Sunday, December 11, 2016

matchy matchy ottb!!

I've been a fan of OTTBs for... well, a while. Some of the most influential horses in my riding life have been off the track (Ellie Mae, Lad, and Harry, to name a few. plus other beloveds like Bali). And I've kinda always figured that my first horse would be off the track too.

Obviously, if you've been following along, you know that girlhood dream finally became a reality this past September! And I've been acting like a gleeful 12yo ever since lol.

yep this pleases me!
Up to and including collecting all sorts of fun new stuff for new guy Charlie! And the latest? This sweet navy saddle pad with gold rope trim and gold embroidered OTTB logo!!! From Maryland Saddlery's consignment section for a song too.

Obviously it was meant to be, especially given how perfectly it matches our newest Dark Jewel Designs browband currently adorning our jump bridle!!

yup yup yup
I'm more pleased than I have any right to be about this matchy matchy set up haha - perhaps in part bc it's so much more flamboyant than what anybody else at this conservative h/j barn puts on their horses haha. #rebeleventers lol

Oooh and I also picked up another new piece of tack: a new Nunn Finer jump strap. Probably I could have taken Izzy's running martingale apart and just used the neck strap from that.... but whatever. I like having a neck strap on the horse for two reasons:

1) My jump trainer P requires neck straps for all students jumping her horses, and strongly urges us ship-ins to follow suit.

and,

2) If you remember the FCE Rider Safety Survey I conducted this past summer, neck straps were one of only two items that survey respondents overwhelmingly credited with preventing or reducing the severity of accidents, with exactly zero reported downsides to the equipment. (Recall the other equipment that received equal credit were riding gloves - which I also typically wear).

definitely already looking like a hoarder haha
So yea. The collection grows. As does the degree of color coordination haha. Only problem now is that I'm seriously running out of storage... Bc yea, those saddle pads stuffed up precariously on top of my saddle are only a small fraction of all the pads I own at this point... And as evidenced by this tack room shot, we're definitely a little tight on space.

Oh well. What was I supposed to do tho, not get that awesome saddle pad?!? Lol of course not!! ;)

What about you - do you find yourself collecting more and more saddle pads? Or anything else? Do you like being matchy matchy too?

40 comments:

  1. If your barn mates think navy and gold is flamboyant then they should see what I put on my horses haha!! #matchyfreak I think they might have a heart attack if they saw my shocking peach or bright pink sets!!

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    1. Ha omg they wouldn't know what to do with you!! The horses there barely even ever go in boots (except some for turnout) and sparkles of any kind are strictly verboten. I'm trying to figure out whether I'm trying to go slow in introducing them to all the colors and accouterments .... Or whether I'm actually slowly being transformed into choosing more conservative accessories. We will see what happens first I guess!!

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  2. That saddle pad is stunning and it looks perfect on him. I have quite a few saddle pads but need to get more match stuff.

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    1. I don't have a ton of matching stuff (other than just having lots of things that are navy) but would like more!!

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  3. #1 - excellent purchase on the saddle pad. On point. #2 - I have the very same neck strap.

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    1. I <3 neck straps. They're just such an easy cheap win for me haha

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  4. Love the matchy matchy! That saddle pad is awesome plus everything DJD is amazing. I keep adding more and more saddle pads to my collection. I'm justifying it by I'm still trying to figure out one I really like...

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    1. Lol see I'm terrible. Every time I need to do saddle pad laundry.... I just buy more saddle pads. It's a real problem. But obviously this one had to come home with me. It's in great condition, matches so well, and was $8! It would have been unthinkable to walk away from that kind of deal, right?!? Lol

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  5. Your barn mates would die if they saw my collection of saddle pads in every color of the rainbow 😂 digging the new pad and it goes so well with the browband! #masterlevelmatchymatchy

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    1. I couldn't believe when I saw that pad sitting in the consignment section. Fate. It has to be fate lol.

