Absorbine Renew Sponsorship with McNab Eventing

British Grooms Assocation and Equestrian Employers Association sponsors Absorbine are delighted to announce their partnership renewal with international event riders, Emma and Kevin McNab. Having relocated from their native Australia in late 2011, the husband and wife team have been based in Surrey, since 2014.

The McNabs are no strangers to competing, whether it be at a four-star event or at a local BE100 competition. Having competed at many major UK and international events, most recently for Emma the 2018 World Equestrian Games in Tryon NC, and for Kevin, Mondial du Lion in France, also in 2018, the duo understands the importance of keeping their horses in top condition. And keeping such a busy and successful team on the road, means that paying great attention to detail with all aspects of their approach to competition and maintenance, is vital.

“The range of products from Absorbine are all fantastic, but the ones we reach for frequently, have to be Horseman’s One Step and Magic Cushion”, says Emma. “We use the latter a lot, mostly during all of the big events, following the cross country and sometimes even after a showjumping round. It’s a really good product and great for maintenance, especially for hard ground.” 

Hard work pays off and Lucy Hartley, Head Girl at McNab Eventing for the past five years, knows how to keep the McNab tack looking pristine all year round, using Horseman’s One Step. “I can’t do without this product – it’s a favourite and keeps all of our tack in really good condition – and we have a lot of tack to clean!”

For keeping the horses in tip top condition, CoolDown is another must have product, both on the yard and at events. Continues Lucy, “CoolDown is great when you only have buckets to wash down with and it’s especially handy for the ODEs/Short Events, although we also use it at CCIs. It has a lovely smell and you feel like you’ve done a really good job cleaning the horses thoroughly and helping them to relax after they have worked so hard. It’s good for their coats and definitely helps them recover. You do everything you can for them, and this really helps do a proper job.”

“It also goes without saying” adds Lucy, “that ShowSheen Hair Polish & Detangler is, of course, an absolute staple to give the horses that extra bit of polish before they compete and an essential at home on the yard, for when we need to detangle tails!”

With the eventing season now in full swing, Kevin has a busy season ahead of him, with 17 horses to compete throughout the summer. With a win at Aston Le Walls on 2nd March marking the team’s first outing, the future is looking bright.

His first CCI4*-S event will be marked by Sopot in Poland in April, where he will be competing two of his top horses, Willunga and Scuderia 1918 Don Quidam, the latter of whom Kevin is hoping to qualify for a 5*. Willunga is set to head to another 4* later in the season, in order to qualify for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

With the imminent arrival of their first child in August, Emma will continue to ride but plans to leave the competitions to Kevin – for now! Her aim is very much focused however, on competing at a 4* in October, in order to qualify her horse Fernhill Tabasco, for Tokyo.

With a yard busier than ever and hugely exciting times ahead, the McNab Eventing is set to reach new heights this season.

“We are delighted to renew our sponsorship of the McNabs, not only to watch them compete with current partnerships but to see the progression of their younger horses, as they rise through the ranks. With Toyoko set firmly on the agenda for the pair next year, it’s a very exciting time to be involved with McNab Eventing and have them as part of Team Absorbine”.