We've been very flattered with how many outstanding riders have asked us if they could be Arch & Alex ambassadors. For a business as new as us, the support and enthusiasm is humbling. We're suckers for people that absolutely love our stuff, and two very loyal Arch & Alex fans stood out so much recently that we couldn't ignore them. So we've decided to support them in their endeavours this year in return for them flying the A&A flag as our Brand Ambassadors. You may remember aspiring Victorian dressage rider Katie Gray from our previous blog, whom we unofficially appointed as Brand Ambassador in November. Well, consider her official. Katie is joined by another Victorian, showjumping star Robyn Todd (the face behind Snaffle It Horse Supplies). By way of intro, we asked Katie to tell us about the most important member of her team, her horse Kokomo Bravo (or "BK" as he is affectionately known, short for "Bob the Knob"). Here is BK's story... So my very trendy and cool sponsors have asked for a blog article on the wonderful BK, the suave and sensitive dressage horse that I completely adore and the recipient of a tack room full of ribbons in the last 12 months. Well the story of BK dates back almost 10 years now to when I went to look at a racehorse off the track, He had raced a handful of times and had memorably finished without a jockey on a number of those occasions. He was crazy yet kind and despite tearing off back to the stables, demonstrating, a fear of ‘things’ in the distance and an incredible rear, he had a lovely jump and a friendly face so I decided to buy him. He quickly became a decent eventer with amazing scope who occasionally snatched the bit and headed for Mars yet progressed quickly through the grades and was especially good at showjumping, rarely touching a pole. Unfortunately after a number of years together we had a mishap at a water jump and Isaac broke his leg. While waiting for my own bones to heal I took to Google and found Isaac’s mother had been used as a broodmare at a stud with a warmblod stallion in the ACT. They had bred two horses from her before she died and I was lucky enough to persuade them to sell one of them to me. That one was BK. He was trucked down from the ACT and despite spending his youth in a 100 acre paddock, adapted quickly to Yarra Valley life, hard feed, rugs, mud, kids in prams, adult riding and traffic. He hadn’t been ridden since he was broken in years earlier but was more than happy to have a devoted human friend. For the last four years, with an injury break due to BK putting is rug over his head and running through a fence and a slight interruption due to my son and daughter being born, we have had a ball. BK is NOT up for pony rides and flat out refuses to have anyone else on him. His complete hatred of trail riding and going over obstacles he has not had a really thorough look at (as well as a grave concern over things in the distance) has meant that he has not (yet) become the eventer that I had in mind! Fortunately, he has quite accidentally become a fun and competitive dressage horse. He is an kind and friendly soul who loves a pat and who the kids can lead around. He kicks his bath when it gets low, stands near the house and looks at us when he wants food. Getting a whip or spurs from the stables is a complete waste of time for a horse that always gives his best. He gets by on a handful of rides a week amongst work and family commitments and always makes us look good. In our many lessons he tends to cotton on to the exercise before I do. He is (handily) the colour of dirt and is blessed with a seriously good tail. His breeder still has his half sister who I periodically try to convince her to breed from as part of my succession plan... she doesn’t seem keen, but I have years to wear her down! Next year BK and I are planning on staying sound, not falling off, getting more ribbons, wearing cool clothes from A&A, slobbering on children and having new houses built. BK’s house is being built over the Christmas New Year period and is palatial in order to also fit in his brutish TB paddock mate Henry and eternally youthful minnie-shetty cross paddock mate Chad. His house is far closer to completion than my own, though I have high hopes of moving out of our tiny cottage and into our sufficiently sized home sometime before my husband and I die of old age.
