Social Supercharge: Riders – Getting to know Amy Smyth

Amy Smyth
In 2019, I launched my  Social Supercharge: Riders course, which is a digital course created to help equestrians promote themselves better online and attract what they want from it. Since it launched, I’ve been able to work with, learn about, and help riders from (literally) all over the world, including this lady from New Zealand!
In addition to the course, all equestrians taking part in my Social Supercharge: Riders get access to a free Facebook group, amazing discounts, and, lately, the chance to participate in the NFU Countryside equestrian T&T panel! It’s an incredible group and it’s lovely to see these fab riders upping their social media game and getting what they want from it.
I thought it would be fun to share a bit about some of the amazing riders I get to work with, and today, it’s all about Amy Smyth…

Name: Amy Smyth

Whereabouts do you live? Cavan, Ireland

What’s your favourite equestrian discipline? Showjumping

Tell us about the horses in your life:

Currently I have two horses with another hiding in the background for the time being!

  1. Mallard Spark (aka Sully) – he is a 6yo Irish Sport Horse Gelding that I bought directly from that breeder when he was 3. He had only been walking & trotting under saddle and was coming back in from a long summer break when I purchased him. So as a 4yo, I did every type of competition with Sully to give him a taste for it all and to develop his education. As a 5yo, concentrated more on showjumping & eventing, and we got some many amazing opportunities & placings in 2019. Our standout moment as a partnership was competing under the Irish flag out in France. To represent our country was such a proud moment – trotting through the tunnel and into the arena, hearing your name been announced is a dream come true. We helped our team to place 6th overall in the World Championships. Sully loved every single moment out there – and came out stronger and more confident in each round. This year, we are knuckling down and just concentrating on showjumping. We have done some age classes as a 4yo, but I am hoping he will step up to the plate now and do some 6YO classes. With the goal to jump 1.30m by the end of the year.

Also to note, Sully has two half-siblings who are jumping at top level – “The Lion” a 5* eventer with Matthew Heath, who jumped clear in Badminton last year, just to have some time penalties. “Cooldiamond Countess” who is jumping 1.40m in Germany.

  1. Killycloghan Miracle (aka Mira) – she is a 4yo Irish Sport Horse mare that I bought from the breeder last October unbroken. She has Arab & Connemara bloodlines on her dam’s side which makes her quick but steady and a super jumper! At the moment she is progressing well under saddle having been out schooling a handful of times. I hope to take her to her first show in the coming weeks.

In December she came 2nd in the H.S.I. 3yo Mares Loosejumping competition, this was an amazing result for her first competition and she scored very well with the judges.

Mira has two half siblings who are very successful in Mounted Games – it was the path Mira was going to follow only she grew too big. Killycloghan Sonata is a 2018 European Champion in Mounted Games, while her brother Killycloghan Karlton has competed internationally representing Ireland on numerous occasions. You possibly have seen them competing in the Dublin Horse Show in 2019 in the main ring.

What’s your greatest equestrian achievement so far?

Getting the phone to hear that I was on the team to go to France to compete & represent Ireland. I actually couldn’t believe Gemma (our club secretary) on the phone for an age! I thought she was joking with me!

To go out with an amazing team of people – riders, coach, drivers & supporters – really made the whole experience incredible. But the cherry on top, was been able to bring Sully and compete on him. He is my partner in crime and to say I have produced him and went international together – it’s just surreal.

What’s your ultimate equestrian dream?

It’s split between jumping the Puissance wall at the Dublin Horse Show or to go out abroad competing with a team of horses.

Care to share a funny equestrian story?

I don’t think I could just pick one! Be better off sitting down with a cup of tea and just going through them all.

Best bit of riding advice you’ve been given?

Leg on, Sit on, Leg on!

Favourite equestrian brands:

I would never be without my two helmets – my skull hat is Champion and my riding hat is Caldene. I have always replaced like with like when the time came for an update.

I do love the Caldene brand – I also have clothing from their range which is all top quality and long lasting, what more do you need!

Two products I would not do without are Ring Craft Equestrian’s Sno-White Whitening Shampoo along with Pomade Oil. The shampoo works miracles on greys & white tails, but the shine it puts on other coats too, such as bays, is blinding. I use the pomade oil for plaiting and it helps to smooth the hairs, create a shine while not leaving my hands all greasy. I am delighted to be a brand ambassador for Ring Craft Equestrian – their products are a great addition to anyone’s grooming/show kit.

Recently I have added some Protechmasta gear from Masta and have seen great results. Sully comes off the lorry at shows with his Protectmasta rug on, warmed up and raring to go. He warms up a lot better now and is more relaxed too since wearing the rug at shows. This, in turn, helps keep his head in the game!

