Here are some good blog posts from the horse world this past week.

Trail Conditions from What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
PREACH IT. Mud season trail concerns are a huge problem and something all equestrians should be aware of.

FCE Blog Hop: Favorite Prize? from Fraidy Cat Eventing
Cool blog hop idea!

Welcome Baby from The Reeling
BABY BABY BABY

Building Your Spring Arsenal from The Legal Equestrian
Definitely a couple of good suggestions in here.

The Pelvis and Bend from Cob Jockey
Thinky, thinky biomechanics post. I liked this a lot.

I think there might be a sex club in my office from Ask a Manager
Not horse related, and no, you didn’t read that wrong. Hoooooooooly shit. You need to read this.

You don’t own me from DIY Horse Ownership
I think we’ve all been in this situation. I tend to find ways to let kids approach Tristan, but he’s as chill and steady as they come, and definitely not everyone can do that.

The Ultimate Question from Racing to Ride
I love everything about this post! Fascinating, quirky horse and a real insight into the work of the racetrack.

Here are a few fun posts from the horse blogging world.

Good in a Crisis from Zen and the Art of Baby Horse Management
Really, really good overview of how to be the best you can be in scary, dangerous situations.

Pick Your Rolex Fantasy Team from Eventing Nation
I have long hoped someone would bring fantasy sports to eventing – and it doesn’t hurt that you can win a DuBarry outfit, too!

Review of Three Budget Friendly Breeches from Sprinkler Bandit
Right in my wheelhouse. I haven’t ever spent more than $50 on a pair of breeches.

NTW Sunrise Ridge from The Reeling
This is sooooooooooo cool. I am going to do combined driving in my next life.

Baltimore’s Arabbers from Fraidy Cat Eventing
This is just cool – I had no idea!

Zipper’s Story from The Maggie Memoirs
So much love.

Here’s a few posts from the world of horse blogging that caught my eye this past week.

Healthy Horse Infographic from Equine Nutrition Nerd
Love this. Lots of basic information, well laid-out.

Europe Part 3 from Flying Free
I’ve loved all of these photos, but oh, the Spanish Riding School…!

How to Do Horse Laundry from Fly On Over
Some of these tips I knew, and some are new to me. Nice wrap-up.

Here are some great posts from the horse blogging world this week.

Hardcovers from Streets of Salem
This is more of a history blog, but I loooooooved this post about old covers of Black Beauty. (Speaking as someone who owns four different copies; five if you count the ebook.)

Flying High with Artistic Flaire from Eventing Nation
Cute, talented Morgan! Enough said.

This is how trail riding should be done from Not So Speedy Dressage
My jaw was literally hanging open while reading this post. I want to go to there.

Behind the Scenes: Packing the Tack Trailer from Hand Gallop
I LOVE blogs because they show me super cool, interesting, behind the scenes stuff like this.

Reviews: The Battle of the Breastplates from The $900 Facebook Pony
I love breastplates for their functionality and how sharp they make an event horse look. This is a terrific overview and thoughtful dig into how they work and how they should work.

Product Review: Feed XL from The Legal Equestrian
I freaking love the idea behind this, but I’ve never been able to make myself cough up the money for it. What a cool product, though.

How do you learn? from Not So Speedy Dressage
Outstanding overview, lots to think about.

Rider Review: Smartpak Sunshield Shirts from Stories from the Saddle
I have coveted one of these shirts for a very, very long time. I’m really glad to see this review.

A few great posts from the horse blogging world this week!

Tips to Organize Your Equestrian Life from Fly on Over
I am a fairly obsessive paperwork organizer. I love this. Good tips, and a very soothing look into another equestrian’s way of organizing.

So You Want to Blog Part 2 from She Moved to Texas
I am not at all a graphic designer, so I loved this post in particular about the design of your blog and how you can work with it. Lots to think about there.

The Unsung Plight of the Show Photographer from Zen and the Art of Baby Horse Management
My last trainer’s wife was a horse show photographer, and I thought of myself as fairly savvy when it came to the challenges facing show photographers…but I hadn’t thought of any of these!

Professionals as Role Models from The $900 Facebook Pony
WEAR YOUR DAMN HELMET, ALREADY.

Because You Asked: Lucy’s Tack from The 7MSN Ranch
Donkey tack, you guys. Donkey. Tack. Awesome.

Moms + Horses = ? from What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
I admit: one of the biggest reasons I get nervous about the idea of having kids is because I’m certain it would destroy my horse life. This gives me some hope, but it also leaves me in awe – no way could I be that present and aware.

Midwives on Horseback: Saddlebags and Science from O Say Can You See? (Smithsonian National Museum of American History
Oh my God this is awesome. Wow. Women rock.

Here are a few good horse blog posts from this past week.

Run, Bike, Ride, Paddle: The ECTAthlon from The Maggie Memoirs
This looks infinitely more appealing than a triathlon – cool!

How to Make a Wood Horse Stall Sign from DIY Horse Ownership
I kind of love this. I’m still artistically inept, but I think they look really cool. A lot of the longer term horses in my barn have wooden stall signs, and when they pass away their sign is hung on the wall outside the tack room. It’s a lovely tribute.

Product Review: Equifit Shoulders Back from Viva Carlos
I’ve always been intrigued by this – great review.

