Category: Reviews

If your friend, who also owns a high end mobile tack trailer, ever says “You should try this on!” – be wary. If she also uses the word “amazing” while describing said item (especially if she’s even pickier and harder to please than you are), just go ahead and set your wallet on fire. You’re at the beginning of an addiction that will quickly spiral out of control.

Winston Exclusive Show Jacket

In my case the gateway item in question was a jacket made by Winston Equestrian. Some of you who read this blog regularly might remember the Brand Spotlight/Giveaway post that I did on Winston this past winter, where I mentioned the purchase. Now that I’ve received the jacket and have even picked up a few more Winston items, I figured it was time for a formal review.

I resisted trying on the coat at first, having been a self-proclaimed lover of tech fabrics and hater of wool for so long. The Winston coats are wool, so the first few times I saw them I didn’t really bother to take a closer look. When I finally acquiesced and tried one on in Luxe EQ, I was instantly sold.

Yes the fabric is wool, but forget whatever negative notions you might have about old-fashioned wool coats. This is not the hot, stuffy, stiff, dry-clean-only wool of yesteryear. It’s very lightweight, stretchy, washable, and still holds its structure well enough to be super flattering. Those of us who have a little bit to spare around the mid-section are well aware of how the modern tech fabrics can sometimes turn into sausage casings if the fit or fabric is just a tiny bit off. Wool offers a little more leeway, and can do a lot to help smooth out a midsection that really enjoys queso and donuts (raises hand). Winston has done a brilliant job of finding a fabric that gives you the flawless silhouette of wool but still has the same comfort level of a tech fabric; the best of both worlds.

Because I’m a crazy eventer and have to have everything in my colors, I ordered a custom Exclusive in navy with yellow piping to match my Samshield. While they do offer several off the rack styles, I couldn’t resist the opportunity to customize a coat to my exact specifications. I even got to pick the buttons (it’s the little things…)! When the coat arrived from Belgium I was not disappointed. The fit is perfect, the quality is high end, the finish is flawless, and it’s incredibly comfortable. Honestly, it’s lighter weight and more breathable than my Equiline tech fabric coat and I think it looks classier. Absolutely love it.

Vienna Show Shirt

I always keep an eye peeled for show shirts that are a little bit fun/unique without being overt (no fluffy ruffles or collars covered in rhinestones please). My other big requirement is that they must be lightweight and cool. This is Texas, it’s hot at 90% of our shows. It also has to be cut well, because no one wants a boxy show shirt with a mile of tail to tuck in.

The Winston Vienna shirt has turned out to be the perfect combination of all those things. It features a strip of navy and white striped fabric trimming the top of the collar, the two chest pockets, and the bottom of the sleeves. It’s a small detail that gives the shirt a little something special, but it’s subtle enough to not be super noticeable or flashy. The fabric is a really nice, lightweight, slightly-stretchy cotton that somehow manages to be significantly cooler and more comfortable than even my Tailored Sportsman Icefil shirt.

The icing on the cake is the cut and fit of Winston’s shirts – they’re flattering on the female form without being tight or uncomfortable.

Winston breeches

The Winston breeches were the latest addition to my collection. I went to Luxe EQ looking to try on some white breeches, and since I was so happy with my Winston jacket and shirt, my curiosity got the best of me. Seeing as how they’re priced around $300 I normally wouldn’t have tried them on, but given how much success I’ve had with the rest of the line, I just couldn’t resist. And of course – they fit me perfectly, and when you find perfection in the form of white breeches, you buy it (on the bright side, at least the $450 Animos didn’t fit!).

As someone with a smaller waist and larger hip/thigh, I have a hard time fitting into a lot of the breeches that are cut more for the junior rider build. Usually they’re a little too straight for me and end up either gapping in the waist or strangling my thighs (an especially horrifying thing when it happens in white). Winston has managed to make a pair of breeches that fit a curvier shape impeccably.

