Month: September 2018

Another Record Season for Just Chaps on the Show Circuit

Date posted: 27/09/2018

BETA win at blair

Another Record Season for Just Chaps on the Show Circuit

The Just Chaps team has been busy all summer attending major Horse Trials and Shows, beginning with another fine-weather Badminton in May and winding up in the sensational grounds of Blenheim Palace in September. These shows give us an amazing opportunity to meet with thousands of customers from all riding backgrounds – and to demonstrate our very extensive range of styles and sizes.

There is no substitute for trying on different sizes – which then gives you confidence to buy on-line as well. Our new Saltos range of premium gaiters competed with our popular range of waterproof trousers and full-chaps for top-seller status.

The Just Chaps team in Scotland had another successful summer of events – culminating at Blair Castle where our commitment to customer service was recognised. As part of its commitment to supporting the equestrian trade, the British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA) was extremely pleased to host the Best Stand Awards at Blair and you could almost hear a pin drop as the winners were announced. The competition is divided into three categories – Equestrian & Saddlery, Lifestyle, Pet & Fashion and Food & Beverages, with each stand judged according to BETA’s set criteria and awarded either a gold or silver standard. This year the emphasis was very much on customer service and the passion shown for their products.In Equestrian & Saddlery, Treehouse Sporting Colours and TopSpec Equine were awarded gold, while silver went to Just Chaps, Baileys Horse Feeds and Libby’s International. A special thanks to the Kath and Molly Crookshank and Karen, who manage the events in Scotland with so much commitment.

There is no rest for the busy Just Chaps team however, with the Autumn and Christmas seasons kicking off at the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) at the NEC next week and ending on a festive note at Olympia in December.

Thanks to all our customers who visited us over the summer months. We look forward to welcoming more of you as the season draws to an end.

The Star of Trec, Dorothy Still, tells her story.

Date posted: 26/09/2018

dorothy still

STAR TREC

We asked Dorothy Still –  senior international TREC competitor who has been representing GB at the highest level since 2012 – to describe her journey from complete beginner to international competitor:

I was introduced to the sport of TREC in 2008. A friend wanted to hire my outdoor arena for a training session and suggested I join in. I did!

My horse, Max is a 17hh light to middleweight Irish sport horse who had done a bit of everything, so thought this would be good for a change.

Although a big boy, he is a very amenable chap and seemed to really enjoy all the challenges.

Later that summer we embarked on our TREC career. After doing one level 1 competition, I moved up to level 2, looking for a bigger challenge.

In 2010, I was at the British Champs in Wales and was watching our elite level 4 riders. I started to think that I certainly had the horse power and the competitiveness to have a bash. I spoke with the chef d’equipe there and then and she told me what the requirements would be to work towards getting onto the squad for potential Team GB selection.

In 2012, after literally jumping through several criteria hoops, I got my first call up for Team GB. What an honour it was to wear the union jack in Mafra, Portugal at the World Championships. (not many sports allow someone my age to compete for their country)

This competition was slightly different for our team as we had to hire horses in Portugal so although we were at an instant disadvantage, the thrill of being there made up for our placings. Poor Max did not get to go.

I was capped again in 2014 for the Europeans in Italy but unfortunately had a bad fall earlier in the summer and was not allowed to ride. In 2016 I got the call for the World Champs in Segovia, Spain and was allowed to take my own horse Wahiki. (Max was getting a bit old and stiff so Wahiki, the young gun was bought as a 5 year old in 2012, purely with TREC in mind) What an event. We ended up 13th, the highest a Brit has come for several years (In 2000 David Hay Thorburn was the World Champion))

This year the Europeans were back in Italy, near Rome. A tough event and a silly mistake dropped our placing but as usual a great time was had.

I am often asked, what is the perfect TREC horse. I am not sure how to answer this as they need to be extremely fit for the orienteering ( at level 4), then extremely well schooled for the MA (control of paces) and then very disciplined and versatile for the PTV (obstacle/ cross country phase) and if it all goes right on the day, you could be the next World or European Champion (or just a really happy person, who loves their horse).

