GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS AT THE BETA CONFERENCE 2016

Derriere Equestrian Talk Shop With Key Industry Figures

Every vibrant industry of note usually has the backing of a great supporting trade body, and the equestrian industry is no exception. BETA, The British Equestrian Trade Association works to support its 800 plus members in their efforts to achieve the highest level of repute, knowledge and profitability.

On Monday 7th November, Derriere Equestrian founder Claire Galer, and Sales & Marketing Manager Heidi Parker joined their yearly conference held near Coventry.  This years’ theme was ‘The Bottom Line,’ and delegates from across the UK gathered to network with colleagues to listen to expert advice and handy tips from a panel of top-flight business professionals. BETA’s Chris Gordon chaired proceedings where Derriere Equestrian caught up with other friends of the industry who attended the event including Classic Dressage, Horse & Country TV, and Equestrian Trade News.

Vale Brothers' managing director, Peter Wilkes, was first to take the podium, speaking about his self-imposed challenge to jump a 70cm fence after only 10 riding lessons. The self-confessed adrenaline junky said that the achievement had left him looking for another equestrian adventure.

Ray Armes, founder of creative agency Touch of Mojo,  and known as ‘the magician man’ explored the concept of building a brand and urged delegates to use theirs as a lighthouse to reveal their world views, rather than focusing solely on the products they offer. Working with mega-brands such as Unilever, both Ray and Derriere Equestrian understand the importance of innovation and creativity in the marketing mix, and that customer needs should flow like oxygen through the lifeblood of every company.

Claire Williams, Chief Executive of BETA spoke about their plans to expand on market research and provide further data for industry use, vital for highlighting industry trends, growth and future opportunities. Some of BETA’s main achievements over the past 30 years include the development of BETA International as a world respected trade exhibition, with the next event taking place on 22nd-24th January at the NEC, Birmingham. While their recent #gethorsey campaign has encouraged more than 3,300 would-be riders to sample life in the saddle, discovering the sense of grounding, and sheer pleasure equestrian sports offer.

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SHOW DATES FOR SHOPPERS CHRISTMAS 2016 DON'T MISS THE UK'S LARGEST EQUINE SHOPPING EVENTS OF THE YEAR!

Your Horse Live launches on the 12-13th November at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire

A shopping extravaganza, bursting at the seams with over 350 shopping stands offering great bargains for you and your horse, watch breathtaking performances from the World’s best riders & performers at YHL. Meet and greet celebrities such as Charlotte Dujardin & Geoff Billington. Visit gorgeous horses in need of new homes in the Rescue Village, soak up expert advice from top equine specialists in the Equine Learning Zone and much, much more!

Derriere Equestrian are delighted to be supporting their retailer Wychanger Barton Saddlery & the Inches Saddlery team at the event. They are one of the UK's leading equestrian retailers, and pride themselves on their tradition of providing high quality products, excellent customer service and exceptional value for money.

Wychanger is well known for its saddlery roots, having been based and running in the Devon/Somerset area for the last 25 years, Roy and Jeanette Male have owned Wychanger for 10 years, and in this time the business has grown and flourished into new areas of the equestrian industry.Their most notable new development in the last 10 years has been at shows. They are now one of the biggest show unit retailers in the country, attending around 28-30 shows every year, including all of the UK's major equestrian events, such as Badminton Horse Trials, Burghley Horse Trials, Horse of The Year Show and Olympia.

At the show, shoppers will be able to purchase their luxury Derrieres just in time for Christmas.Perfectly giftable, our beautifully packaged rider base wear will satisfy even the most discerning recipients. Choose from our iconic padded or non-padded range, for ultimate comfort, sculpting, shapewear. Your perfect seat is here. Shop the collection.

Olympia – The London International Horse Show – 13th to 19th December

One of the key UK equestrian events, and billed as the World’s best equestrian Christmas party, Olympia is the only UK Show to host all three FEI World CupTM Qualifiers in Dressage, Show Jumping and Driving. Each performance includes an equestrian competition along with a variety of displays from around the World.

