[Laura Loves] New Look Unicorn Light

New Look: £9.99

How amazing is this light?! I spotted it a few weeks ago on New Look's instagram but unfortunately it was sold out online and I hadn't seen it in one of my local stores. However, the other day I was out shopping with mum and the store we were in had it in stock. There was no way I was leaving it on the shelf!! 

It appears that unicorn things are quite popular at the moment as New Look also had a small chalk board in the shape of a unicorn as well as on many items such as water bottles, air freshener & socks! Primark also seem to have jumped on the band wagon as they also had a unicorn chalk board!

Thanks for reading,

Laura xx

Valentine's Gifts For Him

The final post in my Valentine's gifts is obviously going to feature a few gift ideas for men. Now I will admit straight away that I am awful at gifts for anyone to be honest, let alone men! So apologies in advance! 

#1: Cufflinks
Cufflinks come in such a variety of designs nowadays so there's plenty of designs to pick from. One site which I have featured quite a few times do numerous different designs and that is 'The Dog & Dobbin'. You can choose from various dog breeds or there are three different horse designs. My favourite is the 'steeplechase' design - you can also hint at a day at the races with these ;) (Ps, they even come gift boxed so you don't have to faff around with any wrapping! Bonus!)

#2: Shirt/Polo Top

To go with those cufflinks, he's going to need a shirt! Or how about adding a bit of equestrian style to his wardrobe with a polo shirt. You can probably already guess the company that is probably number one for this - yep, you guessed it - Joules! They have so many different colours and styles to choose from so you're sure you find something to suit!

#3: Travel Mug
Travel mugs are great for people always on the go or who have limited time in the morning. Zazzle is a great site that has hundreds of mugs, beer mugs and travel mugs with an equestrian theme for everyone in the family. They can also be customised for that added personal effect. 

Thanks for reading,

Laura xx

Valentine's Gifts For Her

I thought I would continue on with the Valentine's gift guide and offer some equestrian themed gifts for the female rider. Even if you don't have anyone to hint these at, it's always fun to treat yourself :)

#1: Jewellery
In my opinion, you can never go wrong with jewellery! There is something for everyone and so many places where you can pick up equestrian themed jewellery pieces. A few of my favourites are 'The Dog & Dobbin', 'Gemosi' and 'Harriet Glen Creations'. All were featured on my Christmas website guide and they offer such beautiful pieces. I love the rings by Harriet Glen, in particular the snaffle ring & hoof ring. Gemosi create gorgeous bracelets made individually from your horses hair whilst The Dog & Dobbin have something of everything! HiHo Silver also has a vast array of equestrian pieces with prices ranging from £20 to £400!

#2: Cushions
Everyone loves cushions, right?! They can be put anywhere - on the bed/sofa/chair/lorry/even the car! There's been an increase in equestrian cushions on the high street lately as well as a quick google search finding no end of online sites selling them! Asda & Tesco in particular do some great cushions at really affordable prices! In fact, there's a donkey cushion I have my eye on in Tesco that's only £4, though I haven't seen it in store :(

#3: Shoes

A girl can never have too many shoes, not even an equestrian! Whether it's a pair of country boots, riding boots or even deck shoes. Though, I'm personally after a pair of Fairfax & Favour boots which come in a variety of colours and also have different coloured tassels that you can buy for them! They are just so gorgeous!

Thanks for reading,

Laura xx

Valentine's Gifts For Your Horse

Now, I'm pretty sure that it's a well known fact among equestrians that our main other half in our life is our horse. With Valentine's Day fast approaching, here are some gift ideas for your horse.


#1: Treats
The way to the majority of our horse's hearts will always be food. This is definitely true for Pea who always knows when I've not given him the other carrot that's in my pocket and he'll always fish out those that I've hidden in his hay within 5 minutes. One of his favourite treats (well I guess it is) is a horslyx. I have featured this on the blog before as they are great for all sorts of reasons such as stretches, distraction aids during vet visits or clipping or as a general treat. They come in a variety of sizes and flavours so are suited for a majority of horses.

Another company that is well known is Likit. Again, these produce various licks in an even wider variety of flavours as well as making treat balls and snack bars. Or if licks aren't for you or your horse then Spillers do a range of treats in different flavours with some having beneficial factors such as Meadow Herb with Biotin or with Glucosamine. The Bailey's treat tub is also a firm favourite of Pea's with him constantly trying to break into it or knock in on the floor in the hope they'll fall everywhere. The tub is also handy to use afterwards as either a wash bucket, skip bucket for when you pick out their feet or just as a storage tub.


#2: Bridle
Horze is a Scandinavian company who I feel are growing in popularity in the UK. They have a mix of collections which vary in price so will suit everyone's budget. My favourite is the Diamond bridle at just £41.99. Annoyingly it's in black only but luckily with a grey I suppose he suits both! The noseband piece goes over the top for extra comfort and it comes with a gorgeous sparkly browband!