Do you have anything you deem as ‘lucky’ when you ride/compete?

Not that I am aware of. I use to think I had a pair of lucky socks but after breaking my ankle – the good run must have worn off!

Do you have any superstitions or rituals when you compete?

I wouldn’t say it’s a ritual per se, but when I’m in the ring before I go to the first fence, I keep mentioning things such as “Keep the leg through the corner”, “Sit Up” and what strides between what distances. More like little reminders!

If you could have dinner with any rider/equestrian, who would that be?

Oh that’s a tough one, between Ben Hobday or Geoff Billington. I would probably say Geoff Billington. He has a world of knowledge and brilliant stories. I was lucky enough to get a chance to have coaching with him once, and it was superb. Plenty of laughs were had while also learning many tips to help my horse jumping a course.

Could I have starters & main with Geoff, dessert with Ben then tea & coffee with both – as the craic would be mighty!

If you could ride any horse in the world – past or present – who would it be?

Dominator Z – the black Zangersheide stallion that Christian Alhmann competes. That horse is in a league of its own (a bit like Sully 😀 )

Why did you join Social Supercharge: Riders?

To increase my knowledge on producing content to the best standard that I can.

What’s the best thing about the course?

The powerpoints are very useful and break down the information quite well. It was great to listen to the videos and be able to note down ideas and tips throughout the course. Also been able to find new accounts that are like-minded people has been brilliant – I’ve developed new friendships through the course. Look forward to seeing how my social media can progress now! Hope to do you proud, Rhea.

Tell us all the places where we can find you:

Instagram: @a__smyth or @smyth_breaking_and_schooling

Youtube

Facebook

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What it’s liked to be trolled- Sam Callahan is on the podcast

What it's like to be trolled with Sam Callahan

This is a subject that keeps coming up, and at the moment, trolls and trolling is in the news more than ever. I recorded this podcast with X Factor finalist (and Sophie Callahan’s brother!) Sam Callahan a few weeks ago, before trolling was in the news as much as it is today. However, if anything, everything Sam says is even more important now. So without further ado, it’s over to Sam…

What it’s liked to be trolled with Sam Callahan


Trolls and trolling – every day I open any social media platform I see references to it. It is definitely the most unpleasant side of social media and it’s something that many people have to put up with. They shouldn’t have to, but it’s a lot more common than you think. And a lot darker too. For someone who would never dream of trolling, it’s very hard to get your head around the fact that these people, these trolls, dedicate such a huge amount of time to assassinate, lie about, and tear people down online. And that’s why I felt it was so important to get someone who’s experienced some pretty horrific trolling on the podcast. Not to shock or worry anyone, but to understand more about trolling, the impact that trolling can have, how widespread it is, and how to deal with it too. I’m so, so grateful to Sam for coming on and chatting. I think it’s something we all need to hear and appreciate.

On the podcast we talk about how the trolling started and when it escalated, and how it feels having your whole family dragged into trolling – as both Sam’s sister, Sophie, and his lovely mum have also been targeted by the trolls. We talk about how Sam deals with trolls, from how he dealt with them initially to how he deals with them now, drawing on the experience he’s gained over the last seven years of being trolled. He also talks about the time he was physically assaulted for being on the X Factor when drinking with a friend in a club.

We also talk about Sam’s ‘most dedicated’ troll. I couldn’t think of a better term, but I am sure we can agree that someone who has spent every day for the last God knows how many years putting out poisonous, untruths all over social media is dedicated. Sam talks through some of the comments that they’ve put out and shines a light on the kind of things that they’ve said and how he deals with it.

Sam has also received death threats, and we talk about that too. We talk about how he’s never had someone who has actively hated him on social media actually do what they say, but we also talk about how that’s still massively inappropriate, incorrect and needs to be reported. Any threat against your wellbeing or life should be reported to the police.

I asked Sam for his top tip on dealing with trolls. Here’s what he said:

  • Any threat for physical harm like a death threat should be reported to the police. Even if you block a person they can set up another account and it’s important to have that record.
  • Block people. Use the block button to stop those kinds of comments and stop people like this entering your world.
  • Realise that the people who are trolling you are not normal people. You’re not getting criticism from someone who has authority. You wouldn’t take it from them in real life, so block and move on.

