The Repurposed Horse

I very nearly made it through Black Friday and the aftermath unscathed.  I bought a blanket for the poor pastured pony - which I was already committed to doing, was just waiting for the right blanket at the right price, and picked up a new bit at the local tack store for 10% off so that Trainer K could have hers back.  I did a lot of online watching, and added things to my cart a few times (Majyk Equipe XC boots, someday you will be mine!), but ultimately my extra income is meant to go towards a saddle, and so I was able to talk myself out of just about everything. Weatherbeeta stock photo.  Should be here soon, and hopefully this one fits! Late Monday night, I was in bed perusing the end of the Cyber Monday deals on my phone, and I somehow ended up on Dover's website.  In the saddle listings of the Closeouts section, I found something unexpected - an Ovation San Diego, lightly used, and marked down 20% - which put it almost exactly at the amount of money ...

Three weeks ago, I finally found a new pair of tall boots to replace the ones that I placed on consignment in July.  (Yes, I finished out the show season without a pair of tall boots to call my own.  It was a little rough.)  That last pair was purchased for me sometime in early high school by my mother, who thought that my feet weren't quite done growing.  They were a size 9.  I wear a 7 1/2.  Needless to say, they did not fit me very well.  It's only a testament to how little I've shown that they were even still around. wearing to work I had a really hard time finding a pair of boots that I liked enough to buy.  With an awkward calf size - slims tend to be a hair to small, regulars tend to be way too big - and a budget that doesn't quite justify getting something custom, I looked for what felt like a ridiculously long time.  (I was looking before I put the last pair on consignment). ZIPPERS!!!!! Finally, and completely on acciden...

A lot of good things have been happening lately. Last week, the theme of the lesson was focusing on leg and seat aids.  To emphasize this, Trainer K took away our inside reins. Way obvious from the ground, looks much more impressive when there's a person actually on the horse Both reins, outside of the neck.  I first attempted this with Nigel, the world's most perfect horse, in a group lesson last Monday.  It was probably slightly unfair, because Nigel is perfect and as long as you keep him straight he will do pretty much anything you ask him to do.  He is very sensitive to leg and seat aids already. Nigel <3 (straightness is key when jumping because if he can't see, he will politely refuse) On Wednesday, I had a private lesson with Trainer K, and rode Leo.  I jokingly said something about trying the exercise out on Leo, and she decided that that was a Wonderful Plan, and so that's what we did.  And it wasn't actually a disaster!  ...

Pasture Life, Day One - Leo stood at the gate crying and waiting to be let in for approximately 90% of the day, up until we let out his regular pasturemates after evening feed. Sigh. And onto the main content...Thanks, L Williams ! How old is the youngest/greenest horse you’ve ridden?    Um, I want to say 4, but not 100% on that.  We'll go with 4, +/- 1 year. How old is the oldest horse you’ve ridden?   I choose not to talk about this on the blog, but once a week I work at a local therapeutic riding center.  The oldest mare there, Babe, is well into her thirties.  She's retired now, but last winter, when she was still in good shape, I took her for a trail ride.  She is a dear, dear old soul. Were you scared of horses when you first started riding?  I don't think that I've ever been afraid of the horses themselves - it's the falling, or the going too fast, or the being out of control parts that have scared me.  So, riding scared...

First, a brief update on the bridle situation.  After writing my last post, I spent the next 2-5 hours looking at other options, including some on the PS of Sweden website.  During this process, I noticed something that I apparently was too dense to notice before - that many of the photos sent in by users have the rolled leather pieces that arch to hold the nose plate in position and form the 'flash' pushed into pretty extreme angles.  I had my bridle with me - cleaning it, getting ready to take pictures to post online for sale - and started messing with it.  Turns out, when you push those arches into steeper 'u' shapes, the flash strap magically becomes longer. Before.............................................................After This new configuration is basically a miracle.  Not only is it no longer awkwardly tight under his chin, but it hugs the anatomy of his face much better, which is kind of the whole point of the bridle in the first place. ...

As a horse-warming present, my parents purchased me a PS of Sweden High Jump Revolution bridle.  This came after many, many hours of careful research as I tried to find 'the best' bridle for my fussy, sensitive new horse.  It took some time to get here - the first bridle that I was sent had some scuffs in the leather, and had to be exchanged, which took a while.  And it hasn't been ridden in very much - Leo had just started training when the new model arrived.  I think that at this point we have maybe, maybe put in 12 rides with it - quite possibly fewer, as I refuse to keep it at the barn and tend to forget to bring it with me. I absolutely adore this bridle.  I love how it looks.  I love the padding, and the softness of the leather.  I love how well it cleans up after my horse slobbers all over the 'flash' strap during each and every ride in it.  I love that it is unique. Unfortunately, I'm starting to feel like Leo does not parti...

favorite photo of all time happier times. pre-lesson poses

Leo does not do well when it comes to taking photoshoots seriously. So attractive. He also does really poorly at standing still if treats are involved. ridiculous. But Barn BFF S and I were able to get a few decent end-of-October progress pictures! (I'm starting with the least impressive and moving to the most). dat ass.  Left: October; Right: June Obviously the lighting in the original photo makes it hard to get a good look, and his stance is different, but you can still see the differences in muscling between the two.  Also his tail is beginning to look fuller (FINALLY!). Left: October; Right: August When I bought him, one of my biggest despairs was his lack of any chest definition.  These days, not so much.  He has definition! There are lines! And I finally got a good angle for a pectoral shot! ;P Okay. Are you ready??? Top: October; bottom: June Um.  You guys. Who stole my scrawny-ass saddlebred and replaced him with a rea...

I recently wrote  a post  about that one time last week where I accidentally pulled Leo's mane shorter than intended, leaving him in an awkward and uneven hair-length phase. choppiness level: high Because I have never razored a horse's mane before in my life, I was mildly terrified by the prospect of fixing it myself, so I decided to hire a professional.  AKA, I added Leo to the mane pull list of horses showing this weekend and paid Trainer K ten bucks to fix it for me. Why do you want a picture of my NAKED NECK, Ma? My face is way cuter. It's...quite short.  Hunter length.  Because the goal was to make it all one length, and he's been rocking the ridiculous mohawk look basically since I brought him home.  All one length, finally.  It's a little short for my taste, but at the same time way more aesthetically pleasing.  And it's just hair.  And at least now, as it grows back, it will all grow back one length, which has ...

As I may have mentioned last week, Leo's first official outing since coming to the barn in June took place last Sunday.  The barn hosting was new to me, but they hold their Haunted Hunter Pace (HHP, from now on) around Halloween every year.  I was actually meant to take Sherlock to last year's, but had to be out of town due to a family emergency.  The barn has an absurd amount of trails, all wonderfully spooky for Halloween, and none of which I got pictures of.   Leah  totally did though - and we were finally, finally able to meet up!  And I got to meet Ruby!  And she lent me a bonnet because I didn't have one! Prettiest bonnet. Thanks again, Leah! DIY Mockingjay saddlepad. Teal pony in the background. As my posts may have hinted at, my team went with a Hunger Games theme.  Originally it was just me and Barn BFF S, with our two fancy chestnuts, and the plan was to be Tributes from District 12.  At the last minute, Barn BFF eB decide...