I wanted to share with you examples of videos that each have been executed differently, to give you an idea of what can make, break, help or hinder your sales video. I will break down each video individually to discuss it's high and low points. So sit back and enjoy!



Above we have a Hanoverian gelding who, in his ad, has been described as the following:
"true gentleman showing first level, working at second level. Uncomplicated and straight forward to ride and show. No health issues. Imported from Germany and registered with the Verband Hannoverscher, branded with the German Hanoverian brand, he is also registered here in the US with the American Hanoverian Society, USDF and USEF. Great for an amateur or pro looking for a quality horse with a future."

- My first impression of this video is positive. We have a introduction header, which describes, name, age, breed and point of location or contact (website).

- The music in this video was a good choice. It is soft and relaxing, much like the horse itself.
If you choose to use music make sure you choose something that appeals to the masses of the those who you think will be considering your horse. Music that over-powers a video, such as heavy metal rock, is usually something to stay away from. A good rule of thumb when it comes to music, is to choose something that is purely instrumental and fits the personality and movement of your horse. (Soft music for a light and graceful moving horse etc)

- As we get into this video, it's apparent that the person who is videoing is not using a tri-pod. This video could have been enhanced with the use of a tri-pod to limit what shaking you can see.

- For nearly a minute and 50 seconds the horse in the video is shown at a walking pace. This is a bit long, as gait example shots should be kept to a 30 second maximum at a time. This keeps the viewer interested and more focused on what is being featured.

- Note the rider and horse turnout, clean, neat and tidy.

- The arena is also lovely as well. Looking freshly groomed for this video session.

- At the end of the video, we see the closing header telling us who to contact. This should be included in every sales video.

My closing notes for this video would be, that although the video was rather long and drawn-out in how the horse was shown, it was consistent. The horse was shown as if on a normal day of schooling. The video was well balanced - horse shown going up through the gaits in both directions.



Above we have a Dutch Warmblood gelding, who in his ad, has been described as the following:
"He is solid in all the movements of the I-1, with suprising ease in the half passes and full pirouettes even with his size. Rudy does also school one tempis proficiently. He goes easily in both a snaffle or double bridle. Would be well suited for an amatuer to learn the upper level movements while working with a professional."

- My first impression is how lovely this horse is!

- There is no introduction header, which I believe is a key part of any sales video. It gives the viewer more insight into the horse. Name, age, breed etc.

- The video has not been edited.

- The next thing I notice is the absence of music. If you choose to not include music, leaving the sound from the video is better than silence. Unless of course, there is banging, loud, obnoxious noises in the background! - Point in case with this video is that in the beginning we see a large semi-truck going down a road above the arena. If your arena is close to a road or you happen to video something like a loud semi-truck, it's best to remove the original audio. - However, add music instead of going silent.

I should note that sometimes listening to the hooves as the horse moves and breathing in the audio from the video, is quite nice!

- The person videoing this horse has some rather shaky moments, which could have been prevented with the use of a tri-pod.

- The surrounding landscape around this arena is lovely. But the arena is a bit dusty and looks poorly maintained. A grooming could have given off a better impression.

- Horse and rider are neatly turned out, although I personally would have liked to seen a helmet.

- The video is long, but consistent as it has not been edited. We see the horse exhibiting it's "confirmed" tempi's and other movements conducive to it's training.

- There was no ending header for contact etc. I was not expecting one considering the entire video was not edited at all, but again this would have been nice.

My closing comments for this video is that although the horse was exhibited well, the video was not. A horse of this type, should have a more invested sales video.

More examples to come. What are your thoughts on the above videos?

Friday Fabulous; Leather Halters To Love

Whether for show or around the stables, a good leather halter is a timeless, priceless piece of equipment to have. We've been on a long and continuous search for classy leather halters worthy of the nicest equines. Lets take a look at some of our favorites picks.

The "Wellfleet Fancy Stitch Padded Halter"


The "Black & Stainless" Leather Halter by Quillin Leather & Tack


The "Wellfleet Double Raised Padded Halter"


The "Diamante Leather Halter" by DT Saddlery.

**The above photo is of the halter in Lemico material.

**All above photos copyright to their rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.

Top Picks; Equestrian YouTube Users.

