TackGuru.com is a new product review website developed for equestrians. The site allows horse owners to read about the experiences (good and bad) that other knowledgeable equestrians have had with the products they want to buy or try. The site includes reviews for tack, horse clothing, equine feeds, stable supplies, supplements, and equestrian clothing and equipment.

“In today’s tight economy every purchase that you make for your horse undergoes extra scrutiny,” explained site developer Liz Goldsmith. “If I want to buy a saddle, or try a supplement or medication, or buy a helmet, I find it very helpful to read about others’ experiences. When I looked for a site that offered this type of information, I couldn’t find anything that was like I envisioned. Either the scope was limited or the reviews were on manufacturers or tack store sites, which might be biased.

“Research shows that user reviews have the greatest influence in a buying decision,” she continued. “People value the opinions of their peers even more than single reviews by ‘experts.’ That makes quite a bit of sense because with items such a saddles, personal preference plays a large role in someone’s satisfaction.”

Goldsmith spent more than a year researching review sites and thinking about how she could make a site that offered a unique perspective. “I looked at review sites across many different industries and cherry picked the features that I thought were most compelling,” she explained. “I also found that people on equine forums would ask for opinions on different products and I thought it would be so much more helpful if this information was organized in a way that was more accessible – easier to find, listed in one place, and with an aggregate rating.”

As a result of her research, TackGuru.com features:

• Rated user reviews that provide both individual comments and an overall ranking. It was important to her that you could see an aggregate “score” that spans multiple reviews.
• A format that combines multiple reviews in a single location. She didn’t want people to have to keep “clicking” to read more reviews.
• A broad scope of products. Rather than just focus on tack, she wanted to create a single source for the full range of products that equestrians use and need. The site addresses feeds, supplements, stable supplies, blankets, tack, equestrian clothing and even provides a place to rank on-line suppliers.

TackGuru.com is free to use but requires registration. “I have found that when people must register, the quality of their reviews is higher because the authors have some accountability,” said Goldsmith. “In addition, when you find a reviewer whose views you agree with, you want to find other products they liked or disliked.” She explained that “The site was in beta testing for several months last year and I was very impressed by the insights offered by reviewers. This is a sport where the users have a lot of knowledge and experience to share.”

TackGuru.com is physically located in Lincoln, Mass.  Site owner and developer Elizabeth Goldsmith is a life-long equestrian who has tried many of the products reviewed in the site. She encourages all equestrians to share their opinions on the products they have tried.

Some pictures just don’t need captions!

There is nothing like Mom’s lap no matter who you
are.

This is a newborn offspring of Taskin, a

Gypsy Stallion owned by Villa Vanners of Oregon .

These pictures were taken immediately after his birth on April 6 2010.

The mare laid down, and then he trotted around and crawled right up into her lap.

Take a moment out of your busy day to enjoy these pictures, lovely!

http://www.equestrian-escapes.com/

I have been researching horse articles today and came across this poem, just what is a horse? I think this describes it perfectly!

What is a horse?
A horse has eyes as dainty as a mink.
The grace is interrupted merely by a blink.
A horse is beauty.

What is a horse?
A horse is a tree in a storm that never goes down.
A horse is a weathered rock that stays around.
A horse is ancient.

What is a horse?
A horse waltzes like breeze over rivers.
She curvets and leaps like rain shivers.
A horse is a marionette.

What is a horse?
A horse is determination, that never stops flowing.
A horse is fondness, that never stops growing.
A horse is poetic power.

Equestrian Escapes, offers you the choice of some of the very best  individually created equestrian holidays in the UK and Europe. We are knowledgeable horse lovers dedicated to designing you the best possible horse riding holiday. If you would like more information about our holidays please contact us so that we can advise you. We cater for all ages and abilities, if you cannot find your perfect holiday we will tailor make a holiday especially for you.

email: info@equestrian-escapes.com

Tel: 01829 781 123

Autumn and winter are readily approaching and what better place to appreciate the wonderful rusting colours of fall and the morning frost on the ground than from one of the ten uniquely decorated bedrooms in our luxury country house hotel.

The hotel stands in 17 acres of formal gardens and parkland with wonderful views across the Cheshire countryside towards the Welsh mountains – an ideal touring base for Chester and North Wales and a perfect pre-Christmas romantic setting!

We’re offering a two night stay in this beautiful country house hotel, four riding opportunities and a free beauty treatment all for £265. The perfect birthday or Christmas present!

During your stay you will enjoy expert tuition and wonderful riding out along picturesque bridleways of Delamere forest. These holidays are suitable for all abilities and ages.

The on-site beauty therapy suite offers a wide range of treatments including non-surgical and surgical treatments. Our favourites include the spiritual healing hand ritual – a combination of a deluxe manicure with an energy boosting massage, ideal therapy for your hands after a long days riding. And the back neck and shoulder massage to sooth those aching muscles.

The famous Roman walled City of Chester is only fifteen minutes away. Packed with culture and its magical magpie buildings it’s an abundance of character and is a place not to be missed when visiting Cheshire. From the 12th November the streets are lit up making Chester the ideal place to do your Christmas shopping and soak up the festive atmosphere.