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Only 9 more sleeps until Santa squeezes his rather large butt down the chimney!!! Are you ready?? If you're anything like us you've been way too busy riding horses and enjoying the warmer weather to tackle that Christmas shopping list. If you've left shopping for your horsey friends until the last minute, fear not! We've put together some gift ideas for all the horsey peeps in your life. A few clicks of the mouse button and we'll have your gift buying sorted and you'll be back out playing ponies in no time at all..... GIFTS FOR THE HORSEY woman If you have a horsey girlfriend, wife or partner, consider yourself lucky. Horsey women are the easiest to buy for. They will appreciate anything, and we mean ANYTHING you get them that is horse related (except maybe a poop scoop... perhaps steer clear of that one). But if you really want to up the Brownie Point Factor, you can't go wrong combining her love of horses with her love of all things shiney. Yes, we're talking equestrian jewellery. We have stunning pieces for all budgets in our range, so check them out. You can thank us later ;-) gifts for the horsey mum Horse mums are the best. On top of their mum duties they often have to take on the role of groom, horse transport driver, financier, caterer, support crew and coach. And they know how to get those stains out of your favourite white breeches. Horse mums are like Wonder Woman, without the hot pants (well, usually without). So why not show mum how much you appreciate her with a timeless and elegant gift horse inspired gift. Our Caldene range has many mum-worthy pieces, including the stunning silk Bradenham scarf and a beautiful selection of belts. Gifts for your horsey bestieThe pressure is on when it comes to your horsey bestie. She always gets you the best, most imaginative presents, right? So you really want to find her something she'll love. For originality and a gift she will use all year, check out our Arch & Alex tee shirt collection. We have a design and a style to suit everyone and all horse interests. Does she love jumping and have a wicked sense of humour? Give her a laugh with our Size Matters tee. Does she like dressage and have champagne tastes? Look no further than our Dressage and Champagne tee! All our tees are designed and printed in Melbourne on soft cotton tees that suit most body shapes. Some other bestie-worthy gifts are this cute Show Vibes tote bag from Hunt Club, perfect for puting all your essentials in for a rally or comp day. Or how about a lucky horseshoe necklace, earrings, or the set?! Bestie's present sorted! gifts for barn buddies One of the best things about being involved with horses is the number of amazing like-minded people you meet and become friends with. There's your riding club mates, your instructors, friends at your agistment centre, trail riding companions, neighbours... those friendly and witty girls that run your favourite online equestrian shop (subtle hint there ;-)).... The list is endless. Stocking filler type gifts that are thoughtful and useful but aren't going to bankrupt you are what you need for the multitudes in this category. We've stocked up on gifts in the $10-$40 price category so that you can have your Barn Buddies covered. Our Longwinter Farm lip balms are guaranteed crowd pleasers. We struggle to keep up with the demand for these babies. Not only do they come in the yummiest of flavours (apples and sugar cubes in Pony Breath, spearmint and cotton candy in Unicorn Farts (what else?!?!?), peanut butter and pumpkin in Puppy Kisses and orange marmalade, violet and cotton candy in Pegasus), they are also creamy nourishing lip balms with no nasties in them. So far from being just a gimmick, these lip balms will keep lips moisturised and kissable no matter how many hours you're out in the sun, wind and rain. And at just $10 each you can grab a heap as stocking fillers Socks are another great stocking filler for horsey people. We all go through long socks like crazy, right, wearing them with our riding boots every day. So a top up of really good long socks is always appreciated. We have an amazing value pack of Caldene pop socks in just in time for Christmas. These socks are fine at the leg for wearing with tight long boots (and to help them stay up) yet padded for comfort in the foot section. At $40 for a pack of 3 they are amazing value. If you're after a stocking filler for someone that loves dogs (or foxes) have a look at our selection of lightweight viscose scarves for just $25. These scarves are a perfect summer weight scarf and add a cute whimsical element to any outfit. gifts for your horse Last but not least, lets not forget something under the tree for your horse this Christmas. The best thing about a present for your horse is that you get to unwrap it and enjoy it too!! Everyday is like Christmas for most of our spoiled ponies, so lets really go a little bit special for Christmas. Our pick is this sumptuous Caldene dressage saddle pad and matching ear bonnet set. With the added sparkle of silver in the trim and logo, and in the subtle flecking on the outside fabric of the saddle pad, this combination will have your horse looking like a noble steed at Christmas and throughout the year. So hop online and get your Christmas shopping sorted! We get orders packed and out the door within 24 hours and ship via Australia Post, so you've still got plenty of time to get your order before Christmas! Happy Shopping!!! Although it might not feel like it if you are in South Eastern Australia at the moment, summer is just around the corner. That means riding early or late to beat the heat, wishing you could ride in shorts and hoping no one notices that you're covered in dust and smell like a sweaty horse when you duck into the shop to grab groceries after your ride... Although riding in shorts isn't really an option unless you like chaffing or riding bare back, it is possible to keep