As a reminder, you can get your blog links in your email inbox, and as of this week, I’m making a change: email roundups (which contain these links + some additional content) will go out at noon on Friday. So if you’re looking for a Friday afternoon boredom-reliever at work, sign up!

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I skipped last week, so you get a huge dump this week. #sorrynotsorry

Talk to me about barn sitting from She Moved to Texas
An oft-overlooked but crucial part of running a farm: finding someone to take good care of it.

DR120: Dressing for Dressage from Hand Gallop
I consider myself pretty good on the rules, and there were a few things in here that surprised me!

Shared and Diverging Lexicons from Viva Carlos
I have zero young horse experience, so I found this really interesting.

How do you sum up a year? from Beyond the Shedrow
Reflections on a year as a working student; I loved this.

Dream Farm Fridays: Basic Buying Process from PONY’TUDE
siiiiiiiiiigh

What is appropriate dressage judging? from Guinness on Tap
I’ve scribed for a LOT of judges, and have learned a lot about judging styles that way. This is an important conversation to have.

Showing and Competing: Why I Do It from Fat Buckskin in a Little Suit
Everyone’s answer to this question are different, and I enjoy reflecting on them all.

Do It Yourself Cake Pops for Horses from DIY Horse Ownership
GENIUS. Except now I want a cake pop.

Greenguard Grazing Muzzle Review from Pony Express
A good thorough review of the kind of product that really needs to be tested thoroughly.

The Myth of the Too Small Horse from The Adventures of a Floppy Ammy
I’m 5’9″. Tristan is 15.1 when he stands up straight AND wears shoes. So…yeah. Mostly, I don’t care, but I do also ponder whether my next horse should be larger.

Worth the Effort from Readheadlins
I loathe photos of myself, so this was a good reminder to work on getting over that.

Westfalen NA Inspection, What a Day from Equinpilot
This is so cool – what a gorgeous stallion, doing amazing things!

Me and Miz B from PONY’TUDE
Trucks = love, you guys.

9 Tips for Equine Ulcer Prevention (& Ulcerguard Giveaway) from Saddle Seeks Horse
Perennially useful information & a great giveaway.

Going back in order to go forward: A lesson from Alois Podhajsky from Trafalgar Square Books
Podhajsky is hands-down my favorite historical/classical rider, and his writing is extraordinary.

Tackling Rebecca’s Training Course from Four Mares, No Money
Love, love, LOVE this.

Trivia Trail Ride with the Harvard Fox Hounds from Hand Gallop
I love this idea SO MUCH.

Tongue Tension from Not So Speedy Dressage
HUH. File this under “things I need to think about a lot more.”

10 Tips for Your First Hunter-Jumper Show from Fly On Over
I know next to nothing about hunter-jumpers, so this was useful for me!

Qualifying from Ambitious
The idea here is that it’s the quality of rides you put in, not necessarily the quantity of time; it’s a philosophy I’ve always found particularly useful.

The Experiment: Introduction from Wait for the Jump
This is not quite horse related, but it’s awesome. Follow through for the rest in the series. 

Adult Camp Adventures: Windurra from ‘Fraidy Cat Eventing
LIVING THE DREAM.

Cattle Sorting from DIY Horse Ownership
Another dream of mine!

Barn Shopping for Baby from The $900 Facebook Pony
I’ve done a fair bit of barn shopping in my life, but never for a baby.

Let’s discuss alternative therapies from House on a Hill
Everyone has Opinions on these, and it’s good to see a thoughtful conversation.

Earning my whites: final thoughts on Fair Hill from PONY’TUDE
I love this. There’s something about horse-related accomplishments that can either destroy or completely cement self-esteem, and this is a good example of the latter, thankfully!

Collected trot through transitions from A Enter Spooking
This is close on the heels of last week’s superb walkthrough of the collected canter. I found this just as useful, given my transition challenges right now!

Muckleratz from A Collection of Madcap Escapades
Not only is this the best name for an endurance ride ever, it’s a great insight into the work that good photographers do – and has many examples of said gorgeous photographer!

An Ode To The Frankenbridle (And A Blogger Thank You) from Guinness on Tap
I do 95% of my rides in one dressage bridle that Tristan has worn for 10 years now with no changes, so I found this post amazing. (In a good way! I should make sure to add.)

A Mexican Wedding Parade from The Collie Farm Blog
You guys I did my wedding ALL WRONG.

