Meet The Supreme Team - Alex Hollings

In this feature, we introduce you to our team members - whether it be head office personnel or our Sponsored Riders.  In this edition, we introduce to you :  Supreme Products Sponsored Rider -   Alex Hollings

What is your earliest riding memory?

Riding my first pony Tonka round our school

Which is your favourite horse or pony from years past?

Would have to be Dykes Rosie mead who took me to my first RIHS & HOYS and then went on to win both for me!

Which horse would you love to ride (any discipline, past or present)? Lyncombe Blueprint

What’s your favourite holiday destination? 

Turkey

What is your greatest memory from competing? 

Winning at HOYS 2011 with the Wood Family’s Snaafi Bright Spark

How do you unwind after competition? 

Have a bath, eat, listen to music

Favourite film? 

The Notebook

What is your favourite Supreme Product and why? 

Glistening Oil – Mum’s even put it in my hair

Do you have pets and if so, what are they? 

Libby – Cavalier, Luna – Jack Russell

Do you have a lucky charm and if so, what is it?

My show pony head necklace by Rosemary Hetherington & an old cork in my jacket pocket

4 people for a dinner party (dead or alive) who would you invite?
Alexa Chung,  Zara Phillips,  Kendall Kardashian,  Liam Hemsworth

Book or i-Reader? 

Book

Have you ever had a holiday disaster? 

Realising my passport had run out 3 days before we were due to fly and Mum spending the day in Liverpool sorting it out

What would your dream car be? 

An Audi

Favourite tipple? 

Malibu and Coke.. at home of course!

Alex at NCPA 

Charlotte Dujardin's Top Tips for Presentation

“The key to a smooth running competition day is good organisation. When possible we try to arrive in plenty of time to allow the horses to take in the atmosphere and keep stress to a minimum by not rushing around.

After working the horse in and after I have got myself ready, we apply last minute touch ups.

For extra glitz and glamour we add a little Supreme Products Sparkle to the tail. This is the ultimate turn out product and looks fantastic when I compete indoors or in sunlight.

To accentuate and highlight the head area we concentrate on two main areas - the eyes and muzzle.

We always apply a little Black Matt Make Up around the eyes, we dab it on with our fingers or a little sponge.

Keen not to go over the top, we always blend it in well and finish with a little Glistening Oil for understated shine.

Highlighting the eye area really accentuates the head and when trotting down the centre line I think this really helps catches the judge’s attention.

Finally we rub Supreme Products Glistening Oil into the muzzle, this works particularly well on those with dark muzzles and creates a superb shine.

www.supremeproducts.co.uk 

Not a beauty pageant, dressage is all about the harmony and understanding between horse and rider. But why not emphasise your horse’s best points?”

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If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact us on info@supremeproducts.co.uk as we really enjoy hearing from you. We also love to see your pictures, so please visit our Facebook page and post them on our wall, making sure you tell us all about you and your horse or pony.

Our office number is not just for people wanting to buy products – if you have a question or would like some advice on how best to use our products or what would be the best product to use in certain situations, then please call us on 01377 229050 – we will be happy to help where we can!

Best wishes,

Sarah

How To: Attach a False Tail

Follow this easy step by step guide to expertly fit a false tail.

Step 1: From the inside of the tail, take a section of hair approx 1cm in width and start to plait down, plait about 2 inches.

Step 2: Take one of the strands from the plait and feed it through the loop at the top of the false tail.

Step 3: Continue to plait for approx 2 more inches below where the false tail has been introduced. Remember to plait quite tightly!

Step 4: Sew the end of the plait, making sure the end of the plait is secure and the false tail is held in.

Step 5: It never hurts to run a couple of stitches through the fabric loop at the top of the false tail.

Step 6: You can see here the false tail section is on the right of the picture and the natural tail is the trimmed section on the left. Shake the tail well to blend them together.

Step 7: Trim the tail so you have a nice length and tidy finish.

For a great selection of false tails and false forelocks, visit us here . Prices start at £110 for tails and £28 for forelocks.