You can find Sam Callahan in all the places below:

Instagram

Facebook

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Social Supercharge: Riders – Getting to know Lauren-Jane Nevill

Lauren-Jane Nevill
In 2019, I launched my  Social Supercharge: Riders course, which is a digital course created to help equestrians promote themselves better online and attract what they want from it. Since it launched, I’ve been able to work with, learn about, and help riders from (literally) all over the world, including this lady from New Zealand!
In addition to the course, all equestrians taking part in my Social Supercharge: Riders get access to a free Facebook group, amazing discounts, and, lately, the chance to participate in the NFU Countryside equestrian T&T panel! It’s an incredible group and it’s lovely to see these fab riders upping their social media game and getting what they want from it.
I thought it would be fun to share a bit about some of the amazing riders I get to work with, and today, it’s all about Lauren-Jane Nevill

Name Lauren-Jane Nevill (or L-J as most people call me)

Whereabouts do you live?

On a sheep and beef farm in the Manawatu-Wanganui region of the North Island, New Zealand

What’s your favourite equestrian discipline?

Show Hunter (as we call it here in NZ) – for me it’s the perfect combination of dressage & jumping as you have to have the precision to get the scores and perfect striding, as well as jumping clear.

Tell us about the horses in your life

Diva aka Anadiva is a 15.1hh dark brown Warmblood mare who is 14 years old. She 100% lives up to her name, is the ultimate alpha mare but has the kindest heart and tries so hard. She is a bit of a worrier which has been our biggest challenge. At shows as she gets very tense but at the moment she is recovering from a bit of a battle with leg injuries so we are just hacking around the farm. She was my Mum’s dressage horse until I took her and taught her to jump (sorry Mum!), since then she has decided she doesn’t like dressage and much prefers show hunter & jumping!

Rum is a 15.2hh grey mare, and we believe she is a Station bred horse which can be a mixture of Clydesdale, Thoroughbred and goodness knows what else! We have no idea how old she is – we think late teens – and she was actually given to my Dad for free! Her previous owner had a few falls off her (she has a wicked buck!) and Dad was in need of a new hunter so she came home in our truck one day after a hunt. She is quite possibly one of the sweetest horses we have ever had and is so polite on the ground. She is purely used for hunting and loves hacking around the farm too.

Epic aka Aranui Epic is my 28-year-old Cat. A Welsh Mountain Pony who we have had since I was 6 and he was 5. He has probably taught me the most as he was newly broken in when we got him and was my first pony off the lead rein. He has recently come home to retire and has the biggest character – if you are 14 seconds late with his dinner you know about it!! At 28 he is not without his health challenges, but we are managing all of those and he has definitely re-instated himself as Captain in charge once more.

What’s your greatest equestrian achievement so far?

My greatest equestrian achievement so far has been without a doubt the 6 months I spent in Canada working as a Wrangler, guiding trails. It’s not a typical achievement in the sense of winning a ribbon/class but for me, it was something that I had always wanted to do and to have that goal achieved was huge! It was an amazing experience as I got to live in The Rocky Mountains at Lake Louise, and ride horses for a job! The people I met are friends for life and it will always hold a place in my heart.

What’s your ultimate equestrian dream?

My ultimate equestrian dream would be to win a Show Hunter Title class at our Horse of the Year Show. I watch these classes every single year and it would be the most amazing dream to win, but even just to qualify and compete would be a huge success for me as well! It’s definitely my biggest goal/aim at the moment.

Care to share a funny equestrian story?

I was at a show with Diva and the grounds where this show is held has a lot of wide open space which normally she is fine with. Upon arriving at the show, she seemed calm enough for me to have a quick ride and we were by ourselves working in one of the arenas. However, in the distance she spotted two ponies cantering around and had an absolute meltdown which involved a lot of rearing and then spinning. Needless to say, I fell off and she then proceeded to gallop through the show grounds whinnying and refusing to be caught! The next day I had several people ride past me and say “ohh so you’re the rider for that horse” – I think the entire show ground had seen her performance and knew exactly who she was!! I was rather embarrassed by this at the time, but I can laugh about it now!

Best bit of riding advice you’ve been given

“Every time you ride, you are teaching the horse to listen to you or to ignore you” – Jen Hamilton

This piece of advice often came up when I was having lessons with Jen. I was extremely lucky to be coached by her whenever she came to New Zealand and a lot of what she has said over the years I still apply in my riding today. Although she doesn’t come to New Zealand anymore I am lucky enough to have her book “A Jump Ahead” at home, and I will often read it before I ride if I am wanting to work on something in particular for that day.

Favourite equestrian brands 

I am a huge fan of Back on Track. The way their products work with the magnetics and helping to promote blood circulation etc are amazing. They have worked time and time again with our horses and my core favourites would have to be their stable boots and rugs. I have even found their human products amazing, and their t-shirt has on more than one occasion helped with sore muscles on my back and shoulders.

