Prepare for Evening Performances

Prepare for Evening Performances

Evening performances can be daunting for both horse and rider, being enclosed in a ring surrounded by flashing lights, applause and music. Absorbine sponsored Jayne Ross and Carol Bardo have produced numerous Horse Of The Year Show and Royal International Horse Show Champions, and have some great tips to prepare your horse for an evening performance.

The atmosphere indoors is very different to that outdoors, so it is important to get your horse used to the noise in an indoor arena, “If your horse is not used to going indoors, rent an indoor school and invite some friends along to provide some noise, and some to ride with you. It is a good idea to use ear plugs for your horse, but practice using them at home, and never do anything at a show that your horse is not used to”, says Jayne.

When it comes to turnout under the spotlight both you and your horse need to look clean, shiny and sparkling. It is a good idea to consider what your horse will look like under the lights, “You should be careful not to use too much baby oil as it can look like an oil slick under the lights”, said Jayne. “We are fortunate enough to be sponsored by Absorbine, so we have all their lovely grooming products to make the horses really shine. We put a rug on after they have been bathed to encourage the hair to lie flat and use ShowSheen hair polish on their coats and tails. SuperShine hoof polish dries to give a mirror like shine to the hooves, and it doesn’t rub off or go dull on the arena surface so it looks good under the lights. We always give the horse a wipe over and a spritz of ShowSheen before we go in, to get rid of any dust on their coat”, explains Jayne.

“Your show is all about timing. You need to think about your show beforehand and prepare it in your mind. It is better to do a smoother show, using the space available and thinking ahead to do smooth transitions. You should plan your show according to the type of horse, and keep it free flowing and forward going”, advised Jayne.

Once you have thought about all the above preparation for the atmosphere, turnout and show you should also bare in mind the prize presentation. As a sponsor, Carol Bardo has made quite a few presentations, and advises that it is a good idea to get your horse used to receiving a sash. “The person making presentations may not be very horsey, so it is very helpful if you have practiced putting the sash around your horse’s neck so that your horse does not back away. You can also practice standing between flower arrangements”, says Carol.

Silverstream Retires

On the 23 June 2013, Silverstream known as ‘Boots’ at home was formerly retired at the Hickstead Derby Meeting. The impressive grey was lead into the main ring for the Supreme Hunter’s presentation where his retirement to the hunting field was then announced.  



           Silverstream stand’s in the Main Ring for his retirement announcement.

         Photo: Lotte Simons Photography



Jayne Ross, who has had many Supreme Championship wins including the Supreme Championship at HOYS twice and several RIHS Supreme Wins and  regular rider of Siverstream commented “He is the best horse I have ever ridden; there is something really special about him!”

 

Boots having a well earned snooze in his retirement

Jayne Ross and Boots, a true gentle giant at Moor Farm

Boots is certainly loved by all at Moor Farm, and has given Carol Bardo, Jayne Ross and the show team many years of enjoyment. The team have been grateful of the range of Absorbine products that have helped his white coat stay sparkling clean.

We wish him a very happy retirement on the hunting field.

Fell Pony Society thank Absorbine for contributions.

Lincolnshire fell pony group held their first event 20^th June at Faldingworth Equestrian Centre, they met up and rode for 2 hours and then had a great afternoon over country jumps, then they presented the rosettes to all their supporters and then had a BBQ and fantastic raffle inside Terries Tack shop.  £78.00 was raised  from the raffle for the Fell Pony Society.

Huge thank you to Absorbine as well as SG Rosettes, 1^st Choice Embroidery, Protexin Equine Premium,  Cowboy Magic, Emerald Green Feeds, Nostril Vets, Dengie, Allen and Page, Blue Chip, Global Herbs, Ruggles Equestrian, and Top Spec, for supporting us. And Graham slack being on standby to lift heavy raffle prizes and chauffeuring ponies in box.

The Lincolnshire fell pony group reps rode there stunning fell ponies, Ludworth Viking, Ludworth Morning Star, Bracken bank Eva, and was joined with Mayden Phillip ridden by Wendy Holmes who was a 4 year old star who did all the ride and jumped as well. Fell friends also supported us, so it was fantastic day and the rain held off for us all.

Lincolnshire fell pony group reps are as follows if you need any information please get in touch with Nichola Ash, Sarah Otter and Marlene Slack and follow us on our face book page Lincolnshire Fell Pony Group.

Our next meet is a show jumping clinic and beach ride at Sutton on Sea keep an eye on face book page for dates, and our items for sale with our logo all proceeds are for the Fell Society. So please join up with us on ponies or on foot we need all your help.

Shining Popsters Show Team are Supreme Champions

It’s been a few weeks since Absorbine sponsored Popsters Stud and Show Team's last update, so they have brought us up to date with their season so far.



