Written by guest Megan McCarthy My "A Circuit Experience" this week is on one of my favorite horse shows. The Garden State Horse show is a AA rated show that runs from April 29th through May 3rd and it's in Sussex County. I love the show because it's such an amazing facility and it's a whole week so you drive up after school and ride with you're friends in the show ring all day until you have to show. The ponies have stalls up there and we set up a nice banner and some chairs right outside our barn. It's so much fun because the show has tons of different divisions from lead line to the Large Junior Hunters, so my entire barn can show and have fun together. There are a lot of nice stands where you can shop and get food, my entire barn especially loves the "Lime Fizz stand" where they make the most delicious drinks. I showed in the regular medium pony division so I got to hack in the show ring after school Wednesday and Thursday and then I missed school to show Friday and Saturday. We woke up at around 4am and drove there Friday; Most people would think a 14 year old kid would be reluctant to wake up at 4 in the morning, but I didn't mind, I got up to go ride and that is the best possible way I could think of starting my day! I had to be in the ring at 6am so I could jump and school around. Schooling went really well, my pony was an angel to all the jumps and I was so happy with him! I went to grab some breakfast and learned my course, then watched all my friends go. All my rounds went great and I wound up placing really well! I was so happy with how Friday went and couldn't wait to see what Saturday was like. My friends and I took pictures and went on golf cart rides the rest of the day, it was incredible. Saturday we woke up at 4am again and drove there, schooled and the showed. Saturday turned out even better, I wound up winning the Washington! I was so pleased with my pony Linus and how Garden State turned out. Sunday the rest of my barn showed and we had a party afterward, the kids drove around on the golf cart playing music and it was an amazing experience, I can't wait for next year
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Written by guest Pearl Bensimoun MHAFARMS sells fashionable equine accessories from bonnets to bridle charms all at a very high quality. Since opening shop in May of 2015, they have had many sales and tons of positive feedback. To top that, MHAFARMS is also very affordable with bridle charms starting at only three dollars. With over ninety bridle charms to choose from, you can truly find one to suit anyones taste. They also sell accessories for two-leggeds as well including adorable bracelets. MHAFARMS is based out of Canada, but fear not, the shipping is very quick. From Canada to Florida, it only took about a week. Their customer service is also one of a kind with extremely quick response times. MHAFARMS also accepts custom orders-perfect for customizing bonnets with barn colors! I received a bridle charm and a bonnet from MHAFARMS and am truly pleased with the exceptional quality of both. They include a complimentary bridle charm with every bonnet purchased, which I find great! The bonnet is of a sleek black base with pink, rhinestone, and white trims bordering it. The material is very breathable making it absolutely perfect for those hot summer days(or winter in Florida!). It is crocheted and has many areas that air can easily flow-through, cooling off your horse. The ear material is very breathable as well. On top of all of this, the bonnet is super easy to clean. Dirt wipes right off, and any left over is hidden by the black. During my rides in the bonnet, it stayed put for the majority of the time and did not flap around a lot, which is often a problem concerning bonnets. My mare definitely loved the touch of bling that was also subtle that the bonnet had! I used the bridle charm during the same rides to match the bonnet, and was not only satisfied with how it held up, but how it looked against my dark leather bridle. The bonnet and bridle set are perfect for schooling at home, and the jumper ring! It is a very sleek combo that will look great on any colored horse. The bridle charm can be used for many purposed- such as on your saddle, bridle, belt loops, or even as a zipper pull! Similar to the bonnet, it stays put during your ride or use of it and is almost entirely distraction-free. I rode in the bridle charm on a very windy day, and it barely moved. All in all, I highly recommend placing an order-custom or ready-made, from MHAFARMS. The overall experience we had when working with them was wonderful. Be sure to check out their Instagram @mhafarms, and their Easy page here. Written by guest Kendall Quinlan
You name it, and Tryon most likely has it. From frozen yogurt, to an eighty’s diner, to a CWD tack store, Tryon has it. The workers at Tryon have thought of everything to include here, literally everything. Tryon is not only a fun place to show, but they make it fun for the spectators as well. There are six rings at Tryon, each ring having its own covered spectator area. Each covered area has a furnished wood ceiling, chairs, tables, umbrellas, adaptors to charge your electronics, and fans to keep you cool. Tryon also has GGT footing, which makes it comfortable for the horse and rider to walk in. Unlike HITS, WEF, and other big shows, a golf cart isn’t that necessary for Tryon. All the rings, schooling areas, and the barns are all somewhat close to one another. I highly recommend putting going to Tryon on your bucket list. Written by guest Emily Lucibello
