IWMT Sponsors: Equilibrium Products

The team at Equilibrium Products sponsored the very first Ian White Memorial Trophy in 2009 and will be providing goodies from their Trizone range this year. This innovative company, founded 14 years ago, is a local business to Kathryn and her writing company, Cathean Ltd. Here we talk to founder and Managing Director, Margaret Donnelly, to find out more.


Margaret, tell us about your background and what led you to start the business.
The company was founded with the development of our net relief muzzle, which was initially designed to help my horse Timmy. He suffered from headshaking, which is a poorly understood syndrome. I applied my previous experience of working in beauty and personal care product development to the development of this muzzle, which has been clinically proven to improve 79% of sufferers.

Tell us about the company ethos of Equilibrium Products
Our focus has always been to provide robust products that really make a difference to fellow horse owners. The well-being of the horse is our priority when we design our products.

Trizone open-fronted boots

Tell us about your other innovative products
Our products include leg protection, sun and fly protection  and an award-winning massage and magnetic therapy range. Our products have quite unique attributes and all are scientifically tested.

What new products do you have in the pipeline?
In 2014 we launched Munch, a range of healthy snacks that have added benefits. Our next launch will be a streamlined bell boot with a fantastic fit as part of the Stretch & Flex range   

Margaret and her beloved horses

Do you ride and compete as well?
I used to compete a lot, but with the growth of the business I don't have the time to compete as seriously as before. I still love hacking and schooling my horses, who live at home with me and my husband. I currently have 5 horses, including Timmy who is now 21, plus a 5-year old mare and two retired racehorses.

Equilibrium Products supports many initiatives to help both professional and amateur riders across equestrian sport. Why did you get involved with IWMT?
We first got involved just after Ian's battle with cancer. He and Kathryn were local to us and I knew them both having been fellow liveries in the past. It gives the team here great pleasure to support Kathryn and this worthy cause.


Kathryn White is owner and director of Cathean Ltd Medical and Copy Writing Services. She is a published medical, copy and equestrian writer with a passion for creating compelling text in collaboration with her clients. Her customers include pharmaceutical, healthcare and equestrian businesses across the world. 

Mole Diaries: The Madness Continues

Mole watching the ducks

So, it's been a little over a month since a black furry bundle landed at Myrtle Cottage and we've had a lot of fun. Sharing your life with a dog certainly helps to put 'other stuff' into perspective. Take for example work-related stress - nothing seems half as bad when you see your hound's tail wagging a greeting as you walk into the room.
Recall training is progressing well, thanks to the help of a long line which gives me the confidence that I can get Mole's attention. I have to be honest, I am filled with trepidation about finally letting him loose in public, but I'm determined to do it. We've been to see the ducks on the reservoir, met other dogs at the puppy parties held by Wendover Heights (fantastic events for puppies and their owners - well done Lou and team), met a group of back backers, had coffee at several venues around the local area, met the lovely yoga ladies, had a stroll with Noel, been out in the horsebox and played with Uncle Sandyman.

Mole and his girlfriend, Mabel the cocker spaniel

Holey Moley! How did we pack it all in? Oh, and we can now sit on command - that's Mole not me (although I'm happy to oblige if there's coffee and cake on offer too!).
Even Mr Stripey rather enjoys having Mole around the house and garden, though he'd never admit it. Stripes often sits with us for coffee, or the boys enjoy a game of chase in the garden. After just a few weeks I can't imagine life without a dog - and especially without young Mole.

Mole in his hole!

Kathryn White is owner and director of Cathean Ltd Medical and Copy Writing Services. She is a published medical and equestrian writer with a passion for creating compelling text in collaboration with her clients from pharmaceutical, healthcare and equestrian businesses across the world.  

IWMT 2015: Feel Good Forever

 Meet another of our lovely sponsors of the Ian White Memorial Trophy 2015. Crisy Salmon runs her own business, Feel Good Forever, selling aloe vera based products. Crisy runs this business alongside her day job as event groom for international eventrider Sarah Bullimore and riding her horse, Jimmy. Regular readers of Myrtle Musings will recognise Crisy as our new guest blogger. Here Crisy tells us about her business, and why she loves getting involved with IWMT.

