This is the first and only reminder for an upcoming Finance Friday post. In two days, I’ll have the first of the new series, and I’ll be asking you to comment with updates. Or at least spend some time thinking about how you’ve done.
SO. If you totally forgot that you made goals, or if you haven’t yet made goals, here’s your 48 hour head start!
I spent quite a bit of time reading through your original responses and making notes and thinking and planning. THANK YOU to everyone who commented. I know it can be really hard to put your ideas and emotions about money out there in the open. I really appreciate everyone’s honesty and commitment.
Based on your responses, I can tell you we’ll be covering realistic budgeting, paying down debt, strategies for saving for small and large, short and long term goals, how to have more patience with your finances (and with yourself!), how to keep your shopping impulses to a minimum, and how to at least take a crack at the eternal personal finance problem: how to get more money. Whew.
Stay tuned for the first post this coming Friday, and remember to reflect on your own progress!
Here’s your list of interesting blog posts from the past week.
I’m also highlighting one of the bags I sell: this cute pink/green number! I’ll most likely have new bags coming in the next 7-10 days, and am planning a sale soon, so keep an eye out for that.
18 HORSE INSTAGRAM ACCOUNTS TO FOLLOW IN 2018 from Saddle Seeks Horse
I’ve been expanding my Instagram use to include more gorgeous pictures of horses and fewer teenagers begging for likes, and this is a good way to start. (I think I’m getting old?)
Let’s talk about two things that are very near and dear to my heart: old movies and horses.
If I had my way, we would never have moved into the morass of color movies and Method acting. (Seriously, though, fuck Method acting forever. It’s the worst.)
So, happy Friday; I’ll round up some of my favorite old movie stars with horses, because in those days everyone starred in a Western or a period film at least once.
First, I’ll have you know that Carole Lombard lived my dream life. (except maybe for the dying tragically & young part? but: defining screwball comedy, famously smart and sassy, worked her ass off for charity, nailed Clark Gable at his hottest, yes, I will take all of that)
Clark Gable looked damn fine with a horse, too, which he would have to. He owned a ranch with Lombard and they were avid racing fans.
Barbara Stanwyck also owned a ranch. Despite the many Westerns she starred in, there are not a ton of pictures of her out there actually on horseback.
Elizabeth Taylor had to learn to ride for National Velvet, and fell off a lot, and did not really ride much later in life. But there are some gorgeous photos of her from that movie.
I think probably Ginger Rogers knew she looked fantastic with horses, but didn’t love them too much for their own sake. She was a city girl.
She did get to do one of the great dance sequences in Hollywood history wearing a riding outfit to die for.
There are of course a million pictures of John Wayne with horses, but did you know as a young man he was gorgeous?
I know, this one doesn’t have a horse, I’m just on a perpetual mission to let people know that their mental image of John Wayne is, like, 40 years too late. Because DAMN.
Shirley Temple had a succession of ponies, obviously.
Jean Arthur only did one Western that I know of, but it’s the best movie you’ve never heard of: 1940’s Arizona. Here she is on semi-famous stunt horse Dice, who put up with a lot during his career.
Gregory Peck, yes please. I believe this is also Dice. Peck did a ton of Westerns.
Joan Crawford did everything, including Westerns.
Gary Cooper AND Ingrid Bergman, be still my heart. (This is a still from a very bad movie called Saratoga Trunk. If you thought a movie starring Gary Cooper and Ingrid Bergman could not be anything but perfect, well, I’m here to disillusion you.)
Gary Cooper grew up in Montana, so he gets actual street cred here. Myrna Loy was born in Montana but moved to California, and despite having some really terrific roles in movies with horses (Broadway Bill and Love Me Tonight both come to mind) she was, like Ginger Rogers, a city girl who never quite looked comfortable with horses. Or pit ponies.
Her frequent costar William Powell…also not entirely comfortable with horses. But he looked good being skeptical.
I could look at pictures of Katharine Hepburn all day.
She was famously athletic, a quality she shared with her longtime lover Spencer Tracy.
I am not much of a Spencer Tracy fan, but…wow.
