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Why I Love My Equestrian Discipline
Jade Salpietro 8 August 2018
Somewhere along the line, every horse lover has dreamed of having that perfect connection, that special moment where they become one with their equine partner. The exhilaration, the freedom, the power and the bond between horse and rider are the secrets only equestrians share. Add a dash of passion and a dollop of practice and daydreams start to become reality. Each equestrian discipline holds its own appeal and opens up the possibility of finding you and your horse’s happy place. Cavalletti asked nine Australian horse riders — some just starting out and some competing at the highest level – to explain why they love their chosen sport. Equestrian Discipline: Carriage Driving Debbie McCosh Debbie was introduced to the Carriage Driving discipline about 30 years ago while riding an Arabian stallion at shows. Many of her fellow competitors were showing their horses in harness and Debbie thought that looked so very
Read MoreWelsh Ponies and Cobs
Jade Salpietro 8 August 2018
I wasn’t a child who learned to ride on a fat, grey Welsh pony. For some reason, when horse riding became part of my life, I wanted to ride horses, and I wanted the tall ones! Even when I recommenced dressage lessons as an adult, I lusted after 17hh warmbloods with big movement and big personality. Welsh ponies and cobs were not in my trajectory. Over time, both my budget and my riding ability received a reality check, and I started to notice that great horse flesh also came in smaller sizes. The kind more suited to a 5’5”, small framed, mature rider. Now that I own a Welsh Cob (my 14hh Section D mare, affectionately known as the “buckskin barrel”), I can’t ever imagine choosing a different breed. The Welsh Pony and Cob Society (WPCS) of Australia’s tagline is “the breed for all the family”, which may surprise the
Read MoreThe Horse Rider’s Guide to Boot Shopping
Jade Salpietro 10 May 2018
‘Give a girl the right shoes, and she can conquer the world.’ – Bette Midler While every equestrian needs at least one pair of boots for safe riding, it’s easy to find yourself with quite the collection – a competition pair, some good old Wellingtons for mucking out and that spare pair you picked up on sale just in case you switched from wearing black to brown. (There’s no judgement here – boots are awesome.) But, have you ever done the research to work out what boots are best going to suit you? The Cavalletti team have put together this guide so you can leave the saddlery store with what you need, as well as what you want. Boots for beginner riders If you’ve just started riding lessons or recently bought your first horse, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the choice of boots available. Online shopping is fabulous, but
Read MoreCavalletti through the years: 2014-2016
Jade Salpietro 3 May 2018
To celebrate our new-look Cavalletti website, here’s a trip down memory lane, peering through the equestrian website’s blog archives from 2014 until 2016. 2014 Although Cavalletti has been online for 20 years, the blog was only started in 2014. It was launched just in time to promote the 2014 Tom Quilty event, where blogger Amanda Rayner announced that the 100 mile national endurance event would be held at the Wagin Sports Grounds in Western Australia on the 3-5 October 2014. Fun fact: Did you know the first Tom Quilty event was organised after a 1966 bet between Kimberley cattleman Tom Quilty and renowned bootmaker R.M. Williams? Perth rider, Val Mayger travelled all the way to Normandy to report on the 2014 World Equestrian Games for Cavalletti. She witnessed 15 amazing days of competition, where many of our teams qualified to compete at the Olympic Games in Rio in 2016. Hayley
Read MoreFeeding herbs to horses: the Dodson & Horrell range
Jade Salpietro 2 May 2018
What are the benefits of feeding herbs to horses, and how do we know which herbs are best to feed? Joanne Wallace from Thompson & Redwood explains that domestic horses usually don’t have the variety of plant choice that their wild cousins cross-graze upon. Their Dodson & Horrell herbal range was developed to replicate the horse’s normal foraging behaviour in the wild. Here’s what you need to know about herbs and your horse. Why feed herbs to horses? The feeding of herbs is becoming increasingly popular with horse owners across the globe. As we become more aware of the benefits of feeding certain herbs, it has become common practice to add dried herbs or herbal tinctures to horse feed as a means to promote health and wellbeing. In the wild, horses naturally graze on a variety of plant species to supplement their diet. As herbivores, they are designed to live