your cool while riding in hot weather if you wear the right gear. This is where sporty equestrian brand Tottie comes in. We call our Tottie gear "the Lorna Jane for horseriders" because of its activewear appearance, technical fabrics and performance focus. A firm favourite for warm weather is Tottie's Wycombe Polo. This top has the cut of a traditional polo shirt, with a soft knitted neck to keep the sun off your neck, but the rest of the shirt is made of a super soft and lightweight technical fabric that stretches with you and wicks away sweat to keep you dry. We have tested this top in the hottest, sweatiest conditions and it has still passed the "whiff test". Definitely a winner. Available in marled charcoal or magenta. Tottie's Mayfield Zip Polo is also made of a technical fabric to keep you cool and dry. Its high zip collar and ruched back are perfect for those looking for something a little smarter to wear out to clinics or training days. These polos come in 3 fantastic colour choices: peacock blue, white (with contrast blue stitching) and berry (with contrast yellow stitching). Although we can't avoid the trade mark horse rider's white legs (sorry!), your legs don't have to melt when you are riding. Many riders tell us that they ride in running tights as a more comfortable, flexible, lighter weight option to breeches. Tottie came up with the perfect solution by designing a pair especially for riders. The Maven Endurance Jods are super comfy pull on jods made from a stretchy lightweight fabric. They are similar to running tights in weight but have the advantage of subtle silicon knee grips for that little extra bit of stability in the saddle. So now, when you want to go for a run after you've been riding (which I don't know about you but I do ALL OF THE TIME ;o)), you don't even need to get changed! If you prefer to wear more traditional breeches but still keep your cool, there's always Tottie's Maven Knee-Grip Breeches. These breeches come in the super cool summery colours of white and pink and have a casual low rise jeans look, perfect for stable to street wear. Although they are made of 94% cotton for coolness and breathability, they have 6% elastane added for comfort and stretch. Cute contrasting triangle detail on the silicone knee grips add to the funky summery look of these breeches. Finally, lets not forget your poor tootsies sweating it out in your boots. Tottie's Maven Tech Socks are lightweight material in the leg section, making them perfect for under snug long boots. However, they still have a padded foot section for comfort. And our favourite feature - little ventilation panels to keep the air circulating and your feet cool (well, as cool as possible in boots). They also STAY UP, which is an absolute bonus.
So get shopping and be prepared for the heat this Summer! We've had a few requests lately from some lovely and incredibly talented riders wanting us to sponsor them. It is something we would like to do seriously in the future, particularly at pony club or adult riding club level as we are all about supporting every day riders who don't have the benefit of big-end-of-town sponsorship. But we are a brand new business, so we feel the need to establish ourselves a little bit before we take on the responsibility of little sponsored rider mouths to feed. Plus we're lazy. And a sponsored rider program requires a bit of planning and effort... So, anyway, we were at the HRCAV TTT Dressage in beautiful Gladysdale, Victoria, last weekend with our little pop up shop meeting the lovely HRCAV peeps when we bumped into Katie Gray. We know Katie as she fosters Arch's little older brother, Chad the Wonder Pony. Katie is a bit of a fan of Arch & Alex gear and has low (actually, no) expectations of her sponsors, and no sponsors at all, for that matter. We decided then and there that she was absolutely the perfect candidate to be A&A's first "really, not-really" sponsored rider! We'll be following Katie's progress as she moves up the dressage ranks with her super cute and smoochy, if somewhat cowardly, pony Kokomo Bravo (aka "BK"). And we'll be making sure she keeps the amusing blog posts going otherwise we will withdraw all non-existent sponsorship benefits. Here is her first blog, wrapping up all the thrills and excitement of the TTT Dressage... Hello to all fans of Arch & Alex, my name is Katie Gray and I was excited to be the winner of their totally unpublicised grass roots Search for a Star campaign. (Helped slightly by being the foster parent of Arch & Alex’s favourite Shetland - Mini cross and pony club stalwart ‘Chad’). Last weekend myself and my trusty equine partner, who goes by a number of names though most commonly BK, turned our attentions to Top Teams Dressage. The pinnacle event on the HRCAV dressage calendar. BK and I turned to dressage this year as our foray into eventing had been spotted with incidences, such as some extreme bronc riding at Wandin in 2014 - a very impressive display apparently. Anyway dressage it is! He had a good run up to the event with a fourth place at Dressage in the Valley and a reserve championship at Lilydale and Yarra Glen Dressage Day in the weeks before TTT. So we arrived at the TTT venue in Gladysdale mid-hurricane and managed to park next to an extremely large and loud tanker dedicated to emptying the 4000 or so porta-loos on site. BK and I then set out on a fast disorganised march around the grounds with me having absolutely no chance whatsoever of tying him to the float adjacent to porta-loo activity. Luckily we tracked down our favourite casual horsewear stand and the lovely Samantha babysat the big baby while I moved the float to a location away from the loos and also from falling branches and flapping signs. BK, who already looked a treat and is blessed with an amazing tail, stood calmly while we took off all of our trendy horsey casual gear and squeezed into our Adult Riding Club uniform, complete with World’s Smallest Vest.