Kentucky Summer Classic shows are amazing! There are tons of things to do and it is a nice facility! First off, there is so much to do! You can walk your horse along the trails or Rolex Cross Country Field-which is super fun and you can walk them through the water! You can also jump some jumps without a horse or watch some top riders in the USA ride! There are a bunch of shops ranging from Tack shops to Clothing! It is so much fun! Finally, it is a nice faculty. There are special trails for horses only that is grass so the hooves don't get hurt! The sand in the ring is always moist and clean. Also, there are a wide variety of restaurants. You can sit down or order to go at a snack shop! Kentucky summer Classic is a perfect show to compete and have fun at! Hope to see you there this year! Written by guest Isabella Anderson
There are hundreds of horse treats out there, from just plain sugar cubes to treats with ingredients you can't even pronounce. It can be overwhelming at times to pick out treats that are healthy for your horse or pony. We've all been there, standing in front of the treats section at a tack store trying to choose out treats that will a.) not kill your horse b.) last a while and c.) aren't a fortune. Ponies & Parlantis has created a short guide of our favorite picks for horse treats. These are not in any specific order. Enjoy Yums: These are truly a staple to have in your treat collection. With only six ingredients, Enjoy Yums are such a healthy and tasty treat for your horses. A plus is that they are also available at most tack stores and come in large bags! Enjoy Yums also have a "Love it Guarantee". Sugar Stars: I am all for adorable packaging, so I am obsessed with these treats! They came in a super cute mason jar with a ribbon bow and were filled to the top with a variety of amazing sugar cubes in the shape of stars. They come in so many different flavors such as Grape, Watermelon, Vanilla w/ Chia Seeds, just to name a few. They even taste good for humans! While these are only available to order online, they are well worth it. Pony Up Treats: Made in the mountains of Colombia, Pony Up Treats have healthy vitamins and are a true necessity for your tack trunk. They're also 100% natural and come in an amazing sugarcane flavor that even tastes good to people. They're super sweet and tasty, as well as being loaded with natural vitamins and minerals. Snaks 5th Avenchew: Everyone has most likely heard of Snaks, from pony pop tarts to crunch cups to even donuts, they have taken human food and made it pony-approved! I recently purchased some pop tarts at my local Dover Saddlery in Wellington, Florida and am more than satisfied...and so is my pony! If they are all sold out at your local Dover, then you can purchase some on their website. Look out for a review on the pony pop tarts soon! Written by guest Pearl Bensimoun
Enjoy Yums, produced by A Little Pet Vet, are not foreign to the equestrian world. With just six ingredients in each treat, they make for a great healthy treat for your horse or pony. On each package of Enjoy Yums, it states "veterinarian inspired, developed, and endorsed," which really provides horse owners with assurance that the treats are safe for your horses to enjoy. A Little Pet Vet also produces dog treats in the same flavors for your barn dog to enjoy as well! They also contain no sugar and are only sweetened with healthy fruits and vegetables. I received three different flavors of Enjoy Yums horse treats, including Mint, Carrot, and Apple. The Mint flavored treats consist of Stabilized Rice Bran, Oat Flour, Unsweetened Applesauce, Oat Bran, Molasses, and Rolled Oats. The Carrot flavored treats consist of Stabilized Rice Bran, Oat Flour, Unsweetened Apple Juice, Carrots, Cinnamon, and Rolled Oats. Last but not least, the Mint flavored Enjoy Yums are made of Stabilized Rice Bran, Oat Flour, Unsweetened Apple Sauce, Peppermint Oil, a touch of honey, and Rolled Oats. As you can tell from the short list of known ingredients, Enjoy Yums are a very healthy choice for your horse or pony. Enjoy Yums are hands-down my pony's favorite horse treats. I first gave her the Apple flavored treats, which she absolutely loved. After just one, she was bombarding me for more! The Apple flavored treats are her personal favorite out of the two others, which she also enjoyed just as much. At first she was a bit unsure of the Mint flavored horse treats, but then after five seconds ate it and was begging for more! Last but not least, I fed her the Carrot flavored ones which have to be her second favorite. She even tried to eat the bag! I will definitely be starting to purchase Enjoy Yums for her as a nice treat. Enjoy Yums are available at many tack stores including Dover Saddlery. Thee treats should be a staple in your treat collection! Order now here and receive free shipping on your order of horse and/or dog treats. A Little Pet Vet also sells a very cool selection of "Illuminated Hoof Picks". Be sure to also check out their Instagram @alittlepetvet_enjoyyums. You can be confident that you are buying great horse or dog treats off of their website due to their "Love it Guarantee." Written by guest Emma Raith