Equissage has been another huge help, and has been instrumental in helping get Diva back into work following her injuries. It’s always interesting to see how each horse reacts differently during and post a session with an Equissage, and to see them much happier/relaxed afterwards is always such a treat.

I absolutely love my Kep helmet! I have unfortunately had a few concussions over the years and with my Kep helmet I really feel like my head is protected well. It sits a bit lower on the back of the head which means more of your head is covered/protected, and the air vents through it are magical on a hot day! They even close up so when it’s raining you don’t get the rain coming into your hat! I often walk around wearing it because I forget that I have it on as I find it that comfortable!

I am the biggest fan of my saddles, my jump saddle was made here in NZ by a local saddler and was actually custom made for my last pony, but strangely seems to fit Diva like a glove! And my dressage saddle is an Albion, and it honestly feels like I am sitting in an armchair it’s that comfortable! It’s actually made me enjoy dressage schooling because I know that both Diva and I are comfortable when we have our Albion on!

Through the course, I had discovered HiHo Silver and their products are the things dreams are made of! I love how timeless and classic their pieces are, and how you can wear them anywhere without worrying about them. Thankfully both my bridesmaids are from the country/rural as they will most definitely be wearing some pieces when our wedding happens next year!

One thing we might not know about you?

Ohhh this is hard one…if people have only recently found me on social media then they might not know that I did Ballet for 14 years and was 2 grades off getting to teaching level. As a result of doing it for so many years, I absolutely love going to watch the Ballet and will always try and see it when they tour the country. My favourite Ballet to watch would have to be Swan Lake!

Do you have anything you deem as ‘lucky’ when you ride/compete?

I don’t have anything in particular that I deem to be lucky but if I have a win or a successful show I will try and wear that combination of clothing again at the next show.

Do you have any superstitions or rituals when you compete? How did this start?

I try to never wear anything new for the first time at competitions. Every time I have done this I have had terrible jumping rounds or not been placed if it’s been in flat classes. Mum and I always joke about it so I think it has stemmed from her as she also rides and competes!

I also have to have an odd number of plaits in my horse’s mane when we are competing too. And the forelock has to be “odd” numbered one (so she can have say 8 plaits down her mane and the forelock has to be number 9). I have no idea where this has come from but for as long as I can remember I have to have an odd number of plaits – which seems ridiculous as I write this!

If you could have dinner with any rider/equestrian, who would that be?

I would love to have dinner with Tori Colvin as she is an incredible hunter jumper rider and I would love talk to her about how she does everything!

If you could ride any horse in the world – past or present – who would it be?

 Ohhh there are so many amazing horses out there! From the hunter jumper scene in the USA, I would love to ride Tori Colvin’s Private Practice or Ovation – they both look like absolutely amazing horses! I also think Valegro would be incredible as well – he makes dressage look like such fun.

Why did you join Social Supercharge: Riders?

 I joined the Social Supercharge: Riders course to up my social media skills as I had just started blogging and felt a bit lost with trying to take things to the next level. I was also hoping it would be a great way of connecting with like-minded people who were on the same journey!

What’s the best thing about the course?

The best thing about the course is the fact that it has taught me to be more confident with social media and to think outside the square a little more. The concept of documenting and not creating has been huge for me too – because when I first started blogging I was worried I wasn’t going to have enough content “created”.

Being able to go in and out of the course as you please is great too, as you can do it your own time and then refresh your memory when you need to as well! And the other amazing part is of course Rhea herself – her knowledge and platforms are great to listen to! Could not have done it without her!!

Tell us all the places where we can find you

You can find me on Instagram at @thewanderinghogget

I also have a Farming and Country lifestyle blog called The Wandering Hogget and my website is www.thewanderinghogget.co.nz

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Content creation inspiration – how to generate ideas for your social, blogs and vlogs

Content creation inspiration - how to generate ideas for your social, blogs and vlogs

Do you ever run out of ideas for your social media? Your blog? Your vlog? The amount of content we ‘need’ to post is ever-growing, and our lives are getting busier, and that means that our creative juices can sometimes dry up a little. But don’t panic, I have a few things that you can do to help get them flowing again. Get yourself some paper, a pen and a cup of tea and let’s get cracking…

Content creation inspiration – how to generate ideas for your social, blogs and vlogs


If you’ve ever run out of content creation inspiration, this is the podcast for you. Here are some ideas to help you never run out of ideas again… in summary (there’s a LOT more info in the podcast!)