We however pulled out all of our stops in the second test achieving lengthens in canter and trot, a lovely bouncy shiny tail and overall great horsey good looks coupled with some semi average salutes to the judge to win that test and be reserve champion overall for our section! Phew, cheers all round, ‘good job mum’ from my 2 year old and my dad was even videoing the correct person in the correct arena for most of the test. Success. Then BK and I happily slipped out of our squeezy Adult Riding Club uniform into some super trendy and MUCH warmer gear from Arch &Alex and chatted to Samantha and Cai Lin until the presentation. BK was thrilled to get more ribbons for his collection and Samantha and Cai Lin were pleased that I continued to top their Sponsored Rider Leader Board and that despite the complete lack of structure to their Search for a Star campaign, I was not a total dud. Together we are now planning an extensive 2017 campaign and actively searching for larger (yet very cool) navy blue vests. Winning!
Today is Arch's birthday! Arch the thoroughbred was part of the inspiration for the Arch & Alex business and kindly lent us his name and image (beautifully captured by local artist Lyn Beaumont) for our logo. He is a massive character and we love him bits. To celebrate his birthday weekend, we are offering free shipping within Australia for all online orders received this weekend!!!
In case you were wondering, here are some stats on our mascot: STABLE NAME: Archer (named after the winner of the first two Melbourne Cups ... Pfft!!!), Arch or Archie STUD BOOK NAME: All Satin (or All Satan, as one of the race announcers calling his race once mispronounced... ) OTHER NICK NAMES: Melman (after the hypochondriac giraffe on the Madagascar movies) AGE: 13 HEIGHT: 16'3 BREEDING: Thoroughbred by Arena out of Alsatia OCCUPATION: Former racehorse. Now a professional malingerer. His human has the odd burst of inspiration to apply him to dressage, working equitation or even just trail riding. But those activities take way too much effort and impinge on his stuffing-face-full-of-grass-in-the-paddock time. So anything too strenuous will usually result in him faking an ailment of some description. Acting is probably his true calling.... FAVOURITE PASTTIMES: Bossing around his paddock companion Snowball. Mindgames with Panda the dog. Reading veterinary journals to ensure any faked ailments are portrayed convincingly enough to ensure that he at least gets put back in the paddock and at best gets a warm cosy stable and lots of extra attention. CLAIM TO FAME: Winner of the 2008 Esperance Cup. Nominated for the 2008 Melbourne Cup (which nomination was enough to kick off Arch's acting career and he promptly feigned a tendon injury - training to be a racehorse was way, way too much effort for Arch). LIKES: Eating. Doing inappropriate things with his tongue. Eating. Pulling strange faces. Carrots. Any form of veterinary or medical attention. Attention in general. Eating. DISLIKES: Anything strenuous. Getting his hair wet. Not being fed on time. Anyone patting Snowball and not him. To claim our special birthday offer of free postage on orders within Australia all this weekend, simply type the code "BIRTHDAY" in at the checkout. Happy Shopping! A&A are super excited to announce the launch of the first in what we hope will be an ever increasing range of our own must-have equestrian lifestyle products. We have teamed with mastermind Victorian based jeweller J Edwards to bring together a collection of gorgeous equestrian inspired trinkets. So whether you want to add a smidgeon of sparkle to your competition attire, a touch of glamour to your favourite outfit, or just want to celebrate your love of all things equestrian every day, we're sure you'll find something in this collection you'll love. All pieces from our core collection are now available to shop on our online store. This winter has been pretty brutal so far in Victoria, where A&A Headquarters are based, and in many other parts of Australia. The freezing cold and wet conditions have really tested our devotion to our sport and even to spending time out in the elements tending to our beloved steeds. The bad news is we're only half way through winter. The good news is that we've got plenty of essentials to see you through the rest of winter and keep you as warm and cosy as possible. Here are our top tips and must-haves for surviving winter: Invest in a Great Jacket You can't avoid being out in the elements when you have horses to ride and feed. Your best bet is to protect yourself as much as possible by investing in a really good warm, waterproof jacket. Our top pick is the Maven jacket from Tottie. This little beauty is fully water resistant, has a detachable hood that stays on your head when you need it to and lycra sleeve cuffs to keep the wind out. Read more about this jacket here. If you ride under cover a lot, get really hot when riding or want something a little more tailored, you could try a softshell jacket. These are water repellent, block out the wind and have a lot of stretch