why i love tack of the day + Viva Carlos contest

Are you familiar with Tack of the Day? I've mentioned them before, but.... I feel like it's worth another mention. 

I have gotten some of the best deals ever off this website. This includes my Tredstep Da Vinci field boots, the velcro-on bell boots with fuzzy lining that Isabel trailers in, and a Horseware of Ireland Newmarket polo. Combined with the above order, I've spent about $300 at TOTD (not including shipping, which is usually $7.95 per order). 

That's uh, not bad. I mean, yes $300 is a significant amount of money. And yes, my grandfather is very fond of saying "the best sale is NO sale."

But... c'mon! The latest iteration of the Da Vincis alone go for more than that on SmartPak (mine are the previous version - thus the steep discount - and I LUV them). And those Irideon Campeona breeches can still be found for $80 - $90. 

Just sayin. If you're a big fan of sales, and have poor impulse control... TOTD may be for you :)

Let me know if you're interested in hearing more about any of the items I listed above (tho of course, by nature of being sold through overstock warehouses like TOTD, they're probably not still available in exactly the same version I have). I haven't received the latest order yet, but will be happy to review anything  or answer any questions when I do!

Also, head over to Viva Carlos to celebrate L. Williams' 1000th post and enter the giveaway!! 

Also worth saying: this is all my own opinion - I've never been compensated by TOTD or even been in touch with them other than to hand over my cold hard cash lol. 

wherein i ride the horse and we do things

Ms. Princess got a few days off from me after her rock star performance at the HT. In all honesty, with back to back show weekends and all the related prep (and my own nerves), I think she was a little sick of me. So. Time off aplenty!

When I finally went out on Thursday, she wasn't super pleased (maybe she thought she could go feral?). But I fed her dinner and she was ok with it. Poor thing looked like an orphan tho, with a matted mane and crusty coat (not that she cares). Long manes are a bit alien to me, coming from hunter land. But I guess it's kind of blasphemy to pull an arab's mane? Plus she doesn't belong to me.... so I get to deal with this:

FUN!!!

Anyways, my plan for our ride Thursday: keep it REALLY simple in regards to what I ask from her, and focus on *me* instead. 

This meant getting a head start on our October goals: 2pointober!!! My baseline is about what I expected: 2:47. Kinda weak. That's fine tho - plenty of room for improvement! 

While in two point, I focused on all the angles in my legs - starting with pointing my toes straight ahead, which then moved my upper calf onto the horse's side, took my pinching knees out of the equation, and changed up my hip angles. Hopefully turning this into muscle memory will be an added bonus of practicing so much two point!

Meanwhile, there was a little grid set up for the lesson kids - three Xs one stride apart and I couldn't resist :). 

this totally counts toward my grid goal

Friday night followed almost exactly the same script. Notable differences: added a minute to my 2point practice, and the 'c' element of the grid had been moved up to a 2' vertical at a bounce distance. Yay!! 

I love that this just magically happened. I don't really trust my fence setting skillz at short distances, and was expecting to have to ask my trainer P to set a bounce for us in saturday's lesson... so hurray that the bounce just appeared! Isabel and I went through it twice quite nicely - good girl!

2pointober tracker

Meanwhile, our lesson on Saturday went well. Isabel flatted very nicely and P had me focusing on lowering her head and feeling her back lift. Had some nice moments at the trot, and even got a few steps at left lead canter wherein I felt Isabel's hind legs really step up underneath her. Progress, slow and steady. 

Our jump exercise was deceptively simple: figure 8-ing around an outside line. We started this at the trot - repeating the loop until trainer said to stop. Then we did it again at canter. The key was to be very aware of your track - esp since the jumps were close to the rail and the turns were tight.  

(i am an artiste, clearly) 

P didn't want us going deep into the corners - just land, trot a step to fix lead if necessary, then canter back to the rail to approach the next jump. In an ideal world, when the horse figures out the pattern, they start landing on the correct leads every time. Or, ya know, if you're a balanced and subtle rider, you can cue for the correct lead. 

