So you want to go to horse college, part 1: Experience vs Degree from Because Pony
I admit, I don’t think terribly highly of equine programs. I think that a lot of the people who go through them end up terrific because they were already great – not necessarily because the program taught them so well. I think this is a good start to a good series and I’ll be interested to read more.

Wellington Part 1: Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous
Wellington Part 2: Rubbing Elbows with Dressage Elites from Hand Gallop
Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh.

10 ways to get along at the barn from Oh Gingersnap!
YES TO ALL OF THESE.

FCE Review: World Class Grooming by Cat Hill and Emma Ford from ‘Fraidy Cat Eventing
I’ve been eyeing this book for a little while and this is a great review that makes me think I want to buy it.

Haiki Ride Recaps from Guinness on Tap
These are amazing.

Do you spoil your horse with tack? from Contact
I honestly don’t. I think I may be in the minority, though? I’ve done my share of cycling through pieces of tack to make sure Tris is comfortable, but I am not usually a person to go out and buy the next biggest thing. On the other hand, Tris is not what anyone would describe as a sensitive horse, so maybe I’ve just been lucky.

Mental Toughness from The Jumping Percheron
My mental toughness has been decidedly lacking lately. This is a good post and a good reminder for me personally.

300th Post & Giveaway from Life of Riley
Have you SEEN Niamh’s papercuts? Go forth and try to win one!

Virtual Adventures and Real Ones Too from Oh Gingersnap!
This is basically the coolest idea EVER.

http://www.bakersfielddressage.com/home/horses-are-expensive-ii-january-2016

http://the900facebookpony.com/2016/02/02/aeta-part-1-boots-helmets-accessories/
http://the900facebookpony.com/2016/02/03/aeta-part-2-tack-and-equipment/
http://the900facebookpony.com/2016/02/04/aeta-part-3-riding-apparel/

First, a note to self, in keeping with the whole blog-to-remember thing: last night, an exercise that worked really well to get Tris more into the bridle & in front of my leg. I didn’t want to canter too much, since my focus was on conditioning & trot sets. He was not moving easily off the leg in response to my usual escalation techniques, so I tried something new: asking for the canter when going into the first corner of a short side, keeping the canter through the short side and the next corner, a few strides down the long side, then focusing hard on the transition back to trot, keeping it active, uphill, and collected. It worked beautifully, both during the warmup and after a walk break, to get a nice, steady, forward trot. I did it until he maintained that trot down the entire long side.

So, continuing: Saturday blog roundup. Small this week because I was going great blazes at work and riding in the evenings instead of at home on my computer. #sorrynotsorry

DIY: Recovering an Old Saddle Pad from Wyvern Oaks
Love this. Seriously pondering putting some cooler fabric on my oldest pads…

Horse-related volunteering: therapeutic riding from Hand Gallop
Really, really good overview of an important volunteer position.

Teach Me Tuesday: Joint Injections from Sprinkler Bandit
Always a good conversation in the comments.

To flex or not to flex? from Breeches & Boat Shoes
I’ve wondered about flexible stirrups myself over the years, and this was a good review.

Weekly selection of blog posts from the horse world below.

Barn #3: Crazy Town from The Roaming Rider
Holy mackerel. Excellent horse-people-are-nuts story.

Trailering Essentials from Equestrian at Hart
This is absolutely the most complete list I’ve seen. It’s more than I carry, and I’m neurotic as hell. Follow this and you won’t go wrong!

How Estrone Works on Stifles from Guinness on Tap
HUH. Fascinating. This prompted a long email exchange with my vet this week to see if Estrone was right for Tristan.

Tack Stall Organization from Fly On Over
Go and share your best organizing ideas!

Custom Orthotics from The Owls Approve
This. was. fascinating.

How much does a USDF rated show cost? from Wyvern Oaks
Less than the hunters, more than eventing, good to see numbers either way.

A selection of posts from the equestrian blogosphere this week.

Fitbit for horseback riding: fun facts and figures from Saddle Seeks Horse

Another Saturday, another collection of cool blog posts from the horse world.