The fabric is a really nice mid-weight, and the cut is low enough to be comfortable while still being high enough to contain all the important bits and wrangle the waist pudge. The sock bottom is excellent (death to velcro) and I especially appreciate that the whites have some contrasting gray stitching around the top and silver piping on the pockets. It gives them a really nice yet classy bit of flair.

Overall the Winston line has yet to let me down – besides riding clothes I also have one of their sweaters that I wear to work a lot. My only real complaint is that I’m too poor to buy mass quantities of it. It’s high end, for sure; the pieces are all extremely well constructed and made to last, and the fit is second to none. No cheap fabrics, loose stitching, or questionable fit here – it’s obvious that a lot of thought and effort goes into producing the line (which is made entirely in Europe from European fabrics).

While the price tags on higher end clothes like these are a lot for the majority of us to stomach, they’re the kind of “grown-up” garments that can be wardrobe staples for many years to come. They aren’t the shirt that you wear for 6 months and sell, or the breeches that last a season before popping a seam. I’ve owned lots of those. It feels good to know that now I’ve got some really high quality pieces in my wardrobe that are timeless, comfortable, and classy. Almost makes me feel like I actually have a handle on this adulting thing…

Yep, Teddy’s Tack Trunk strikes again, this time with a whole set of grooming stuff that I never knew I needed. They’ve already won me over with their awesome Leistner brushes and the Zephyr’s Garden Anti-fungal line, converting me to a total grooming supply snob in the process. Really nice brushes are a vital part of life now.

This time I got the “Hoof and Leg bundle“, a package deal put together and sold by Teddy’s Tack Trunk. This set arrived just as the torrential rains started here in Texas, which proved to be impeccable timing. The bundle includes:

Leistner Natural Coco Fiber Brush – Pure coco fiber bristles with a lacquered beech wood base. This medium stiff brush has dense bristles that are great for removing mud and grime. Coco fiber is water resistant, impedes break down by salt water, and will last a long time. The smaller, hand-held size is comfortable to use, especially on the legs.

Leistner Natural Hoof Brush with Handle – Hoof washing brush with beech wood handle. Stiff, natural fiber bristles on the end for tough scrubbing with natural Mexican fiber (also known as Tampico) bristles for cleaning. Also makes a great bucket brush. Helps to keep hooves healthy. Use after picking and during bathing.

Leistner Natural Bristle Hoof Oil Brush – Premium brush made of natural bristles with a natural beech wood handle. Use to apply hardener or medication to hoof.

The Ultimate Hoof Pick, Jr. – The Ultimate Hoof Pick, Jr. features a superior ergonomic design and pick angle to help remove the toughest packed-in dirt, mud and snow. It is designed for comfort with a soft rubber grip handle that fits solidly in your hand. The Ultimate Hoof Pick has a durable stainless steel pick, which makes it unbendable, unbreakable and built to last a lifetime.

The bundle with the hoof pick included is $42.45, or you can get it without the hoof pick (brushes only) for $27.50.

Typically I shy away from any brush with bristles that would be considered even remotely stiff. Princess Henry does not like hard/stiff bristled brushes, and I try not to upset the Princess. The coco fiber wasn’t super stiff, but definitely more than I’ve used on him before, and it had me a little bit worried about what his reaction would be. To my surprise he actually doesn’t mind it at all, and it works really well at getting the heavier dirt off of his butt and the chunks of mud off his legs. The coco fiber bristles are actually really cool, I like it a lot.

The hoof brush was interesting to me. We have really thick, clay based mud here in this part of Texas, and it builds up on the horse’s feet like crazy and sticks like glue. If it’s muddy I usually hose off as much as I can then use my hands to pick away at the rest. Who knew there was a brush that was actually meant for that job? This thing works great to help get the mud off faster (and does an especially good job of getting it all out from the sensitive area behind the pasterns, something that I usually failed to do but is really important if your horse lives in bell boots like mine does) and it’s really easy to rinse clean. The size and shape make this brush useful for lots of different things (I’ve also used it to scrub out a bucket and get mud/poop off of some XC boots), so it’s definitely earned a spot in my trunk.