Olympia’s Shopping Village offers a smorgasbord of equine delights, and boasts over 250 shops. Seek out the new boutique stores on your visit to Olympia, but don’t forget those old favorites and well-known brands. Take your time to soak up lashings of fashion, gifts, and equestrian essentials.

Olympic equine star, Valegro, will be appearing alongside Charlotte Dujardin and Carl Hester. Valegro’s official retirement from competition will take place in the Grand Hall on Wednesday 14 December. The sold out retirement ceremony will follow the FEI World Cup™ Dressage Freestyle competition in what promises to be an emotional evening for Valegro fans.

Don’t forget to visit Derriere Equestrian who will again be supporting their retailer Wychanger Barton Saddlery & the Inches Saddlery team at the event.

SHOP THE COLLECTION - DERRIEREEQUESTRIAN.COM

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LINDSAY GRAHAM DERRIERE EQUESTRIAN DOTY2016 IRELAND WINNER TELLS US HOW SHE KEEPS HER BODY IN SHAPE

Lindsay Graham tells us how she keeps her body in shape

Lindsay Graham is an Irish event rider who has competed up to three star level, show-jumped to 1.35m, and is a renowned producer and coach, teaching riding club and pony club teams for eventing, dressage and show jumping. Over the past two years, she’s had first placings at Annaharvey Horse Trials with Shanbeg Pandora in the 90cm, as well as at Lisgarvan House’s prestigious HSI Mares five and six year old Championship with one of her top rides, Graf Maypole. Lindsay has also had several recent top ten placings at one star level with both Graf Maypole and Clooncalagy Knight. Lindsay was the well-deserved Derriere Equestrian ‘Face of Ireland’ Derriere of the Year (DOTY) Winner for 2016 /17, so we asked her to write a blog for us based on her own experience of keeping in good health and maintaining riding fitness!

Fitness and mobility

Lindsay says that before she set up her business Shanbeg Sports Horses, she played rugby and also took up kick boxing. The latter she was obviously very good at, as Lindsay still holds two national kick boxing titles. However, like many of us, she admits to suffering with back pain sometimes, so advocates physiotherapy sessions to help maintain fitness and mobility. “All event riders have had falls, strains and injuries over the years, so it is quite common to find that the more experienced riders have ongoing, chronic back or mobility issues - my physio cites reduced hip mobility, tightness in the shoulders, poor core strength and lower back fatigue as being the most common issues seen by eventers,” Lindsay tells us. “It is useful for riders to do some warm up exercises before getting on their horse or pony to ride - squats, as if you are sitting down in an imaginary chair, and spinal rolls, e.g. bending slowly down towards your toes, and back up again, are both great exercises for riders to mobilise the joints and muscles ahead of riding.”

Lindsay has between ten to sixteen horses at her busy yard to work and manage, so she says that the daily chores, including mucking out, help to keep her fit, while all that riding maintains muscle memory and a strong core. We asked Lindsay for her top tips for maintaining back health as an eventer:

“Remember that a healthy, mobile back is essential for your riding position – if you are experiencing soreness or tension, it will immediately transmit to your horse or pony. Try and maintain good posture at all times when at the yard, for example, using your core muscles to help carry hay bales, or carrying water buckets on both sides; not just your strong arm, which is usually our right arm,” she advises. “I’d also a recommend not carrying more than you have to at the yard or when at shows; invest in a trolley for heavy items.”

Heaven to ride in

Achieving a healthy, mobile back to optimise your riding position is all well and good - but what if you are riding your horse or pony ‘defensively’, in order to avoid personal discomfort in your nether regions?! Discomfort can be caused by a hollowing of the back, or a general immobility in the lower back, which causes a forward-tipping motion, and sometimes by wearing underwear beneath your breeches that has stitched seams. “It is important to be able to mobilise your pelvic area, to really use your seat effectively. Consider padded underwear like items from the Derriere range; remember, when the rider is comfortable in the saddle, there is less likelihood of compensatory misalignment of the spine and pelvis. I spend hours on end riding horses, so to be comfortable in my riding attire is so important to me,” Lindsay continues. “For example, the Derriere breeches have great stretch and comfort, while the Derriere padded panty is just heaven to ride in!”