Three inexpensive items that improved my life in 2015 from Wallace Eventing
These are all genius.

1,000th post and contest from Cob Jockey
A really cool photo roundup and a fun contest!

My Thoroughbred’s ulcers from Saddle Seeks Horse
This is fascinating, actually – I’d never seen photos so clearly before.

Conditioning Log from Journey to 100 miles
SUCH a gorgeous solution to the problem.

Foxhunting Q&A from Hand Gallop
Siiiiiiiiigh.

Barnsitting 101 from The $900 Facebook Pony
I’ve done my share of barnsitting, and this is a GREAT roundup of advice.

Project Reveal and Contest Announcement from The Maggie Memoirs
Congrats on the new stuff going on – if you have any graphic skills, check this out, there’s a sweet prize.

What Makes Me Happy from Bakersfield Dressage
This is a really crucially important thing to think about.

It’s back!

Here are a few blog posts from the horsey world this week.

A word on EHV-1 from PONY’TUDE
Scary but very important information.

Choosing a second (or third! or more!) dog from Team Unruly
I had never thought about any of this before, and it’s good information to have, especially as I intensify my efforts to convince my husband that we need a second dog.

Unbranded by The Journey to 100 Miles
Truly superb overview of mustang policy, with a great thoughtful discussion in the comments, framed as a review of a new documentary about young men who ride mustangs cross-country.

How to say no to more work from the Harvard Business Review
My theme for 2016. This was a good review with thoughtful techniques and helpful advice.

2015 Gift Exchange Link Up from Fly on Over
Always one of the best parts of the holiday season, and this is a fun roundup!

Quick blog roundup this week.

My Grooming Bucket is a TARDIS from The $900 Facebook Pony
We’ve all been there.

Success and Yet Failure at the Carolina 100 from In Omnia Paratus
Great perspective, great story.

Fabulous from Pony Express
That looks like an obscene amount of fun.

Your Guide to Equestrian Gift Giving from If the Saddle Fits
Really good selection.

Holidy Hound Adventure from Hand Gallop
I laughed really, really hard at this. #sorrynotsorry

Thinking Outside the Box: Senior Management from Equinpilot
I can’t get over how clever this is.

Noble Outfitters Giveaway from Breeches & Boat Shoes
Giveaway alert!

Happy weekend, welcome to the blog roundup for the week!

3rd Annual Equestrian Blogger Gift Exchange from Fly On Over
It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

Mountain Trail Adventures from Pony Express
Holy shit that looks like a ton of fun.

An Equestrian Thanksgiving Table from If The Saddle Fits
I am focusing more on bathroom renovations than I am on dinner table decorations but I loooooove these!

Motivate Me Wednesday; How to stop being a people pleaser from Viva Carlos
This is really, really good.

DIY: Dyeing a Saddle from The $900 Facebook Pony
Whoaaaaaaaa.

Things You Should Never Take for Granted as a Rider from The Legal Equestrian
…what. Not only would I not take these things for granted, I doubt I will ever do any of them even once. Maybe #4, but not likely in a horse that I own.

Trying a new thing with these blog roundups: a bit of audience input & interaction at the same time. So, here’s this week’s poll before our blog links. I’ll try to keep on top of giving results at the end of next week’s blog links, and so on.

Accident-Prone Humor from Guinness on Tap
Yep, I laughed. HORSES.

What Do We Owe Our Horses Part I & Part II from DIY Horse Ownership
Really, really good and an important conversation to have.

Five Things I Learned Scribing at a Dressage Show from Hand Gallop
YES! I love scribing, and I do it whenever I get a chance. I have found all of these things to be completely true.

1K Facebook Fan Giveaway from If the Saddle Fits
This is a Serious Giveaway, you guys. Wow.

Eventers Wit’ Attitude from Zen and the Art of Baby Horse Management
I laughed pretty darn hard at these.

Event Recap: Myopia Fall Hunter Pace from The Maggie Memoirs
Siiiiiiigh.

On Elderly Horses from Hand Gallop
❤

Caring for deep thrush – in pictures from Wyvern Oaks
Really, really interesting and a useful photo essay.