Welcome to our Equestrian Brand Spotlight series!
Here at Discount Equestrian, we only stock the highest quality products from top equestrian brands. As dedicated horse owners and experienced riders, our team understands the importance of having confidence in every investment – whether that’s a hoof pick, luxury saddlecloth, or fully waterproof winter rug, to smart riding boots, an innovative base layer, or socks – therefore, we’ve dedicated a series of blog posts to introducing you to some of the amazing brands we partner with, who help us connect you with market-leading equestrian products.
Today’s fantastic featured brand is Equilibrium®…
“Tested by Us, Trusted by Champions.”
Renowned for their equine health products, since 2001 Equilibrium® has blossomed into a thriving company that manufactures some of the equestrian marketplace’s top health care products for horses. Here at Discount Equestrian, we are proud to work with Equilibrium® to provide the finest quality products that keep your horse in top condition throughout their life.
UK-based brand Equilibrium® was founded by Margaret Donnelly, when her horse Timmy suffered from headshaking and she wanted to help ease his discomfort. Here’s their story, “I bought Timmy as an un-backed two year old in Ireland. I just fell in love with him! He was backed as a 3/4 year old, and was always a fantastic horse. Out of the blue, as a 5 year old, it started becoming clear that he had developed a violent reaction when ridden, where he was tossing his head, trying to strike his nose with his front leg, rearing up, he was snorting continually. To ride a horse who suffers from head shaking, it’s awful. The more you go on, the worse it gets.
I had some people saying ‘He’s just being resistant, he’s just being naughty’, ‘push him on’. But I knew – you couldn’t have a horse that had been fantastic to ride and hack, never put a foot wrong, suddenly turn out to be un-rideable.
I knew there had to be a physical reason for it, I just didn’t know what it was. And no one did back then. I think previous to that, most head shakers used to be retired, or put down.
So working in product development for all of my career, I was used to having a problem, and trying to solve it. I got out my sewing machine and started making a few things for him. After a few weeks of trying different things, I found this very rough mesh that basically, with a close fit, worked the best for him. I noticed he liked to wriggle his nose against it, so it almost provided like a little scratching pad for him.
I can imagine that for him, it’s a bit like if our nose was really really itchy, but someone had tied your hands behind your back, how would you relieve that itch? We would get very frustrated, agitated and very cross!
So I found a solution for my horse, I was so delighted! I was being faced with making a decision for my horse that no one wants to make that decision. As it was though, he went on to be a fabulous dressage horse, who didn’t really ever miss a Regional Championships. He got to the National Championships and was placed 10th – just got in the ribbons! But he’s just been a great horse, he’s still with us today in his 20’s and he has his little niggles, but he’s comfortable and enjoying life. But the way I look at it is that he’s [had] 20+ more years of life than he would have had if I hadn’t have come up with the Net Relief Muzzle Net.”
Let’s take a look at just a few of the incredibly innovative products made by Equilibrium® right here in the UK:
* Equi-Chaps Close Contact Chaps
“A breathable turnout boot for mud fever prevention, designed to keep horses’ legs dry and mud free. Shaped to fit over the fetlock, hoof & heel. Completely covers the coronet band. Breathable, soft & comfortable. Made from perforated neoprene with 4-way stretch, to fit like a second skin. Easy to wash, quick to dry. Can be worn on front or hind legs as required.”
* Equilibrium Massage Pad
“The Equilibrium Massage Pad has three different settings – high, medium and low – which can be selected easily from the attached controller. This enables you to select the intensity of the program to suit your horse. Each program has three different types of massage – pulsing, vibration and stroking – to ensure all muscles are worked in different ways.
The Equilibrium Massage Pad can be easily incorporated into your warming up and cooling down routine. The medium setting is ideal to warm up muscles before exercise, the low setting can be used to cool down after work, and the high setting helps alleviate back problems when your horse requires a more intense massage. Each session will last for 30 minutes however, this can be manually stopped at any time.
The Massage Pad fits an array of horses and ponies so can be easily transferred from horse to horse or pony. It comes in a handy carry bag which makes it ideal for use at home, away. It is easy to store in the tack room and is wipe-clean. The bag also has useful storage spots for the battery and charger.
The Equilibrium Massage Pad is now the choice of many Olympians, world champions and top producers.”
** Please note: the Discount Equestrian team advises you to consult with a vet prior to using any massage products on your horse! **
* Vitamunch Marvellous Meadow
“Vitamunch is a unique, healthy, tasty, high fibre, low calorie, low sugar, cereal-free snack that your horse or pony can enjoy at any time. Enriched with essential vitamins and minerals, with added red clover and nettle. Suitable for those prone to laminitis or obesity. Can be fed in an munch net, on the ground or soaked.”
* Net Relief Muzzle Net
“Net Relief Muzzle Net is one of the most effective products in controlling the symptoms of headshaking. [Available with a] 1 Year Guarantee. Improved the symptoms of 79% of headshaking sufferers in clinical trials at De Montfort University. Contoured mesh for comfortable fit over muzzle. Totally unobtrusive and permitted by British Dressage and British Eventing for use in competition (see rule applying to the use of nose nets for each organisation).”
* Symmetry Straps
“A simple and effective lower leg training aid. Symmetry Straps are a simple idea designed to help riders develop a feel for the correct leg position in the saddle and to train the body to be able to adopt and maintain this position easily, in a safe, simple to use and discreet way. Including safety release.”
Just as the team here at Discount Equestrian are passionate about supporting equestrian disciplines from grassroots and beyond, Equilibrium® work tirelessly to support riders and carriage drivers from around the world in a range of disciplines, including: Erin Orford, Mark Kiddle (AUS), Malcolm MacRae (AUS), Millie Allen, Pippa Allen, Ben Hobday (GB), Michael Murphy (GB), Daniel Neilson (GB), Lorna Kidson (GB), William Fox-Pitt (GB), Emily Ham (GB), Jonathan Paget (NZ), Brett Parbery (AUS), Lynn Russell (GB), Sam Griffiths (AUS), Anthony Bartlett (AUS), Natalie Bird, Rachael Downes (AUS), Samantha Osborne, Pierre St Jacques (USA), Sheridyn Ashwood (AUS), Matt Archibald (AUS), Sophie Christiansen (GB), Natalie Povey (GB), Ricky Bradshaw (GB), Adam Wooten (AUS), Emma Jo Slater (GB), Holly Gillott (GB), Daniel Moseley (GB), Daisy Coakley (GB), Judy Harvey (GB), Rob Waine (GB), Joe Meyer (NZ), Lucinda Fredericks (AUS), Buck Davidson (USA), Kim Severson (USA), Allison Springer (USA), Allison Brock (USA), Louisa Milne Home (GB), Hawley Bennett (CAN), Tina Cook (GB), Charlotte Price (AUS), and Jo Hamilton (GB).
If you need any assistance selecting the perfect Equilibrium® product for your horse, please don’t hesitate to contact the Discount Equestrian team – we’d be happy to help!
Further information about the Equilibrium® brand can be discovered here.