Since we are on the subject of videos, I'd like to take a moment to talk about the video phenomenon. If you are familiar with YouTube, you will notice a significant amount of young riders taking part in documenting, if you will, their riding and horses and projecting it to the world. It's fascinating to see how dedicated some riders are to their editing and videotaping, just as much as they are dedicated to riding.

I'd like to share with you some of the riders and horses I've found through YouTube. They are all great riders - it has been a pleasure to watch their videos!

Pepo & rider, Chloe - omgitscloeee on YouTube


Reba & rider, Morgan - TileValleyMorgan on YouTube


Tevita, Casper & Jasmine - JazzCiceroCasper

The Building Blocks for Sale Videos; Photographs + Videos

Welcome to part two of the Building Blocks for Sale Videos series here on Country Sporthorse! If you have just tuned in, please read the introduction.

To recap on the introduction, we went over the basics when considering making a sales video for your horse. The easy exposure which comes with online sharing of your video through Facebook and YouTube (or Vimeo).
The easy access that equestrians throughout your country and even the world can have to view your horse wherever they may be.
The limited amount of editing that is necessary for you to create a flattering video.
And most importantly, the simple basics to consider when making a video.

Now that we have briefly covered the above, lets get into more detail.

Lets first talk about photographs. Part of a sales video should include a small amount of photos which can show your horse in a still frame which will give someone a different perspective on how your horse; conformation, jumping style, dressage ring appearance etc. It's a nice added touch.

We would suggest the following types of photos included in your video:

1) Portrait/Head-Shot
2) At Liberty
3) Under Saddle (Jumping, Dressage etc)
4) Under Saddle Shot 2 (Of a different variety of the above)
5) Possibly an additional under saddle shot, especially if you are marketing an eventer. A cross country shot would be a nice addition.
6) Conformation Shot (feel free to add various conformation shots, but one should be sufficient in addition to your written ad which should also include a conformation shot).

It is important to note that the photographs not be over-used. You should have a nice bunch of selections of all the varieties listed above, so that you have different shots to offer through video and written sales ads. This says that you have taken the time to market your horse and you care about the detail going into the ad. You are a serious seller.

Additionally if you choose to take these photos yourself, we recommend a nice camera because the quality of these photos will decrease once the video itself if uploaded onto the Internet. If you can, try hiring a photography student or even an amateur photographer to help you achieve the quality and type of photos you want to properly show off your horse. A good eye and a good camera can make all the difference!

We will talk about ideas of implementing these photos into the video later on in this series.

--

Now onto the video portion.

Here are some key steps to consider before you begin the video process:

1) Your Videographer!
No, the person who videos your horse does not have to be a professional. If you can, do it yourself, or ask a friend to assist you. This will of course depend on if you will be riding your horse yourself. If you have a trainer who is helping market your horse they might already suggest or it might be a good idea to ask them.

An important thing to note with the videographer/helper: If the person has little to no video skills, make sure you use a tri-pod, which will help stabilize the camcorder, making the video much more viewer-friendly. Shaky hands = bad video results! No one wants to feel like they're equilibrium is off while viewing your video.

2) Location!
Location is important. These little details can make or break a video.
First off, if you choose to shoot the horse inside an arena the footing should be free of dust. You should pick a time to shoot during the day when the footing conditions are at their best: i.e, right after it's been groomed/watered. Dusty footing can make shooting a nice video difficult and reflects poorly on the conditions upon which your horse is worked. The footing is a small detail, but people notice!

Make sure you do so during the later morning or afternoon. After the sun is up and before the sun begins to set.

If you choose to shoot indoor, make sure your arena again is not dusty. An indoor arena can enhance the appearance of a dusty setting compared to an outdoor. Make sure your indoor is properly lighted and again done during the day unless the lighting is good enough for evening shooting.

3) Turnout!
Turnout is another important detail to very much consider.
Horses should be neatly cleaned, groomed, clipped etc.
Riders should be neatly turned out as well. But don't over-do it. A good polo, belt and of course a helmet is a good choice. Consider what you'd wear for a clinic, for shooting a video. Nice, neat and tidy. Viewers do notice these things and again will surely take you more seriously if you attend to these details, as the horses are being more seriously represented.

And now, what you should shoot!

This is the fun part. Time to break out your video and go record, record and record some more!

A variety of shots will prove in your favor. It's always a good idea to get more shots than you need, so you have many to choose from.

For example, lets talk about a Dressage horse's ad and how one would go about complimenting this ad with a video.

