meme

5 Day Challenge: Day 5

Amanda7 Comments

Fifth and final day of the 5 Day Challenge from Fly On Over.

21. Favorite classes to watch.

Bromont CCI3*, 2010
Eventing at the Advanced or 4* level. Nothing like it in the world, watching horses take those big XC jumps in that incredible leap of strength and grace.

22. What’s in your cooler at horse shows?


Water, fruit (usually dried), yogurt, cheese, baked goods of some kind – usually banana bread, cookies, and muffins.

23. One thing about showing (or riding in general) you wish you could change?


So there’s absolutely zero way to change this, but – why does showing take so freaking long? Everything involved with a day of showing is intensely time consuming and exhausting and you’re busy constantly. On the one hand, that’s great! It makes the day fly by. On the other hand, it would be nice to go somewhere and do a dressage test or two without it being such a major undertaking.

24. Your ringside crew.


Previously, my whole barn would go to events together, so we’d be crew for each other. Most often, Hannah would be my wingman. Now, just me, really. My boyfriend has exactly zero interest in coming to horse shows, and this barn doesn’t event, so I’ll be on my own.

25. Best prizes.


The best prize I’ve ever gotten at a horse show was the mug on the right that I won at a barn show, made by Lindsey Epstein, who was barn manager at the time and is a brilliant artist and potter. I still use it all the time. In general, should I ever be lucky enough to place well, I think the halters, coolers, and saddle pads that are the usual are pretty nifty.
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Stick Season

AmandaLeave a comment

I’d never heard the phrase “stick season” until about a month ago, despite a cumulative 7 years now of living in Vermont. I think it really describes beautifully that long, held breath between the end of fall and the beginning of winter.

After a few early wintry days with overnight lows in the single digits or below zero, we’re back in proper fall weather: 30s during the day, fog in the valleys, and bare trees (hence the “stick) outlined against gray skies.

Part of me hates this weather; it is, after all, cold and wet and gray and dreary. It’s too cold to really spend a lot of time outside, but too warm to really dig in to winter activities.

But part of me loves the feel of nature on hold, paused, and mustering energy for its next big show. My favorite stories are origin stories, and I love that glimpse of normal life we get before the hero’s world is changed forever because it feels like setting a baseline.

It’s stick season for me at work right now, too, and I’m trying to translate that calm new baseline to my horse work as well: getting into some better habits by spending just a few minutes cleaning tack, or organizing my trunk, or picking through his tail each visit, so when it’s so cold I can hardly breathe I’ll have that rhythm down.

Here’s to the calm before the storm.

meme

5 Day Challenge: Day 4

Amanda2 Comments

Day 4 of Fly On Over’s 5 Day Challenge.

16. One thing you’d like to change about your horse.


I do wish Tristan were more forward. Not hugely! But enough so that I didn’t have to kick – every – single – stride, or at least be thinking forward with every single stride. 

17. Your horse’s future.


With me. Forever. Always. My goal is to retire him to my own farm, somehow, someday.

18. Your worst show ever.


Oh, God. There is actually video evidence of this. Brace yourselves.

Shortly after this video ended, he really truly lost it and flat out bolted out of the ring. He didn’t stop for another 50 yards, until I grabbed the rein right by the bit ring and one-reined him into a spin. Good times.

19. Favorite horse show venue.


I’ve never ridden there, but I have a deep and enduring love for King Oak Farm. It’s by far my favorite venue at which to volunteer, and it was going to be my pick for our first recognized event until Tristan’s foot problems started.

20. Your show day routine.


I don’t know that I’ve shown enough to really get a routine down, but it usually starts with a stupid early wakeup call, an egg sandwich and lots and lots of tea, and in the middle there’s a frantic re-memorizing of dressage tests, at least one major smudge on my white breeches, me cussing out Tristan while he has a bratty moment while tacking up, and ends with at least one pair of socks soaked through for one reason or another and me flopping in utter exhaustion.

lesson notes · massage

Lesson Notes

AmandaLeave a comment

Hooray and huzzah, back in the lesson swing!