Frequently Asked Questions– think about the questions you get asked all the time. You can create content around this. You can obviously answer the question directly, but you can also go deeper on these points.

Just ask – ask your fans and followers what they want to learn/read/hear/see. You can do it through something as simple as the Question sticker on Instagram or something more involved.

Answerthepublic.com – this is a free website that generates content ideas based on a keyword. Some of these ideas are very very random, but some aren’t, and some might start an idea in your head.

Google – type in your keyword to Google and it’ll help you with ideas. It might show you other questions people ask, and also the highest-ranked relevant content. Don’t copy this, but be inspired.

Pain points – if you’re a member of Facebook groups connected to what you do, have a look at the questions that people are asking, and also think about the issues behind these questions that you could create content around.

Collaborate – work with people who can add something to what you do and to your audience, and find ways to work together, things like guest blogs, vlogs, questionnaires, etc. These can be really useful.

Repeat a message – don’t lift, copy and paste the same caption and the same image, but you can repeat themes – it’s beneficial too! Not everyone sees every piece of content you put out there each time.

We all get times when we’re less inspired than others, but don’t let it worry you. Give yourself a little quiet time, try the above, and your content creation inspiration will be back with bells on in no time!

social media graphics guide

 

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Social Supercharge: Riders – Getting to know Megan Pollitt

Megan Pollitt The Girl In Green and Jaffa
Last year, I launched my  Social Supercharge: Riders course, which is a digital course created to help equestrians promote themselves better online and attract what they want from it. Since it launched, I’ve been able to work with, learn about, and help riders from (literally) all over the world through the beauty of online training! In addition to the course, all equestrians taking part in my Social Supercharge: Riders get access to a free Facebook group, amazing discounts, and, lately, the chance to participate in the NEW NFU Countryside equestrian T&T panel! It’s an incredible group and it’s lovely to see these fab riders upping their social media game and getting what they want from it.
I thought it would be fun to share a bit about some of the amazing riders I get to work with, and today, it’s all about Megan Pollitt.

Getting to know Megan Pollitt

Name : Megan Pollitt / @_the_girl_in_green_

Whereabouts do you live? Sourhope, in the middle of a valley in the Scottish Borders.

What’s your favourite equestrian discipline?

Dressage, I used to be a XC lover weirdly!

Tell us about the horses in your life

Ruby (Ruby Slippers) is a 14 year old, 16.2hh , bay mare who I’ve owned for almost three months! She’s previously evented but has come to live with me for a little bit of a quieter life, exploring our beautiful scenery, hopefully getting out to do some dressage, showing, working hunters and possibly even some hunter trials if I ever get my brave pants on! She’s a sensitive and sassy girl, with a huge heart, and I’m really looking forward to growing our connection and seeing what the future holds for us! She loves posing for selfies and dislikes walking through mud.

Jaffa (Wildfire) is my 23 year old, 13hh, chestnut , Welsh B/Arab. Wow, where do I start with this little monster! I’ve had Jaff for 14 years I think it is now, he’s my first and forever pony! He has always been such a character, my hardest challenge yet and definitely not a first pony; to be fair, he’d have me on the floor today! He’s now happily retired, living his best life with another pony, two goats and some chickens! Unfortunately, he stayed back in Yorkshire with mum, when I moved to Scotland as we didn’t want to unsettle him. Nothing makes me happier than seeing his ginger face when I go visit back home!

Megan Pollitt The Girl In The Green

What’s your greatest equestrian achievement so far?

Everything always goes out of my head with these ones! I’ve never done any big competitions or anything too exciting either, so I think I’m going to say winning our first riding club dressage test which was both mine and my horse’s (at the time) first test too! The winning wasn’t the greatest achievement either, it was more that we had gone out, had no mishaps, I’d dared ride in front of people, and we’d actually done a nice test too! A few months before, I’d been told my horse would never do it, he was the wrong horse for me, and for dressage, so it was good to take a step back and work on our faults to come back and then do well too!

What’s your ultimate equestrian dream?

I’d love to be able to have my own transport so I could get out and about. It’s hard to try and plan competitions and training when every outing has the extra £100+ of horsebox hire on! Ultimately I’d love to be able to affiliate in dressage, it’s always been a dream!

Care to share a funny equestrian story?

It’s probably a ‘you had to be there’ moment, but Jaff has a way of embarrassing you whenever he can, he loves an audience!