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2016 ENDURANCE SEASON ROUND UP – KATIE BEDWIN DERRIERE EQUESTRIAN SPONSORED RIDER

2016 Endurance Season Round Up – Katie Bedwin

I cannot believe it’s already the middle of October, 1151 successful kilometres ridden this season, but where has the time gone! I’ve now started studying paediatric nursing at the University of Brighton, so I’m now readjusting mine and my horses’ routine’s to fit with my new timetable. I’m very glad that I made the decision to go to university in Brighton, so I could continue living at home and keep the horses going.

This season has been one of the busiest yet, and I am finding now that despite my unit work, I still have a lot of free time at weekends! I’ve been very fortunate to ride some very special horses this year; Elayla, Burfield Goodie Two Shoes, Penhwnllys Samala De Mons and Nahzira bint Chantanz, and although they had very different goals, they have been achieved and then some!

Burfield Goodie Two Shoes, has defied all odds and is qualified for the 2017 World endurance championships for young riders in Italy, after completing her two CEI 2** 120km rides, with a 1st at Kings Forest and 8th at Euston Park. She has also had good placing’s/grading’s in all of her other competitions this season, including her first ever Red Dragon experience, where she was 8th in the Little Dragon 80km class.

Layla’s season plan has been the most difficult this year, at times it felt like every ride I entered was cancelled/changed! But she had a brilliant run at Royal Windsor CEI 2** 120km, where she placed 22nd, the 3rd GB combination home and I was the first young rider home. Layla also went on to win the 80km National race at Kings Forest in the summer, she led from the start and it was one of those races, where everything seems to go to plan – and this doesn’t happen often!  Layla has also been instrumental in taking my young horses out this season, she is a brilliant confidence giver and has gained the top grading, even though she thought it was boring being a nanny!

Nahzira bint Chatanz has been with us since she was 6 months old, but it is still daunting when you enter their first ever endurance ride. I had no need to worry because Izzy has taken her three novice rides in her stride, and the atmosphere did not bother her in the slightest. She has now upgraded to open level for 2017, and has her first 40km qualifier under her belt, to start her pathway to FEI.

I am very fortunate to have the ride of Penhwnllys Samala De Mons, a mare who I backed at three years old and has subsequently returned to me to complete her first few longer rides. Marley has a lot of potential, and her owner was keen for her to fulfil this, so we started her on the FEI ladder after completing her last 80km qualifier. She was 2nd in the CEI 1* at Kings Forest, and this was a great start to her FEI career. Unfortunately, the CEI 2* we had aimed for was cancelled, so we will have to wait till 2017 to obtain her next qualification.

I could not ask any more from my horses, but I equally could not achieve what I have without my support team and sponsors. Every mile I have competed this season, at home and in competition has been with my Derriere’s on...basically because I can’t bring myself to ride in anything else anymore! The Derriere Equestrian underwear meets the needs of every rider by combining comfort with style, and once you’ve tried them you won’t look back. A personal favourite of mine are the ‘DE Padded Performance Panty’, but I cannot wait to try the new DE sports bra’s!

So whilst I watch the horses’ grazing in the field, on their winter breaks, my thoughts turn the 2017 season. Now this will obviously be my first season with juggling university and endurance – but I am not worried, I have coped through GCSE’s and A levels, a degree will be a breeze….! I’m always getting asked how I juggle my studies and sport, so I have written some tips below, I’m no expert, but they help me!

Tips on how to juggle university studying and sport training;

Be organised; you don’t want to let your studies or your sport down, so keep an up to date diary of lectures, meetings and assignment deadlines. It’s then easier for you to see when you can fit in training.

Manage your time wisely; Time is precious, you don’t want to waste an hour and then regret it! Ensuring you allow enough time each week for social and downtime is really important, and key to a happy and healthy body.