Ethel Merman always looked good, and had the confidence to pull off…whatever it is she’s wearing. That horse’s face says it all.
And finally, the original movie stars, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks. Can we bring this look back, please? If hunter shows had a cosplay/reenactment class in which I could dress like either Pickford or Fairbanks here, I would switch disciplines in a hot second.
Obviously that’s far from an exhaustive list, but I had fun with it. Do you have any favorite classic Hollywood films featuring horses, or a favorite star that loved horses?
I’ve done somefairlyexhaustive winter gear reviews in the past, so that’s not what this one will be. Instead, it’ll be a short list of things that I continue to absolutely love and a few new things that are part of my routine.
just how cold has it been?
We’ve had a viciously cold year so far this year, and all of my winter riding gear has gotten a thorough re-test. Many days, it’s been too cold to ride (I’m looking at you, two straight weeks below zero). But on the good days, I have been pretty darn happy with what I’m wearing.
2018 has so far been the year of Back on Track.
For Tristan, a saddle pad and hock boots.
For me, glove liners (which I’ve had for a little while, but only this year have I successfully integrated them into my glove rotation, underneath these knit gloves) and leggings (which I really just wear 24/7 sometimes. no shame).
I’m happiest with the saddle pad, by far. It has made an (anecdotally) huge difference in his warmup. He stretches down faster, loosens his back faster, and is overall more pleasant. I’ll do more detailed review in the future, but I think adding it in during winter especially has helped a lot.
2018 has also been the year of vests.
Two from the rotation; I have two more now.
I know it’s not exactly original to be an equestrian who is obsessed with wearing vests, but it never really hit me until this year. Now it’s like some kind of Biblical revelation. They’re kind of fashionable? They keep my core warm? I can embroider them with the barn logo? YES PLEASE.
Last but not least, the newest gloves to the lineup. I have a gloves thing. For years, I just did not love any gloves on the market. Now, as you can see, I have a Noble Outfitters Perfect Fit glove thing. From left to right up there are summer/mesh gloves, regular gloves, and the newest additions on the far right, the 3 Season Gloves.
These really are 3 seasons: they’re not good below 25F or so. BUT, they fill an essential ecological niche in that 25-40 range, and damn if they don’t fit me just as well as the regular ones! I can sometimes get them down to 20F, too, if I keep my hands really warm before putting them on, and I’m riding inside. (The trick to gloves in the winter is not to expect them to warm your hands up. Your hands have to be at least not-numb before going into the gloves; there are no gloves in the world that can help you once your hands are icey and numb.)
Finally, two standbys that I’m using obsessively. First, my custom quarter sheet.
I use it every day. Still love it. Yes, it gets staticky sometimes, but I am blessed with a horse who could not care less. He makes a grumpy face at me, sighs, and gets over it.
Finally, the true MVPs of the winter gear lineup.
Ariat Bromonts, the old style. Riding in the winter would not be physically possible without these wonderful things, which are going 9 years strong. The suede has rubbed down to leather on the inside, the velcro needs to be stitched back down, but they are still waterproof, windproof, and when paired with some decent insulating socks, I can wear them in any weather. I have comfortably hacked out in single digits in these. When (if?) they finally go, I’m going to give them a Viking funeral and probably cry. Okay, definitely cry. A lot.
Do you have any new gear this winter that’s really working for you?
I opened my Etsy shop about two and a half months ago now, and I’ve been really happy with it. I have handy bags, which are multi-use bags about the size of a cosmetic bag, small handy bags, and saddle covers, and plans for more items to come in the next few months.
I added a whole bunch of new items this week, too.
It’s time for a giveaway!
If you win this giveaway you’ll get the handy bag of your choice from my Etsy shop.
To enter, leave a comment on this blog post with a link to the bag you’d choose.
You can also enter by liking the Bel Joeor Facebook page, signing up for the Bel Joeor Metier mailing list, or sharing this giveaway on your own blog.
Remember to record your entries in the Rafflecopter below!
Our hideous cold snap finally broke, going from low single digits on Sunday to mid-20s on Monday. It was glorious. It felt like spring. I barely even wanted to put a coat on.
