Equilibrium Boots, Chaps and Leg Wraps
Equilibrium are passionately dedicated to improving equine welfare and our mission is to create innovative, effective solutions to help horse owners like you solve common problems. We want to make a difference to the quality of horses’ lives.
Equilibrium® was established in 2001 by owner and founder Margaret Connelly. Inspired by her lovely horse Timmy to develop the Equilibrium® brand, this is their story as told by Margaret herself, “I bought Timmy as an un-backed two year old in Ireland. I just fell in love with him! He was backed as a 3/4 year old, and was always a fantastic horse. Out of the blue, as a 5 year old, it started becoming clear that he had developed a violent reaction when ridden, where he was tossing his head, trying to strike his nose with his front leg, rearing up, he was snorting continually. To ride a horse who suffers from head shaking, it’s awful. The more you go on, the worse it gets.
I had some people saying ‘He’s just being resistant, he’s just being naughty’, ‘push him on’. But I knew – you couldn’t have a horse that had been fantastic to ride and hack, never put a foot wrong, suddenly turn out to be un-rideable.
I knew there had to be a physical reason for it, I just didn’t know what it was. And no one did back then. I think previous to that, most head shakers used to be retired, or put down.
So working in product development for all of my career, I was used to having a problem, and trying to solve it. I got out my sewing machine and started making a few things for him. After a few weeks of trying different things, I found this very rough mesh that basically, with a close fit, worked the best for him. I noticed he liked to wriggle his nose against it, so it almost provided like a little scratching pad for him.
I can imagine that for him, it’s a bit like if our nose was really really itchy, but someone had tied your hands behind your back, how would you relieve that itch? We would get very frustrated, agitated and very cross!
So I found a solution for my horse, I was so delighted! I was being faced with making a decision for my horse that no one wants to make that decision. As it was though, he went on to be a fabulous dressage horse, who didn’t really ever miss a Regional Championships. He got to the National Championships and was placed 10th – just got in the ribbons! But he’s just been a great horse, he’s still with us today in his 20’s and he has his little niggles, but he’s comfortable and enjoying life. But the way I look at it is that he’s [had] 20+ more years of life than he would have had if I hadn’t have come up with the Net Relief Muzzle Net.”
Equilibrium Fly Masks and Horse Wear
That innovation to create products to help horses maintain great health and fulfil their potential continues today. Equilibrium® manufactures various horse boots products for leg protection such as chaps, turnout boots, stable boots, leg wraps and brushing boots. Over time Equilibrium introduced other products such as the fly masks and headcollars, as well as sun protection creams and Horse treats. They moved into more mainstream products as well such as saddlepads and numnahs. Equilibrium Therapy arm of the company manufactures the highly popular battery operated massage therapy pads.
Top Riders using Equilibrium
Equilibrium® are proud to support several of the world’s top riders, including:
* Erin Orford – Para Dressage
* Mark Kiddle – Showing
* Malcom MacRae – Showing
* Millie Allen – Showjumping
* Pippa Allen – ShowJumping
* Ben Hobday – Eventing
* Michael Murphy – Para Dressage
* Daniel Neilson – Showjumping
* Lorna Kidson – Endurance
* William Fox-Pitt – Eventing
* Emily Ham – Carriage Driving
* Jonathan Paget – Eventing
* Brett Parbery – Dressage
* Lynn Russell – Showing
* Sam Griffiths – Eventing
* Anthony Bartlett - Dressage
More information about Equilibrium® and their riders can be found here: https://www.equilibriumproducts.com/
