Wednesday 26 April 2017

Lower leg strength and mobility By Bex Mason, show jumper

Lower leg strength and mobilityBy Bex Mason, show jumper

Derriere Equestrian

We know that our position on a horse is paramount to successful riding. A key part is from your seat downwards, as this is the connecting point between the two of you! When jumping, ideally your hip and heel should be aligned, your stirrup on the ball of your foot, with a slight bend of the knee and, all importantly, your heels firmly down.


We are naturally synchronised to use our hips, knees and ankles in all our day-to-day movements, therefore it is also a normal progress to transfer this to our riding technique when mounted.  However, we can improve on our natural abilities by strengthening the muscles and joints needed for horse riding, and especially jumping!

I have proposed some exercises below, to give you some ideas for strengthening and mobilising your lower leg.


Exercises off the horse:
Cycling, running and swimming will all help lower leg and core muscles throughout the body, but a good tip for riders is Step Work. Find a suitable solid step anywhere; part of a staircase is ideal - step on, placing the balls of your feet on the edge of the step, then bending your knees slightly - drop your heels down as far as you can. Remember to stay upright and look straight ahead. This is a simulation of your foot in the stirrup, and should help to train your muscles and help your balance.  This exercise will specifically target calf muscles!


Exercises on the horse:
Stand up in your stirrups, slightly forward, with a bend in your knee – you may rest your hands on the horse’s neck for stability – keep the stirrups on the balls of your feet, and try to anchor your heels down. Initially, do this while the horse is standing still with someone holding him, and later in the walk. Try to manage half a minute at a time, slowly building to longer periods and eventually you should be comfortable also at trot and canter!


Riding without stirrups, keeping your legs long and wrapped around the horse, will also really strengthen all the right muscles and, very importantly, your balance on a horse. It is best to start this on the lunge in a small enclosed area with a trusted friend or instructor. 

With any exercises like this you will probably ‘feel the burn’; but work through the discomfort! Hard work, dedication, repetition and determination will reap rewards. 

Our bodies can be trained to be fit for purpose, and an exercise performed on a regular basis will improve our muscles, tendons and ligaments, and will soon become second nature.

Happy riding!


About Bex

Derriere Equestrian ambassador Bex Mason has worked for many years breaking in horses and competing at an international level with elite riders such as Tina and Graham Fletcher (GB), Ludo Philleaperts (BEL), Steve Cohan (NZ) and Viki Roycroft (AUS). Bex specialises in producing competition horses. 

“I find myself expressing love for my Derrieres daily,” Bex says of the underwear range. “I openly discuss the results and versatility of the products, whether it’s to customers at my yard, or fellow competitors at shows; I don’t even realise I’m doing it - these pants change riders’ lives!




Empowering Riders To Feel Confident, Comfortable, Healthy and Stylish In Their Sporting Underwear.
Ultimate Comfort for the Perfect Seat



Friday 21 April 2017

Riders Discover the Health Benefits Of Derrieres

Riders Discover the Health Benefits Of Derrieres

Riders not only experience outstanding comfort, quality and style when sporting their Derrieres, the health benefits the garments exhibit are being recognised by riders globally.


The Technology behind all of our padded pants designs, ensures usage of the highest performing sporting fabric. Derriere Equestrian uses synthetic fibres resulting in soft, supportive, performance stretching underwear, suitable for all equestrian sports. More critically, this means that the underwear is moisture wicking, making it ideal for sport, with additional benefits of, bacteriostatic and non-chafing properties. 


The best fabric for exercise-friendly underwear is moisture wicking and breathable. Cotton was traditionally used for years, the newer synthetic fabrics are specifically designed to keep you dry. For repetitive movements and seated sports, such as seen when riding, running, rowing and cycling, comfortable underwear should present with flat seams that are non-abrasive. 


Our exercise-specific fabrics are better than plain cotton and provide essential hygiene properties. Our technical underwear is stretchy but supportive, which is great for horse riding. They also wick sweat far more efficiently than any cotton undies around, to help keep you drier. 

The bacteriostatic properties of the fabrics will also help to fight odour, and assist in the presentation of a healthy microbial environment. These factors are definitely worth considering when selecting riding underwear, to keep the body healthy and dry while in the saddle.

www.derriereequestrian.com 



Thursday 20 April 2017

Derriere Equestrian Tour Epplejeck Equestrian Superstores In The Netherlands & Run Product Testing With Staff

Derriere Equestrian Tour Epplejeck Equestrian Superstores In The Netherlands & Run Product Testing With Staff

2017 started with a busy schedule for Team Derriere Equestrian, including a tour through 6 of the Epplejeck Equestrian Superstores in The Netherlands.