We were out hacking one day and despite holding up traffic behind (me oblivious at the time) Jaff had decided to take a particular liking to a specific spot and would not move at all. Now he’s only small and at this point, I was quite tall on him, and was having to pony club kick- the lot, normally any leg movement and he’s off at the speed of light, not that day. He stood there for a good 10 minutes, chilled as anything just not moving… anywhere. Of course, this first car in the jam was only someone from my yard who was howling so much she couldn’t even get out to help, I’ve never lived it down to this day.

Best bit of riding advice you’ve been given?

Take the time YOU need.

I think this is important to remember as everyone’s lives, horses, way of learning, finances etc… are all completely different which is going to affect the time it takes. I’m learning not to be so hard on myself for not already being there, if it was easy, everyone would be doing it!

Favourite equestrian brands

I am a big lover of Harry Hall.com and all the featuring brands such as Masta etc. I’ve always used their items and find it super handy being able to find everything all in one place online! Me and the horses are always wearing at least one of their items, they are such good quality and long-lasting! I find the continued support over social media really lovely and couldn’t recommend them for all your horsey needs enough!

Hiho Silver is another brand I have adored since I was very small wandering around Burghley horse trials! As my love has grown, so has my collections and I’m super lucky and grateful to be a brand ambassador for them now too. Such a lovely team to work with, and I take so much pride when wearing my jewellery. My favourite has to be my newest addition, the cherry roller with a red bead in the middle for Ruby!

The Husk. I love the ethos and design behind this brand! I have a saddle pad and I think it’s quite possibly my favourite saddle pad I’ve owned yet, it’s so breathable and Ruby gets on with it really well! Looking online instantly made me create a wish list a mile long though, so do beware!

Apt Cavalier Equestrian. Apt Cavalier has always caught my eye when I’ve been scrolling down socials or on riders out at events. I love the luxury feel to a performance item and love the variety in colours offered too. Very smart and stylish!

One thing we might not know about you?

If you haven’t seen my Instagram bio before then you probably don’t know I work full time as a Paramedic. I actually took three years away from horses before coming back this summer to allow me to study, qualify and settle in the role.

I also have Feather and Fell, which is a small little country & equestrian business that I run alongside work, to help with keeping Ruby and hopefully to save for a horsebox one day!

Do you have anything you deem as ‘lucky’ when you ride/compete?

Nope!

Do you have any superstitions or rituals when you compete? How did this start?

Not really, although I never eat beforehand but I think that’s more nerves!

If you could have dinner with any rider/equestrian, who would that be?

I think it would be Olivia Towers. I just love her and how she is using social media in such a positive, inspiring way.

If you could ride any horse in the world – past or present – who would it be?

It has to be Mr Mulry! What a machine! He looks similar to my old horse Bernard, especially with the dinner plate feet. Imagine the power!

Why did you join Social Supercharge: Riders?

I joined because I wanted to up my social media and create connections with other riders and businesses. Having a solely country feed before I wanted a little help on how to integrate horses into it too. I wanted to create authentic posts, about general day to day life with the horses.

What’s the best thing about the course

I’ve really enjoyed all of it, the format is great and the information is easy to digest and you can keep going back. I enjoyed interacting with others on the course and the opportunities it has brought too! My favourite thing has probably been realising that just because at this moment in time I’m not out competing etc, you can still have an equestrian account, still have those brand connections and actually the ‘behind the scenes’ of horses can be much more loved than professional competition photos. It’s a course suitable for all equestrians, not just the riders too!

Tell us all the places where we can find you

My Instagram is: @_the_girl_in_green_ (https://www.instagram.com/_the_girl_in_green_/)

My blog is: https://meganpollitt.wixsite.com/thegirlingreen

My Facebook is: https://www.facebook.com/TheGirlInGreenEq/

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Building brands from beliefs and creating for a good cause with Annabel Brocks

Building brands from beliefs and creating for a good cause with Annabel Brocks

Belle Brocks, the lady behind Annabel Brocks and Hawkins Organic, is a bit of a legend. Not only is she incredibly kind, but she works hard to make a difference in every way she can. In this episode of the Small & Supercharged Podcast, we chat to Belle all about her two amazing brands, how two battles with cancer informed her businesses moving forward, and how her business has now pivoted to make a difference to causes close to Belle’s heart.

Building brands from beliefs and creating for a good cause with Annabel Brocks


Belle is a seriously impressive lady, but more than that, she’s a thoroughly good egg. I have been keen to get Belle on this podcast for a while as I find her fascinating. I have had the privilege of working with Belle and her brands in the past and always found her so interesting, inspiring and fun, and I am so thrilled I get to share her with you on the Small & Supercharged Podcast.