Or, if you're me and Isabel (who typically lands on her right lead, period), then you will land on the incorrect lead EVERY SINGLE TIME. Seriously. Mare landed on her left lead for that right turn 4 times. That's gotta be some kind of record. But, in any case, I was focusing so hard on the leads (and failing so utterly miserably) that the jumps actually took care of themselves and we got pretty bangin distances every time. Huh. Go figure. 

there was a petting zoo at Isabel's barn this weekend for an event. i could not get enough of the pygmy goats in their teeny halters. soooo cute!!

Sunday was all about trail riding. It had been a few weeks since we'd been out, and there's a new rider at the barn who wants to explore with her newly leased gelding. So out we went for a nice mental break. Isabel was a phenom trail mom, as always. 

doin what she does best: motorin with a mouthful of grass :)

So it was a fairly productive few rides - tho also low key. Chatted with P about the last few events of the season. She said there's one more horse trial fairly close by that would be a nice outing for us - and a good way to cap off our introduction to eventing. Stay tuned for more info about this!

sunday celebration: two years!!

Isabel and I officially started our lease in October 2012. It's been two years with this crazy mare. 

She went from a fiery, uncooperative stick of dynamite that wouldn't reliably w-t-c to a fiery, game mare ready to tackle whatever she's presented. 

And she transformed my shredded confidence into an attitude where I can look at jumps that scare me, take a deep breath, and believe 'we can do this.'

It's kind of incredible, actually. 

Hoping for a future full of possibilities!

B&BS blog hop: what are your horse's quirks?

Saw another great blog hop topic - this time from Breeches and Boat Shoes. 

She wants to know: What are some quirks, naughty or nice, that your horse has and do you love or hate them?

Haha let's see here. Isabel is nothing if not quirky lol. 

• When walking up the hill out of her pasture, Isabel must stop halfway up to poop. Every time.

• She bites things. solid things. like jumps. barrels (LOVES them). one tree in the woods that she bites every single time we pass it - but just this specific tree (poor thing has scars on its trunk now). my car or truck when she's standing next to it (car has two dents and truck just received its inaugural first last weekend). Doesn't crib, tho. Go figure. 

• Izzy doesn't like her face being touched without her express permission (she's a princess, thank you very much) - except: KIDS. She loves 'em. A toddler has literally draped herself over Izzy's face for a big bear hug. And Isabel was in naptastic heaven the whole time.

• She tries to eat everything - then gets very offended if it turns out to not be food. She once got into the kitty kibble before I could stop her and gobbled a mouthful - then proceeded to SPIT IT OUT EVERYWHERE and get sooo mad and upset, and accused me of purposefully tricking her. lol

• Izamonster nips at my wrists when I'm about to get on. This one is obviously in the 'hate' category, but I can never bring myself to do any big reprimand immediately before mounting because I still have too many memories of when just being able to get on the damn horse was NOT guaranteed (she had, uh, poor manners).

september review + october goals

Okie dokie folks. Time to review my first ever exercise in goal setting to see how I did. The results? I probably accomplished about 30% of what I set out to do. Seems about right lol.

September Goals:

1. Work consistently on stretching down through my heels and achieving a long, relaxed leg from hip to heel. Specific efforts will include a few minutes of no-stirrups trot/canter work each (non-lesson) ride, and at least two bareback rides.

picture taken 9/28

Umm... yea this needs more work. My right leg continues to curl up under me. I was pretty good at the no stirrups thing at the beginning of the month, but tapered off when we got more serious about show prep. And uh, the bareback rides never happened. So this goal is staying on the docket. 