 Do not procrastinate; Complete your assignments when they are set, not last minute! Poor planning leads to undue stress, and missed training sessions.

Take advantage of days off and gaps between lectures; It is very tempting to do nothing, but it is also just as easy to get ahead of your work, making your life easier over the next few weeks.

Sport is great for study breaks; Instead of using social media or watching TV. Use sport as a way of escaping from your work, it is great for the body and mind, as it gets you in the fresh air and thinking about something completely different.

Talk; Universities/schools understand the demands of sport, and how it can affect your studies. If you are honest with them, then in my experience they will give you a lot of support in juggling the two aspects.

Take time out; If you manage your time, then it should be easy for you to spend time not doing sport or studying – and this is very important, trust me!

 Katie Bedwin Major Endurance Results 2014 – 2016

Haywood Oaks – CEI 1* 90km 5th with Burfield Goodie Two Shoes

Kings Forest – CEI 2* 120km 1st with Burfield Goodie Two Shoes

Windsor – CEI 2* 120km 22nd with Elayla – 3rd GB rider home and top Young Rider

Kings Forest – 80km National Race 1st with Elayla

Kings Forest – CEI 1* 80km 2nd with Penhwnllys Samala de Mons

Pilgrims Trail – 80km National Race 1st with Burfield Goodie Two Shoes

Euston Park – CEI 2* 120km 8th with Burfield Goodie Two Shoes

Red Dragon – 80km National Race 8th with Burfield Goodie Two Shoes

DERRIERE EQUESTRIAN COFFEE BREAK WITH ERIN ORFORD

Dressage to music tips from Grade Two National Champ,

Erin Orford

Derriere-sponsored rider Erin Orford has been competing in dressage both Nationally and Internationally for over 10 years, and has ridden up to Advanced Medium at Regional level. She contests para-dressage competitions at grade two level, and recently defended her KBIS Para Gold Grade Two title on Annabel Whittet’s Dimaggio mare, Dior, or Pimms, at the LeMieux National Dressage Championships.

We have to start our chat by mentioning the Paralympics, which Erin is always inspired by. In 2004, she went out to Athens to watch the Paralympic Games. “Watching the British team win Gold was incredible and I suddenly realised that this is what I wanted to do,” she tells us. The 2016 Paralympics were a triumph for Great Britain, so we asked Erin, who was a nominated entry on the long-list for 2016 and was selected as non-travelling reserve, what it would mean to be selected for Tokyo 2020. “The Olympics and Paralympics are the pinnacle of every athlete's career, and for me it's no different; I’d be honoured to be selected,” she says.

Musicality

Erin is a fan of dressage to music, saying it incorporates so many extra factors in terms of dressage competition, and is a real skill and discipline in itself. “It is a good opportunity to really show off your horse’s strengths,” she says. “You must show all the required movements described in the British Dressage test sheet for your chosen level, but you can also use additional movements currently in use in tests at this level; I have just started contesting elementary. It is so much fun, and there are lots of dressage to music CDs available with suitable music to ride to. An easy way to start is to search i-tunes for songs that suit you and your horse; it is then fun to play them as you watch a video of you riding your test; or, you could just play the song at home, as you run a metronome at your horse’s relevant beats per minute, or BPM - there are free metronomes online. You can easily work out the BPMs for your horse by videoing him, and counting the footfalls in each pace, in each minute,” Erin adds.

We asked Erin why she enjoys dressage to music so much. “When you break it down, it's a chance to show off your horse's strengths. My current music was put together professionally by Julie Geraghty from Equivisions. We worked on trying to find something that wasn't too heavy for Pimms, as she's quite light footed.”

Erin and Pimms recently contested their first Elementary freestyle routine at Bury Farm Equestrian Village, and enjoyed the experience. “Pimms strutted her stuff in the trot and the walk elements at Bury Farm, but unfortunately the judge spotted me walking during some of the compulsory canter movements. I'll be more subtle next time,” she jokes. 