In this episode, we chat about where Belle got the idea for both Hawkins Organic and Annabel Brocks the brand. We talk about the idea behind Hawkins Organic and how Belle (and Mike!) test the products before they go anywhere near an animal, as well as some of the riders she’s worked with through the brand.

Then we move onto Annabel Brocks, a brand that is well known in the equestrian and country world… and beyond that too! It all started with the original reversible headwarmer and grew organically there to include items like neck warmers, gilets, capes and so much more.

Let’s talk about Nourish

Belle’s latest release is the Nourish Collection, which is a gorgeous range of slogan t-shirts and sweatshirts featuring the names of various foods with double meanings. More than just looking great and raising a smile, Nourish has a bigger job to do too. Belle created the range to help raise money to support cancer charities including Macmillan and Breast Cancer Now, with a donation from each product going to help raise awareness, treat, prevent and inform people about the disease. When you listen to this bit of the podcast, you’ll hear Belle’s passion for this project and the amazing work she’s doing.

Highs and lows

We end by chatting about the highs and lows connected with running a business. As always, Belle is so honest, and shares some great insights into her business that will also be so, so useful for other businesses… she really proves that everyone has to deal with similar things in their world. We chat about lows such as people copying some of the Annabel Brocks products, but really focus in on the highs, from working with people like Charlotte Dujardin and other elite riders, winning tradestand awards, designing exclusive collections for two racecourses, and getting some incredible press too.

And P.S – there will be a competition launching over on my Instagram at 7.15pm on the day that this podcast is released! It’s one you don’t want to miss.

To find out more about Belle, Annabel Brocks and Hawkins Organic, you can find their details below:

Annabel Brocks:

Website

Instagram

Facebook

Hawkins Organic:

Website

Instagram

Facebook

Five social media posts all equestrians can use this week

 

 

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Social Supercharge: Riders – Getting to know Morwenna Foster

Morwenna Foster
Last year, I launched my  Social Supercharge: Riders course, which is a digital course created to help equestrians promote themselves better online and attract what they want from it. Since it launched, I’ve been able to work with, learn about, and help riders from (literally) all over the world through the beauty of online training! In addition to the course, all equestrians taking part in my Social Supercharge: Riders get access to a free Facebook group, amazing discounts, and, lately, the chance to participate in the NEW NFU Countryside equestrian T&T panel! It’s an incredible group and it’s lovely to see these fab riders upping their social media game and getting what they want from it.
I thought it would be fun to share a bit about some of the amazing riders I get to work with, and today, it’s all about Morwenna Foster.

Getting to know Morwenna Foster

Name: Morwenna foster 

Whereabouts do you live? Tregony which is a small village Near Truro in Cornwall 

What’s your favourite equestrian discipline?

Eventing. Mainly as I love cross country, but also as it is a real test for horse and rider to master all three phases. 

Tell us about the horses in your life

I have been lucky to ride and compete a few different horses over the past couple of years, but right now I just have my two girls Maisie and Kitty

Maisie (Dash of Lime) is 10 year old IDxTB mare. I bought her when she was a rising 5 year old and we have worked our way up the levels over the years. She is a talented but opinionated mare and not been the easiest but we have a great bond now and she has taken me places I never thought I’d reach. She sustained an injury in the autumn after Badminton and has been off work for a year. I have been hacking her for a few months now to get her back into shape and hope that she will return to do some showjumping this season.

I bought Kitty (KMS Forever Young) from my instructor this summer. She is a 4 year old ISH. I have spent the last few months long reining and hacking to get her stronger and will now start some schooling and jumping with the hope of eventing her later in the season. I’m very excited about her and looking forward to seeing how she turns out.  

I also ride Pip. A chestnut TB gelding for his owner and do all riding club activities and a bit of hunting.

Jay Photos Morwenna Foster

Credit – Jay Photos

What’s your greatest equestrian achievement so far? 

Riding Maisie at Badminton grassroots

What’s your ultimate equestrian dream? 

I have been very lucky to achieve my main dreams already but I would love to compete at novice and 2 star level again 

Care to share a funny equestrian story? 

Not particularly funny but I seem to have an annoying habit of forgetting my dressage tests frequently at events

Best bit of riding advice you’ve been given

To have patience, and that the more mistakes you make the more you will learn 

Favourite equestrian brands

I have been lucky to be sponsored by Goodbye Flys for the last year. Sarah, the owner, lives locally and has developed an amazing organic shampoo and fly spray that really works. It helps Maisie loads as she suffers with a very mild form of sweet itch.  