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  6. I love the navy and gold matchup. Bays look amazing in all sorts of deep, rich colours so I say keep going and show those little hunter students all the possibilities! :P

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    1. ha that's exactly my plan! and they haven't even seen us all kitted out for xc yet!!

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  7. Love the navy and gold! I have a black and silver unintentional theme going, with the odd navy mixed in. I need to surprise everyone with a random bright pink coat or set of polos I think ;)

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    1. lol you totally should!! i like the black / silver / navy thing too. navy is basically the new black for me lol

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  8. Navy and gold looks great on him! So handsome.
    I am definitely a saddle pad hoarder- I currently have eight and I ride one horse. I also routinely have to remove new pads that have somehow made it in to my online carts. In my defense, it took me a few tries to find the type of pad I like best so some of those 8 are hardly ever used.

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    1. haha yup i know that feeling!!! tho i almost never buy saddle pads new, most of them are from the consignment pile at the local saddlery... and are priced so cheaply that i really can't be held responsible lol

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  9. I found a bright red orange pad and matching riding pants for high visibility on trails: barn-mates assume I am a die-hard SF Giants fan ;)

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    1. ooooooh those pants sound awesome tho! i kinda have this weird thing for hi viz gear, idk why lol

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  10. Totally unrelated to your post, but if you know anyone shopping, my OTTB is for sale. Awesome guy, we just aren't a great match.

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    1. aw i'm sorry to hear that Susan :( hopefully he finds a perfect new home and you can find a new partner who is a better fit!! i'll definitely keep that in mind if i hear of anyone looking!

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    2. Noooooo one is shopping now - I have the worst timing ever :(

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    3. Ughhhh yea this time of year is definitely a buyer's market.... Who knows tho. Hopefully the right person comes around soon!

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  11. I'm matchy-matchy, even at schooling shows (don't care if it's not cool!)

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  12. Such a nice saddle pad!!! Love it! The nunn finer strap is the best! Absolutely love mine!! Yay for fun new things!!!

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    1. New things are the best things!!! Srsly tho the hoarding problems are getting so real. We need your help!!

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  13. I have like 5 million saddle pads. It's a serious problem. And I totally match all my stuff if I can.

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    1. Such a serious problem lol. I keep all my saddle pads in different places so it's not so obvious how many I have haha

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  14. Fabulous matching!!! 😍 And I have a massive saddle pad problem. Although now that Duke has decided he likes Back on Track pads my options are very limited. Which is sad.

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  15. He looks very handsome in the navy and gold. It suits him. Being in endurance land I am both extremely bright and matchy matchy. Red and black for Team Gem.

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  16. the paddle matches PERFECTLY with the browband, it looks awesome!

    also, love neckstraps. i have been riding a neckstrap for every ride lately...

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  17. I have so many saddle pads... but only a couple stay in the tack room at any given time. I keep the rest in my trailer or at home in the garage. Good find!

    I bought Annie off the track but she never actually raced so I feel kind of like I'm not "allowed" to get any of the OTTB stuff.

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  18. Sigh... hello, my name is Stephanie, I'm addicted to pink tack 😢 i have a very pretty grey arabian mare, who has a pink saddle pad, boots and recently acquired a pink sparkly princess browband... I should also note here that I've also got a pink schooling helmet... and I'm always shipping for more pink things to finish my ensemble...

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  19. I keep trying to force myself to stop buying saddle pads but I keep finding new ones I need. :-/ I keep a clean selectrion at home in a rubbermaid and then I try to only have 5 or 6 at the barn.

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  20. Love the matching! Y'all look too slick

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  21. I love being matchy matchy. The navy and gold look really sharp on Charlie.
    Guess I'll be spending my lunch hour looking at all the matching stuff I have on my wish list!

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  22. I always wanted one of those saddlepads for Ramone

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  23. You definitely NEEDED that pad, for reals... and I am a big supporter of neck straps! I ride with one every time (flat work or otherwise) -- you may never need it, but you always need it when it's not there!

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  24. Gorgeous browband. Couldn't have planned the pad better could you?

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