USEA Announces Mountain Horse as Official Outerwear of the USEA in 2012 & 2013

“As always, Mountain Horse is incredibly pleased to partner with USEA.” – Amy Pembleton -Marketing Director, English Riding Supply.

The USEA is excited to announce that Mountain Horse will be the “Official Outerwear of the USEA” for the next two years. Mountain Horse and the USEA have been partnering together for the past several years to provide USEA members the opportunity to purchase high quality USEA logo wear, and the USEA is delighted to be extending this partnership.

“As always, Mountain Horse is incredibly pleased to partner with USEA,” said Amy Pembleton -Marketing Director, English Riding Supply. “After working with them for the past six years, we have come to think of them as part of the family. The Association, and their members, are hard-working, talented individuals, and, as equestrians ourselves we can relate to their needs. Knowing the demand and expectations they have when it comes to their sport, gear and clothing makes our line a natural fit. We are proud to be the Official Outerwear of the USEA and their USEA Annual Meeting and Convention Sponsor through 2013.”

The USEA will be featuring a variety of Mountain Horse jackets and fleeces proudly displaying the USEA logo in the USEA trade fair booths at both the Rolex Kentucky CCI4* in April and the Nutrena/USEA American Eventing Championships in September. Of course the logo wear is also available year round on ShopUSEA.com.

About Mountain Horse

Mountain Horse is a premier equestrian brand offering signature riding apparel, innovative outerwear, all-season footwear and complementary accessories to riders of all disciplines.

Their world-famous quality is found in every design and detail of our products. They are renowned for our cold weather riding gear, but also offer innovative three-season outerwear for women, men and children…all designed to keep you dry and comfortable.

For over 22 years, the staff at Mountain Horse has focused on every detail in engineering superior apparel and footwear and to bringing these products to riders around the globe. Mountain Horse is a Swedish company, exclusively designing and manufacturing high-quality equestrian wear. They are world-renowned for their use of innovative design technology and superior fabric selection as required by customers looking for practicality and style.

 

Sinead Halpin and Mountain Horse Partner Up and Set Eyes on the Olympic Games

“My mountain horse boots are fantastic! They are the ultimate triple threat…comfortable, affordable and they look great.” ~ Sinead Halpin

Scranton, PA — (Dec. 19, 2011)    Mountain Horse welcomes eventer Sinead Halpin as the latest addition to their Team Rider program. Currently named to the United States Equestrian Federation’s 2012 High Performance Training List, Halpin sits on Team A along with veteran eventers Phillip Dutton and Boyd Martin. Ranking in the top 10 on the U.S. Eventing Association’s 2011 Advanced Adult Rider leaderboard, Halpin also finished in 15th place as one of  two top ranking Americans at the Burghley Horse Trials held in England last September. She certainly seems to be a force to be reckoned with, and Mountain Horse is excited to be partnering with her as she sets her sights on the 2012 Olympic Games to be held in London.

Although the partnership is new, Halpin’s love of Mountain Horse products isn’t. She has been an avid supporter of Mountain Horse products throughout her riding career, relying on their world-famous quality, innovation, performance and style whether she’s at her New Jersey based farm in the snow, or competing down south on the winter circuit. “My mountain horse boots are fantastic! They are the ultimate triple threat…comfortable, affordable and they look great,” explains Halpin. “Their jackets can’t be beat either, I can always count on them to keep me warm and comfortable no matter where I am. With Mountain Horse packed in my trailer the weather is one less thing I have to worry about!”

“As always, the Mountain Horse team is extremely pleased to have such promising, young talent getting behind our line of performance-wear. These hard-working, talented riders are who we’re all about, and as equestrians ourselves we can relate to their needs and know the demand and expectations they have when it comes to their sport, their gear and their clothing,” states Sharon Gladski, Mountain Horse USA Brand Manager. “There’s a real validation to our hard work when you hear that someone like Halpin has been a such a huge proponent of our line for years now. It made perfect sense to partner with her on an official basis, and we’re proud to be a part of her team as she heads for the Olympic Games!”

Mountain Horse products are exclusively distributed in the U.S. by English Riding Supply. For more information on Mountain Horse Team Riders, or to see our full line of riding apparel, visit us at www.MountainHorseUSA.com.

About Mountain Horse

Mountain Horse is a Swedish-based company that has been a leader in technical equestrian apparel and footwear for over two decades, and are renowned for their use of high-tech features and fabrics to complement fashion and function. Known for their cold weather riding gear and stylish, functional three-season apparel and footwear, they understand the equestrian lifestyle, the pursuit of adventure and they live it themselves. All Mountain Horse products are designed and tested in Sweden by riders, for riders, always with their number one goal in mind – to develop products to enhance the potential of equestrian athletes of every level.

