[Product Review] Aztec Diamond Breeches

I bought these breeches last autumn/winter in one of Aztec Diamond's sales and this summer I have well and truly fallen in love with them! They are ideal for summer as I think they are my only pair where I don't feel like I've put my legs in an oven whilst trying to ride in the recent heatwave we've been having!

They are also super comfy and I can quite happily wear them all day. They have a stretch Lycra sock at the bottom of each leg which eliminates any bulky fastenings so no Velcro rubs on your ankle like some breeches. They have four pockets and the back two are a great depth that my phone fits in well and I don't worry that it will slide out whilst riding as well as hiding treats well ;)

I love the bird design on these as it's something different from them being yet another navy pair of breeches in my collection! Unfortunately, Aztec Diamond no longer do these but I am thinking of buying their aubergine coloured breeches.

Considering I bought these in the sale, delivery was really good as I received them 7-10 days after purchasing with an email saying that due to the sale it would take longer to dispatch than usual.

If you're after a new pair of breeches then I definitely recommend you check out their site. I'm also lusting after their baselayers!

Thanks for reading,

Laura xx

[Product Review] Euro-Star Priya Shirt

I saw this shirt a few months ago before it actually came out and thought it looked pretty good. Unfortunately, the first site I saw it on was advertising it for something like £60-£70 which I didn't really want to spend! I then saw a promo code for Topline Equestrian offering 10% so I figured I'd have a look at what they had. When I saw they had the Euro-Star Priya Shirt for only £40 I decided to hop at the chance of using the discount code and order myself one. 

The Priya shirt is quite literally amazing in my opinion! It features a mobile pocket on the upper arm which is ideal on slightly warmer days when you have no jacket/pockets to put your phone as well as a slit for your watch. It also features thumb holes meaning you can pull it over your palms to provide extra warmth. The inside of the shirt is fleece whilst the outside is made from fast-drying material. Having worn this in the rain I can safely say that it keeps you dry and does dry quite well without clinging to you like other materials. It can be worn on it's own or layered for the colder weather making it great almost all year round (not quite suitable for warm weather as you will probably melt!). It also has a kind of turtle neck with a zip making it easier and more comfy to wear. There is a bit of material behind the zip as well so it's not exposed and you don't get that horrible feeling of the zip rubbing against your skin. Initially I hated the idea of the material, but after wearing my shirt nearly constantly, I realise it's actually a great addition!

As mentioned, I ordered my shirt from Topline Equestrian. They had it in either navy or 'beaujolais' (red) & I had a rather tough decision trying to pick one. In the end I went for the red as the majority of my breeches and other riding wear are navy so thought it would go well with them. I am quite impatient when it comes to deliveries but then realise it's only been a few days despite thinking it's been weeks! However, after about a week or two I received a call from Oliver who runs Topline Equestrian. He called to explain that unfortunately he'd been involved in a riding accident resulting in a short hospital stay and as he is the only person behind the company, there was a bit of a delay in getting my parcel out to me. From this alone I would definitely recommend the company as very few would take time to give you a call to explain the delay! He also offered a free gift as an apology which was ridiculously nice of him, and again very rare & unexpected. After another week/week and a half, I received another call from Oliver asking if my parcel had actually been delivered as he'd used another company. Unfortunately it hadn't so he chased it up and sent me a text the next day to let me know it would be arriving within a day or two. True to his word it did and I was shocked to open it and find two shirts in each colour! Seriously top service!! 

I would definitely recommend this top to anyone as it fits nicely and is perfect for riding in, especially at the moment when it can be mild one day and freezing the next!

Thanks for reading,
Laura xx

[Product Review] Horseware Brianna Riding Jacket

I bought this jacket from Burghley after deciding that I couldn't keep wearing my uni riding jacket (turns out, I still will!). I spotted this one and thought it would be great for keeping me warm in winter and the peaked hood is the ideal attachment. Initially I wanted a coat similar to my uni one which is a softshell type of jacket but many of them aren't really waterproof which isn't ideal with our weather!

After wearing this in the worst weather, ie when it was absolutely hammering it down with rain and rather windy, I felt that I simply had to write a review about it as it proved to be amazing! Unlike previous coats, this one kept me nice and dry as well as the items in my pockets which has proved to be a let-down in other coats. The peaked hood means that it keeps the rain away from your face but it is also detachable so can be easily removed if not needed. It also features quite a high neck which keeps the wind away whilst providing you with extra warmth in case the 100g fill wasn't enough! It's not too bulky either which I have found with other winter riding jackets so it's easy to move and ride in. I think I only paid something like £70 or £80 for this so it's definitely worth it!