and give so they don't restrict movement. Our grey Caldene Casares jacket is absolutely stunning. Ride in it and then head straight to the office - it's that smart! Wear Warm Jods Breeches and jods that are a heavier weight fabric can be lifesavers when the temperature plummets. Our go-to breeches at the moment are Caldene's Carter breeches. Their soft brushed feel fabric is ultra cosy but also provides the ultimate in stretch and comfort. With their casual jeans style and gorgeous embroidery detail and diamante rivets, you'll find yourself wanting to wear them all the time. Available in black and navy. Don't Forget a Scarf Stopping heat from escaping out through your collar can really make all the difference when it comes to keeping warm. Yet scarves can be a little cumbersome when trying to ride or do stable chores. This is why the Hunt Club's chunky knit infinity scarf is such a must-have. It is the perfect weight and length for keeping your neck warm without getting in your way or stopping you from zipping up your jacket. It is made from super soft acrylic, so if wool makes your neck itch this is the scarf for you! Cosy Up Winter lingers for a while, so we might as well embrace it whenever we can with the clothing equivalent of comfort food - warm, soft and cosy jumpers and fleeces that we just want to cuddle up in. Our favourites are Hunt Club's logo sweatshirt (you will not believe how soft and sumptuous the fleece inner of this jumper is!) and Tottie's Maven zip front fleece. So, go on. When you've been outside and you look like the photo at the start of this blog, slip into one of these babies and snuggle up on the couch with your favourite puppy or kitty cat.... There. Winter's not so bad after all, is it? Arch & Alex was created through our shared love of animals. A&A was named after our horse and hound who were both given a second chance in life. Arch is an off the track racehorse and Alex was a rescue dalmatian. The A&A four-legged employees you see on our social media pages are also rescue animals - Panda (Wolfhound X), Mia (Boxer X) and Tigger (Bengal X). Animal rescue volunteers do amazing work in helping animals in need with limited resources. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing a rescue animal find his or her forever home with a loving family. Today's blog includes a 30sec video of Mia - a year ago she came into foster care unable to walk from her injuries. Now she is running like a normal dog and enjoying life in her forever home. Click on this link to watch Mia's video If you are an animal rescue volunteer, accredited OTTB retrainer or have adopted a rescue dog or horse, A&A would like to offer you free shipping on our fabulous Masta dog coats and horse rugs - while stock lasts. Our dog coats are exceptional quality and come in a choice of styles - waterproof for outdoor adventures, or snugly plaid pyjama style for those indoor naps. We have a number of fantastic Masta horse rugs available, from cottons to turnouts and cooling rugs. Please use coupon code "SupportRescue" at the checkout to redeem this offer. We would love to see pictures of your rescue animal if you are willing to share your story in the comment box. Are you looking for a new waterproof jacket to keep you warm and dry while you're out riding your horse, walking your dog or doing farm chores in this wintery weather? If you like jackets that are a little more vibrant and sporty-looking than your standard riding jacket, check out our maven jacket from Tottie. This jacket is so fab it was picked up and featured by Elle magazine in the UK! The jacket is padded for just the right amount of warmth but features breathable fabric and underarm ventilation so that things don't get too steamy inside when you get active. It has an internal zip pocket with headphone hole and a detachable hood. We love the reflective Tottie Sport logos, comfortable lycra cuffs which keep the wind (not to mention the dirt and hay) out, and soft waterproof outer lining which doesn't rustle too much when you move like some raincoats do. Most of all, we love the colours which coordinate so well with many other items in the Tottie range - navy blue with light blue highlights, and berry with bright yellow highlights.
Practical, functional and stylish. And only $150. We think we may have found the perfect winter jacket... We are getting some good feedback (and some cute pics!) from customers who have bought our Climatemasta turnout rugs. Customers love the ergonomic neck design, which makes sense when you think that horses spend 70% of their time grazing. The fit of the rugs and the one click fastening system is also getting the thumbs up. Archie's owner Karin was so happy with the rug that she bought her other horse Hartley one too. Here is a photo of them both looking rather dapper. Who is this masked horse? Gorgeous Raah, below, is also toasty warm and comfortable in his new Climatemasta with 200g fill. This winter, navy and purple really is the new black... |
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Logo artwork by Lyn Beaumont |