Examples of false tails include the following.

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact us on info@supremeproducts.co.uk as we really enjoy hearing from you. We also love to see your pictures, so please visit our Facebook page and post them on our wall, making sure you tell us all about you and your horse or pony.

Our office number is not just for people wanting to buy products – if you have a question or would like some advice on how best to use our products or what would be the best product to use in certain situations, then please call us on 01377 229050 – we will be happy to help where we can!

Best wishes,

Sarah

How To - Produce Sharks Teeth

Here's our step by step guide for how to produce Sharks Teeth..........

1) Spray Supreme Products Deluxe Coat Gloss liberally all over the quarters. Once dry, this will help ‘set’ the marks in place.

Supreme Products- Deluxe Coat Gloss

2) Once sprayed over, use a soft body brush to brush the coat in the direction of hair growth, leaving it smooth and laid.

3) Position the brush at mid-quarter then use the brush in an upwards direction in one stroke and produce an arc from the quarter towards the tail

4) You should be able to see the first arc clearly as the hair will now be lying in a different direction from normal growth. 

5) From the same starting point as the first arc, brush downwards in a diagonal movement.

6) You should be able to see the diagonal brushstroke quite clearly, as the hair will be lying in a different direction from normal growth and the first arc. 

7) Starting just below the top arc, position your brush in an upwards direction then in one stroke produce another arc towards the tail.

8) From the same starting point as your second arc, brush downwards in a diagonal movement 

9) Starting just below the second arc, position your brush in an upwards direction then in one stroke produce another arc towards the tail.

10) From the same starting point as your third arc, brush downwards in a diagonal movement 

11) Repeat once more, depending on the size of the quarters. 

12) To add a professional finishing touch, take the brush and starting at the top of the dock, brush down the quarter in a gentle arc. This creates a more refined look. 

13) Be particular and smooth over again if you need to.

14) Once marked up, spray the quarters with Supreme Products Quarter Marking Spray to ‘fix’ the marks and to accentuate them. 

Supreme Products - Quarter Marking Spray

15) Just before you enter the ring and as an extra finishing touch, lightly spray over Supreme Products Sparkle to give a fantastic shine to the quarters.

Supreme Products Sparkle 

Final step is to practice, practice and practice until this becomes second nature!

Thank you to Robert Walker for his brilliant demonstration!

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If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact us on info@supremeproducts.co.uk as we really enjoy hearing from you. We also love to see your pictures, so please visit our Facebook page and post them on our wall, making sure you tell us all about you and your horse or pony.

Our office number is not just for people wanting to buy products – if you have a question or would like some advice on how best to use our products or what would be the best product to use in certain situations, then please call us on 01377 229050 – we will be happy to help where we can!

Best wishes,

Sarah

Meet The Supreme Team- Stacey Wiseman

In this feature, we introduce you to our team members - whether it be head office personnel or our Sponsored Riders.  In this edition, we introduce to you :  Supreme Products Sponsored Rider: Stacey Wiseman

What is your earliest riding memory? 

Jumping my section A Sixpence, bareback when I was 5

Which is your favourite horse or pony from years past?

Spinningdale Arabella

Which horse would you love to ride (any discipline, past or present)?

Tamarillo

Which is your favourite show or event?

RIHS

Which is your favourite restaurant or favourite meal? 

Tiggis Italian at the bottom, of our road

What’s your favourite holiday destination?

Turkey

What is your essential piece of kit that you cannot live without? 

Plaiting pinny, quarter marking kit

Do you follow any particular sport or sports team? 

Liverpool FC

Favourite film? 

Cry Baby

What is your favourite Supreme Product and why? 

Easy plait, keeps plaits tidy without marking the mane/neck

Tea or coffee?

Depends on the time of day but I am addicted to Nescafe Mocha

Do you have a lucky charm and if so, what is it? 

I have a lucky outfit for each pony ...more costume changes than Beyonce sometimes!

4 people for a dinner party (dead or alive) who would you invite? 

