Swiggies UK

 

Samantha - Hull 

 

Swiggies are simply fantastic, I wear mine to the Gym, I don't have to stop on the running machines now to take a drink.  All of my gym friends have asked me where I bought them from - so I told them and they say they will be buying soon.

 

 

Endurance riders go to a great deal of effort to keep their horses hydrated and will try all sorts of tempting mixes of sugar beet water and fruit juice. We are all aware of how much dehydration can compromise the athletic ability of the horse but we often don’t give as much thought to the rider.
I know I never drink as much as I should on a ride and I often leave it too late and as a result have finished a couple of longer rides feeling pretty rough. One of the problems I find is that I don’t like carrying a heavy water bottle hung on the horses shoulder as I think it must be uncomfortable. I have tried the bum bags that have water holders but found they bounced about and gave me bruises.

Flicking through a magazine I spotted Swiggies and thought they would be worth a try. Swiggies were designed with runners in mind and are shaped to fit comfortably on the wrist and are secured by Velcro. At first I was a little sceptical about how comfortable that would be to ride in but I was pleasantly surprised. They are quite small and light and if you prefer can fit into a pocket or attach to the saddle. Because they come in a pair they will not unbalance the saddle.

I used them in the 90k Endurance Race at Haywood Oaks and found that not only did it encourage me to drink out on route but that having them on your wrist meant you could use them in the vet gate. Most riders refuse to sit down and relax with a drink until the horse has been safely vetted and this gives you valuable extra time to rehydrate. I find it difficult to drink lots in one go but this meant I could have a sip every few minutes.

It is a good idea to have two sets so your crew can have some full ones ready to swap as and when you need them.