“It has been important for us to get the right balance musically, without it sounding like background music - I like a combination of crescendos and quieter areas of music,” Erin continues. “I find that I tend to ride to the music quite a lot when I am training, so I make sure that the music I use makes this work in my favour - in the past, I've found that if I have anything that's too quick, I can over ride, so I keep that in mind when choosing music,” she adds.

As a bi-lateral through knee amputee, Erin has no lower legs, making her seat extra important throughout all of her practise and training for dressage competitions. “My Derriere undies are invaluable!” Erin says. “They really help me to sit deeply, and mobilise my back and torso, and relax my pelvis.”

www.derriereequestrian.com

A BALANCED APPROACH BY DERRIERE EQUESTRIAN-SPONSORED RIDER, ERIN ORFORD

2016 was a Paralympic Games to remember for the British equestrian team, as they recorded their most successful Games to date, accruing seven Gold medals within their total medal haul of eleven. All five riders brought home individual medals, with three Golds and two Silvers secured for Paralympics GB. As many people are now expressing interest in para-dressage, popular rider Erin Orford, who was long-listed for Rio, shares her advice on the matter of rider balance.

What is balance, and how does it affect us when riding?

In biomechanical terms, balance is the ability to maintain a centre of gravity, often likened to maintaining a vertical line through the body. This central alignment provides a base of support which minimises postural sway and keeps the body upright and in control.

The centre of balance is found within the inner ear but the muscles and joints contribute to stability as well. The muscles provide strength, whilst our sensory receptors provide vital information to the brain and body. The ‘somatosensory’ system then gives us proprioception, which sends sensory messages from our eyes and ears to the brain, to ensure the body responds appropriately.

Balance and core strength

Although horse riding keeps you fit, it is important to also be ‘fit to ride’! Having good core strength is fundamental to quality horse riding, and goes a long way to promote a balanced, stable and effective riding position. For me, as a bi-lateral through knee amputee, my core is everything! Your balance and core strength contributes to the position of your hips, seat-bones and shoulders, and allows you to cope with the horse's variation in pace; not to mention when they spook, leap or throw their heads up! It is also important to remember that your own balance has significant effect on your horse’s balance.

Which muscles are involved in core strength?

The abdominal muscles are the main muscles associated with good core strength. My sponsor Derriere Equestrian is especially fond of the Iliopsoas muscles, which attach to the front surfaces of our lumbar vertebrae and coccyx, as well as the inner surface of the pelvis. These muscles contribute to pulling the seat bones forward, providing strength and stability when riding. Incidentally, having comfortable underwear definitely helps you to comfortably flatten your lower back in the saddle and allow these very special muscles to do their work!

How can we improve core strength and balance?

Adding core strength development exercises into your daily routine can help to improve your balance, as can Yoga and Pilates, or swimming, which I enjoy. Remember, good balance and a strong core go hand in hand, and a strong core usually means better posture, reduced back pain and an improved performance. To conclude, don’t forget your comfy Derriere Equestrian riding underwear to really help you sit deeply, mobilise your back and torso, and relax your pelvis!

About Erin Orford

Erin is a Grade Two para rider and bi-lateral through knee amputee, so she has no lower legs; she’s also missing the radius bone in both arms, meaning she has shortened lower arms and only four fingers on each hand. A renowned effective and sensitive rider, she says that a good seat and honed balance are key to effective flatwork, whether able-bodied or disabled.

www.derriereequestrian.com

MONGOL DERBY RIDER STORY BY ALICE NEWLING DERRIERE EQUESTRIAN SPONSORED RIDER

The Mongol Derby….I honestly don’t know where to begin.

Going into the Derby I had never thought of it as something which was missing in my life, I’d entered because it looked fun and instead of investing my cash sensibly in a house deposit, I’d enjoy it instead. It is fair to say that completing it hasn’t changed my life dramatically, however, it has given me experiences beyond anything I could have ever comprehended, opened my eyes up to the world as it once was and I have ended up meeting and making lifelong friends with some of the most remarkable people.

