Advantages: Really helpful, entertaining
Disadvantages: Would have liked to see more equine models

...This is a really useful DVD that would be helpful for anyone interested in show jumping, cross country or any other equestian activity. To perform any equestrian activity well, your horse or pony needs to be balanced, supple, attentive to the aids and obedient. Dressage comes from French term "to train" and that is what we all have to do in partnership with our mounts, if we wish to perform well. Dressage trains the horse to go in the correct manner and perform what is asked of it obediently. Who would want to jump a horse that did not move properly or do what theyI asked it? This 85 minute DVD takes Olympic and long-term GB dressage team member Richard Davison and pairs him up with two of the greatest show jumpers on the circuit today, John Whitaker and his son Robert. John is known for his intuitive feel for a horse and is great... Read review

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Advantages: Design, ease of care
Disadvantages: None found

...Synthetic saddles were once looked down upon as the very poor relations of their leather cousins, but times are certainly changing. Once only seen in racing yards, synthetic saddle manufacturers have now moved into every equestrian discipline. Bates are probably the leading maker and have a pretty high reputation. Whilst their quality is traditional, their design is pretty innovative both in terms of material and ways to enhance rider and horse comfort. What is it? -------------------- This dressage saddle is made of "equisuede" which mirrors the look and to some extent feel of leather, but is man-made, tough, durable and of course needs no feeding. The Dressage Pro is a standard dressage saddle with straight panels and longer than standard girths. Whilst designed for dressage, it is also great for schooling, hacking and other... Read review

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Advantages: Comfortable and you can change the gullets
Disadvantages: Can be a bit expensive with the gullets

...What Wintec Say: Developed in conjunction with World Dressage Champion, Isabell Werth to support both horse and rider. The difference the Isabell saddle can make to your riding is quite profound as radical features take the effort out of sitting in the correct position. The Wintec Isabell is versatile, lightweight and provides the easy care benefits of Equisuede. FEATURES: Performance driven tree and seat shape Super-Enduro seat foam retains its resilience and won't ride down, flatten or harden Soft Sorbtec knee inserts moulds to the rider's knee shape Newly positioned stirrup bars are positioned 5cm (2") further back than standard bars Adjustable Flexibloc System enables the rider to individually tailor their thigh and knee support Adjustable Y-Girthing System secures the front and back of saddle High performance panel... Read review

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Advantages: Stylish, comfy
Disadvantages: Not cheap

...A very well designed saddle. A lot of my friends have used Bates saddles over the years and they have always seemed to be well designed, robust and reasonably priced. The Isabell was designed with (I understand) a lot of input from world dressage champion Isabell Werth and trainer Dr Baurner (how is it that all German dressage people seem to have six degrees each AND be able to ride like that?!). It is designed to enhance partnership between horse and rider and this can only improve your performace whether you are a pro or a happy hacker. The design of the saddle helps the rider to sit correctly and I have seen so much improvement in riders when they crack how to sit properly. It is so hard to use each part of your body properly when the overall balance is out. It is really comfortable and it does make you feel like you are sitting... Read review

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Advantages: Choice of colours & shapes. Washable & Durable.
Disadvantages: None

...I have been using these Softie Pads for about 2 years now under my dressage saddles especially as they are such a good fit. Please note that Weatherbeeta also go under the name of Roma so please when you are searching for this item look under Roma and not Weatherbeeta Kincade. I own four of these in white and black but they do come in four colours, White, Black, Navy and Green and they also come in 3 different shapes, Dressage, Saddlecloth and Numnah GP. These soft quilted pads are made from a durable cotton drill and are shaped to sit well in to the saddle. Features touch tape tabs. They are great to use and provide a bit of extra support under the saddle. I dont use them as much in the summer months as the horses tend to sweat alot so I use the normal Roma dressage square but during the winter I think they are ideal. They are so easy... Read review

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Advantages: It can teach you the very basics in stable managment and horse care.
Disadvantages: The music and game are both repetitive

...I have been riding ponies and horses for about 8 years. I bought Riding Star about 2 years ago,I thought it would be a good game, as there are not many around about horses. After installing the game I read through the leaflet and learned the basics, it looked really fun. To get used to the controls there is a 'training programme', which allows you to compete in Dressage,Show Jumping and/or Cross-Country without being disqualified for penalties e.g. refusals. There is another option of playing in 'multiplayer games', which allows up to four people to event in Dressage,Show Jumping and/or Cross-Country. You compete against each other and when everyone has finished a table of results is shown. In both of these modes there are eight different horses to choose from, different colours and names. All of what looks like the same breed... Read review

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Advantages: Get to explore many different areas
Disadvantages: There's a glitch that came three quarters of the way through the game.

...I got this game as a Christmas present and I thought great I love horse games, but about three quarters of the way through the game there was a glitch and I wasn’t able to play it any further. I found this quite disappointing. In this game you get to train, look after your favourite horse and build a relationship with it. You also get to travel from Scotland to Morocco and to the United States, to compete in competitions. Timetable There is a timetable for you to help you keep on track and help to organise what you have to do. You need to plan the timetable suitably depending on what tasks are coming up. Activities The activities that you can put into the timetable are split into three groups. Ø Training – you can train for cross country, jump or dressage trials. (Training I find gets a bit boring, because it’s basically the same... Read review

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Advantages: wonderful Lipizzaner horses, green & luscious countryside
Disadvantages: I couldn't stay longer!

...as well as Austria. It is also bred in lesser numbers elsewhere in Europe. Austrian Archduke Charles II founded the Lipica Stud Farm in 1580; making it one of the oldest horse studs in the world. Today, Lipica succeeds in carrying on its 400-year-old tradition of selective breeding of purebred Lipizzaner horses for the needs of the classical school of riding, dressage and carriage driving. The Lipizzaner stands at around 15.1 to 16.2 hands high. They are strong, powerful horses who are intelligent and willing. The breed is long lived, many horses achieving 30 to 35 years of age and many school horses continue to perform difficult movements well into their twenties. Lipican foals are born black, bay or dark grey and change colour as they mature; firstly to a lighter grey and eventually to white when they are between 6 and 10 years of age... Read review

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Advantages: Classifieds
Disadvantages: Too expensive, boring

...Horse and Hound magazine is my least favourite of all the equestrian magazines. I find it very patronising and doesn't have enough articles in it that the everyday rider can relate to. It comes out every week and is quite expensive and really mounts up if you want to read every issue. It has news on what is going on in the equestrian world in each discipline including hunting, eventing, dressage and racing. All of these articles are in my opinion too in-depth for someone who isn't involved and I find when I read it I only read the show jumping page if I read all of that. I feel that the articles are too long and I often find them quite repetitive. Also, half the magazine is wasted just with results pages from every show you can think of that has happened that week which I think is a little unnecessary. Overall, I find... Read review

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Advantages: Easy to get the hang of and fun to play
Disadvantages: Once you've finished there is little to keep you playing

...Really enjoyable game, recommended to horse lovers. Along the same lines as the second Pippa Funnell PC game you have to complete several weeks of training with a competition at the end of each week. There are also tasks to carry out, both ridden and around the acadamy in order to progress. Each week you will be expected to care for your horse, practise dressage, showjumping and cross-country, go for hacks, talk to course-mates and read in the library. The gameplay is good and not repetitive and although it is not a complex game, there are a few tricky bits and the game will take you some time to complete. Failure to meet standards results in retaking a game week of training rather than losing the game. Once you have completed the game there is little to keep you playing. Alongside the main game you get to care for and train a foal. I... Read review

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