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                                    Sinead and Tate – Rolex 2011

Equestrian Social Media Awards

It is time for the 2012 Equestrian Social Media Awards! If you like the Mountain Horse USA blog on wordpress, vote for us here: http://tinyurl.com/7u6crak. Voting is open until December 24, 2011. Thank you for following our blog and your support is appreciated!

Thank you Veterans of the United States of America

Today on 11-11-11, we honor America’s Veterans and celebrate their contributions to our way of life. Few have given more to our Nation than the men and women who have served in our Armed Forces in peace and in war. We will never forget what you have done for us; we honor you now and always. God Bless America.

Allison Springer Joins Mountain Horse’s Team Rider Program

“I love my Mountain Horse Richmond Field Boots and Victoria Dressage Boots. They are beautifully designed and incredibly comfortable. Looking good and riding well has never been so easy!” ~ Allison Springer

Scranton, PA – (Sept. 29, 2011)    Mountain Horse is pleased to announce the latest addition to their Team Rider program, Allison Springer.  A veteran four-star event rider, trainer, and coach, and one of eventing’s brightest young stars, Allison knows how demanding the eventing world can be and relies on the proven, world-famous quality that is found in every design and detail of Mountain Horse products, from their innovative outerwear to their all-season footwear.

“Mountain Horse is a tremendous line of riding apparel. Their clothes and footwear are all well designed, functional and durable. But best of all, it is also very stylish! I particularly love the Autumn and Winter collection which offers a variety of boots and clothes to keep me warm without the bulk that can prevent me from riding well. I am proud to represent Mountain Horse as they are definitely a brand that focuses on helping me to ride well while ensuring that I look good while I’m doing it!”

“All of us at Mountain Horse are really pleased to have such great, young talent represent the line. We are a company that is run by equestrians, all of whom are super passionate about riding. So it really resonates with us to have the world’s up and coming young stars recognize and embrace that passion in the design and functionality of our products. We recognize how hard these event riders work for their craft, and truly feel like partners when it comes to helping them work and compete to the best of their ability,” states Sharon Gladski, Mountain Horse USA Brand Manager.

Mountain Horse products are exclusively distributed in the U.S. by English Riding Supply. For more information on Mountain Horse Team Riders, or to see the exciting new Fall/Winter line, visit us at www.MountainHorseUSA.com.

About Mountain Horse

Mountain Horse is a Swedish-based company that has been a leader in technical equestrian apparel and footwear for over two decades, and are renowned for their use of high-tech features and fabrics to complement fashion and function. Known for their cold weather riding gear and stylish, functional three-season apparel and footwear, they understand the equestrian lifestyle, the pursuit of adventure and they live it themselves. All Mountain Horse products are designed and tested in Sweden by riders, for riders, always with their number one goal in mind – to develop products to enhance the potential of equestrian athletes of every level.

Allison Springer and Arthur are shown here at Rolex in 2010. Allison is wearing the Mountain Horse Richmond Field Boot and using the Mountain Horse Quick Release Stirrup Iron. Photo credit: Shawn Hamilton/CLiX

Down – Nature’s Best Insulation

A warm smile is the universal language of kindness. ~ William Arthur Ward

How do riders keep warm in colder weather conditions?  We recommend dressing in layers.  Insulating jackets, coats, and vests are designed to trap body heat, hold it close to our skin and buffer us from colder external air.

One of the best options for layering is down.   Down is composed of down clusters and feathers that are produced by ducks, geese, and other waterfowl to keep them warm.   A better quality down insulation contains a higher ratio of down clusters-to-feathers.  A product is required to contain a minimum of 75 percent down clusters to be labeled as down.  Mountain Horse products contain 80% premium duck down and 20% feathers.  Mountain Horse uses a very high quality, certified down. The down is purchased only from sources where the down is a by-product of the food industry to ensure that they are not buying live-plucked down.

         Regal Jacket in Sassy Orange, Carbon Black, Snow White, & Royal Red.

Down is considered the best natural insulator because of its millions of fluffy filaments that form tiny air pockets to trap body heat.  Down is lighter, more breathable and compressible, holds it shape and lasts longer than synthetic insulations.  It is however, a bit more expense but well worth the price for the insulating properties it provides.

                    Regal Coat in Carbon Black.  Also available in Snow White.