Here is what the ad might say for this horse:

"Henry is a lovely, enthusiastic, Dressage horse who is currently schooling second level. Henry is a perfect mount for an up-coming junior or adult who is looking to move up. A fantastic, quiet yet forward ride, this horse is an excellent confidence builder with the talent to get you further into your Dressage career. He truly takes care of his rider! In addition to Henry's excellence in the Dressage ring, he is also a safe and enjoyable horse to hack out alone or with company. He is a gentlemen in the barn and is an overall agreeable horse that is easy-going guy."

Looking at the above ad, here are some things to include in the video:

- "lovely, enthusiastic, Dressage horse who is currently schooling second level"
In your video, show your viewers exactly what you mean when you describe your horse as "lovely, enthusiastic." Show the horse schooling second level movements.

- "a perfect mount for an up-coming junior or adult who is looking to move up"
Show your horse being piloted through his second level movements by a junior and/or an adult.

- "safe and enjoyable horse to hack out alone or with company"
Show your horse hacking out alone and/or with company. Adding in these shots provide a viewer with a stronger sense of the horse you describe and more interesting video altogether. The viewer will be waiting for the next scene to see what you'll show next! Interest is always a good thing!

- "gentlemen in the barn and is an overall agreeable horse that is easy-going guy"
Again, show what you mean. A clip of him being tacked or untacked, turned out etc, to show his "gentlemen-like" behavior is a perfect compliment to your ad.

To sum your video up - you should again, have a variety of shots that truly express the horse and all it's features!

Well, now we have an idea of how to go about getting the shots that we want. Part 2 of the photographs & videos section will be tomorrow as well as examples of well done sales videos from throughout the world!

The Building Blocks for Sale Videos; Introduction

In, The Building Blocks for Sale Videos, we will discuss the importance of creating a flattering sale video for your horse or program. We will break this down to four easy steps for you!

1) Introduction
2) Photographs & Videos
3) Execution & Editing
4) Sharing Your Video

Today we will start with the obvious, step one, the Introduction.

You may or may have thought about a sale video. From the average horse owner to the professional, sales videos are an excellent starting point for marketing your horse. Yes, marketing!

You want to know, why are videos so.. important?

Yes, well, sales videos allow first for exposure. Exposure is important to get your horse noticed throughout the area (and beyond), with various trainers and potential buyers. This will create an obvious buzz. Eventually meeting up with people who are serious buyers for your horse. Creating a "buzz" with a video takes little effort.

Videos are easy to access. They are buyer friendly. People who are horse shopping, find it much less daunting to "feel" a horse even before they actually come to try it. This allows the potential buyer to decide if they in fact want to proceed with trying your horse. Saving time and money for both them and yourself.

Videos do not have to include music. Nor do they need to be heavily edited, which can actually provide a less tangible feel and less appealing picture all-together. Videos do not need to be directed and produced by a professional, although if you can, go for it.

Just simply as you may have a website for your stable, you should have a video for your sale horse(s). You can send it via email, text, Facebook, mail and more. It's quick! People want to spend less time doing the grunt work to find the horse they desire.

But wait...

Before you go out and video your horse, take some consideration.

1) Just as a well quality sales video will get your horse noticed, a poorly done video will not and possibly turn-off your targeted audience.

2) Be conservative in your approach. Music can enhance a video as well as ruin one.

3) Editing is an art. Less is usually more, especially in un-experienced hands.

4) Videos should match, and sometimes exceed, what is in the sales ad (written ad). Features should be expressed in both venues.

5) Horses and riders should be neatly and properly turned out.

Now that we have talked some about the ideas of a sales ad, we will direct and funnel down to those important, key, blocks to the finished structure.

Below is an example of a video, which includes music and narration.


**Video Originally Uploaded By: Catherine Gallegos on YouTube.com

Following will be the Photographs & Videos portion of this series!

Stay tuned!

Plus, we'd like to hear your thoughts on creating sales videos and any insight you'd like to share with us!

Top Picks; Dressage Musical Freestyles - Edward Gal & Totilas

More to come on the subject of musical freestyles (kur). But for now, here are some of our favorites to enjoy..

Edward Gal & Totilas, Gelderland '09

**Video originally uploaded by: myrthe7horse

The following video is not actually to the music that Edward Gal used in this freestyle. It was edited by YouTube user, kendolling, as an experiment. The tempo is almost near perfect for the exhuberant and very expressive, Totilas!

