Win a Day with Jayne Webber

Showing World Website in association with Absorbine, December Competition

When it comes to top turnout, leading show horse producer Jayne Webber and the team at Carol Bardo's Moor Farm certainly know how to get top results.

The lucky winner of this valuable competition is Jodie Southern.

Jodie wins a fabulous complete make-over for her and her horse with top show producer Jayne Webber. Jayne and her team will offer helpful advice on plaiting and trimming and the most appropriate tack and clothing for the type of horse.

She will get to meet the equine stars of the yard such as the Philanderer and the Humdinger.

Finally Jodie also wins an Absorbine goody bag full of Absorbine's top notch products for use throughout the season.

With around 28 horses to prepare and compete in the height of the season, including hunters, hacks, riding horses, coloureds and cobs, Carol and Jayne use only the best grooming products from Absorbine which include, Showsheen - the world's number one coat polish and detangler, ShowClean - whitening and brightening shampoo, Superpoo - conditioning shampoo and SuperShine - quick drying, high gloss hoof polish.

"Absorbine grooming products are excellent and we have used them for many years - they are effective, produce outstanding results, and are economical - which is vital when you have a lot of horses to keep clean! With so many greys and coloureds on the yard, the ShowClean whitening and brightening shampoo is invaluable", says Carol.

Two runners up will receive Absorbine goody bags and showing tips from Carol and Jayne.

Absorbine VetLin in The Telegraph

Follow this link to read all about our Absorbine Jnr liniment product in The Telegraph. Cursed by chronic back pain, Robin Millward found salvation in the contents of our trademark orange bottle! http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/8178836/To-all-you-neigh-sayers-this-horse-rub-really-does-work.html

Although Absorbine Jnr is not available in the UK yet, we do have VetLin for horses - which has a very similar formula and we hear that it is regularly used by riders. We always knew horse products are great for people - I know several women who use ShowSheen Detangler on their own mane as well as Absorbine VetLin in their baths!

Sussex Lusitanos at the Golega Fair, Portugal

Golega, Portugal has been home to the Golega horse fair since the 18th century. Thousands of people gather here every November to experience the fantastic atmosphere and share their love and appreciation of the Lusitano. Our sponsored riders, Sherene and Leila Rahmatallah, of Sussex Lusitanos, were there with their competition mares, both pure-bred Lusitanos, thirteen-year-old Quota and seven-year-old Xanaia. Read all about it in this post written by Leila.

"The fair takes place each November in a sleepy town called Golega, just 1.5 hours north east of Lisbon, and for two weeks this town really comes alive! It's full of horses in every nook and cranny and has a big sand track, where horses parade by day and night. Inside this track is a large central arena where equestrian displays and competitions take place throughout the day and in the evening.

Temporary restaurants and bars pop up all over the town and the smell of roasted chestnuts fills the air, just adding to the magical atmosphere here. Every year we organise a large group trip of British people to see the fair. We also took two other purebred Lusitanos that were bred in Ifold to the Golega fair - both geldings (Quejaz, a thirteen-year-old and Acaso, a five-year-old). Both by our successful stud stallions, Quejaz is by Caju and Acaso is by Numerario - both stallions stand in Ifold, West Sussex.

The horses were in Portugal for two weeks and, as the weather was warm, we used both SuperPoo and ShowClean on our mares to keep their coats in top condition. We also used Hooflex to keep their hooves moist and supple, as it was quite dry out there. During November the flies can still be quite bad for the horses so the surfaces of  their premises were sprayed with UltraShield to keep the bugs away. On Acaso and Quejaz, I used ShowSheen Moisturising Detangler Gel on their tails to keep them smooth and silky as they were plaited and left down whereas our mares were plaited and tied up in a knot (similar to polo). Every day when they were prepared and tacked up, I finished them off with ShowSheen spray on their coats and they looked very smart. Many people commented on the turnout - we rode in traditional dress and often rode around as a group - 4 ladies which looked very smart.

Golega horse fair is a special event for us. For 17 years we have taken our own Lusitanos to put forward a British representation out there. We very much look forward to the fair every year-it is a place where you see the true Lusitano horse within a very special atmosphere!"