Robbie Williams Brendan Rogers Sara Cox Alex Turner

Favourite tipple?

Sparkling Rose

What time is your alarm clock set for?

7.01am

Do you have a nickname? 

Stass

How To...... Create the illusion of Topline

If your horse or pony needs to develop a little bit of topline but the show season is upon you, follow these handy tips from Robert Walker on how skillful plaiting can create the illusion of topline..........

What you will need:

• Supreme Products Easy Plait
• Needle and Thread
• Supreme Products Highlighter Gel
• Mane Comb
• Hair Clip
• Supreme Products Sparkle

1)   If you would like to create an illusion of topline, section the mane then spray over with Supreme Products Easy Plait. This can be sprayed on to a wet or dry mane. Using Easy Plait will enable you to get a good firm grip on the mane hair and also help hold the plait in place.

Supreme Products- Easy Plait

2)  Plait the mane using a slightly thicker plait and start the plait off less tightly than normal at the top of the plait. Sew the base of the plait as normal.

3)   When you roll the plait, as it has been started off less tight, it will ‘flair’ a little, giving a wider plait. Roll then sew the plait and set it slightly higher up the neck. 

4)   Apply some Supreme Products Highlighter Gel to the fingers and palms and apply this to the plaits – this will accentuate the shine and is also helpful for sticking down any stray hairs between the plaits. 

5)   Here you can see the first three plaits that have been set higher up the neck and were looser, where the second set of three plaits were tighter and set lower down. The first set of plaits give the illusion of more topline.  

6) The final step is to spritz over the plaits and topline with Supreme Products Sparkle, which will accentuate the plaits and topline further as well as give a lovely natural shine.

Supreme Products Sparkle

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If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact us on info@supremeproducts.co.uk as we really enjoy hearing from you. We also love to see your pictures, so please visit our Facebook page and post them on our wall, making sure you tell us all about you and your horse or pony.

Our office number is not just for people wanting to buy products – if you have a question or would like some advice on how best to use our products or what would be the best product to use in certain situations, then please call us on 01377 229050 – we will be happy to help where we can!

Best wishes,

Sarah

Retailer Profile - First Saddlery

Retailers Profile:

Today we introduce you to Alex and Karene and their shop, First Saddlery, based at Morris Equestrian Centre in Ayrshire.....


"We opened First Saddlery in November 2011. We are close friends who have years of experience both within the equestrian retail market and within competition yards.

Our shop is based within one of Scotland largest equestrian centres at Morris Equestrian.

At First Saddlery we are always on the look out for new and exciting brands to bring to our store helping to keep us unique and fresh setting us apart from our competitors. The range of stock that we carry regularly receives positive comment from our customers both old and new."

Where is your shop?
First Saddlery, Morris Equestrian Centre, Fenwick, Ayrshire

What size is your shop (approx) 

2500sq foot

Tell us about your Customers....

Customers from all Disciplines. We have shows within the centre ranging from Affiliated and Unaffiliated Dressage and Show Jumping Showing, Pony Club and Riding Club also local customers who just enjoy a quiet hack.

How long have you been in business?

In Business since November 2011

Who are your team members and what are their skills?

Small team of Alex Scott and Karene Wallace we are Business Partners; the Sales Team; the Accounts department and Customer Service, and any other duties that might arise!

Do you own horses yourself?

Alex owns a Highland pony who had a successful career showing and is enjoying his retirement and I (Karene) have a Brood Mare who competed up to Foxhunter; her Four Year Old daughter and her Three Year old son. I am hoping to compete Show Jumping, Eventing and Possibly even Working Hunter.

What are the major brands you stock in your shop? (Pikeur, Hunter, Joules etc) 

Some of our brands are Supreme Products, Parlanti, Schockemohle, Cavallo, Pikeur, Antares, Spooks, Charles Owen, Veredus, Kingsland

How many lines do you stock from Supreme Products? 

Around 18 lines

What is your best seller?