**Video Originally Uploaded By: kendolling

Top Picks; The Friesian Horse - History

Featured left, Ester Liano riding Ielke 382 (Sorry could not locate photo credit)

You may be familiar with the Friesian breed, also referred to as "Belgian Blacks". Often times noted as those fairy-tale, black beauties. People are often awe-struck when they see a Friesian. With their long, thick, flowing manes and tails, they sure are eye-catching.

Lets explore some of the history of this breed and view some stallions throughout the world!

This illustrious breed began in the province of Friesland, Northern Netherlands. During the medieval times these black beauties were used to carry knights to battle. As the medieval time set to a close, the breed was less popular as the need for war horses was no longer such a priority. The demand was now for a lighter, more agile horse which would be suitable for driving in addition to farm work. To influence the Friesian breed, for this new demand, Andalusian blood was then introduced.

During the 18th and 19th Century, a popular sport emerged, that which is known as trotting races. A new sport for the Friesian to take part in. However this created some disturbance in eyes of the Friesian breeders. The horses were being bred to be lighter for this sport and thus drifting from the true characteristics of this elder breed. During the end of the 19th Century, efforts were made to return the Friesian to it's true form of what is considered the breed standard.

In 1879 the Studbook Society was founded for the Friesian. When first published in 1800, this studbook allowed for registry some Heavy Warmblood breeds to be added in addition to the Friesian. The Bovenlander (Friesian/Oldenburg) was one of these, which during the time was a rather trig breed. This caused the Friesian to almost become obsolete to the Bovenlander. Although the original studbook introduced the Bovenlander to enhance it's overall appeal to the Friesian horse, it at the same time, caused dwindling numbers (eventually down to only three remaining Friesian stallions) and almost extinction of the breed itself. In 1907 the studbook was renamed Friesch Paarden Stamboek (FPS) and joined both these breeds.

In 1915, this group convinced the FPS to separate the two groups once again. During 1943, the non-Friesian breeders left the FPS to form their own registry which was later to be named; Koninklijk Warmbloed Paardenstamboek Nederland (Royal Warmblood Studbook of the Netherlands (KWPN).

Today the modern Friesian is growing in popularity in the Dressage ring. Their dramatic, spring-like trot, swooping and dramatic canter, their evident and demanding presence as well as their curious, friendly and easy-going nature make them a desirable equine partner for both pleasure and sport.

Lets take a look at some examples of this breed!

Below we have a musical free-style, which is performed by Dressage rider Peter Spahn and Friesian Jasper 366.



Video Originally Uploaded by: JeverHart99 on YouTube.com


Photo Credit to: Guillot

Below we have Friesian stallion Wander 352. The video is of his 2003 Keuring (Judging). He is one of very few Friesians within the registry that have been bred in the United States.



Video Originally Uploaded by: JeverHart99 on YouTube.com

Resources: Wikipedia.com on the Friesian Horse.

More to come...

August Equestrian Blogs Top Pick; Nominations

Nominations for this months Equestrian Blogs Top Pick are now open and will be through the 6th. Go ahead and nominate by commenting below on who you think deserves to be recognized for their blogging efforts.

In months to come, we will be giving away gifts and goodies from various equestrians companies throughout the world, to our monthly winner.

So, go ahead, nominate!

Top Picks; Dressage Horses & Show Jumpers

This weeks Top Picks in both the Show Jumping and Dressage ring, go to the following, both fine examples of their discipline.



**Video originally uploaded by: Gayaenpurdy on YouTube.com




**Video originally uploaded by: horsespre on YouTube.com

Top Picks; Lucinda Green - Planned Purchase

Lets take a look at the tips and advice on purchasing a horse from top event rider, Lucinda Green. What are the important questions you should ask and what you should be looking for while on your horse hunt? Here is what Lucinda has to say..



**Above video uploaded by: yourstables on YouTube.com

The Riders; Meredith Michaels Beerbaum

Meredith Michaels Beerbaum is a well-known name in world of international level Show Jumping. Ms. Michaels Beerbaum is arguably one of the most talented in her sport. An impressive resume which includes being the first women to be ranked number one in Show Jumping in 2005 and numerous gold medals.