Popsters Megastar



Since our last update in April, Popsters Stud and Show team have been having a great season. Our homebred 3yo filly POPSTERS MEGASTAR was overall Breed Champion at Lampeter Stallion Show and Supreme filly of the show. She then followed this up at South Weston when she was again Breed Champion and Overall Supreme of the day.

 

Glebedale Johnny Depp



 

3 Popsters novices made their debut under saddle and all being champion, bootylicious, moviestar, and lazenby.

POPSTERS PLAYTIME has been doing well in novice workers, with Heidi winning at both the Welsh Pony & Cob Society performance show and the NPS working hunter pony festival.

POPSTERS ROCOCO qualified for HOYS at Lincoln County with Katy Marriott Payne.



Pendock Nutmeg



However the star of our season so far has to be Heidi's section B mare PENDOCK NUTMEG. At 6 years old she entered the show ring for the first time in her life and swept the board taking the Supreme Championship at Avon & Borders. She then followed this up by also taking the Supreme in-hand Championship at NPS area 29, with Justin taking Reserve Supreme with GLEBEDALE JOHNNY DEPP, who is a full brother to last years cuddy pony winner Glebedale Ding Dong.



 Heidi and Justin with Nutmeg and Johnny



2 outings and 2 Supremes for Nutmeg. Heidi says it’s all down to the ShowSheen 2-1 Shampoo and the ShowSheen Whitener and Stain Remover, it really makes Nutmeg's dapples stand out which makes that extra difference. And its also nice getting one over on Justin!!

Moor Farm's wins at Hickstead

Well done to all those involved with Moor Farm, sponsored by Absorbine, for their success at the Hickstead Derby Meeting, with all their efforts combining to bring home some ribbons:

The Keystone Cob and Jayne Ross took 1st place in the Heavyweight Cob, and went on to be reserve champions in the Supreme Cob Championship.
The Humdinger and Mandy Hughes took 1st place in the CHAPS UK Native/ Cob/ Traditional Open Ridden, and then went on to be reserve champions in the Supreme Coloured Championship

Jayne Ross also had wins on:
It's After Eight (owned by Kay Cambell) in the Small Show Hunter
Colebourne (James Woodington) in the Maxi Cob class
Boradshard Simplicity (Rossetes Direct) in the Large Hack and were also Supreme Hack Champion
Time 2 Reflect ( D Stennett) in the Light Weight hunter and were also the Supreme Hunter Champion

Once again, well done to everyone involved.

Top notch performance from Moor Farm at Bath & West Show

Moor Farm, sponsored by Absorbine, had

great success at Bath & West Show at the end of May 2013 with 3 Champions and 3 further wins:

Aidenfield Rupert won the Novice Hunter

Its Abrocobdabra won the Novice Cob

Dylan Thomas won the Maxi – Cob

The Keystone Cob was awarded Champion Ridden Cob

Comberton Clancy was awarded Champion Riding Horse

The Humdinger was awarded Champion Coloured

The Moor Farm team has gained 83 wins to date and have 7 qualified for Horse Of The Year Show (HOYS). Not bad work from Moor Farm at this stage of the season.

Fabulous results, well done to all involved!



Jayne Ross with The Keystone Cob and The Humdinger
Photo: David Miller



Absorbine support the British Grooms Association - The next 4 NEW members will receive a ShowSheen Try-Pak

Absorbine is currently the only grooming product sponsor of the only national organisation for professional grooms of all disciplines, the British Grooms Association (BGA)

 

The BGA was set up to provide a national association for grooms of all disciplines. It is now in its sixth year and has helped 1000’s of grooms over this time, raising the profile of grooms. The BGA is constantly working to get grooms more recognition and to improve their working environment.

Working with horses is an incredibly rewarding career which requires amongst other things dedication, hard work and compassion. The BGA wants grooms to be recognised as career professionals.

What are the BGA’s aims:
•    To offer dedicated support and advice to grooms
•    To increase groom’s skills recognition and job status
•    Achieve modernisation of grooms’ working conditions
•    Build a sense of community in the grooms’ population
•    Stabilise the recruitment and retention issues in the equestrian workforce

What are the benefits of being a BGA member?

• Access to the members only login area on the website, including CV examples, account templates and job acceptation and resignation templates.
• Membership Magazine – British Grooms four times a year
• Membership Card
• Free Legal Advice Line with Morris LLP  Solicitors
• Special rates on SEIB personal accident insurance.
• Free advert on BGA Freelance Grooms Adverts page
• Access to the Equine Skills CV Scheme
• Access to Spillers Nutritional Certificate of Competence
• 10% off on all Equitector Riding Boots and more discounts
• Discount price of just £50.00 for an annual advert for freelance grooms on the Equestrian Index.

Absorbine are giving away 4 brand new ShowSheen Try-Pak’s to the next 4 new BGA Members to join the association.

For more information on the BGA, prices and how to join go to www.britishgrooms.org.uk and find them on facebook at www.facebook.com/BritishGroomsAssociation