There’s not a lot to a hoof oil brush, but it’s definitely a useful thing to have around. In the summers I use Effol on Henry’s feet to keep them from drying out, and in the wet seasons I apply thrush medication, so I can pretty much always find a use for it. My last one (a cheapie with an ugly red plastic handle and plastic bristles) fell apart last summer, so I had been slathering the Effol on his feet with my hands. This one is way nicer than the previous one, so hopefully it will last quite a while. The natural fibers lend to better application and are much easier to clean, too.

I have been a long-time fan of the Ultimate Hoof Pick (I prefer the Junior size, I think it’s easier to hold than the bigger one) and already have one in my regular grooming kit. It’s never a bad idea to have a spare, though, so this one went into the little trunk that lives in my trailer. Now I’ll have one with me wherever I go! Nothing works as well as the Ultimate Hoof Pick and they last forever, so it’s a definite must-have item.

Overall this is a great little bundle full of several “essential” items, all of which are great quality and do their jobs really well. The Leistner line continues to impress me with their high quality materials, excellent construction, and beautiful finish. I have yet to be disappointed with any of it.

Yep, more mini-reviews. It’s the only way to fit everything in without doing a review every day for a month. Just go with it.

Back on Track

I was a hold out on the Back on Track voodoo for a long time. It’s pricey, and I wasn’t blown away by the science enough to shell out that kind of dough. Then last fall we found some arthritis and remodeling in Henry’s hind ankles, so I figured “what the heck” and asked the SO for a pair of the Quick Wraps for Christmas.

I used those a few times and thought I noticed some difference (windpuffs were smaller, and he seemed a little more limber from the beginning of the ride) so when the Mesh Sheet showed up on TackDealz one day for $145, I couldn’t pass it up.

I started putting the sheet on before lessons, or in the trailer on the way to shows. Can’t be 100% certain that it did anything, but again he seemed more limber through his back and his hind end when he had worn it vs when he hadn’t.

Then I found myself needing a new dressage pad, and when Riding Warehouse had their Back on Track sale (I’m sensing a theme here) I decided to bite the bullet. I’ve only used the pad a few times, but Henry was good each time. Coincidence, yeah maybe. Tough to say.

All three products are really nicely constructed with good materials. I won’t let Henry wear the sheet unsupervised, just because I really don’t want him to destroy it, but it fits him well. I’m still not unequivocally sold on the idea of Back on Track being magical, but I’ve seen enough to believe that it can definitely help. If you get a good deal or come across a sale, or if you have an arthritic horse or one with a tight back, their stuff is definitely worth trying.

Ice Horse tendon wraps

I honestly had a hard time coming up with a lot to say about these. I feel very “meh”. Don’t love them, don’t hate them.

I only paid $35 for the pair, secondhand. I don’t love the design in general, I think the little strap meant to hold the ice packs in place is a pretty goofy. Also the gel in the ice packs tends to settle toward the bottom of the leg as it warms up, so there isn’t even coverage of the tendon.

No gel pack ice boot will ever be as good as ones that use real ice. Those are quite impractical for me though, so being able to toss these in the freezer or ice chest then pull them out and put them directly on the horse definitely has it’s advantages. They’re convenient.

I use them after hard gallops or XC schools and they seem sufficient enough for that. If my horse was doing harder gallops or higher level fences, I would want the cooling power of real ice. Overall, for what I paid I’m satisfied with them. If I’d paid the $100 retail price I probably wouldn’t be super thrilled.

 

Camelot contact anatomic girth

It’s much easier to come up with my feelings about this thing: it’s legit heinous.

The leather finish is pretty bad, it looks like it was dipped in colored plastic. The “leather” over the padding on the inside has the same yucky plastic look, except it looks thin and wrinkled and sad. Edges are cut unevenly and the stitching is crooked in spots. The color, which they call Oakbark, is kind of a sickly grayish brown and there’s no way that will change short of a deglaze and a re-dye. Honestly, I’m not even sure that would work.