The tour involved staff product testing and feedback from riders who had never experienced or sought out the usefulness of Equestrian Padded Underwear before.

The DE Brand Underwear Range became available throughout Epplejeck in late 2016, the launch being welcomed by riders all over Holland, seeking to gain accessible purchase availability for their riding underwear, from our world leading brand. Having launched designs in the female DE Briefs range, we are looking to expand with Epplejeck through our Men's Underwear Range and with further designs from the Female Range, ensuring we are supporting all riders throughout The Netherlands. 

The launch of the DE Sportief Bra has acquired a high level of interest from riders, retailers and buyers all over the world. The staff meetings with Team Epplejeck, also highlighted their interest in acquiring the DE Sportief Bra for sale in-store. 

So watch this space ..... Our Dutch Riders will be in their matching DE sets for ultimate support, comfort, style and control.


With successful launch and great feedback from buyers, we visited a selection of Epplejeck stores to meet with the teams, talk through the products and run a testing. The staff feedback was fantastic on sales and client requests. We decided to run a blind test in essence, to give our lead selling "Performance Padded Pant" to staff who had not experienced any previous concerns over riding underwear. Those who never felt the need to ride in padded pants and to see their feedback after a month wearing and washing the garments.  The results have been fantastic, below you will find the opinions and testimonials from 6 of the Epplejeck Team Testers from the Amersfort Store.



Really happy to report that this underwear is invisible, even in my white breeches.

I rode a couple of days with it at clients, no one has noticed.

After trying the underwear for 2 weeks, I am happy to announce that it is a good product for me.

Especially when it is a hotter day, and I have to ride 6 horses in a row, it is really comfortable to ride in.
The first ride I had to get used to it a little, but after the first ride I did not even noticed it anymore. 
Every saddle felt a little bit softer, so that was really nice.

After a couple of times washing the underwear still looks the same and didn’t become smaller or anything, very nice!
                                                                 
                                                                    
  wearing the panty at the show
My product score is an 8!
Maybe after riding more in it, it will become a higher score,
but for now, I think it is a pretty good score! Loved testing this product!

Even rode my competition in it, and we won ;)
Maybe not all credits to the underwear, but I was pretty comfy the whole ride!


2 times first place!!!

Feedback from Iris

I am now 3 weeks riding with the Derriere underpants. I ride myself many long rides with my horse in the country. I have been riding with Derriere and is a very pleasant experience. Before I rode with the Derriere Equestrian Underwear I often had problems with my sitting bumps after a long ride, even when I am riding with ordinary boxer shorts I could hurt myself.

With Derriere Equestrian Underwear I have absolutely no more trouble! Even after a ride of three hours. I have ridden with Derriere now more than 10 times and the washed fabric feels exactly the same. 

I am a big fan!


Feedback from Jolanda

I'm riding with the Derriere Equestrian Underwear and find it is exceptionally good, fine pretty flat edges. I've never suffered from discomfort, but I can imagine that for people who do suffer these pants are excellent, even for those who don’t,
Derrieres are exceptionally comfortable.
Sincerely, Jolanda
Feedback from Rachel

Expectation:
I think it will feel a little bit softer when sitting trot because of the padding comfort. Besides that, I have not previously had any other expectation because I have no complaints with regular underwear while horse riding. However am very happy to test ride this product.
Experience:
It felt softer, as expected. It's good you don't feel the seams and that it doesn't cut into your skin.
Very comfortable underwear.
Best Wishes Rachel

Feedback from Sharon

My experience with the Performance Panty Derriere Equestrian Padded. 
The wearing comfort of this underwear is very pleasant. I had to get used to the pad in the slip, but after a while it felt more comfortable . In the beginning I had my doubts about the padding, I thought it would feel warm and sticky, however, this was not the case. It just felt fresh, even after an intense workout.

The pad portion of the slip is not visible on the outside of your breeches. Furthermore, the underwear remains are securely, comfortably and properly in place and that makes for a nice fit.

I would recommend this slip to anyone who suffer from underwear which doesn't fit good or increase skin irritation
Thank you
Sharon

Feedback from Pascalle

Testing the Derriere Equestrian underwear went great.

I tried it on with a ride outside and a training indoors. I have to say that i am already spoiled with the sheep fur saddle slipcover. So off course i tried the underwear with no saddle cover at all. Then you definitely feel the difference.

It's not uncomfortable to wear, it provides very good comfort.
I ride western pleasure  so i tried it with jeans and with a riding pants. That was so nice.

Loved it that we got to test the underwear.
Pascalle


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