Here are some great posts from the horse blogging world this week.

How to make your own Smartpaks from DIY Horse Ownership
Smartpaks can be great, or they can be way too pricey for convenience. If you have a little bit of extra time, this is definitely the way to go.

Izzy’s Leg: Update 8 from Not So Speedy Dressage
AWESOME progress on Izzy’s wound and a great photo series of how it’s wrapped. The whole series has been so educational and fascinating. Not recommended for those with weaker stomachs…

European Adventure from The $900 Facebook Pony
Read the whole series. I’ll just wait here. This links to Part 1 and there are buttons to continue you on your journey at the bottom of each post. If you get too insanely jealous just take a short break and come back. They’re worth it.

Costume Creations: RuPaul Drag Horse from Poor Woman Showing
This post just flat out wins the internet this week.

HITS 1995 from Braymere Custom Saddlery
Vintage showjumping! Awesome.

King’s Canyon Ride from Funder’s Good Idea
All that green, and those trails, just made me swoon.

Ask and Answer: Boot ‘Em Up from Hey Hey Holls
Boots are a perennial favorite question. I like this post because it links to some actual science about the pros and cons of warming legs up underneath boots.

Grant Schneiderman Clinic Recap from Fraidy Cat Eventing
Really, really nice clinic recap! Good meaty reading.

Here are some great horse blog posts from this past week.

First of all: thank you to everyone who recommended new blogs to me last week. I’ve added probably 20-25 to my reading list and am loving the new variety and reading material. Keep ’em coming!

Let it go without saying that I am beyond jealous of everyone who got to hang out in the warmth of Austin together. (Okay, I know you all keep saying it was freezing but if precipitation was coming down in liquid form it can’t have been that cold.) Here are a few recap posts that I’ve been living through vicariously all week.

Weekend in numbers: horse blogger edition from Hand Gallop
Epic blogger weekend from Wyvern Oaks
Horse bloggers weekend was a blast! from She Moved to Texas
Blogger Meetup, Part 1 & Blogger Weekend Retail Therapy & Not Actually Jousting from Cob Jockey
Blogger Weekend 2015 from A Gift Horse
Icy Wet Weather and Bloggers Weekend from Bay With Chrome

Significant Other Survival Guide: Three Day Events from Dandyism
It’ll be a cold day in hell before my fiance grooms for me at an event, but this is an outstanding and hilarious guide. Great reading material if any of you have partners who are willing to do the horse thing!

Costume Creations: Frontiers-horse from Poor Woman Showing
What. This is AWESOME.

Breed Showing Encyclopedia Part Two from Hey Hey Holly
Even better than the first part! Check out the video of the showmanship pattern. o.O

TIL: The Florida Chronicles, the Easy Edition from Guinness on Tap
Who doesn’t want to make horse laundry easier?! No one. Check out these great tips.

Throwback Thursday: Buster from Hand Gallop
What a wonderful story – I smiled all the way through.

Finally, the blogging world lost a really special horse this week. Suzanne and Sugar were an incredible team, and I never read a post of Suzanne’s that didn’t make me admire her work ethic and her enormous heart. I wish I’d gotten the chance to meet Sugar in person. Suzanne writes about it here, in Living Life in the Middle.

Remembering “The Other Sugar” from A Work in Progress
And a tribute to Sugar.

Here are some posts from the wide world of horse blogging!

Non-Judgment Day from Confessions of an AA Eventer
What a horrible, horrible winter. Suzanne’s barn lost their indoor, and this was posted on a day when another barn in MA lost their indoor. I know the people at the second barn, and in fact nearly boarded Tristan with them a few years ago. This winter fucking sucks.

The Many Sleeps of Harley from Dandyism
omfg, cute overload.

Cute Overload from No Hour Wasted
omfg, part 2.

My Favorite Mug from Pony’tude
I love this story! Such a nice IHSA memory. I’m a sucker for good IHSA stories.

3 Winter Items I Wear from Work to the Barn from The Maggie Memoirs
I admit, I work really hard to keep my barn clothes separate from everything else in my life, and most especially my winter clothes. There’s nothing like a barn to ruin a piece of clothing, and I am protective of my work wardrobe. Separate coats, boots, the whole nine yards. But I love the look of everything highlighted in this post!

Twelve Money-Saving Strategies My Family Uses from The Simple Dollar
I use all of these strategies on a regular basis, except maybe the haggling over soon-to-expire items. (I hunt the clearance and day-old racks instead.) I spend $50 per week on groceries for two people. It’s a major part of how I’m able to keep overall household expenses affordable.

Breed Showing Encyclopedia Part One from Hey Hey Holly
Thorough, comprehensive, and fascinating overview of AQHA and APHA hunter showing, about which I knew precisely nothing beforehand. Great read & well-illustrated.

A Review: Complete Printable Horse Binder from Wilbur, Ellie, and Emily
LOVE this idea for a product, and this is a great overview.

Exercise vs. Turnout from Equinpilot
I really like this. I wish Tris were on 24/7 turnout, but it’s just not possible for him right now for a variety of reasons. Honestly, if I were ever to move him, as much as I love my current barn, it would be to somewhere with more turnout. Seeing the data laid out like that is really compelling.