However, if you don't want to buy a new bridle, there are many browband companies such as Bespoke Browbands or Equiture. Equiture have a whole range of gorgeous diamante browbands (and other products) which are available in a very large array of colours so definitely worth a look if you're after a new browband!


#3: Saddle
Doesn't everyone love a new saddle?! If only they weren't so expensive! I really want a dressage saddle, however with prices starting at about £700 for a nice one, I think I'll be a long time saving! Ideally I would love either an Ideal, Albion or WOW, but as I said, I might be a long time wishing!

#4: Fleece Rug
I think it has been mentioned a few times on here that I seem to have a bit of a weird obsession with fleece rugs. I mean, they are a fundamental staple in any equine wardrobe, but I think four is a bit excessive (though I have a 'use' for each one!). Fleece rugs have so many uses from keeping your horse warm travelling, chucking on whilst waiting in between competitions, keeping you warm when you're stuck waiting at the yard for a while, if you get one with wicking materials then they are great for cooling off... Get the drift? Fleece rugs are pretty important! Therefore, why not treat your trust equine to one? I really like this Le Mieux one and I think Premier Equine do a similar one. In fact, there's quite a few nice fleece rugs out but I should really stop looking! 

#5: Leather Headcollar
I think leather headcollars look great on any horse and just give that little bit of an extra smarter look. There are also brands bringing them out at cheaper prices which still look as good if you don't fancy splashing out too much money! I love this sheepskin one, again from Le Mieux, and it can looks great on some horses! Unfortunately, I don't think it would suit mine...*sigh*

Thanks for reading,
Laura xx

Christmas Website Gift Guide #2

Hello!

I recently did a post featuring five websites as a bit of a Christmas gift guide idea (though it can be used all year round) and it has proved slightly popular so I have decided to do a 'part 2' featuring some more websites with some amazing products! (If you missed the first one you can read it here!)

The first website that I would like to introduce you to is the wonderful 'Gemosi'. The company create gorgeous horse hair jewellery meaning that you can have a piece of your horse with you wherever you go or it can be a lovely tribute to a horse that may have passed away. Each piece is handmade and there are items for men as well! Unfortunately, the last date for Christmas delivery was the 28th, however they still have gift certificates and these pieces would make great gifts all year round! I have two favourites: the first is the Harmony Infinity Bracelet (€135) and the second is the Blush Bracelet (€179). I love the Infinity bracelet as I just think it's a true representative that horses will always be a part of my life one way or another and the sterling silver snaffle bit on the Blush bracelet makes it just that bit different. 

'EquiNutritive' is a fantastic new company who have just recently launched and specialise in a back to basics approach of equine feed and supplements. EquiNutritive are currently the only company in the UK to stock Chia de Gracia chia seeds (you can read more on their website, Chia de Gracia's site or head over to Roosa's blog for a review). Other products include a 'No More Nerves Blend' (which has some amazing ingredients to provide a calming effect on the endocrine and nervous systems!) and a 'Golden Oldies Blend' as well as a few others. They are a super friendly company and I would definitely recommend that you visit their site as we all know that our equine friends are probably one of the most treated at Christmas! I am planning on putting in an order for the chia seeds shortly so keep posted for a review of how I get on in the future!

The next company is one called 'The Cosy Hat' which is a company that produces hats with a hole in the back for pony tails. There are two types - the slouchy which is perfect for everyday wear and the sports which is ideal for wearing whilst doing sports such as running, rowing, round the yard, etc. The hats come in a wide assortment of colours, including some bright ones so are ideal for winter runs! You also have the option of having a bobble on top which is something I prefer! These are such a great invention as I always see so many nice hats but hate having my hair down at the yard as it gets in the way so with these you get the best of both! I love the grey and cream slouchy one, mainly as I feel the sports ones might clash a bit with my ginger hair - though I might get away with the green! These are such a good bargain as well at only £14.95 - the same price, if not cheaper, than ordinary hats on the market!

I hope you like these websites! I seriously need to get cracking on with my Christmas shopping as I've only bought one present so far!

Thanks for reading,

Laura xx

PS - I am a finalist for Haynet's Blogger of the Year 2014. If you would like to vote for me, or anyone else, you can do so here! 

Christmas Website Gift Guide

Hello!

This year, instead of a normal gift guide, I thought I would feature 5 websites which sell some amazing things to give some inspiration for Christmas gifts!

The first is one which I have featured before and that is the wonderful 'The Dog & Dobbin'. If I had unlimited funds, I would buy so much of their stuff! They sell items such as scarves, photo frames, jewellery and mugs among other things and they are affordable which is always an added bonus! Some of my favourite items include this Silver Snaffle Leather Bracelet (£45):

I also like the Derby Stirrup Desk Clock (£32.95) and the Dog Breed Silhouette (£35). 