For more information on Sussex Lusitanos visit the website http://www.sussexlusitanos.co.uk/

Credits to: Emma Taylor, Nina Rahmatallah, Luis Rodrigues, Louise Kelly.

Rare & Native Breeds Exhibition

Earlier this month, Nichola Ash, from The Fell Pony society, contacted us to see if we could donate some product for their fund-raising raffle at the Rare & Native Breeds exhibition. We were only too pleased to help out, as ever since we saw our sponsored rider, Jo Bates, riding and producing Denise Bumford's champion fell, Hamish, we've had a real soft spot for these hardy ponies.

The Native & Rare breed exhibition, held on the 13th and 14th of November at the Newark Showground, was introduced to support the wonderful animals that have shaped the British Isles over thousands of years. The show has a fantastic turnout of native and rare breeds, craftsman and women, experienced show competitors, breed societies, animal charities, bygones, and much more.

During the weekend demonstrations take place inside and outside in the show rings with the exhibitors themselves giving advice, breed information and educational facts about their much loved breed. The Fell Pony society also paraded their ponies three times a day!

For the raffle, we donated some ShowSheen Moisturising Detangler Gel and a bottle of the brand new ShowSheen Finishing Mist (available in the UK from early 2011). This helped them to raise over £100.00 for The Fell Pony Society and they also took third place in the best stand awards! If you would like more information on The Fell Pony society please visit www.fellponysociety.org.uk/

Grooming solutions with Molly O'Brien

Well, we can’t deny it any longer. The winter is upon us and the cold weather is already here. Muddy fields, frosty mornings and numb toes are, once again, part of our every day lives. And, as every horse owner knows, mud plus cold, wet, weather equals grooming misery! But, before you panic, read this blog. Absorbine’s very own grooming expert, Molly O’Brien, has some brilliant solutions to keep your winter grooming problems at bay.

MUD

Molly says: “I always say ‘prevention is better than cure’, and this is certainly the case when it comes to grooming. Using ShowSheen can actually help to repel dust and dirt, as it contains silicone which can help to prevent the mud from sticking. But, if your horse is caked in the stuff then the first step is to let the mud dry. Unfortunately, short of rinsing your horse off with a hose, or trashing more towels than you can imagine, there’s no good way to remove wet mud. For dry mud, you should start with a good curry comb, using it in the traditional circular patter. Be careful not to use it on the face or below the knees and hocks. For those sensitive areas, use either a specially designed soft curry, or a soft brush. Then, if necessary, use a shedding blade, followed by a stiff body brush. Some sensitive horses hate the curry comb and if this is the case for you then you should invest a couple of pounds in a cactus cloth or grooming mitt. These do a real ‘hands-on’ job and are great for removing the mud – even from the face and legs. A soft body brush comes next, to remove the dust, then wipe over with a cloth and a spray of ShowSheen to add a nice, finished shine.

TANGLED MANES AND TAILS

Molly says: “Your approach depends on the cause of the tangled mess, if it is wet mud, then it’s best to let it dry first, then break out big clumps of the dirt by hand. You don’t want to apply anything liquid until those clumps are gone, lest you bring the mud back to life! Then, apply some ShowSheen Moisturising Detangler liberally through the hair, from top to bottom. Next, take a wide-tooth comb and start from the bottom, gently combing out those tangles. But take your time - don’t tug or pull – as breaking the hair is a cardinal sin!”

STAIN REMOVAL

Molly says: “To remove stains, your best bet is to use a cleaning product specifically designed for horses. Horse’s skin is very sensitive, especially in terms of PH balance, so using a generic shampoo or bar soap can disrupt it, leaving your horse more prone to skin infections. When it is too cold for a bath, use Miracle Groom (nicknamed the ‘bath in a bottle’!) It has a patented 5-in-1 formula and is designed to remove stains with out the need for any water. It’s even safe for all long and short hair animals!

Preparation, preparation, preparation.

HOYS is the climax of the showing year, but the event is worlds apart front the average county show. So how do you prepare to give your best performance at the showing world's premier event? We caught up with golden girl of the showing ring, Jayne Webber, who had some fantastic results this year, to find out how she prepared for the big occasion.