We were warned by previous riders that the MD would be the best and worst thing you’d ever do, and they were partially right. In truth, I had the best time out there, it was tough but when you are surrounded by great people it is difficult not to have fun. Even when it was freezing cold,  had been raining all day so everything was soaked and your horse refused to break out of trot for 40km, there were still tiny treasures out there to brighten it all up. First up were the horses, they were just truly incredible. They must be some of the toughest animals on the planet, their roaming lifestyle makes them incredibly nimble on their feet, able to spot the dreaded marmot hole in a split second from a gallop and their balance when travelling unshod across the ever varying terrain is phenomenal. Our horses wouldn’t last five minutes. They are also remarkably fit and strong, some had the ability to gallop flat out for 20km before they even showed signs of easing up. They had no problem expressing their characters, with some people’s horses deciding to lay down if they thought they’d had enough and others point blank refused to move, they certainly had personality!

Next were the Mongolians. These guys are so incredibly resilient, they endure temperatures of -40 degrees Celsius in the winter, and on the day we started the race it was 35 degrees, some difference.  The way of life for the herders revolves around looking after their herds of goats, yaks, cows, sheep or horses and living off of their produce. It is an incredibly beautiful and simple way of life and yet very tough at the same time as they are reliant on these animals to stay alive. For people with not a huge amount to spare, their hospitality is extraordinary. On the first night of the race, myself and two other riders got caught out and didn’t make it to the third horse station in time. This meant we either had to find a local family to stay with, of which there were none in the vicinity which we could see, or camp out. We decided on the latter, found some old goat sheds, grazed and hobbled our horses and put our heads down for the night in a very breezy shed at about 11pm. It started to rain fairly heavily soon after and at about 11.30pm a truck rolled up outside the horses corral. Out hopped a young herder, his wife and two children. Somehow they had known that we were here and when it started to rain had become concerned that we would get cold and wet and wanted us to go back with them to their Ger to stay. Naturally we welcomed the opportunity to get out of the no semi flooded shed only to be greeted by a lovely warm Ger where our hosts insisted on cooking us fresh hot food and giving us cosy beds to stay on. The whole experience pulled a little at your heart strings, these people had no affinity to us and we couldn’t even speak their language and yet they’d gone above and beyond to help us.

I cannot write the diary of a derriere without mentioning the FANTASTIC derrieres in which I rode. I can proudly announce that after riding non-stop for 13.5 hours a day, for 8 days I had zero saddle sores. Nope not even a single one. They were definitely put to the test, our 5kg luggage allowance meant minimal change of clothes could be packed and it would be foolish to think a fresh pair were donned each day! I suffered from slight heat rash and bruising on my legs in the first few days due to the heat and unnaturally long hours in the saddle, however, my backside was remarkably fine. As time went on the initial crippling stiffness that everyone endures around days 2/3/4 subsides and you suddenly find yourself feeling incredibly strong and getting up and riding all day just becomes what you do. However, as your body recovers your equipment begins to fail. My joddies ended up with no knee pads, leather gaitors were ripped to shreds and we won’t mention the ‘second layer’ of M&S tights, unsurprisingly they are not made to last such endeavours.  Thankfully my Derrières lasted the duration, showing no signs of wear and tear which in turn reflected on the state of my seat.

There are so many memories which I will carry with me forever and it seems like it was only yesterday that myself and riding companions Shannon, David and Lex were cantering across the Steppe. We rode for 1,000km, the equivalent distance from John O’Groats to Lands End, and at no point did we encounter a fence. I think it is fair to say that everyone competing got more out of the experience than they had ever expected. Whether it was enriching their lives having experienced the generosity of others, the freedom of travelling nonstop across such a vast landscape, the thrill of riding a Nadaam pony or the simple reality of getting away from their hectic daily lives, the Mongol Derby has something to offer everyone. THANK YOU to Derriere Equestrian for making my adventure so incredibly enjoyable and to anyone thinking of entering the Derby – go for it and get yourself some Derrieres‼