This was just a 30 minute one that ended in 40 minutes of work if you count the walk warmup and cooldown. I primarily asked for eyes on the ground to recalibrate our sense of forward: not to let me either get him almost there and then give up OR shove him into rushing instead of forward. End result, develop a more honest reaching connection to the bit.

It was a fast, energetic 30 minutes and we were both pretty tired at the end of it, which was great. It was my first lesson with the barn manager, who teaches through the winter, and I was glad that we clicked nicely and I saw a lot of things we can work on.

Takeaways:

1) Ask for acceleration when coming to the long side when first asking for more forward. Going forward out of the turn weights the inside hind, which helps develop lift, and gives him the length of the arena to really motor through.
2) Get transitions crisper; we worked on this on a 20m circle going walk-trot-walk-trot with a step or two in each, setting a baseline of a quick but firm aid. Our best transition was actually a bit muddled – there was a split second where I felt the offer of a canter in there – but that meant that the lift and the forward I wanted were contained in the transition, it just wasn’t quite clear enough.
3) Keep my hands further forward, and resist the temptation to fiddle with the reins just to get him stretching down and through. Leg, not hands! (Story of my life.)
4) Use cavaletti to encourage hind end action and stomach muscles, which will help make forward easier. Start with a regular distance and then shorten them slightly to make him think a bit harder and step a bit more quickly.

This was followed by a massage which had good and bad news. In good – he was quiet and responded really well, and J. confirmed that he’s back at a good weight. In bad – still not muscling up quite enough. Continue with tummy tuck and sternum lift exercises, and really commit to a regular exercise schedule with more work than he has been doing.

conformation · meme

5 Day Challenge: Day 3

Amanda6 Comments

Day 3 of Fly On Over‘s blog challenge.

11. Critique your horse’s conformation.


Conformation is not really my area of expertise, but here goes! (Photos taken about 4 years ago.)
The good: He is the cutest! Objectively: he has excellent bone and rather nice leg proportions, both front and back. His back end especially is rather nice. Good depth of barrel. Very expressive eyes and a kind look. Not built downhill, but just about even. Not over or under either front or back. He is ever so slightly cow hocked: just enough for smoother gaits but not enough to impact the joints. Excellent feet: big and tough.
The bad: Holy shoulder, Batman. It’s massive. And overall, his entire front end is disproportionate to his back: there is a lot of weight there, even if he’s not technically downhill. His heck is over-thick and his throatlatch is basically nonexistent, leading down to a poor tie-in of neck and chest. He has the Roman nose to end all Roman noses. His top half is generally out of balance with his bottom half: he has the build of a 16hh horse on pony legs. His head is several steps beyond ginormous.
Overall: he’s got a functional conformation, but he won’t win any prizes.

12. Horse’s favorite riding exercise.


Sleeping and/or eating. No, really. Oh, fine – hacking out for a short distance, perhaps 20 minutes or so, ideally with some undergrowth to crash through. Followed by a snack and a nap.

13. Favorite spa day products.


Cowboy Magic Shampoo & Conditioner, clippers, sunshine.

14. Three best things about your horse.


1. He’s genuinely adorable, with an avid, expressive face that charms absolutely everyone.
2. His brain. His default is to be chill and laid back and still. He puts up with an awful lot.
3. This past year notwithstanding, he is tough as nails about so many things: doesn’t need a blanket, never runs in turnout, will hack just about anywhere, and is overall a very easy keeper.

15. Favorite picture of your horse.



product review

Product Review: Stanley 50 Gallon Tool Chest

Amanda1 Comment

Stanley 50 Gallon Tool Chest

Tack trunks are expensive, heavy, and not always large enough. As is often the case, the second you take the word “horse” out of the equation, you can often find something that works better for less in other places.

