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!

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.

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.

Friday Fabulous ; EquiFit Inc.

A quick note, the nominations for the July Top Pick for Equestrian blogs, has been extended until July 6th . Go here to nominate.

It's Friday...already! Wow, the week has flown by. I'll be doing a post during the weekend, for Independence Day for all our American readers, but today, it's Friday Fabulous!

This week, we are taking a look at EquiFit Inc.

Alexandra Cherubini, an entrepreneur, founder of Samson Projects, as well as an active equestrian competing both in the jumpers and hunters ring, developed EquiFit Inc to bring some of the best technological equine produtcs to the market.

Ms. Cherubini, "set out with a team of orthopedists to research and develop performance- enhancing equestrian solutions. She found inspiration from the medical industry and soon founded EquiFit, Inc. to create her own technologically advanced product lines." - EquiFit Inc.

During Alexandra's search, she came across a padding which invented and used by NASA, known as "T-Foam."

"Reacting to body pressure and heat, T-Foam absorbs 97% of shock and vibration providing superior protection under impact. T-Foam products conform fluidly to each horses body with 100% recovery for the next use." - EquiFit Inc.

The product line at EquiFit Inc is designed to offer all the technological advances in equine and equestrian comfort and performance. So what exactly do they have?

Well some of my personal favorites are the T-Sport wraps. These wraps are exceptional to any other I've seen on the market. They conform to the contours of the horses leg far better than your average polo, allowing optimal support.

"Breathable T-Sport Wraps transfer out heat and keep your horses legs cool while at work. Made of composite materials combining open-celled, non-latex foam with high-quality fabrics, this unique combination was developed for certified athletic trainers, PTs and sports MDs." - EquiFit Inc.


But that's not all, EquiFit is also home to, ShouldersBack. In case you haven't heard or seen this or a similar product, it is deigned to do just what the name says, get your shoulders back.

"Designed by orthopedic specialists, ShouldersBack is a vest-like garment that gently pulls the shoulders back to improve posture while riding. Velcro straps can be adjusted to increase or decrease corrective force. Lightweight, comfortable and breathable, ShouldersBack can be worn under a show coat and is also great for everyday use." - EquiFit Inc.

Have you used any of EquiFit's products? What are your favorites?


For more information on EquiFit Inc or the T-Sport wrap please go to; www.equifit.net

**Above photos copyright EquiFit Inc. No copyright infringement intended.

Friday Fabulous; Horseware Ireland.

This Friday, on our new Friday Fabulous series here on CS, we are featuring Horseware Ireland. Lets explore their equine and equestrian products.

Horseware Ireland is known for it's innovate, always stylish, horse attire. From turnouts, to halters, they have it all. Horseware was established in 1985, by Tom and Carol McGuinness. Their creation of the first-ever waterproof, comfort conscious, breathable design revolutionized the equine blanket industry.

The real McCoy..Since their first blanket introduction, known simply as the Rambo® Turnout, Horseware Ireland keeps on leading the market in a truly outstanding line of blankets, sheets and so much more. Horse owners everywhere are quick to note how well Horseware blankets fit but also how long they last.

But who could not love the overall appearance of these blankets? They exude everything quality with an equally distinguished style.

Horsware Ireland offers three specific lines of horse clothing; the Rambo, Rhino & Amigo. Each line includes turnouts, stable sheets and blankets, turnout sheets, fly sheets, coolers.

Let's take a look!

Here we have the Rambo California Turnout blanket.


Next we have the Rhino Wug turnout blanket.


And finally, the Amigo Plus turnout.


Some of my favorite products from Horseware include;
The Amigo Jersey Cooler & Amigo Stable Sheet (stable sheet featured below). Look at those colors!



And this classy Rambo pad;



And you can't forget the Amigo Halter to complete the look;



Horseware Ireland has also become quite the source for equestrian clothing & accessories. The same quality, durability and comfort seen in the horse wear products, can also be seen in the products for the equestrian.

Horseware Shoulder bag;



Check out this Lighweight Jacket from the Newmarket Line.



Who doesn't love a little Horseware?

To learn more about Horseware Ireland, check out their website.

**All photos above, copyright to Horseware Ireland Ltd. No copyright infringement intended.