How do you keep your horses fresh at the end of a busy season?

It is very easy for horses to become jaded during the showing season, particularly if they have been driven all over the country in order to qualify for the championships. We turn all the horses out in the field regularly and often they will be out the night before a show. This gives them time to completely relax and unwind. We also hack regularly in Windsor Great Park - in fact The Philanderer had been doing just that before he won the Supreme at HOYS last year! I will also give the horses a short holiday during the season, if I think they need it. It's all about maintaining a good balance.

How did you prepare your horses for the buzzy atmosphere at HOYS?

The atmosphere at HOYS is unlike that of any other show. The indoor arenas, the lights and sounds are all very different to an outdoor show, so it is important to acclimatise the horse to this by attending other indoor shows, particularly those with an evening performance. You could also try inviting friends to applaud during your schooling sessions?!?

How did you keep the horses coats looking great for HOYS this year?

We are lucky to be sponsored by Absorbine and their brilliant products help to keep all the horses clean and shiny. We use Superpoo or ShowClean Shampoo to get them really clean and then ShowSheen to give their coat a lovely gleam and prevent static. We also keep the horses well rugged up , which slows down the coat change at this time of year.

Top tips for dressage turnout with Holly & Jo Bates

Time for some top-tips from our sponsored rider, Jo Bates. As well as her amazing showing acheivements, Jo has a proven track record in the dressage arena having first been attracted to the sport when, at thirteen-years-old, she saw Domini Laurence ride San Fernando in a dressage demonstration at HOYS.

Inspired by the performance, Jo acquired Scotch Royale from the Countess of March and at fourteen and fifteen-years-old was considered one of the top young riders in GB. She was a member of the Young Rider dressage team in 1977 and in 1978 and Junior Dressage Champion in 1978.

Jo has passed on her talent for producing horses to her daughter, Holly, who rides beautifully and has already seen success in dressage, finishing 4th in Elementary National Dressage Championships riding Silver Lining and becoming the 2006 Search For A Star Dressage Champion.

With their combined expertise in the show ring and the dressage arena, the Bates' turnout is always immaculate. Read on as Jo and Holly share tips and advice on dressage turnout and comment on the latest trends.

"Turnout in dressage is much the same as showing, but fashions and trends change and, in some ways, the look is more exaggerated for dressage. The current trend in dressage is for plaits that stick up on the neck - which are known as Anky-Plaits. As in showing, these will help to accentuate the front end and perhaps give the impression of a more uphill way of going - but it depends on the shape of the horse," she explains.

The fashion for masses of tiny plaits, wrapped in white tape is certainly old-hat, with today's look requiring fewer, large plaits. "This is the opposite of what we are now seeing in showing, where people are putting in more plaits, which are a lot smaller than they used to be," Jo explains.

Tails are now left fuller and longer in dressage and it isn't unusual to see them almost to the ground. Jo says, "You will often see that professional riders pull the top two-three inches of the tail to keep them neat, but leave the rest of the tail full, unlike showing where the tail is pulled much lower to give a 'waisted' look.

"Longer, fuller tails are easy enough to maintain - you just need a detangler gel like ShowSheen Moisturising Detangler. Just a tiny amount is easy enough to keep the whole tail tangle free."

Jo also uses the detangler gel around the eyes and muzzle to add the finishing touch. To black the dressage horses' feet, Jo uses SuperShine Hoof Polish ,"the shiny finish looks great", she says.

When it comes to the most noticeable dressage trends - bling is in. And, while it may be frowned upon in the showing ring, it certainly adds a bit of pizzazz in the dressage arena. Holly explains, "We use diamante brow bands and you can get some beautiful rolled leather bridles. Patent leather nosebands are also stunning. White numnhas, often together with a 3/4 fluffy numnah, and black leather tack is the preference of most riders and does look stunning."

"You want your horse to gleam, and Absorbine SuperPoo and ShowSheen do a fantastic job of keeping their coat clean and shiny and their tails tangle free. It's all about that first impression you give the judge. If they see a nice, shiny horse, beautifully turned out, and the rider with a well fitted jacket - looking clean and smart, they will have this in mind as they give their first mark," explains Jo.