Fitting

Guys.  Guys.  The magic (hehe) boots fit my pony!!!!
I was seriously worried that they wouldn't.  Horse size Eskadrons were a smidge too big, and cob size professional's choice were a smidge too small, and most manufacturers don't make cob size boots anyways, and pony size was TINY, but these boots totally actually work!

and they look good with the bell boots

Leo didn't seem to mind them at all, and actually stood still while I put them on - something that never happens when I try to strap him into the SMB's that I've been using.

Don't worry, the lead rope was secure,
this angle is just very, very strange.

I absolutely LOVE them, and am probably going to use them on whatever horse I end up showing this month/next month.  If they fit.  Because I want to use them.  Because they are beautiful.  Also, I can't review them if I don't try them out.

Speaking of showing, I (hopefully) will be going to my first jumpers show next Sunday!  I've been showing hunters since March (when I had my very first horse show involving jumping EVER), and I'm really excited to try jumpers for the first time.  I mostly hate hunter shows (but that is an issue that deserves an entire ranty blog post), and I'm planning to go to a mini-event in October, so I need to get in some stadium experience.

I had a great lesson tonight on one of my three potential show ponies.  R Secret Mister Ed (aka Eddie) is the least appaloosa of all appaloosas, and a very good guy.  

Old picture, in case you couldn't tell from the
trees/sky/dead grass. 

Eddie's ideal life would involve meandering along at the pace of a snail, snacking occasionally, and giving dirty looks to any horse that dares get too close to him.  He always has floppy ears when under saddle, and if you add enough leg he can pull himself together and look quite fancy.  And if you find the right button (buried underneath ALL OF THE LEG and ALL OF THE RIGHT REIN), the little dude will jump anything you point him at.  He's an incredible jumper, will attempt  save his rider every time (often after a refusal, or 'pulling an Eddie' wherein he splits the jump and gets stuck)(seriously, this horse will stop dead if you go up on his neck and stand stock still until you readjust yourself), and secretly can be pretty fast.  I adore him.

Eddie in action.  Photo stolen from the barn's FB page.  Rider is my friend S.

I have two other potential ponies to show, but I had a pretty amazing ride with Eddie tonight.  The entire lesson was done with one stirrup (because Trainer K is sick and twisted like that (which I mean in the most loving way possible)), and the jumping exercise was deceptively simple - canter over a crossrail, bounce to a vertical, then turn left or right to make a bending line.  But you had to turn in the correct direction of whatever lead you landed on.  And a flying lead change didn't count.  It was really fun, and Eddie and I were very successful.  <3 him.  It was nice to get to ride a horse and focus on more than just 'omg what is my horse doing why is his head touching my head and also is he going to go over this jump?!'

I also somehow took a bunch of pictures of Leo's legs, and zero of his face.  So here's Eddie's (slightly grouchy) face.  Hope you all had an excellent Friday!

Need treats, human!