Our Best Seller is Cover Magic White - lots of last minute cleaning before competition!

Do you stock feed stuffs?

We stock Feed Supplements but not Feeding

Do you hold open days or events? 

We held a fashion Show in December and have plans to do another one in the spring along with plans for some of our Reps to come in store and be on hand to provide information and training for our customers.

How To Get in Touch!

Firstsaddlery can also be found online and we also have a very active social network page on Facebook which you can follow and we will keep you up to date with what’s new.

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If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact us on info@supremeproducts.co.uk as we really enjoy hearing from you. We also love to see your pictures, so please visit our Facebook page and post them on our wall, making sure you tell us all about you and your horse or pony.

Our office number is not just for people wanting to buy products – if you have a question or would like some advice on how best to use our products or what would be the best product to use in certain situations, then please call us on 01377 229050 – we will be happy to help where we can!

Best wishes,

Sarah

Charlotte Dujardin - Top Tips for Dressage

Charlotte Dujardin is the current World Number 1, Double Olympic and Double European Gold Medallist and current holder of 3 World Records.

Charlotte is one of our team of sponsored riders and we are delighted that she uses our products and garments to turn her horses out for competition.

We've teamed up with Charlotte to provide you with some of her top tips..... We hope you find them useful!

Dressage is not just for dressage horses and riders - All horses can benefit from dressage, keeping them supple, flexible, moving easily and in harmony with their rider.

Working-in for a workout – Dressage is gymnastics for horses so if you don’t warm up correctly injuries can occur when you start the more complex work. Try walking for around 10 minutes to start with, encouraging your horse to work long and round, stretching the muscles in front of and behind the saddle.

Stretching off muscles – Encourage your horse to stretch regularly throughout training sessions to help him relax, reducing tension that comes with repeating individual movements. How to - Lengthen the rein, lower your hand and squeeze and release the rein gently massaging the bit in the horse’s mouth.

Mixing it up – Dressage maybe your thing but try mixing up training sessions with some hacking and jumping to help keep your horse interested, and more importantly relax and have some fun!

Hill work – Hacking up hills can help with fitness and developing and strengthening muscles.

Repeat, repeat, repeat! – Dressage is about repetition so again make sure your training is varied. Repeating exercises over and over again until it become a natural movement for the horse is what we do, but if things aren’t going too well and the horse becomes upset or less responsive try some other movements, you can always come back to it later. It’s all about dedication!

Rhythm and balance – Two very important aspects of dressage. To help you maintain a rhythm while training sing a song in your head while you ride. For balance try using lots of half-halts before you ask for any other movement, this will steady him and allow him to naturally find his balance.

Working the trot – Try lots of transitions from trot to canter and canter to trot. This will help improve your trot work making your horse carry more weight on his hind quarters.

Achieving Self-Carriage – To help get your horse to carry his head and neck ask for a few lengthened strides before coming back to a working pace. Keep repeating this until he achieves good self carriage.

Mirror, Mirror on the wall... – Mirrors situated around the school are one of the best training aids. You can see exactly what your horse looks like and you can also have a look at your own position.

Reward a Treat – A great treat to reward your horse during training is sugar lumps. They encourage the horse to drool a bit and he will become lighter in the hand.

Standing Square – A good square halt on the centre line is something that is often overlooked but is something that we should train for. Teach your horse to always stand square even when you are mounting and dismounting.

Cool down – A cool down is just as important as a warm up and help prevent stiffness and injury. Gradually slow the pace, winding down especially if you have been practising any complex movements. Your horse should be feeling tired so let him stretch out in walk for a good 10 minutes or so.

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If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact us on info@supremeproducts.co.uk as we really enjoy hearing from you. We also love to see your pictures, so please visit our Facebook page and post them on our wall, making sure you tell us all about you and your horse or pony.

Our office number is not just for people wanting to buy products – if you have a question or would like some advice on how best to use our products or what would be the best product to use in certain situations, then please call us on 01377 229050 – we will be happy to help where we can!

Best wishes,

Sarah