There are currently all types participating through the levels from Eriskay ponies to Clydesdales and everything in between. It really is a sport for all and would urge you to look up your nearest TREC club via the TREC GB website, where you will be welcomed in to our TREC family. The sport welcomes newcomers to the sport with a huge variety of training and competitions at all levels up and down the country.

Helen at Just Chaps has been a huge supporter of our International squads, supplying us for the last 6 years with very unique GB chaps. The mesh ones are great for when it is hot and the neoprene ones are just the smartest with the flag on them. We hope to continue this relationship with Just Chaps.

Dorothy Still with fellow team members in their GB chaps at the championships.

What is TREC?

TREC, short for the French Techniques de Randonnée Équestre de Compétition is an equestrian discipline designed to test horse and rider. With origins in France, the sport has spread through Europe, and was introduced to the UK by the British Horse Society (BHS) in 1998. The sport is now known as British TREC and is run by TREC GB. TREC competitions consist of three separate events (phases) – mounted orienteering, a demonstration of control of the horse’s paces and an obstacle course – all completed over the course of one or two days, and points scored, with the highest scoring being declared the overall event winner.

There is no Tired compared to Rider-Tired. A Day in the life of a young rider

Date posted: 10/09/2018

HORSE HANGOVER

A Day in the life of a young rider

You’ve been up since 6am. Pulled on your chaps, got to the yard, fed all the horses and changed their rugs. Chucked the horses out into the field, mucked out all stables and ended up half digging one out completely because that bloomin’ pony won’t stop weeing in that one corner….You’ve swept, put 4 ¼ slices of hay out into the field, in clay mud deeper than your ankles. Then the water buckets, the **** water buckets! You always try to fill up the buckets to a level that you can lift them without your shoulder feeling as though it may pop out of its socket. You’ve never got this level right.

Then you go home, or then you go work or school.

Some time in the afternoon you head back to yard. Head back out to the field to bring in your most prized possession, and begin to groom. Bingo wing workout like no other – clay doesn’t come off easy. Then the mane and tail. The **** mane and tail! How does this hair get so knotty? Maybe I should try that No-Knot Xtra Shine’n’Slip neon blue spray they’re now selling in Countrywide. That’ll do the trick.’ You sling on the saddle which seems to feel like at least 15kg, finish tacking up and drag the mounting block across to your steed. Now the real hard work starts; the riding. Puffing and kicking and pulling and squeezing your way around the arena until you’re red in the face, although the animal underneath doesn’t seem to have made a sweat. “Something’s not quite going right here” you think, but the show must go on! You heave yourself off of your stallion, legs like jelly. Take the saddle off, which now seems to feel like 25kg and the rest of the sticky, sweaty tack. Now for a small treat for all of that hard work…where are those semi-stale chocolate hobnobs I left in the tack-room?

You may then also go home/ do errands/ do the school run/ go back to work. The list is endless of NORMAL things people normally get tired from doing in the day.

By the time you’re stirring the evening feeds, your arm is completely numb. You fill up the stable water buckets; yanking on the hose to make it reach them and to relieve your poor shoulders of another ‘Hheeaavve’. You march around the yard doing your final chores of the day, 4th hobnob in hand, your muddy Dubbarys feeling increasingly weighty. Finally! The horses are in the stable; they are fed, watered, 1 of them has (kind of) been exercised and they all seem alive and well- excellent! The sheer effort it takes to maintain these animals day to day gives you a bizarre sense of fatigue-filled, half-resenting pride every evening. Until it all begins again tomorrow.

I would like to remind you here that all that has been previously described is actually on top of all the normal chores and daily doings a non-equestrian person undertakes in their day and it is voluntary! For those not in the equine world, no I am not joking. To those in the equine world – quickly! If you’re reading this, get some sleep!