The Mountain Horse Autumn/Winter Collection 2011 offers three new items with down insulation.  We call this our Regal Collection.  All items in the Regal Collection are quilted in a flattering pattern that allows the down to loft without shifting, keeping you warm when the temperature drops.  These stylish pieces are made with premium duck down – nature’s finest insulation – and treated with a water repellent finish.  The four-layer fabric construction keeps the down securely inside the jacket.

Regal Vest in Sassy Orange, Carbon Black, and Snow White.  Also available in Royal Red.

Additional details on the Regal Collection can be found on our website at MountainHorseUSA.com.

United We Stand

In prayer and remembrance, our hearts go out to the victims and families affected by the terrorist acts of September 11th, 2001. Please take a moment to remember the thousands of innocent people who paid the ultimate price for freedom. Our prayers are always with them.

We will be traveling from Pennsylvania to New York City tomorrow to show our respect for this great nation and in memory of our Fallen Heroes on 9-11-01. United We Stand.  God Bless America.

Active Winter Rider – Fit for Police Work

Its light weight durable construction, functionality, and price make it the best seasonal choice in boots for patrol officers. – Steve Tritt of PoliceMotorUnits.com

Active Winter Rider Boot Review

by Steve Tritt of PoliceMotorUnits.com

 

THE LOOK 

The Active Winter Rider boot has a nice professional look to it.  The material shines up fairly easily.     

THE COMFORT

The boots are extremely comfortable.  The boot is lightweight so there is no problem with long periods of use. Though not a running boot, it still did very well.  The boot can handle the day-to-day tasks of patrol.  At the end of a 12-hour day, my feet were not screaming to get out.  In fact I could have gone longer in them!   

FUNCTIONALITY

The functionality of the Active Winter Rider Boot is that they can be worn every day.  The sole has great grip on oily roads and surfaces.  It is waterproof —  riding in the rain and in cold weather, your feet stay dry and warm.   The fur lining adds extra protection in the cold.  I did not test the extreme temperatures that this boot can handle, but they did keep me warm and dry in colder temperatures. 

A great feature that this boot has is the two reflective strips on the back of the heel.  This is a nice safety feature for night and bad-weather riding.

The zippers are improved with elastic panels for better fit and use.

Due to the light weight of the boots, I did not have trouble running in them — I was able to dismount and run with ease.

I can say that, for you motor officers and Mounted Officers, these boots are durable.  While testing, I was able to clear a mechanical malfunction with the top of the boots. 

Also, I did not feel as much of the vibration of the motorcycle as I have felt wearing other boots. The heat from the motor does not seem to affect the boots, and they provide protection against road debris.  I can say that Mountain Horse builds a very durable boot.  The construction can take a beating.  I was wearing the Rimfrost Boot and laid the motor down at 55 MPH.  Those boots took the brunt of the fall and, as for my legs, not a scratch!       

OVERALL

Overall, The Active Winter Rider boot is a great seasonal patrol boot.  Its light weight durable construction, functionality, and price make it the best seasonal choice in boots for patrol officers.

The Mountain Horse Active Winter Rider is available in Ladies and Men’s sizes.  Additional details and size charts on this boot can be found on our website at the following link:  http://mountainhorseusa.com/active-winter-rider.html

We would like to extend our gratitude to Steve Tritt from http://www.PoliceMotorUnits.com for field testing the Active Winter Rider.

A Mustang Story

“Mountain Horse is an excellent company with top quality products and we are delighted to have them as part of our team of sponsors.  We work hard and demand a brand that can hold up to the rigors of everyday wear and tear in harsh environments, yet meet our requirements for style and comfort.  Mountain Horse clothing and footwear fits the bill and continues to exceed our expectations!  Their products are unique and outstanding by design. – Suzanne Myers

Mountain Horse Team Rider Suzanne Myers and an American Mustang by the name of Viggo, will be competing at the Supreme Extreme Mustang Makeover held September 15-17, 2011 at the Will Rogers Equestrian Center in Fort Worth, Texas.

Suzanne Myers and Jazz after winning the 2008 Midwest Mustang Challenge

 

Suzanne Myers, M.S., PhD Founder, Next Level Horsemanship^TM, Port Matilda, Pennsylvania has over 25 years of experience training horses professionally which includes the track, colt starting, showing, driving, and nearly every breed.  Suzanne has extensive experience in equine research, diagnostics and teaching as a former faculty member at the Pennsylvania State University and conducts professional seminars and equine clinics nationally. She is also the producer of one of the most unique equestrian challenges in the country, the Equine Masters Championship^TM. 