In 1998 Meredith married fellow Show Jumper, Markus Beerbaum. Although Meredith is American born (Los Angeles, 1969), upon marrying Mr. Beerbaum, Meredith attained citizenship to Germany. Mr. & Mrs. Beerbaum reside in Germany with their newly born daughter, Brianne Victoria Beerbaum.



Above Video Originally Uploaded By: Valux92 on Youtube.com

Check out this video by Rolex - click here.

Merediths' impressive resume includes the following;

Gold Medal winner of the 2009 World Cup Final in Las Vegas, USA (Shutterfly); Winning all three rounds

Gold medal winner of the 2008 World Cup Final in Gothenburg, Sweden (Shutterfly)
* The first woman to have reached the No. 1 position on the FEI show jumping
world rankings (December 2004)
* Ranked #1 in the world four consecutive months (February-May 2007)
* Individual and team bronze at the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen,
Germany (Shutterfly)
* Individual gold and team silver, European Championships, Mannheim 2007
(Shutterfly)
* Gold medal team member at the 2005 European Championships in San Patrignano
(Checkmate 4)
* Gold medal team member, 9th individually, at the 1999 European Championships
in Hickstead, England (Stella)
* 5th place at the 2006 World Cup Final in Kuala Lumpur (Checkmate 4)
* Gold medal winner of the 2005 World Cup Final in Las Vegas, NV (Shutterfly)
* Silver medal at the 2004 World Cup Final in Milan, Italy (Shutterfly)
* Nations Cup starts:27 Wins:8
* Ladies German Championships Gold Medal in 1999 and 2001, Silver medal in 2002,
Bronze medal in 1998, 4th place in 2004
* German Championships Bronze Medal in 2004, 5th place in 2002
* German Championship Winner in 2008 at Balve Optimum
* First woman to win the World Cup Finals three times (2005, 2008, 2009)
* Ranked #1 in the world 11 straight months in 2008 (February thru December)



Photo credit to Alex Grimm



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(Could not locate photo credit)

References: Wikipedia.com - Meredith Michaels Beerbaum

Vespucci Patent Leather Bridle

Patent leather in the world of equine riding equipment, is a fairly new look. When one thinks of patent leather, it's not always in the best way. The idea of patent leather is more along the lines of what one might think of as "tacky" or "cheap." A wanna-be version if you will, of leather. Patent leather - the shiny, black, slick material. Over-done, patent leather does look a bit tacky (no pun intended). Entire purses made of it? Hmmm, it leaves some speculation as to what statement the purchaser was trying to accomplish. But, patent leather does have it's place.

Welcome to the Vespucci line of patent leather Dressage bridles by Amerigo!

This specific line of bridles is respected by Carl Hester as well as Kyra Kyrklund to name a few. Last year the bridle was unveiled in the ring by Mr. Hester. The public reaction to this bridle, was rather positive, striking orders to soar. Orders were coming in so much so that a waiting list inevitable.



"A stunning new addition to the Vespucci range! An elegant patent leather double bridle and dressage snaffle to flatter every horses’ head. Browband and noseband in patent leather, fine leather reins with a grip friendly rubber backing, and stainless steel buckles as well as billets for that simple elegance, and of course, the unique Vespucci integrated headpiece. " - Amerigo

What are you feelings on this bridle?

**Above photo copyright to Amerigo. No copyright infringement intended.

Friday Fabulous ; Mattes Eurofit Pad

It's Friday again. To kick off your lovely weekend, lets indulge in the sight of stylish saddle pads!

Saddle pads are practical. But, who doesn't want a little taste and flair when it comes to suiting up your mount? Saddle pads come in the average cuts for the Dressage, close contact and all-purpose saddles. You will often see half-pads as well, dressed in fleece on top of your typical square pad. Although the square pad will always remain a timeless choice for schooling and showing, we can't help but love this look.

Meet the Eurofit saddle pad by E.A Mattes. The best part, you can customize it. This look joins together the fitted pad and the square pad in a modern, tasteful hybrid-like design. Swooping up from the bottom of the saddle flap, in a clean, rounded line, but still leaving enough for the eye to see, this pad is complimentary of the lines seen throughout the horse itself.

There are many color choices for the quilt color, fleece, binding and piping. Fitting for all colors of tack, barn colors and especially to enhance the color of the horse. The pad also comes with optional rear fleece trim and in both all-purpose and Dressage cuts. Check out these...