So-called Rescues and their Constant Plea for “Bail” from Equine Ink
I have…many deeply conflicting thoughts about horse rescue. This is a good point of view on some of the sketchier aspects of it.

Mule Racing from DIY Horse Ownership
If this post doesn’t fill you with glee, then I don’t even know what to link you to.

How to Build an Equestrian Capsule Wardrobe from If the Saddle Fits
I…like the idea of this post, a LOT. I might structure a similar post of my own. I think it mostly made me realize that I am a) cheap b) broke and c) soooooooooo not stylish.

How People Get to Whatever, 2017 Midyear Report from Whatever
This is emphatically not about horses! But it’s a really cool and thoughtful post about blogging – who you’re reaching, how, and some general musing on the state of blogging.

Reminder that if you want these links + additional content in your inbox, sign up for the newsletter.
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I do not believe from Zen and the Art of Baby Horse Management
I am also deeply skeptical – though not broadly at the idea of people who can observe and know things beyond our current understandings. More like deeply skeptical of people who make their livings as animal communicators. I’ve had some bad experiences. This is an interesting take on one encounter.

Cross Country Schooling from DIY Horse Ownership
Do you want to see pictures of an adorable mustang schooling XC? Of course you do. You’re not a monster.

Let’s Discuss: Riding Multiples from House on a Hill
This is not something I have any experience with – I consider it a win if I can scrape together enough time to ride my own horse. But I know some of you out there are pros at this.

Collected Canter from A Enter Spooking
This is a SUPER SUPER helpful progression post, with photos and commentary. Collected canter is the bane of my existence. I studied this at length and came away with some great new ideas.

Welcome to the gun show from Saddle Seeks Horse
Cowboy mounted shooting is not something I have ever had the least interest in but this makes it sound really fascinating and dare I say even fun?

Stirrup length, the posting trot, and chair seat from Poor Woman Showing
Much like the canter post above, this is an incredibly helpful roundup of photos and commentary that is going to be very much on my mind when I school the trot next.

Tail bleaching tutorial from Gray Horse Problems
My two part takeaway here is a) I’m glad I don’t own a gray and b) god DAMN they look good when they clean up.

4 steps to the emergency dismount from Trafalgar Square Books
This is vitally, crucially important information. Read it. Practice it. Internalize it. It might save your life.

Craniology, Part I: What Your Helmet Will (and Won’t) Do To Protect You from Eventing Nation
The internet is just full of fascinating, factual, useful information roundups this week! I loved this. In conclusion: don’t be a fucking idiot, wear your helmet.

Being Right from Not So Speedy Dressage
I’m going to be mulling over this one for a while.

Blog Links

Meet Arya from The Feral Red Horse
Obviously I’m biased in favor of the name, but this is a lovely mare and I’m excited to see where she goes.

OTTBS for Science from ‘Fraidy Cat Eventing
I can’t be the only one who always wants to put an exclamation point after science!, right?

Um, anyway. This is a super cool project and I can’t wait to hear results.

Barn Dogs from The Owls Approve
I have more or less given up on making my own dog a barn dog but I live in hope, and in the meantime avidly read posts like this one, about the process of making barn dogs.

Into the land of shiny big belt buckles: PONY’TUDE goes Western from PONY’TUDE
This is a foreign country to me and I am baffled and fascinated.

Four from Pony Express
This post makes me think simultaneously “this is so cool! it’s so much fun to see horses grow up to be awesome” and also “fuck, I’m old.”

Resistol RideSafe Helmet Review & Giveaway from Saddle Seeks Horse
It’s about time the Western disciplines started getting helmet-savvy. I hope this takes off.

Big Star Offspring @ Bolesworth from Equestrian at Hart
I always enjoy breeding tracking posts like this because it’s a world I know nothing about. I’ve known some very fancily-bred horses but my own is obviously a bargain basement mutt.

2017 Show Gear from The $900 Facebook Pony
The subtitle of this weekly blog roundup might as well be “no gear post left unlinked.”

5 Things I’ve Learned Owning a Small Farm from Hand Gallop
I know the work is neverending, but this is still the dream.

Reconsidering Pentosan from Zen and the Art of Baby Horse Management
I’ve had Tristan on Pentosan for a few years with good results, and this is a good research roundup & review of the thought process of starting Pentosan.

Costs of keeping horses at home vs. boarding horses from Hand Gallop
I love this kind of granular detail. It really makes me want horses at home now.

Your links roundup for weekend reading! As a reminder, if you want these in your email inbox, sign up here.