To it’s credit, the elastic is thick and sturdy, the anatomic shape is good, it has 3 dee rings that are nylon reinforced, and it has roller buckles. Technically it has all the things a girth should have. So… yay?

Functionally it’s fine, if you can get past how it looks and feels and how questionable the workmanship is. I used it once and just couldn’t do it. It’s cheap, in every sense of the word. But good news – I have a 54″ I’ll sell you for $40.

Some of you may remember my first sneak peek at the new Majyk Equipe boot line from my AETA posts a few months ago. I’ve been a fan of ME since I got my first pair of their XC boots a couple years ago – their stuff is always so well designed and reasonably priced. From the moment I first laid eyes on their new leather boots, I was  dying to get my hands on them.

I’ve had lots of open fronts over the years, especially having shown in the jumpers. From Eskadron to Equifit and a lot of things in between, I’ve tried many different styles. What I’ve learned through a lot of trial and error is that the two things I love most are stud closures and removable linings. But the thing I require for the horse’s sake (and why I no longer own most of them) is a lightweight, breathable liner. I really don’t like memory foam or thick neoprene that traps heat against the leg. So when I saw the leather Majyk Equipe’s on display at AETA and got to see and feel the liner, I knew I had to try them.

First of all, the boots are leather. Real, delicious, genuine, fantastic-smelling leather. No ‘pleather’ or ‘leather substitute’ (PVC) with these boots! They’re made from first grade Argentinian leather – the kind used in polo equipment and saddles. It was chosen specifically for it’s deep color and ability to stand up to a lot of wear and tear.  The leather is vegetable (not chemical) tanned all the way through – it’s rugged and heavy duty while still looking really classic and elegant.

Aside from the gorgeous leather, the liner in these boots is what really sold them for me. Yes they’re pretty, but they’re also really functional. First, the liner is removable (and they use actual Velcro-brand velcro, the good stuff) so you can easily take them out for cleaning and pop them back in. But the best part is that they’re made from a perforated heavy duty foam, which makes them super lightweight and breathable. The foam is the same family as the material used in their tendon boots, but it has an additional layer of impact protection built in. This helps dissipate the force and concussion should the boot take a hard hit. The foam is also hypo allergenic and has a rebound memory so that it gradually shapes to your horse’s leg over repeated uses. And, unlike memory foam or neoprene, it won’t retain heat and doesn’t provide a viable environment for bacteria to grow.

What makes these boots most attractive, IMO, is the price. While you’re looking at easily $300-400 for a full set of most of the other high end boots, and more like $500-600 for real leather ones, these ring in at only $160 for the fronts and $117 for the backs (or less, if you follow Riding Warehouse on facebook and use their FB10 code for 10% off. *HINT*). So potentially you’re looking at only $250 total for a full set of real leather boots with removable liners. Great design plus great price – the very rare double whammy.

While I love my stud closure version of the boots (because I’m lazy), they also make a really pretty brown version with buckle closures, if you’re more old school. All the same features, just buckles and brown leather instead of studs and black leather. Another really classic looking boot but with all the awesome modern technology.

I’ve been using my boots for a little while now and really love them. They’ve broken in nicely and started molding to Henry’s legs. The elastic is thick and heavy duty, everything is very well-stitched, and they really do seem like they’re built to last. They also stay in place, definitely seem to breathe well, and Henry appears to find them comfortable. It can be a little bit tricky to find open fronts that don’t move around on his front legs because of how crooked-legged he is (if the boot is sitting correctly on his leg it’s not actually pointing straight forward, it looks a little off to the side because of his deviation, so some boots have a tendency to spin on him) but these have stayed in place perfectly. I have no complaints! When they get dirty I wipe them off with a rag, slap on a little Belvoir, and they look new again. They really are super beautiful and “check all my boxes” for what I’m looking for in a set of boots. Definitely two thumbs up… I can’t find anything to NOT like.