Christmas present ideas for the rider

So with Christmas approaching quickly and shops starting to restock their products, now is probably the best time to start looking for Christmas presents for your friends and family. In this blog post I will be discussing products that I own and have tested that are at the top of my list for every equestrian to have!

I will be doing it from cheapest item at the top to most expensive item at the bottom to make it easy for you to find something in your price range.

1) Mark Todd Ear Warmer

This ear warmer is a great fit and doesn't move when being worn. It keeps my ears really warm on cold winter mornings and nights at the yard and is made of a really soft material that is perfectly machine washable. This product is very simplistic as the only thing displayed on the band is the logo which is placed at the front in the colour stitching of the band making it fit nicely into the band and not look too showy.

This product is one size fits all and has an elasticated section at the back to ensure it fits to all head sizes. It comes in the colours Navy, Blue, Royal, Black, Purple, Orange, Pink, Red, Jade, Chocolate, Burgundy and Fuchsia and typically retails between £3 - £8

2) DVR Equestrian Neck Fleece

I have only recently bought this neck fleece so it wasn't going to be in this blog however after trialling it I cannot go anywhere without it! The inside of the neck fleece is super soft and fleece lined meaning you can hardly feel it when you are wearing it. Now that it is getting into winter it is an absolute must as it keeps your neck so warm and can also be pulled up over you nose on those extra cold days. Due to the neck fleece being part of the STYLE VIS collection it is in the colour lemon and so is therefore perfect for hacking as it is so bright and so very visible out anywhere.

This product is one size fits all, it comes in the colour lemon and retails at £12.50.

https://dvrequestrian.com/

3) Arion Equestrian GB Leggings

What can I say about these leggings? They are honestly the comfiest leggings that I own (and I own lots of riding leggings)! The material they are made from gives you complete comfort and movement in the saddle which is so important to me as there is nothing worse than restrictive riding clothing. The knee grips are so grippy and make me feel so secure in the saddle however my favourite thing about the knee grips has to be the original design. The idea of having the companies name as the knee grips is so original and is a fantastic way of branding their products, instead of having logos or brand names over the product they have a well sized logo on the centre of the waist band accompanied by the companies name as the knee grips, this makes the product look very smart and appealing while still having something about it which will interest many people. Furthermore the colours of these leggings are stunning and I am constantly getting compliments about them, when choosing a product colour is something I consider greatly as even though I am riding I still like to look smart and these leggings do not disappoint! Finally something which I love about these products is how affordable they are, these leggings are not overpriced and are well worth the money. Overall I believe these riding leggings are perfect for a horsey friend or family member due to their comfort in the saddle and amazing features.

These leggings are priced at £25 each, they come in the sizes 4 - 16 and are currently available in the colours: black, grey, navy, olive, burgundy and white.

https://www.arionequestrian.co.uk/

4) Roeckl Grip Gloves

The Roeckl grip gloves (while expensive as gloves go) are the comfiest gloves I have worn for riding, due to this I solely use them for competing and use cheaper pairs of gloves for general riding. One thing I love about these gloves is the sizes, unlike most gloves which just come in small, medium and large (which usually end up being off size) these gloves range from a size 6 - 11 meaning you are able find your perfect fit. These gloves have a super grip and are very well wearing so are definitely worth the money! When riding my hands didn't get sweaty at all and the gloves still feel warm enough to ride in, in winter. Overall these gloves are a great essential for competing or even for general riding, the gloves are a perfect fit and are so comfortable when riding.

These gloves retail at around £30 (depending on the store), they come in the sizes 6 - 11 (french sizes) and come in the colours: white, black, navy, brown, beige, caramel, grey, khaki, chamois, mocha.

5) Pioneros Polo Belt

Pioneros polo belts are a great edition to any outfit whether it be for riding or competing. I personally use my belt for competitions however have been using it more regularly for general riding. Pioneros offer a wide range of colours so you are able to find the perfect belt that will suit the wearer. The belts come in a large range of sizes from 65cm - 120cm so there is a large range so you are able to find your perfect size! As well as this there is a large range of styles so you are able to find the perfect belt. The belts fit so well and are made of high quality leather making them perfect for everyday wear. Furthermore, Overall these belts are the perfect gift for any horsey person to help lighten up an everyday outfit or finish off a competition look.

These belts come in a range of styles and colours, they range from 65cm - 120cm (depending on the belt) and retail between £29 - £42 (depending on the belt).

https://pioneros.co.uk/

6) Lemieux Rider Luggage

Any of the Lemieux luggage is a must have for any rider, whether it be for shows or just for daily use. I personally use most of mine for competitions however bags such as the hat bag is used on a daily basis. My favourite thing about the bags is how much extra storage there is on them! For example on the hat bag there is two pockets on the front (where I personally keep gloves) and a large pocket on the inside where i keep hair bobbles, hair nets and hair grips so it is very handy for shows! Another example is the boot bag which has a large space for long boots as well as pockets for spurs, however my favourite thing about the boot bag is that it has a large storage pocket under where the boots go. I can fit a whole spare change of clothes in this pocket which makes it so useful! Overall any of the Lemieux rider luggage is a mist have for any rider due to them being very helpful whatever discipline or level you ride at.

These bags come in the colours: blue and burgundy. These bags range between £27 - £40 depending on what bag it is.

https://www.horsehealth.co.uk/

7) Apt Cavalier Performance Skins

The Apt Cavalier performance skins are probably the comfiest skins I have tried to date! The fabric is so soft, comfy and allows full movement in the saddle whether it be out on the cross country course, out show jumping or even just general riding. The mesh panel at the back helps keep you so cool when riding, even under stuffy body protectors! The general design of the performance skins is stunning, the brand name down the one arm gives detail to the skin without being too much and the logo at the top of the back is very simplistic but still very appealing. Overall these performance skins are a must have for every rider (not just eventers) as they can be worn for general riding and competing in summer as well as a baselayer during the winter months. As well as this some of the skins have matching hat silks available at £12.50.

These skins retail at £47.50, they come in the sizes 8-16 and come in the colours: black, white, navy, burgundy and royal blue.

https://www.aptcavalier.com/

8) Custom XC Cross Country Colours.

These cross country colours are completely customisable and fit perfectly! They allow you to have as much or as little decoration as you want on them and allow you to decide the shapes and writing you have on them. They also allow a wide range of colours and are overall amazing products which are perfect for all eventers out there. I personally use these colours in the winter due to them being quite thick so therefore being perfect for arena eventing as they keep me the perfect temperature. However I have used them in summer as well and they are still great! Finally the great thing about these cross country colours is that you are able to have a matching hat silk, saddle pad, numnah, hoodie, jacket, trousers and a teddy mascot with them for an additional price!

These colours start at £38.00 however I have placed this far down as the price is typically around £60 after being personalised. They come in the size XS - 2XL.

https://www.custom-xc.com/

9) Brogini Casperia V2 and Como V2 Riding Boots

These riding boots are the best that I have owned, they fit so well and are very comfy when around the yard and riding. The best thing about these boots is how supple the leather is even when they are brand new, you do not need to spend hours wearing these boots around your house trying to break them in as the leather is soft from the second they are bought making them exceptionally comfy. Furthermore the design of the boots is stunning and they are extremely smart. Finally I absolutely love how affordable these boots are as they are not £300+ for a pair!

These boots retail at £100, they come in the colours brown and black and come in the sizes 3.5 - 11 (UK).

https://www.brogini.com/