Avoid This Dangerous Donut in Saddle from Saddle Seeks Horse
It never occurred to me that this could happen, and I’m going to be thinking about it going forward for sure. It’s always amazing how horses find new ways to try and kill us or themselves.

Cavaletti Building from Equestrian at Hart
These look terrific, and the photographs were especially helpful! Cavaletti are so incredibly useful, and it’s good to have at least a few pairs around.

Ponies Coming Home: The Realization of a Dream from Stampy and the Brain
I can’t even put into words how jealous I am. I’ve loved watching the progress photos of this barn coming together; here’s the happy ending!

Saddlebox Giveaway from The South Dakota Cowgirl
GIVEAWAY ALERT!

Blog Hop: Favorite Exercises from The $900 Facebook Pony
Great idea for a blog hop – I’ll probably write something out soon.

Guess What Breed Our Mustangs Are & Mustang DNA Report from DIY Horse Ownership
I’ve always wanted to do this for Tristan – so cool!

Hula Hoop or Belly Dance from Not So Speedy Dressage
I had never thought of following the canter this way, but I love it!

Bitting Up from PONY’TUDE
I’ve done it, and written about it. But I’m always curious to see other philosophies.

Heart of Texas Working Equitation Series Show #3 – 5/20-5/21 from The Reeling
This is so freaking cool. I’d love to try this someday.

Economic Case Study: TB v WB v OTTB from ‘Fraidy Cat Eventing
This is REALLY interesting, and a vector of analysis I’d never thought about before.

There was enough interest last week in having these roundups as an email that I’ve gone ahead and created a list. Sign up below if you’re interested. Weekly roundup emails will include the blog posts linked in this post, as well as some additional content, and they’ll be sent out at noon each Saturday. Next week will be the first one.

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First, a question about these roundups. It occurred to me that maybe some people would like them in their email inbox as weekend reading. Could you answer the poll question below and let me know what you think? I’d probably try and make an email version a little bit beefier – maybe tie in a COTH thread that I thought was worthwhile, a meme or two, and some other updates.

Are calming supplements cheating? from Hand Gallop
A topic that brings a lot of passion out.

Help a Haffie Out – I Need a Name! from Wyvern Oaks
CUTENESS. Also, naming posts never get old for me.

Two Horse Tack Product Review x3 from In Omnia Paratus
Some really nice things and also gorgeous pictures of a gorgeous horse showing them off.

Mud and Projects from The Feral Red Horse
I am such a sucker for these detailed barn planning posts.

What to Buy Wednesday: Washing Machines from Eventing Saddlebred Style
Anyone have some advice?

Managing Seasonal Allergies in Horses from If the Saddle Fits
My answer is “drugs. lots of ’em” but other people may have more success with management.

Grindstone Mountain Farm Keeps Former King Oak Farm H.T. Tradition Alive from Eventing Nation

Let’s talk about tack trunks from Hand Gallop
Organization is one of my favorite things to think and talk about, so this post and its comments are great.

Naming Baby M from Equestrian at Hart
I had the distinct pleasure of meeting this stinking cute little colt when he was just a few days old – go help Hillary name him!

My Horse Has EOTRH (What on Earth?) from Saddle Seeks Horse
I had never ever heard of this before, and I consider myself a connoisseur of weird horse diseases.

DIY: How to Make a Trailer Bench for Your Trailer Tack Room from DIY Horse Ownership
THIS LOOKS AWESOME.

Warm Up & Warm Down from Eventing Nation
Tinkering with warm up is one of my endless obsessions, so I liked what this had to say – particularly about long walks and the actual physical readiness component of a warmup for cross country.

Five Pony Club Rules That Are Slightly Impractical from Eventing Connect
I was a Pony Club DC for a number of years. We used to say that there is the Pony Club way, and you will never ever go wrong following it, but there are often other equally smart & safe ways to do things. I still think Pony Club has it down in terms of teaching kids safe and quality ways to interact with horses, but boy are they sticklers.

The sad saga of DJ Trump, Donald Trump’s lone foray into horse racing from the Washington Post
It’s pretty obvious that the fuckwit-in-chief is a failure as a human being on every count, but did you know he even behaves shittily toward horses? Well, here you go.

Finally, new blog alert; I’ve known Paula for years and she has a truly extraordinary story to tell, so please check her out & follow along: My Brave Arab Mare

Your non-horsey read for the week: My Family’s Slave. This was mind-boggling, heart-wrenching, and extraordinary. Take the time to read it through.