Interested in pony fun and games of your own ? Visit The Pony Club to find out what’s available in a Centre local to you.

What makes the Perfect Endurance Horse?

Date posted: 10/09/2018

Perchance at 2yrs 2

All riders will probably say something different to describe their perfect horse, especially depending on the discipline they intend for it.

For Endurance, I personally will always first look at the confirmation of a horse to deem if it is suitable for my intentions, which would be to achieve the ultimate distance of 160km. My main focus when looking at confirmation is to look from the hoof and up the leg. Without a strong leg, you really have no horse, especially when you require your horse to carry you 160km over various terrains. Small weaknesses can be worked on over time with schooling and strengthening techniques and a good farrier is a must. The angles of the shoulder and hip would be my next point of focus, as depending on the angle it could impact what happens to the lower leg and how they use themselves. It is always of interest to watch the horse move from the ground, on a lunge or long reigning, to help assess how they move and even place their feet down.

My second topic to look at would be the temperament and attitude to work of the horse. A calm horse will do well in Endurance, due to the requirement of vetting to have a sufficient pulse under 64bpm. A horse which is eager to please and keen to go forward is an advantage as with the long miles the horse needs to have a strong character. I personally don’t mind a very forward horse who may need slowing down so they don’t burn out too soon, rather than a happy hacker who needs constant nagging. I always like them to be a little quirky! The occasional spook/buck definitely adds to their character and can make for an interesting ride. One of my horses, Barik, hates dock leaves which have blown upside down in the wind for example, whilst Djelanza always jumps into canter and then produces a buck.

As with everything in riding, there are no hard and fast rules – but for me, an Endurance rider, the right confirmation, particularly of the leg is critical as is the right balance of temperament – calm but forward.

To learn more about Endurance riding why not visit Endurance GB

A Helpful Guide to the World Equestrian Games 2018

Date posted: 05/09/2018

Vaulting weg

A helpful guide to the World Equestrian Games 2018

The 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) will be held in Mill Spring, North Carolina, USA at the Tryon International Equestrian Centre from the 11th to 23rd September. WEG is held every four years in the middle of the Olympic cycle and attracts the very best equestrian athletes in the world over eight disciplines.

Eventing

Run as a three day event with the dressage and show jumping at four-star level and the cross country at three-star level. Medals are awarded to both teams and individuals.

Show Jumping

Run over five days with a rest day, the team competition is decided after three rounds of jumping, with the top individual riders going forward to decide the individual medal placings on the final day.

Dressage

The grand prix is run over two days and will decide the team medals, with the best three scores counting. The best 30 individuals from the grand prix will contest the Grand Prix Special, which will decide the first set of individual medals. The top 15 from the Special will then take part in the Freestyle or Kur for the second set of individual medals.

Para Dressage

Para Riders are graded depending on their disability, with grade I being the most impaired and grade V the least.

The individual WEG championship test is ridden first, which will determine the champion for each grade. The team test follows and scores from this solely determine the team medals. On the final day, one third of the combinations in each grade qualify for the freestyle competition, which will decide the final set of individual medals.

Driving

Driving Trials is a similar format to Eventing, with a day seeing the combinations drive a dressage test, day two is marathon day, followed by a final day of accuracy with the cones phase.

Vaulting

This is best described as gymnastics on horseback.  There are four different competitions in the WEG vaulting — male and female individual, pas de deux and squad.

Reining

Each rider wearing cowboy attire rides a pattern similar to a dressage test and must show 360 spins, sliding stops, flying changes, small and slow canter circles. The riders only have one hand on the rein with a loose contact, their seat must do the majority of the work.

Endurance

This is a 160km race, completed in one day. Horses are eliminated at the vet gates if there is any concern regarding the horse’s overall welfare, condition or fitness. The final check is 30 minutes after finishing the competition.

Sound like your ideal trip away? Start planning here.