Another local company, Woof Wear, supported me with full kit when I competed at Badminton and provide amazing horse boots, gloves, saddle pads etc. Their range of horse products is growing massively and they now have an amazing footwear range aswell. I ride in their powder blue cross country colours too. 

Honest Riders is a company I came across last year as they have amazing slogan riding wear. But even better, Zoe, the owner, ensures all her products are made ethically with natural materials in the most sustainable way possible. Her brand is ever-growing and I love buying pieces from her knowing I’m doing good at the same time. 

I have met lots of other lovely brands within the Small and Supercharged group and try to buy and support them when I can including Equiboodle and Hiho Silver. 

One thing we might not know about you?

 I am a trained veterinary nurse and have worked in practice from when I was at school. I also have health complications in the form of Cystic Fibrosis. I underwent a double lung transplant in 2013 and unfortunately haven’t been able to work as a nurse since due to infection risks. It has enabled me to spend more time with the horses though and achieve the dreams I had in that area. I try to spread awareness of the miracle of organ donation through my riding achievements and always aim to live life to the full. 

Do you have anything you deem as ‘lucky’ when you ride/compete? Not really 

Do you have any superstitions or rituals when you compete? How did this start? 

I’m not that superstitious but I just try to work through my warm-up as I would at home. I like to get all my equipment out and lined up ready to hand as it can sometimes be rushed in between phases. I’m very lucky to have my lovely mum with me for most events to help keep me on track. It’s definitely a lot harder trying to do it by yourself 

If you could have dinner with any rider/equestrian, who would that be?

 I think it would have to be Mark Todd. Firstly as I love New Zealand so hope the invite would include a trip over there. Also because I would love to pick his brains about how much eventing has changed over the years. From watching when I was little to now. I imagine him to be a fountain of knowledge with all his experiences. 

If you could ride any horse in the world – past or present – who would it be? 

As cross country is my real love it would be a horse that would take me around some massive fences and be bold and brave. I love mares so think it would have to be Classic Moët. She is fearless. 

Why did you join Social Supercharge: Riders? 

To learn more about how to promote myself and my story. I am not very technical minded so needed help to learn how to get the most out of the platforms I am using. I was keen to find and support some more small businesses and if the opportunity of working with the brands I love came along that would be an awesome bonus. 

What’s the best thing about the course

Rhea breaks everything down and makes it much more understandable for me. She has given me the tools and confidence to gather and post different types of content rather than just the journey with the horses. I have met some lovely people and businesses since going out of my comfort zone and connecting with new people. It has been a huge positive and I’m so glad I joined the course.

Tell us all the places where we can find you 

Mo and Moo Eventing – Badminton & Beyond

Mo and Moo on Instagram

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How not to use and abuse User Generated Content

How not to use and abuse User Generated Content

Have you heard of UGC? UGC stands for User Generated Content and is the posh name for brands using images generated by their customers. User Generated Content has huge value for brands, can be a great way to connect brands to customers, and can also be a great way to start relationships moving forward. So let’s delve into the world of UGC, shall we?

How not to use and abuse User Generate Content


User Generated Content (and its use!) has a whole load of benefits. Many brands use UGC on their social media, and it’s easy to see why. Professional shots bring a whole lot to the marketing mix, there’s no denying that at all, but UGC can complement this. So while professional shoots might be in the studio, or even highly styled lifestyle shoots designed to show the product in an aspiration setting, UGC is, usually, different. User Generated Content usually shows the product in real life, on real customers, in different locations. UGC can give style ideas, it can show the kind of hobbies your customers have (which can attract more of the same), tell a story, and so much more. And this can be so so useful.

If you’re an influencer, having your content shared on a big account can be a great way to get you and your account in front of more people. And it’s often why you as an influencer will tag images, to get attention from the brands that you love.

However, if you are a brand, you MUST ask permission from the photographer before you can repost. A lot of people don’t but it’s simply not correct as you don’t own that image. The photographer does. And you have to ask.

When it comes to how brands find these precious gems of User Generated Content, there are a few ways. On Instagram, tagging the image with the brands featured makes it easy for brands to find these images. Adding the brand’s @ to a caption will also generate a notification, but if the brand has a busy account, they might lose this amongst likes and various other things that the platform is notifying them about. Another really useful way to keep track of User Generated Content is to use a hashtag. As a brand, tell your fans about the hashtag you’ll be keeping an eye on. Do this through your bio on Instagram or maybe even add a card in with orders. With Facebook, looking at notifications and tracking down who has tagged your brand is a whole lot easier.

User Generated Content can be HUGE for brands, and a great way for influencers and users of the platform to get more eyeballs on their content. Just do it properly. As everyone wins that way.

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