All-purpose cut.


Dressage cut.





"Mattes Pads are known worldwide for their quality and design innovations. Following this tradition of excellence, Mattes is proud to present the E.A. Mattes Couture Collection. The Couture Collection offers a multitude of quilt, sheepskin, and binding colors, allowing you to design a truly unique pad with custom color specifications. Be your own designer, thanks to E.A. Mattes.

The Mattes Euro-Fit Pads offer the same benefits of the half pad but in a full pad style. The Euro-Fit pattern offers a stylish line along the bottom edge of the pad. The sheepskin panels offer protection under the saddle, just like a half pad, while the "bare" or unlined flaps minimize bulk under the rider's leg. The flaps are quilted with a layer of poly-flex that absorbs energy and eliminates bounce." - SmartPak.com

You can order custom-made Mattes Eurofit pads through SmartPak by going here.

** Above photo credit and copyright to, SmartPak.com No copyright infringement intended.

Top Picks; Dressage & Jumpers.

This week's top picks for Dressage horses and Show Jumpers. Enjoy!



**Originally Uploaded By: StalPopperlaar




**Originally Uploaded By: MussennistDressage

July Equestrian Blogs Top Pick; Nina Akerley

I am proud to announce Nina Akerley and her blog for the Live From Lexington contest, was voted this months Equestrian Blog Top Pick!

Nina Akerley particpated in the contest, Live From Lexington, which was hosted by Purina Mill's. The purpose of this contest was to find two deserving and eligable candidates, through a near month voting and blogging period in which the public was able to view the writing of the four semi-finlists and vote on their pick to travel to the 2010 World Equestrian Games as a "Blog-O-Spondent."

As most of you may or may not know, Nina Akerley was among the four chosen by Purina to advance to this voting and blogging period. As of Monday the 12th, when voting closed, Nina and her blog, won the ticket to travel to the WEG!

My family jokes my first word was pony, I wouldn’t be surprised. For as long as I have conscious memory, my love for horses has been a constant fixation of my heart and mind. Never able to afford a horse of my own, I’ve been feeding a voracious appetite for everything equine through reading and writing. I’ve never given up, because I know that my passion for horses will afford me the opportunity to someday achieve a saturation of horses that I hunger for.

Nina's blog was inventive, inviting us into the eyes and mind of a horse-loving adult who never gave up on that childhood dream. She achieved this through her descriptive stories, her desire and passion for all things horse and her willingness and enthusiasm to share information surrounding the games that enhanced the readers curiosity and interest to continue to read on and learn more.

There is nothing more cliché in the horse world than the oft used phrase, “Horses are in my blood.” What does that mean anyway? We casually throw this phrase around to convey how deep our conviction for horses runs. It’s meant to capture in words our unyielding passion, devotion and timeless obsession with horses. As if mere words could really capture something like that…sigh, we try anyway.


The above is a quote from one of Nina's blog posts, named "It's In my Blood...Ahhhh!!!!". In this post Nina shares with us the common phrase we hear often in the horse world and a few names within the horse world that this phrase very much could apply to.

"We, are horse people. We walk around in tall boots “like it ain’t no thang” and think it’s completely normal to wear a beaver top hat, a shadbelly and white pants while traipsing around the barn. “Breeches” isn’t an antiquated term or an extinct form of clothing in our opinion. That’s right I’m calling us all out right here and now." - Quote from post, "Keeping it Classy Kentucky."

Nina's blog however, as interesting as it may be never lacks a nice laugh or plain, good fun.

There is a simple question or common curiosity behind Nina's posts which are inviting for all to enjoy. Much of which, we can relate to in one way or another. Her writing, in addition, is calm, inquisitive and a nice blog to sit down and enjoy a cup of coffee with. All the while, keeping you wanting to return the following day for more. - Coffee or tea and a good read never gets old!

But one desirable trait of Nina's? Her sincere dedication to the horse. It's evident how much these creatures mean to her and how much they have played a role in her life as direct or indirectly as it may be. But no matter what, this in itself, speaks volumes of her character.