Back in 2014, I had the opportunity to show at the Oaks, a stunning show venue tucked into San Juan Capistrano. I showed as 11, and I hadn't been exposed to many shows of this size yet, so riding at this competition was more exciting than the regular LA show for me. When I arrived, I was amazed at the huge grass fields taking up my view. Several horses were out and about, schooling in the low open jumper classes, or just wandering around, perhaps getting out to stretch their legs. My mom and I drove down the road to the parking lot, my excitement growing as I got closer and closer to the barns. I practically leaped out of the car, hardly able to sit and watch any longer. I knew better than to run, so I walked at a quick pace to where my barn, Ridgewood Farms, was set up. My horse was all ready tacked up and ready to go, so I pulled on my boots and put on my helmet. I arrived on a Wednesday, so showing wasn't necessary. I walked my horse, The Architect (Ben) over to one of the warm up rings closest to the sand hunter arenas. Once my trainers arrived, I gathered up my reins, and sent Ben into a working trot. The next day, I competed in a few classes, and I'm pretty sure they went well, although I can't exactly remember. When Friday rolled around, I showed in the 11 u/n equitation over fences classes, placing 1st or 2nd in both rounds. I was loving the experience, and the venue was quickly becoming one of my favorites. I couldn't resist walking the vendors' row, especially with all of my favorite companies lined up in a row. Among the shops, an adorable lemon-shaped lemonade stand stood, providing a menu of tasty drinks, considering the weather was near sweltering. The food, needless to say, was great. Not to mention, the seating was right next to one of the grass-field jumper rings, which I would be showing in the next morning. As Saturday rolled around, I arrived around 7 AM to compete in my eq division's flat, which I used as more of a learning opportunity than anything. Right after, another over fences round came up, which I believe I won. I ended up champion in that division, which was huge for me then, considering I'd never shown against competition that tough before. Later that day, I tried going in a small jumper class somewhere between .75-.90m, just to try it out. Ben was excited, I was excited, the course went quickly, somehow making it to the jump off. I didn't place in that class as I believe it was open, but I had a blast. Later that day, my friends and I watched the Grand Prix, amazed by the riders tackling the course like it was nothing. When Sunday finally arrived, I was devastated to realize that this day was indeed, my last day of showing. I tried again in the jumpers, which was another learning experience, my horse a saint none the less. Later that afternoon, I showed in the Onondarka medal qualifier, winning it out of a huge class. I was ecstatic, and I was thrilled to have done so well in my first bigger show. Even after I left, my mind was still on the weekend, unable to forget the amazing experience. My photography, although I was just a beginner, flourished. Now that I knew I could win against others of a more advanced level, I was more motivated than ever to continue to excel in the sport. All in all, the Oaks is stunning and a tremendously fun show, which I will return to in the near future! Written by guest Pearl Bensimoun
Sugar Stars is an eccentric sugar cube small business. What sets them apart from the numerous other businesses that sell sugar cubes, is that all of their sugar cubes are shaped like stars! These shapes are adorable and a nice change for your horses from regular treats. These treats are handmade with love and of amazing quality. I received a large sized jar with sugar cubes inside that were flavored grape, watermelon, and vanilla with chia seeds. The packaging of the jar and the overall presentation was great, instead of them just being thrown in a small plain container or plastic bag! My pony is a picky eater when it comes to treats, but she really went for these. The stars are the perfect size, not being too big or small! I even tried one, or maybe six, myself and thought they were delicious! If your barn or house is prone to ants, I would recommend storing these in your tack trunk for assurance of no ants getting into them. The shipping was decently quick, being it was shipped from a completely different coast(California to Florida!). There were lots of packing popcorns inside of the box to insure that the jar would not break. Sugar Stars were very easy and professional to work with! If you are looking to spoil your horse or pony with some new delicious treats, Sugar Stars is definitely your best bet! Be sure to give them a follow on Instagram, @sugar_.stars! |
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September 2016
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