While the link above is to the Amazon.com page so you can get a sense close-up of what this tool chest looks like, you can usually buy these for way less at a Home Depot or a Lowe’s – mine was $50.

I love this thing. It lives in my trailer, in the front, and holds a TON of stuff. Most often, it stores all my XC gear, as well as a second grooming set and my trailering first aid kit. When I go to shows, I can repack it quickly and efficiently to hold all manner of things – bridle bags, boots, grain, you name it. There’s even a tote carrier included with it that has plenty of space for grooming tools and other small, easy-access things.

The wheels and carry handle make it quick and easy to just roll out the trailer when we get somewhere, and the base is broad enough that it wheels across uneven ground pretty easily. It’s sturdy and solid. The only wear I’ve noticed on mine after 4 years is a small bit of rust on the metal buckles, and that’s because it lives outside 24/7 in my open trailer. Barn friends have theirs in the tack room or in enclosed trailers and they are spotless.

If I didn’t already have a tack trunk that’s something of a family treasure (my great-great-uncle’s wooden tool chest) this would absolutely be my pick for primary tack trunk. If I were to have multiple horses, I would get one of these for each horse to keep all their things together. Love it.

meme

5 Day Challenge: Day 2

Amanda4 Comments

Continuing the 5 Day Challenge from Tracy at Fly On Over.

Day 2!

6. Favorite equestrian book and movie.


Favorite book: Black Beauty. Hands down. There are many books competing for second place, but this has held first for as long as I’ve been able to read.
Favorite movie: Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken. The best. The absolute best. The very, very, very best. Can I find some more hyperbole for you?

7. Most common riding misconception.


“Why do you still take lessons? Don’t you know how to ride?” Sigh. I don’t know why this is the most common question I get, but it is.

8. 2 riding strengths and 1 riding weaknesses


Strength: I am not what you would call fearless, but my confidence levels are pretty good. I can’t remember the last time I was genuinely afraid to do something a trainer asked of me. Falling off doesn’t especially worry me; physical injury, ditto. (I mean, I don’t want them to happen, but it’s not something I am concerned about.)
Strength: I am fairly picky about most things connected with my riding: grooming, tack fit, warmup routine, footing, etc., and I like to adjust to keep things just right. This can easily tip over into weakness!
Weakness: Consistency. My work schedule can be unpredictable and I can often be so mentally tired if I do end up getting to the barn that I don’t work as hard as I ought. I am very, very driven in every other aspect of my life, and often for me riding is the thing that I tend to be more casual about – which works well for Tristan, I think, but isn’t getting us any blue ribbons.

9. Least favorite thing about horses and/or riding.


I am ever so very tired of being broke all the time, of scrambling to pay another vet bill, another mechanic bill, another supplement bill, you name it. It gives me some rather bitter attitudes sometimes, toward people who don’t have that ongoing, immense financial burden. All the stuff they buy! All the places they go!
Runner up would be the way in which owning a horse has increased my anxiety levels exponentially. I was always going to trend that way but yeesh.

10. What do you feed your horse?


AM: 2 flakes of grass hay, 1 quart of Sentinel Senior, 1.5 oz of High Point Grass
Turnout: free choice hay (usually another 2 flakes or grass in the summer)
PM: 2 flakes of grass hay, 1 quart of Sentinel Senior, 1.5 oz of High Point Grass
Night check: in winter, 1 flake of grass hay

equine art · etsy

Etsy Shopping Guide: Vintage Horses

AmandaLeave a comment

I have an Etsy problem. It’s not as severe as it could be, given my horse-induced perpetually broke state, but it still qualifies as a problem. I start looking at gorgeous things on that site and I get sucked in and two hours later I’m sighing over an Art Deco inspired Star Wars end table.