Thanks for reading,
Laura xx

[Laura Loves] Christmas Wishlist 2015

With Christmas approaching faster than anticipated, this is probably a bit on the late side! I honestly can't believe how fast 2015 has flown by! There are two main items on my wishlist that I can't decide upon and that is either a new bridle or a quarter sheet. 

I've been eyeing up the Evison Equine bridles but can't actually decide between a standard or paying a little bit more for a Crystal browband one. I really like the sound of the Evison Equine bridles as they feature a padded headpiece that curves away from the base of the ears so reduces pressure on that sensitive area which should allow the horse to work more freely. They are also reasonably priced at between £80-£120. Normally this is more than I would want to pay for a bridle but if it's going to last a good few years and it seems like it's a good bridle that reduces resistance so should be worth it!

The thermatex quarter rug has moved up on my wishlist after reading Jessica's review on Gee Gee & Me (read it here). I previously looked at one of these last year but didn't really want to spend £55/£60 on one, however it seems that these would make a great addition to Pea's rug collection! At present, Pea's exercise sheet is a waterproof one with fleece lining that is great (especially when working in the rain) but annoyingly it is not cut-a-way around the riders leg so I have to fold it back in order for Pea to actually listen to my leg aid! The thermatex quarter sheet features the classic great wicking properties as well as being lightweight and easy to put on/remove. It also comes in various colour choices and can be personalised. 

The Mountain Horse Sovereign boots are most likely going to stay on my wishlist for quite some time being around the £300 mark but they just look so smart and stylish! They would definitely only be used for competition (although I would need to break them in first!). They claim to feature a softer and easier heels down position so offer increased performance and the two tone brown makes them look very stylish!

The final item on my wishlist is a Wintec dressage saddle. Due to Pea's continuously changing shape and conformation my saddler has recommended that a wintec saddle is the best make for him as they feature the changeable gullet system and aren't too long in the back. My current saddle is a wintec GP which I've had for 7 years and never had any issues with so they're long lasting and easy to care for. I believe the dressage saddles start from about £450/£500 so they are a great price compared to other makes and look smart too despite not being leather. 

Thanks for reading,
Laura xx

[Laura Loves] Autumn Colours: Reds & Purples

Deep purple/red shades such as burgundy and plum are my absolute favourites for autumn! Before I ended up in a job where I'm not allowed nail varnish, I would always crack out my gorgeous berry shade nail varnish as soon as the leaves started turning! This year, I seem to be turning this love into equestrian items! There seems to be so many gorgeous saddlepads and breeches coming out this year in 'must have' autumn shades!

I bought Pea this LeMieux plum set from Burghley and I have to admit that it looks amazing on him! It's so nice, sometimes, having a grey when there are so many colour options to suit! 

I discovered Aztec Diamond earlier in the year and follow them on social media, including instagram. When these aubergine breeches popped up on on my feed I just knew they had to be added to my wishlist. At £90, they are a bit more than what I tend to want to spend on a pair of breeches but after buying a pair of Aztec Diamond breeches a few months back, I can guarantee these will be worth the money! They are, however, in competition with the breeches below:

These HKM Lauria Garrelli Paris breeches are so pretty! I spied them on Equus a few months back but they were out of stock and have only recently been restocked. Again at £94 they are more than I wish to spend but they are high on my wishlist as I do love them! I'd love to see them in person so if anyone has any or knows any one who does please let me know!! 

And finally, I have grown quite fond of this RiderbyHorse cherry red set. I love the binding as it makes the pad stand out a bit more rather than being quite plain. I've seen some images on instagram of it on various horses and it looks amazing! 

Thanks for reading,

Laura xx

[Laura Loves] H&M Loose Tee's

Jersey Top - £7.99

A slightly odd post I guess but these tops are perfect for riding in! They are loose fitting so perfect during the warmer weather as it means they don't cling to you so give you a bit more air to breathe! I picked up a couple a few months ago as, although I love polo shirts, I just find that when we do have some warm weather, polo's are just a bit thick and not too suited for warm weather!

The tops are £8 and come in a wide range of colours. They are great to wear at the yard or out shopping and are easy to pair with any breeches or jeans in any pattern! I am definitely planning on picking up a couple of more as I love mine! 

So, like I mentioned, slightly unusual as you normally see 'equestrian' products featured on here but these tops are more affordable than many 'riding' tops and as I mentioned, they can be worn anywhere and not just at the yard but still look stylish!