I pulled Tristan’s blankets off and…yeesh. Someone put his several weeks of eating hay to stay warm to good use. He’s 23 this year, and apparently he’s not going to be the type of senior horse that weight melts off. Which is good, I guess! Keep in mind that he gets basically no grain – 1/4 quart, or about a cup and a half – and is fed almost entirely on hay. In the last few weeks, it’s been essentially free choice.
no really he went up a girth hole. in three weeks.
Since Tris has effectively had three weeks off now, I started Monday and last night with just 30 minutes of work, mostly at the walk. Loads and loads of suppling exercises: asking him to step out smartly and then bend, soften, step into the bridle, take up the bit.
On Monday we did a bazillion leg yields at the walk and then 5 minutes at the trot. Last night, we worked hard on spiraling in and out at the walk, focused on really getting access to his hind end.
his face says otherwise, but he was actually happy to see me & to get back to work.
The first night back, it was still pretty chilly and people were shoveling snow of the roof, so for Tristan, he was pretty up. He volunteered a few steps of trot and did not want to go into the far corner where the shoveling was happening. He was quite nicely forward in the walk, and relatively – though not catastrophically – tense through his whole body. But that’s it. That’s about as nutty as he gets, even after weeks off. I take that too much for granted sometimes.
my view when I arrive at the barn after dark. ready for longer days, please.
Tonight, more work at the trot, and then Thursday & Friday it will be into the 40s (!!!) before dropping back for the weekend. I still haven’t clipped, because just when I was getting ready to we had our deep freeze and it was everything we could do to keep them warm. I might clip on Friday, depending on how warm he get for my ride on Thursday.
despite being fat, he’s still starving. it’s hard to be Tristan.
Somewhat boring, but wow, it felt good to sit in a saddle again on Monday. It always feels like some missing piece of my brain clicks back in place, and I am instantly 20% calmer and happier after a ride when I’ve had a long time off.
Longer blog readers will remember that Tristan has Cushing’s disease, or more accurately pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction, PPID. He was diagnosed a number of years ago based on observed symptoms and then a blood test. We started him on 1mg daily of compounded pergolide and he responded beautifully. He’s been on that pergolide for several years now, and is maintaining well. I’ve written regular update posts about that.
Last week, I reached out to my vet to renew Tristan’s pergolide prescription at Wedgewood Pharmacy, since he was running low, and she gave me some bad news.
See, for a long time, the only way to get pergolide was just the way that I was buying it, through a compounding pharmacy. “Compounding” just means that they follow the recipe for mixing up a drug and then make that drug and sell it. The pergolide they were making was actually mixed up for humans and prescribed off-label for horses. As I understand it, the FDA agreed to allow this because there was a demonstrated need.
A few years ago, a company called Boehringer Ingelheim developed, tested, and patented an equine-specific formulation of pergolide. They put it into a pill form and named it Prascend. The new drug offered some good benefits: it could promise a more accurate dosage, in pill form it might be easier to feed, and it had jumped through all the hoops and so on.
Tristan was doing just fine on the compounded pergolide, and I had no intention of moving him to Prascend. It was in the back of my mind but seemingly unnecessary.
Until last week, when my vet filled in the last piece of the puzzle. As soon as Boehringer Ingelheim put Prascend on the market, that meant that technically the off-label use of compounded pergolide was no longer allowed by the FDA. A lot of vets still prescribed it, because it worked just fine and for many, even most horses, there was no medical reason to switch.
But the company has been putting pressure on vet boards to remind vets that they’re technically not supposed to prescribe the compounded pergolide, and my vet has decided that she can no longer prescribe it. I totally support her decision. I adore her and she’s saved Tristan’s life on more than one occasion. Reading through the PPID groups, it seems there is a legal basis to challenge and keep him on the pergolide, but it’s not without risks and is a huge pain, and I don’t want my vet to have to deal with any of that. So he’s switching to Prascend.
Here’s the catch. Of course there’s a catch. I wouldn’t be writing a long-winded blog post if there weren’t a catch.