I thought I’d put together a few posts of nifty horse-related things to buy on Etsy in advance of the holiday season – or, you know, any time you need to gift something to another horse lover in your life. I’m thinking that some of these in particular might make lovely trainer/barn manager/vet gifts.

First up: let’s talk vintage horse items. I happen to have a tiny collection of vintage horse objects that I love, and any of these would fit in great on my shelves.

US Cavalry Saddle Bags ($249.99)

As soon as I saw these I let out a pathetic, besotted sigh. These went with a McClellan saddle, arguably the greatest military saddle the United States has ever produced. I wrote my master’s thesis on the beginnings of the US Cavalry, so I’m more than a bit of a buff.

Beyond that, though, they’re just gorgeous – all those buckles and the wonderful soft supple leather. Lovely.

Art Deco Knife Rests ($79.00)

I’ll be honest: I’m not entirely sure what a knife rest is, or why one would be needed.

But aren’t these lovely? I love the long lean lines of them, the elongated yet elegant neck and backs.

Equestrian Horse Head Cigarette Holder ($32.00)

In my opinion, this is the best bargain on the list. It has great Art Deco lines, is in beautiful condition, and actually has some practical use – it’s not just a tchotchke for a shelf. I think this would look incredibly classy on an office desk.

Brass Winged Horse Figurine ($10.00)

This is tiny but whimsical, and would make a nice shelf piece, especially for such a low price.

Vintage Hunting Candy Tin ($14.99)

Another small and sweet item. I particularly like vintage hunting themed items, and this one has the added bonus of being on a tin that could be repurposed for all sorts of other things.

meme

5 Day Challenge: Day 1

Amanda6 Comments

I’m stealing the 5 Day Challenge as created by Tracy at Fly On Over: 5 questions a day for 5 days. I’m a sucker for big survey memes, and these looked fun.

So! Day 1.

1. Most influential person on your riding.


This is a really tough question! Can I cheat and say Tristan? No?
Probably my first serious trainer, the coach of my college equestrian team, who helped me start Tristan. She gave me my confidence back, and helped me start Tristan under saddle and over fences, and introduced me to dressage. 

2. Piece of tack you’d love to splurge on.


Nunn Finer 5 Point Hunting Breastplate (Cob). Drool. We definitely need a breastplate of some kind; this has been on my wishlist for a very long time. 

3. Top 5 riding playlist

I can’t listen to music while riding. I’ve tried, believe me, but it screws me up. (I can’t listen to music with words while working, either.) I won’t turn the radio off at the barn while I’m riding, but I never queue up a playlist, either.
However! I do sing while I’m riding. I can remember the exact day this started: the day after Tristan’s disastrous first show, when I took him back out to the warmup area he’d lost his marbles in the day before in an attempt to retrieve them. We spent a solid 45 minutes jigging and bucking and occasionally bolting and about halfway through I started to sing Cole Porter songs to remind myself to breathe, and to give him something to calm down, hopefully. It seemed to work. So now I sing Cole Porter when I am nervous, or when I think he’s nervous, or when we’re on a long hack and I feel like I’m alone. “Night and Day” is a favorite, followed by “Under My Skin.”
(I also almost always clean tack to Astaire & Rogers movies, sensing a theme?)

4. Most important aspect of your barn?

Gorgeous scenery doesn’t hurt.
Horse care: first, last, always. This is absolutely crucial to me. Do they notice if he’s colicky? Do they text me if he’s injured himself? Do they follow my instructions when he’s recovering? Do they check in with me when I’ve asked them to? I tip toward the neurotic end of horsekeeping, and a barn manager that will work with me and understand that is key. My current barn fulfills all these requirements in spades, and thankfully I had seen them go the extra mile (or hundred miles) for other horses before Tristan had his surgery, so I had the utmost confidence in their hard work and professionalism.

5. Three winter riding goals.


1. Topline – that is to say, rebuilding muscle.
2. Fitness – mine and his. 
3. Jumping again, to see whether his foot will hold up.