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Alice Collins: A highly unscientific guide to shopping at Olympia


  • H&H’s products editor Alice Collins has had a poke-about in the shopping village at Olympia. Here’s her collection of the weird, the wonderful and the downright blingy bizarre:

    Upstairs:

    These lacy numbers from Prestatie Sport – competition shirts with a twist.

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    Big, secure haynet designed for more natural feeding position than a traditional haynet and less wastage than feeding from the floor. Made from the same stuff as shrimping nets in the US. Find them at the Shadow Horse stand.

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    Super mega uber bling patent boots on the Equiclass Ltd stand

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    Arka Equine have these lovely jackets from Dada Sport – I love the glittery collar

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    Make a statement with these loud blue and red long croc riding boots. Find them at the catchily-named Calzaturificio Romitelli Shoes S.R.L.

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    Add a bit of bling to your life with these colourful diamante-ended whips from TJS Saddlery

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    Tweed and bits and handbags? What’s not to love? Check out these beautious bags at Joey D’s stand

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    Matchy matchy to the max with these colourful stirrups from D&J Sadddlery

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    Blow the budget with these show-stopping wooden horses from STB Imports

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    OK, so it’s not technically anything you can buy, but Four Seasons EQ’s eyebrow-raising marketing is worth checking out

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    Downstairs:

    Do your own stunts or know someone who does? Most of us do and this might be just the Christmas present for them

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    Bling it up with The Mane Dealer’s super sparkly belts

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    Coltsfoot Equestrian are offering bespoke whips – have any name or words printed on to the slappy bit while you wait

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    I was going to call these “discipline socks”, but that sounds a bit naughty, so I’ll rephrase and just say that there are socks for all disciplines at Kozysocks

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    The triple world record holder Charlotte Dujardin loves them, so check out these Lemieux St Moritz crocodile brushing boots on the Horsehealth stand

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    Make kids cute AND safe with this snazzy Uvex helmet – found on the Horses In Sport stand

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    Black and bling: Barkers Equestrian have these little beauties in both tendon and fetlock boots

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    HKM are rocking the glitter – find these on the Hertford Horse Bits stand

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    These rosette cards make the perfect present for horsey kids

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    Shine that lasts: this hoof varnish doesn’t rub off or mark boots/bandages. Find it at Ayr Equestrian

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    Four-year-old Lara Copinger-Symes knows what she wants for Christmas: find fabulous rocking horses on the Stevenson Bros stand

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    If you’re at Olympia for the long haul, invest in one of these genius little bum cushions from the Olympia merchandise stand

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    Also not really shopping, but a visit to this palm reader is worth it for a giggle (or to find out who you’ll marry etc)

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