The second site is 'Equidivine' and is perfect for those competing in dressage, show-jumping or those who just love glitter! Equidivine sells products such as crystal plaiting bands, sparkle hoof varnish, glitter paint and stencils for use on the horse. My absolute favourite, which I might purchase in the future, are the Swarovski Crystal Plaiting Bands. These come in a whole range of colours (I'm possibly thinking blue which will hopefully stand out more against Pea's grey mane) and come in either single, double or triple rows! The price ranges from £0.99 for one single row band to £19.99 for 20 triple row bands and so these are definitely great value for money!

Next to be featured is the ever so talented Kathy from 'Kfsoriginals'. Kathy's items are not mass produced so if you see something you like, I suggest you snap it up quick! I think this is something which I love about her stuff as it makes the item that bit more unique and you can be sure that no one else will buy the same present! Her artwork is amazing and she designs on either ceramic, glass, slate or canvas which in my opinion is even better! I think the things she does on slate is my favourite as it's that bit different and the slate makes for an excellent background! 

Another site is 'Bespoke Browbands' who make handmade browbands, dog collars, bracelets and keyrings. They have a range of different browbands which can be made either beaded, plaited, have a name stitched on or just plain. I really like the beaded ones. I love that they are person specific, so you can't order from their website as you need to email them with what you want, therefore making them unique just to you! They are actually fully booked for Christmas, however you can order a gift card if you're planning on getting one made for someone. I do actually quite like the colour theme of this browband and I feel like it's quite Christmassy? However, I think I would go with a blue bead theme for Pea!

Finally, the last website to be featured is 'Harriet Glen Creations'.  Harriet creates bronze finished resin sculptures, cast bronzes and jewellery. I particularly love the rings and the bronze finished sculptures. My favourite sculptures are the Shetland pony and the one entitled 'Elegance', however my absolute favourite product is this Snaffle ring (£22). It's not too over the top and I think it demonstrates an equestrian love without being too 'in your face'! 

Hope this has given you a few ideas for any gifts if you need any?

Thanks for reading,

Laura xx

P.S. I've been shortlisted for Haynet's blog of the year. If you enjoy my blog and would like to vote for me then you can do here! 

Christmas Gift Ideas for Horses

This year I have decided to share 10 products I think would make lovely presents for our horses, because let's admit it - even though they probably have no idea what Christmas is or anything, we still decide it's the perfect excuse to treat them! (I hope that's not just me!) I shall split this into two posts so keep your eyes peeled for the second list! 

1. Likit Snak-a-Ball. 

Retail around £20-25 I think!

You can fill these with either pelleted feed (I use a handful or two or pony cubes) or Likit Snaks and it stimulates natural grazing behaviour as the horse has to nudge the ball around in order for the food to drop out. These are great for stabled horses as it keeps them amused during the night or day. Pea loves his, though it took him about two weeks to work out how to play with it, and then one morning I found it empty in his feed bucket so I think he eventually worked it out and let me know it was empty! There's a few horses on box rest at my yard as well and you can often hear them knocking their ball around keeping them entertained, much better than them getting bored and starting with stable vices!


2. Likit Boredom Breaker.

Retail around £20-£30..

The boredom breaker combines a likit holder and a ball that holds two smaller likits and are perfect for food loving horses that understand licks! The horse I look after at work loves his boredom breaker, just ensure that you hang it away from the stable walls otherwise the horse pushes it against the wall and eats the lick, not quite what is intended! Again these are perfect for stabled horses and can keep them occupied for quite a few hours. There are also a range of likit flavours that can be used such a cherry, apple, carrot, banana, mint...





3. Horselyx

These come in a variety of sizes and flavours and contain a balance of vitamins, minerals and trace elements as well as supporting all round health, vitality and have a unique Healthy Hooves package. These are great for stabled horses and those out at grass and they promote horses to self-regulate so they will only have some when they want it, no need to worry about them having too much! You can buy smaller licks which you can use during stressful times to occupy the horse to large tubs which can be put in the field. However, if you have a grey, just be careful as they make their noses orange and then they tend to wipe it on their legs! Haha!


4. Exercise Sheets
Exercise sheets come in a range of designs and colours. They can be wrap-arounds, cut-away, just quarter ones, waterproof ones, fleece ones or hi-vis ones and are perfect when exercising in winter, such as those early morning hacks or schooling sessions in the cold! If you have a waterproof one as well then it means you can ride in the rain and not have to worry about waiting for ages for the horse to dry! My exercise sheet is a necessity in the winter and Pea is much happier exercising when it's on as he doesn't get such a cold bum! 




5. Leather Headcollar

Leather headcollars look smart and can be personalised. Some people claim they prefer them to other headcollars such as nylon, as the leather can break easier if the horse gets it stuck somehow, although they are also very hardy! They suit all horses and come in black or brown, though you can get pink and blue ones for ponies! 







That is my first 5 gifts for horses! I hope you like this post and if you have any suggestions please let me know! Also, if you're getting your horse a present this year, I'd love to know what you're treating them to! Pea's having another chiro visit and will probably get some treats or something! 

Thanks for reading!
Laura & Pea x