Thanks for reading,
Laura xx

[Product Review] MacWet Gloves

Sorry they're mucky! 

This product review is probably really long overdue! I received these gloves from Samantha (Haynet Blogging) to review as she was unable to ride at the time. Unfortunately, I only got to use these properly for a month before going on placement leaving Pea on a 3 month holiday and I don't think I got round to writing the review amid the chaos of finding somewhere to live and sorting things out! 

However, since November, these gloves have been religiously worn each time I ride and when I lunge and I've grown rather fond of them! 

Reasons why I love them:

• they are fitted which means that they fit to hand literally like a glove, no annoying large fingers, and so it makes untacking/tacking up wearing them much easier. 
• they don't slip on the reins when you get caught riding in the rain!
• they keep your hands nice and warm when you're schooling in the winter and don't overheat too much in the summer either.
• because they are fitted I think it makes them look a bit smarter too...maybe that's just me?

Not so good points:

• I don't really have any negatives. The pair I have are black and ideally I'd prefer them brown, which they do do, but for general schooling it really doesn't matter (right....)!

Overall, these are a great pair of gloves and have lasted well. I would definitely recommend them to anyone looking for a pair of good riding gloves that you can also wear doing other yard duties!

Thanks for reading,

Laura xx

[Laura Loves] Autumn inspired outfit

Hello!

This feature - Laura Loves - is to replace Wednesday Wishlist, as lets be honest, they were rarely posted on a Wednesday! These will not necessarily be every week but will hopefully be quite frequently. They will be similar to the wishlists, but will feature outfit inspirations, interior design inspirations, products I like the look off, things like that! Please let me know what you think of this feature! 

So, let's start with today's post! This is an outfit which I think works well for autumn. Autumn is possibly my favourite season, as is winter, as I just love wrapping up in cosy jumpers whilst at home/out shopping or wherever, and for the yard wearing nice rugby tops and hoodies with gilets. What's not to love?! I find summer so much harder, especially riding wise, as no matter what you wear to the yard, you will get unbelievably hot, plus there's fewer places to stash your phone, money, treats, keys, etc! So much hassle! 

Charles James Fox - £26

I'm tempted to invest in a base layer this year, as I normally just buy a couple of long sleeve tops from Primark which obviously aren't that great at wicking away sweat. In the autumn, it can always be a bit of trouble deciding whether to wear a hoodie or not as the weather can be so deceiving! So I think putting a base layer followed by a polo and then a gilet is the perfect combination! 

Joules - £29.95

I'm pretty sure that when you think of polo tops, one of the first brands to come into mind is Joules! I used one of there's as an example as they are really nice and last really well too! Also if you ever get a chance to pop to one of their big sales (not the general in-store ones) I would definitely go! I've been a few times with Mum and you can get such good bargains! I went a few months ago and picked up a few things, one of my favourite being a nice duffle type coat with hood that was only £25 and when I got home I saw the label advertised it for £170-£180! Complete bargain! A few other polo brands I like are Ralph Lauren (Dad bought me one once as a surprise from the outlet shop in Bicester!) and also Toggi. 

Jack Wills - £89.50

Okay, I have to make a confession here! For my 18th, my mum and I went half and half on a Jack Wills gilet very similar to this one, only to make the promise that I wouldn't wear it at the yard. That lasted about a year or two! Oops! However, it is just so nice to ride in and I love the hood with it - I think Pea does too as he often tries eating it when I bring him in! It is the perfect way to keep warm without needing a jacket and the pockets are perfect for treats, mobiles, keys, etc. It is so hard to find gilets with zips on the pockets but this one does! It is generally one of my most worn items!

John Whitaker - £55

My local tack store has started to stock these John Whitaker breeches and I'm forever tempted to buy some! They are such nice quality and I love the grey colour! I prefer breeches to jodphurs but I'm not so keen on the huge difference in price!

Riding Sock Co - £6.99

I bought these socks a few weeks ago from a local tack store and I am in love with them! The colouring in this picture isn't that great but I have a picture on my instagram of the orange ones (@lauracb_93) and they are reasonably bright! They are just so comfy, a good thickness and I just love the colours! 

Kanyon Boots from Mole Valley Farmers - £89.95

I bought these a few weeks back, just after Burghley as I was originally going to buy some Toggi ones but nowhere at Burghley had my size so I popped into my local tack store and found these instead. I'm hoping they are going to last me a while as I get through wellies ridiculously fast! Country boots always look so stylish and are perfect for horses or country walks. 

Let me know if you liked this post! Also what are your perfect autumn outfits?

Thanks for reading, 

Laura xx