Read MoreFive tips to keep you and your horse clean when showing
Jade Salpietro 1 May 2018
Staying clean when owning a horse seems to be an impossible task. We have all learned to have our “horse clothes” which are strictly for when we are around the horses. These clothes get spat on, rubbed on and God knows what else all over them. That’s just the price we pay for having a horse, getting a little dirty isn’t so bad, is it? Unfortunately, when we are competing, looking grubby is not an option. Our beige breeches and white shirts are not exactly the most practical of colour choices, but custom dictates they stay pristine. And Heaven help us if the horse we have been washing for the past month gets dirty! Hands up if you also have a pony who will always find the dirtiest place in the paddock to roll? So, how do we keep ourselves and our horses clean when it seems almost impossible? These
Read MoreBanish the Bounce: Sports Bras for Equestrians
Jade Salpietro 30 April 2018
All over the world, female riders are finding that “fun bags” are not so fun as you’re sitting the trot with vet-wrapped, double bra’d chests a-heaving. So, Cavalletti Equine Marketplace and iVideo Production accepted the mission to stamp out crimes committed against cleavage. The result? The ultimate equestrian’s guide to keeping “the girls” happy and healthy, no matter what kind of ride you’re planning. Watch the video for great ideas and new solutions to boob bounce. Slow internet? Just want to know more? Amy Jaffers from sportsbrasdirect has answered all your questions about finding the right sports bra for horse riding. Should all female horse riders wear a sports bra when riding? It is so important that all female horse riders wear a sports bra when riding. Horse riding creates a lot of breast movement, especially vertical movement, which can cause irreversible damage to our delicate breast ligaments. Ultimately this
Read MoreLove a good horse book?
Jade Salpietro 12 February 2018
I love ‘real’ books. I have a library of heavy, dog-eared physical books and I have previously worked as a publicist for a publishing company producing gorgeous, jacketed texts. So, it took a few years for me to convert over to reading eBooks on a Kindle. I think it was getting the Kindle app on my smartphone that finally roped me in. It’s just too convenient to dip into my latest fiction purchase whenever I have a few minutes and my phone handy. It’s thanks to my Kindle app that I have discovered the world of equestrian fiction on Amazon. Sure, I have devoured the likes of Jilly Cooper and Jane Smiley in the past, and I have piles of autobiographies of famous riders. But, my new addiction is reading contemporary horse-themed eBooks, preferably dressage or eventing novels that make up a whole series of books. Thankfully, there’s hundreds of
Read MoreCavalletti Clips: Life’s a Beach
Kate Majors-Borg 9 January 2018
Cavalletti recently spent the morning at Whitfords Horse Beach in Western Australia and interviewed some horse owners who feel very lucky to be back using this beautiful beach.
Read MoreChristmas Stocking Fillers for Perth Equestrians
Jade Salpietro 8 December 2017
Every horse owner dreams about getting some kind of equestrian gift for Christmas, right? So if you’d like your loved ones to take the hint and stuff your Christmas stocking with the kind of pressie you’ll actually use, send them this Cavalletti Gift Guide for Christmas 2017. All these stocking-friendly presents can be ordered online and on their way to you (or your favourite gift giver!) with just a few clicks of the mouse. And because we know there’s always going to be someone who leaves their Christmas shopping to the eleventh hour — some are even available right here in Western Australia. MONTANA DOUBLE HEART BRACELET $79.95, Afterpay available, from Saddles Plus There will be no doubt who your heart belongs to if they bestow you with this exquisite Montana Western Silversmith bracelet. The on-trend chunky silver bracelet is gorgeous as a stand-alone accessory, or stacked with multiple bracelets.
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