"It would make sense then, that we as a community should treat our own well. After all, that person you just met could be your next barn manager, your child’s instructor or your best friend’s trainer in the future. It’s inherent that in a community with so many competitors and perfectionists there will be disagreements and gossip. However, you will get so much more out of this membership if you are kind, respectful and support fellow horse lovers. Yes, this may be a little kumbaya-ish, but it’s also an advantage for those that practice it. Try it out and I think you will see that it benefits you as an individual as well as our entire horse community. Having horses in our blood can be hard enough as it is, sometimes we need all the support we can get." - Quote from post "The Horse World is Smaller than You Think."

Congratulations Nina on being one of two selected to report from the World Equestrian Games! It's been a pleasure reading your blog!

Top Picks; Ralph Lauren, The Belt.

Each rider can attest to the fact that a good belt can surely complete the turn-out for riding. Or of course, anywhere else you'd like to flaunt your equestrian lifestyle. Whether you want something fresh or something a little more traditional, these belts by Ralph Lauren are sure to do the trick. Let's take a look..


The Horseshoe Plaque Belt



The Polo Match Brass Belt
Yes, my favorite.



The Tri-Strap Leather Bit Belt

Complete the above with a pair of white, rust, brown or taupe breeches and you're well on your way to a classic look sure to turn heads.

**All above photos copyright to Ralph Lauren Media LLC. no copyright infringement intended. More can be seen at www.ralphlauren.com

Purina's Live From Lexington Contest - The Bloggers Pt. 2..To the Finish!

As I wrote in my previous post regarding the Live From Lexington contest, I have been following on a daily basis. The second and third place position has been an up and down rollar coaster, back and fourth. Who will win (as in second place) this contest? Even as of now, Nina Akerley leads over Sheri Israel by rougly 1,100 votes. The contest will be over at exactly 11:59:59 tomorrow evening. It's hard to tell if the many Sheri fans (including fellow equestrian blogger, Stacey Kimmel Smith at Behind the Bit blog) will take this contest and run with it in the last 12 hours. My prediction is that this will be a close second between the two, but ultimately I believe that Ms. Akerley will be the second place finisher and will go to report at the World Equestrian Games.

From the beginning, I have been keeping a close readers eye on Sheri Israel a fellow blogger. Her "Great 8" concept was fabulous, creative and she was able to pull in viewers and readers with those videos because it allowed us a more in-depth look into the kind, confident, equestrian women that she is. All while we traveled with her to experience the various disciplines that are recognized at the WEG. The videos for Sheri's "Great 8" was a nice change from her entry video, a little anxious. But that is my personal opinion, all in all, I think Sheri is a true testament to hard work and dedication. Sheri blogs regularly at DressageMom.com. A mother of two, a wife, emoloyed full-time, a devoted equestrian in the sport of Dressage and not to mention a wonderful owner to her Arabian gelding Kaswyn. Yes, Sheri seems like super mom! If she is one of the two semi-finalists that go to the WEG, she certainly deserved every bit of it and us readers would be lucky to have her give us her reports.

But, lets not forget Nina Akerley. This girl can write, report and has all the means of being an excellent source for all the best information coming from the WEG. Her blog posts are always written in such a way that you get humor, honesty, emotional, throught-provoking content, all rolled into one. There is an undeniable balance in her writing. What seems to be different from Nina and Sheri, is that Sheri shares great stories and thoughts with us on her personal experiences, where as Nina shares, along with personal experiences and stories, shares current topics and interests throughout the equestrian community. One of my favorite, recent posts by Nina includes the two-part series; Equine Sports Medicine & Nurtrition where Nina gives us a look at the various sports medicine teqhniques as well as the nutrition requirements for the top performing athletes in different disciplines. Nina, in the beggining of this contest, vowed to donate the 1 ton of Purina feed to an equine charity. And she did just that! Here is what Nina had to say (blog post can be found here);

"...I don’t have to win for a worthy equine rescue get the help it desperately needs in these tough economic times. Who can afford to donate, never mind adopt a horse these days?! Well, maybe some people can, but I can’t so I’m grateful that my writing and reporting has given me an opportunity to do something."

"For those of you who haven’t had time to read all my blogs or have forgotten what I’ve posted in the past, here’s the gist of the situation: In my entry video, I pledged that if I won the contest I would donate the prize of one ton of Purina horse feed to my local equine rescue. Then I let you all know that each of your votes was actually supporting two worthy causes, the equine rescue and the NAHRA. Later on, I announced that the MSPCA at Nevins Farm was to be the beneficiary of my donation."

So the contest is down to the wire. Who will we be seeing Live from Lexington?!