Keep safe whilst hacking with new GPS phone App!

A unique piece of safety equipment is now available to keep you safe while hacking alone; the HorseRidersSOS app for smartphones.

The new technology has been designed to keep riders safe, sending a panic message to your emergency contact if an accident occurs.

You may be thinking how does my phone know if I am in an emergency? Well, this new piece of safety equipment monitors activity while on ‘tracking mode’ and will enter into ‘alert mode’ and send a panic message to a pre determined contact number if it recognises that there has been a significant period of inactivity and no movement, such as from the event of a fall. This SOS message contains your exact GPS position thanks to the brilliance of global positioning systems.

However, in case of false alarm the app also has a built in safe mechanism which allows the user to over ride if not genuine.

This unique app costs £4.99 and is available for Android and iPhones at www.horseridersos.com

Take the Sweet Itch Survey to win £100 worth of Country Clothing!

Horse owners with animals that suffer from sweet itch are being urged to help with the sweet itch survey.

If your horse suffers with the skin condition which occurs in the summer time, you will understand the need for more information to improve the welfare of horses suffering with the condition.

Completing the survey will only take ten minutes while helping improve the quality of many horse’s lives. You will also be entered into a prize draw to win £100 worth of country clothing vouchers!

Managing sweet itch can range from using specialised horse rugs which help relieve the symptoms, which include itching, hair loss and flaky dandruff. Sweet itch is caused by an allergic reaction to insect bites and is known to be a hard condition to treat.

To enter the survey, please visit www.mogannonassociates.com/surveys/equineskin/ and make a difference to a horse’s life.

Get Well Soon Tim!

Get well Tim Stockdale is a wish for any persons in support of equestrianism and British Show jumping.  Well known for his dedication and success to show jumping, 47 year old Tim Stockdale is on the mend after his accident on the 17th October.

The accident happened while the Olympic show jumper was trying out a young horse in North Wales and moved to adjust a piece of horse tack. The horse jerked forward, knocking Tim from the saddle where he hit the post and rail fencing. He was unconscious for a while after landing outside the school.

Immediately, Tim was transferred to Shrewsbury Hospital and then moved to a spinal unit. At first it was thought he had fractured two vertebrae but new tests have revealed that it is actually three, along with torn ligaments on both sides of the neck.

Due to adequate safety equipment when the accident happened, Tim is now on the mend with six weeks bed rest and physiotherapy. Laura, Tim’s wife has said that her husband is in good spirits but isn’t the easiest of patents saying: "He's really fidgety and all I hear the nurses saying is, 'Will you stop moving!

"He doesn't do relaxing, so it's going to be hard."

The famous show jumper, sponsored by Tuffa footwear, is hoping to make a recovery and be back on the circuit around February, March time. Other riders have shown their support offering to take his horses to competitions and fans have relentlessly shown support though social networking and emails.

Last but no least, from us at Dogwood London, get well soon Tim!