News
An Evening with Hunt & Hall at Country Ways Banchory
This week, we had the pleasure of hosting the incredibly talented Natalie Harper Howell from Hunt & Hall at our Banchory store! Come read a little bit about the evening.
An Introduction to using studs
Don't stress over studs for your horse's shoes! Here's a great introduction to the different types and their uses by our sponsored sponsored event rider, Eilidh Costelloe.
Looking forward to 2021!
It’s that time of year again where I have a year end catch up with our sponsored rider, Eilidh Costelloe. It’s the third time we’ve sat down for a chat, through that’s about the only thing that’s the same. After all, neither of us could have ever expected to be having a conversation like this, because neither of us could have anticipated what 2020 would bring
Dressage Masterclass with Daniel Watson
When I arrive for the Country Ways sponsored Daniel Watson demo at Tillyoch Equestrian Centre, I find the man himself sat casually at a picnic table, taking a well earned break before beginning the evening demo (and before I interrupt him with my questions! ) I am introduced to him and the first thing he tells me is how much he has enjoyed his day’s teaching and how friendly we all are up here in Scotland It’s his first time in Aberdeen and he has thoroughly enjoyed it.
Badminton Grassroots success for local rider, Sophie Bultitude
Mention the word Badminton in non-horsey circles and most people will think of the sport involving racquets and a shuttlecock. For the rest of us horsey folks however, the word is synonymous with the pinnacle of eventing.
The Mystery of Marks with Jane Peberdy
Most of us who have ever ridden a dressage test will have at some point felt confusion/mild irritation/full-blown anger (delete as appropriate!) at some of the marks on our test sheet. Indeed the very fact that the demo to which this blog is dedicated is called ‘The Mystery of Marks’, denotes that there is often much confusion as to how and why judges award the scores they do.
In Conversation with Cecilia Gladwyn: The Celtic Dressage Championships
Cecilia Gladwyn is a name synonymous with dressage. So when I was invited to have lunch with her to talk about her new initiative, the Celtic Dressage Championships (sponsored by Country Ways), I jumped (or do a small hop because I have a bad back and a dodgy knee) at the chance!
The Science (and Art) of Feeding: Top Advice from TopSpec’s Katharine Mieras
The other day we were lucky enough to have the lovely Katharine Mieras from TopSpec come to visit the shop and give the staff training on the latest products in the TopSpec and VetSpec range.
Bonkers about BOGS: The very wearable welly
I must confess that before I started working at Country Ways, I wasn’t familiar with the BOGS brand of footwear. But the more I learnt about them, the more I began to covet a pair. Not least because my own wellies had seen much better days and had started to leak. And we all know the misery of soggy feet. Indeed much akin to the old adage ‘no hoof, no horse’, the same could be said for any outdoor pursuit, in that comfort levels firmly begin with the feet!
Reaching for the Stars – An interview with Eilidh Costelloe, Eventer and Sponsored Rider at Country Ways
As I sit down, I spot Buddy (or ‘Westmuir Quality’ to give him his formal title) munching away in his stable, looking every inch the cool dude that he is. I tell Eilidh I feel a little star struck in his presence, and that I’ll have to make sure to get a selfie with the superstar before I leave. She laughs and agrees that Buddy has indeed become a star in his own right (he was after all Mark Todd’s ride for his demo evening), but just now, he looks every inch a mud monster! I smile in reply because it’s great to see him relaxing happily at home. Almost like getting a private glimpse of a famous person before they put their makeup on!
An evening with Chris Bartle – Olympic Event Rider & Coach
Our roving reporter at Country Ways, Lynne Clark, summarises a demo evening at Fountain Equestrian Centre with the legendary Chris Bartle. It’s safe to say that the Chris Bartle demo took place on a night of some of the wildest winter weather in a long time! A howling gale and torrential rain didn’t stop the equestrians of Aberdeenshire turning up – though to a chorus of “we must be mad” echoing through the gathering crowd (we are horsey folk, it’s a prerequisite that we are a bit mad).
Bridles Re-Designed
There’s been a distinct movement in bridle re-design in recent years which focuses on the horse’s anatomy and how to reduce pressure points caused by a bridle on particular areas of the horses head. Recent focus has centred on research on the horse’s cranial nerves, so we’re seeing the term ‘Anatomical’ arise more and more when it comes to bridles. There are several anatomical bridles on the market; the latest to arrive is the Collegiate Comfitec and the Schockemöhle Equitus ranges, but what does ‘anatomical’ actually mean and how can it benefit your horse?