1. Give a brief background of your role at Feel Good Forever and how long you've been involved with the business.
   Feel Good Forever is the name of my independent business under the umbrella of a global company called Forever Living. I was introduced to Forever Living just under 2 years ago and have been building my business ever since. I provide products that the company make all based around Aloe Vera and Beehive, whilst also coaching and mentoring others on how to build successful businesses.
   
   
   
   2. Why did you get involved and what attracted you to Aloe Vera products?
   Originally, I was attracted to the company as a means to earn additional income - their 35+ year proven track record for financial success was interesting. When I started to research their products, the power of Aloe vera and the incredible life changing results they offer, I became fascinated!  I am now totally in love with using, talking about, learning about and recommending all of our products.
   
   3. Briefly describe how these products can  help horses and riders.
   There is a wide variety of products for humans covering skin care, personal care, health drinks, supplements, cosmetics, fitness and weight management. I find the fitness range phenomenal when helping me to recover physically from a day of working and riding. The skin care range is also an essential part of my routine to help soothe my skin from the battering it takes on a daily basis. For horses there is also a good variety of products to help with internal and external conditions including stomach ulcers and sweet itch.
   
   4. What do you do when you're not running Feel Good Forever?
   The majority of my time is spent at the yard! I also thoroughly enjoy playing netball and occasionally going for a run. I love spending time with my family and friends too.
   
   
   
   5. Tell us about your riding ambitions?
   At the moment my aim is 'to be the best I can be'. I don't know which path I will end up following but I am prepared to work my butt off to get there! Of course being the next Zara Phillips would be nice.
   
   6) Why did you decide to get involved with the Ian White Memorial Trophy?
   This Trophy raises awareness of The Brain Tumour Charity and I love being able to contribute. The number of sponsors grows each year, attracting a good number of entries and raising the profile of the whole event.

Kathryn White is owner and director of Cathean Ltd Medical and Copy Writing Services. She is a published medical and equestrian writer with a passion for creating compelling text in collaboration with her clients from pharmaceutical, healthcare and equestrian businesses across the world. 

Meet the Mole

Mole and Rocky Lobster

 I have a new furrmily member. Meet Bertie Mole, who came into my life 3 weeks ago and totally transformed it for the better. although the first week felt like a baptism of fire! Here's what I've learned so far:

• I can live with mess - my OCD tendencies to make sure everything is neat and tidy have had to be tamed as I now live among the likes of skinny squirrel, rocky lobster, a chewy bone thingy and the odd tennis ball....not to mention the occasional accident when we don't make it to the garden on time! 

• Talking of which, my perfectionist streak holds no water when it comes to toilet training...but, after the turmoil of the first week, I now don't beat myself up if there is an accident - sh*t happens and it can be cleaned up.
• You can get a daily workout without leaving your home when you have childgates in doorways and any other piece of furniture you can grab that can work as a barrier to prevent small puppy limbs being damaged by stairs. 
• Practising yoga takes on a whole new dimension  - downward facing dog with a puppy dangling from your hair? No problem! And it's all worth it when young puppster settles down on your chest as you recline on a pranyami pillow at the end.

•  Getting up at 6am and going to bed at 11pm means I get so much more done in a day AND I actually sleep for the full 7 hours right through to my alarm. 

• Dogs and cats can live together very happily - although Mr Stripey thinks I've taken complete leave of my senses.
• You meet so many people when you go out with a puppy - we can't get down Tring High Street or round the garden centre without people coming up to say hello, which is lovely. And, young Mole is becoming quite a celebrity in my usual coffee haunts where he's been made to feel very welcome with lots of cuddles.
• Having a puppy fall asleep on your lap in the evening is the best way to end a day.

 So, despite the little whirlwind that's entered my life, and the disruption that has followed, would I give him back? Absolutely not! I'm totally out of my comfort zone but loving every minute of his company. 

Kathryn White is owner and director of Cathean Ltd Medical and Copy Writing Services. She is a published medical and equestrian writer with a passion for creating compelling text in collaboration with her clients from pharmaceutical, healthcare and equestrian businesses across the world.