This holiday offer lasts until the 23rd December, so get in contact with Equestrian Escapes now on 01829 781 123 autumn/winter horse riding holiday in Cheshire! The free beauty treatment only applies to booking made Monday to Friday, offer excludes weekends.

The Alentejo Region is home to the beautiful and elegant Lusitano Horses, a wonder for all horse lovers.  On this horse riding holiday you have the option of exploring deeper into the culture and history of the Lusitano Horse, and can choose from lessons, hacks and carriage driving.  Where this holiday is really great is that your itinerary is entirely up to you!  This holiday is also available to non-riders and non-drivers alike, so that everyone is able to get involved.  Activities for non-riders include bicycle rides, archery lessons, canoeing and fishing in the natural lake, as well as expansive walking in the rural countryside.

Your accommodation is on an expansive farm in the Southern Alentejo region far from city life so that you can just sit back with nothing to worry about!  Riding atop a powerful Lusitano horse is truly a wonderful experience.  The olive and cork trees that splay out in front of you makes a most picturesque scene.  The many fragrances, colours and sounds that can be found in this region will surely leave a lasting imprint on your mind…

Nuno Baptista

Facilities are newly renovated and include an infinity pool with newly built spa facilities.  The food is excellent andyou will be able to get a real taste of the local cuisine in all its splendour!  Chief Equine Instructor Nuno Baptista will be working with you to design your itinerary and is happy to help you with anything you may need.  Nuno is a national judge in Portugal and is also a member of the national dressage team.

This horse riding holiday is one of a lifetime, and if you have a passion for horses then the privilege of riding a Lusitano will bring much pleasure to you.  For more information on this horse riding holiday, or any other holidays from Equestrian Escapes, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Once you have decided which horse riding holiday you intend to go on, Equestrian Escapes has a few more tips for you, too…

When going away on a horse riding holiday, don’t take too much with you!  Especially if you are an inexperienced rider, do not spend a lot of money on equipment that you may never use, or that you may never use again.

In Spring, Autumn and especially in the summer months, it can get very hot, so to avoid feeling sweaty and sticky all the time, try to stick to natural fabrics, especially cotton. There are many fantastic new products on the market, including full cotton seamless underwear, which is a blessing for the trail rides. Don’t forget about fine cotton socks, too.

 Trousers
Of course, nothing beats the comfort and protection that proper cotton breeches or jodhpurs afford for riding, but if you don’t intend to ride much after your holiday, you can get by with cotton tracksuit bottoms or leggings.

Tops
Should be fairly fitted, and it is better to have at least half sleeves for protection to the shoulders against sunburn or low hanging branches on the trail riding holidays. Even in the summer, they are just as cool and for the ladies, are much more “supportive” and comfortable so you can concentrate on learning in your classes. If you come in winter, it’s good to bring tops you can wear in layers, T-shirts, sweatshirts and vests. Sometimes it is quite cold and suddenly it gets hot, so it’s good to be able to add or subtract quickly.

Whatever your experience, whatever the holiday, Equestrian Escapes are here to help make your dreams come true…..

"You Can Lead A Horse To Water But You Can't Make Him Drink...."

Meaning:

People, like horses, will only do what they have a mind to do.

Origin:

Proverbs give richness to language and, to some extent, define a culture. ‘You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink‘ might be thought to encapsulate the English-speaking people’s mindset better than any other saying, as it appears to be the oldest English proverb that is still in regular use today. It was recorded as early as 1175 in Old English Homilies:

Hwa is thet mei thet hors wettrien the him self nule drinken
[who can give water to the horse that will not drink of its own accord?]

Dear Equestrian Escapes,

I recently travelled to Slovenia and came across some horses that reminded me of a horse-riding holiday that I booked through you.  I went alone, to Barcelona and had the most wonderful time.  I remember especially that the horses were so healthy and well looked after, and Barcelona itself was so pretty.  I am currently travelling around Europe on business, but when I return I think I may just ring you to book a well-deserved horse-riding break!  Italy, perhaps this time!  Or perhaps I should try something entirely different?  Maybe the side-saddle?…….

I look forward to speaking to you on my return,

Many thanks,

Eduardo (Horse Expert)

Equestrian Escapes' Horse Riding Holidays

If you are looking for a holiday that is a bit different, and carries with it a sense of adventure, why not book a horse riding holiday?  Equestrian Escapes offers a wide variety of horse riding holidays, from Peru and Spain, Portugal and Italy, to the Uk and Ireland.  You can even take your horses with you on holiday, and learn new tricks together.  You can design your own riding plan to suit you from lessons, short hacks, half day rides to full day rides.

Riding in Berkshire

Accommodation is also varied, from pretty little B&Bs, to log cabin, quiet country hotels, to luxurious full board hotels and spas.

Here at Equestrian Escapes we are happy to discuss your perfect holiday.

We went with Equestrian Escapes to Dartmoor with our two girls, and had the most wonderful time!  Dartmoor National Park is so beautiful, and the horses are to die for!  We stayed in a lovely self catered cottage, and enjoyed a good pub meal in the evening.  Each day when we rode out the scenery was even more pretty every time, and saw a nice variety of wildlife, too – how lucky we were!  Dartmoor is really beautiful, and I suggest this holiday weekend to any family who needs a break away!

Explore Dartmoor with Equestrian Escapes

Many thanks,

Sophie and Paul