I was paying $0.55/day to keep Tristan on pergolide. Because Prascend has the market cornered, the cheapest I can find it is $1.75/day. That means an increase from $200 a year to about $640 a year. That’s assuming he stays stable on 1mg a day – which is not a safe assumption. Cushing’s is a progressive disease and it could easily – and probably will – require an increased dosage to keep him happy and healthy.
Horses are expensive, and I got this news literally about two hours after writing my first Finance Friday post and scheduling it. I went through all the stages of grief, and landed on acceptance after a few days.
Tristan gets what he needs, always. That’s not in question. I’ll figure out a way to pay for it. But wow, do I feel kind of sucker punched right now. He was doing fine on the compounded pergolide, and the only reason we have to switch now is because of a drug company’s greed.
I would be remiss if I did not start by saying that I’ve added a number of new things to my Etsy shop, and will be adding even more in the next few days such as the lovely bag below.
Thoughts on Art2Ride from The Exquisite Equine
I had never heard of this system, which sounds interesting.
Nashville from The Roaming Rider
PONY FOR CHRISTMAS
Keeping My Day Job from A Enter Spooking
Congratulations to an awesome blogger and please check this out & consider her if you’re looking for a clinic!
That Time Stan Joined the Army from In Omnia Paratus
This was officially the coolest thing on the horse internet this week.
Paging my blogger friends from Contact
This is an absolutely lovely idea; please go give her feedback. (Creating a regional scholarship.)
Dr. Yates on “How Cold is Too Cold to Ride?” from Cob Jockey
And another POV! Both valuable, both sensible, and not opposed to each other – just different facets of the conversation.
On the first Friday of each month, I’ll post about horses and finances. Sometimes I’ll write the post; sometimes I’ll invite guests to write. We’ll talk about strategies, challenges, successes, failures, and everything in between.
First, my philosophy. We’re horse people; we know that money is a) scarce and b) can actually buy happiness, in the form of horses. I believe strongly that managing your finances thoughtfully, efficiently, and carefully is an essential part of good horsemanship. The only thing predictable about equine emergencies is that they will happen at some point – and we need to be ready. Being able to cope with unexpected bills – vet, farrier, barn, equipment, training, you name it – is hugely important. It’s really hard! I’m not for a second pretending this is easy or simple. But it’s important.
In this first post, I’d like to set the groundwork for future posts. My hope is that people will participate in their own way. Maybe it’s just reading along; maybe it’s setting some private goals; maybe it’s setting some public goals and blogging on your own. Whatever works for you! I just want us all to come out of 2018 in better shape than we started it.
So, in January, this month of resolutions, I have two questions for you. Your answers will help guide me in planning future posts.
1. What is one financial goal that you want to accomplish in 2018? Do you want a new pair of tall boots? To change your boarding situation? To pay off vet bills? To keep better track of your expenses? To start or top off an emergency fund? No goal is too small or too large!
and
2. What is one obstacle in the way of achieving that goal? Is it a habit that you just can’t break? A mistake you keep making over and over again? An emotional block? A tool or strategy you’re lacking? Try to think beyond “not enough money.”
My answers are below; leave your answers in the comments and/or in your own blog. I’ll read through everything and start planning to try and address our shared goals and obstacles.
So, my answers.
In 2018, I want to top off – and keep topped off – Tristan’s emergency fund at $1,500. Right now, it climbs and falls as bills appear. To keep it as a true, full emergency fund I’ll need to build it to $1,500, keep it there, and start building a cash reserve in my horse-specific checking account to cushion the semi-regular bills.
My obstacle that I need to work past in 2018 is that I have a tendency to count my chickens before they hatch. I anticipate funds coming in, get excited, and have them committed in three different places before they arrive, which means I never quite get ahead. I need better patience, better follow-through, and better record-keeping.
no really he went up a girth hole. in three weeks.
his face says otherwise, but he was actually happy to see me & to get back to work.
my view when I arrive at the barn after dark. ready for longer days, please.
despite being fat, he’s still starving. it’s hard to be Tristan.
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