NLH^TM was recognized recently for their work with gentling wild mustangs in association with the Bureau of Land Management when Suzanne became the first woman to win the Mustang Heritage Foundation sponsored Midwest Mustang Challenge in Madison, WI in 2008 with a Mustang by the name of Jazz and her three assistant trainers placed in the top 10  in a similar event in Tennessee in 2009.  Suzanne accepts horses for training from across the United States.  Contact her at Suzanne@NextLevelHorsemanship.com, or www.NextLevelHorsemanship.com.

This year, Suzanne’s partner is Viggo, a 5 year old American Mustang, owned by Leslie Lloyd of State College, PA. Viggo was adopted from a mustang holding facility in Mississippi after being captured from the Twin Peaks area in California.  This is a picture of Viggo while at the holding facility in Mississippi.

Viggo at the holding facility in Mississippi before adoption

Mustangs & Burros are freeze branded on the left neck by the BLM (Bureau of Land Management ) after they are captured.  Details such as age and registration number can be deciphered from the brand.  Each brand is unique, so each animal can be identified positively.  This is a picture of Viggo’s brand.

Viggo showing off his brand

Lauren Ross is the Assistant Trainer and Facility Manager at Next Level Horsemanship™.  Lauren began working at NLH™ while a student at Penn State University and she will also be competing at the Supreme Extreme Mustang Makeover this year on a Mustang by the name of  Sparrow, who was captured from the Bald Mountain Area of  Nevada.   Sparrow’s owner is Mary Kay Soergel from Wexford, PA .

Lauren Ross

In 2009, Lauren was a top 10 finalist in the Extreme Mustang Makeover, Eastern Stampede, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee with her mustang, Durango.

Lauren Ross and Sparrow preparing for this year’s event

 

Information on Wild Mustangs

Experienced horse people like mustangs because of their sound feet and sane minds. Horses on the range, growing up in a functioning natural herd structure, are socialized in a way that few domestic horses can even come close to. They know their manners! They know where their feet are. They are masters of body language communication. They respect their leaders. They are wise and sure-footed in uneven terrain. And they know the difference between a mountain lion and a piece of debris in the wind. They don’t waste calories, tending to be less “flighty” than domestics, and thus have incredible endurance.

Range-hardened mustangs are tough and inclined to good health. Countless adopters can relate tales of mustangs surviving terrible injuries and illnesses that would surely have killed the average horse within a short time. Due to hundred of years living in harsh conditions, they are “easy keepers” – seldom requiring expensive supplements or rich feeds. Living on the range, mustangs have learned, generation after generation, not to waste calories. In this way, they tend to be level-headed, calm, easy-going animals – not the skittish, flighty creatures often conjured up by the word “wild.”

Today’s wild horses are a true American Melting Pot of Horses, and with the help of Natural Selection, they are intelligent, sound-minded, sure-footed, and strong. Mustangs normally have excellent feet that often do not require shoes, and strong, hardy constitutions. Having had the benefit of life within a functional natural social unit, they are well-socialized and savvy.

Information on the Wild Mustangs provided by author Nancy Kerson -  www.mustangs4us.com.

Viggo after  60 days with Suzanne

Viggo and Suzanne

The Team at Mountain Horse USA wishes Suzanne & Viggo and Lauren & Sparrow the best of luck at this year’s competition!

Mountain Horse Grace Jacket

“Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.” ~ John Ruskin

Our most popular ladies’ jacket is back to keep you warm and dry in moderate to cool temperatures.  In stock now at your favorite tack shop or online retailer, the Grace Jacket is breathable, windproof and waterproof.

Available in two colors for Fall 2011.  Black/Anthracite and the new Dark Brown/Anthracite. After many requests from riders for a brown jacket, because of it’s ability to look great after working at the barn and “hide” any dirt and debris marks, we introduce our new color Dark Brown/Anthracite.

 

Other features include:

- Detachable, adjustable hood forms a watertight seal

- Double riding vents at back

- Two-way front zipper with double wind flap

- Articulated sleeves with pre-bent elbows

- Back yoke with mesh lining for extra ventilation

- Reflective trim around elbows and reflective triangle at back yoke for better visibility after dark

- Adjustable cuffs with elastic and hook & loop for a comfortable fit

- Elastic waist offers a figure-flattering fit

-  Pockets:  Two zip front, one inner mobile phone, one inner button pocket

MSRP:  $208.00

Insulation: 100% fiberfill, 80g body/60g sleeve

For more information and a list of stocking dealers please visit www.MountainHorseUSA.com.