2. My lesson schedule in September is a bit wonky but here's the plan: 

   -at least one, ideally two dressage lessons @ GE

   -one xc school @ OF 9/13

   -one, ideally two jump lessons @ OF 9/20, 9/27

   -one or two lessons with D. Clasing @ GE

   -try to fit in a bio-mechanics lesson on 9/27 - might be wishful thinking tho

   -potentially haul Isabel to ST, the fancy pants hunter barn, for a lesson 9/16 - more for the experience than anything else

Our dressage, xc, and jumping lessons got jumbled a bit bc of Isabel's untimely wound. But we managed to fit in one dressage lesson, one xc school, and one stadium lesson at OF. The D. Clasing lesson happened... but we were just spectators unfortunately. Maybe next month? Bio-mechanics WAS wishful thinking. But the deposit is in for an October lesson. And the ST lesson idea was tabled when I decided to take a break from that barn. Still undecided on next steps there, but still have time to work it out. 

3. Get some gymnasties & grids back into our routine - Isabel eats them up, plus they made a huge difference when we started jumping in helping her figure out distances on her own. Perhaps these will be good opportunities for no-stirrup work on my end??

I'm gonna call halfsies on this one. We schooled a fairly simple grid (a FORWARD two stride to a one stride complete with placing poles) set up for the lesson program a few times. Isabel did it just fine, but it wasn't really what I had in mind. I'm thinking more in terms of bounces and one strides - since we've never done a bounce before. 

grids are also a nice way to introduce new heights

October Goals:

So, we're getting some repeat action here:

1. More no-stirrups work (no balancing on hands please!!!) and at least 2 bareback rides AND: Two Pointober from Hillary at Equestrian at Hart and L. Williams from Viva Carlos. (for anyone following who somehow doesn't already read those blogs too, check 'em out and join in the fun!!)

2. At least 1, ideally 2 dressage lessons. 3 jump lessons at OF. and 1 D. Clasing lesson.

3. Bio-mechanics lesson with particular focus on Izzy's right hind and my ineffective leg aids

4. Chiro appointment to investigate some of my concerns re: Isabel's hind end

5. Gymnastics! with a BOUNCE!! (perhaps can be requested during a jump lesson?)

6. Investigate possibility of local jumpers or dressage shows. Want more miles!

7. Make a decision re: ST

kinda wish it could be summer forever...

HT summary

This past HT was my first experience hauling out to a show on my own. Sure, I haul out every weekend for lessons, but this felt different. On top of it, the barnmate who entered the show with me scratched a day prior with a lame horse. 

So as I drove to Isabel's barn in the pre-dawn of Sunday morning for my requisite chores... I experienced a somewhat overwhelming fit of the feels. I was planning to travel to this show alone, and would have one friend (a profesh horsewoman, thank god) meeting up with me in time for the jumping phases. 

That still left me with a few hours solo, including the time I'd need for course walks. To date, Iz had never been left on the trailer for any length of time, nor had I ever attempted tying her to the trailer. So... I felt a bit at sea. 

I calmed myself in the pre-dawn drive by saying: 'it'll all feel better when the sun is up and you are too busy with chores to care.' And guess what: this was true. 

also turns out that she ties. who knew?

Plus, it turns out there is a SERIOUS upside of being nice to the barn kids: they are downright giddy to be asked to accompany you to shows! That's right - I invited my fave 16 yr old barnmate and her friend to be my 'crew' at the event. And they were sooooo happy! 

My young barnmate is an accomplished-horsewoman-in-training, so I was comfortable leaving Isabel in her care during my course walks. And her friend (who hails from a horsey background but is new to the hands-on side of things) was there to prevent intense boredom. 

Phew. You have NO IDEA what a relief it was for me to have those extra hands confirmed. Next task on deck was PACKING. As is known, I haul out every weekend. But this was different. 

I wanted ALL OF THE THINGS at this event. Buckets? Yes, all of them. Folding chair? duh. Hay?? Yes. ALL of the hay. My grooming tote? Only if it's stuffed with candy canes. 

Stuffing the trailer was more of the same: tack? Yes. But... saddle? Uh, yes. Ok... but bridle too??? uhh, YESS. Then rider essentials... check check. and so much more hay??? double check. 

I knew I had dun good when the folks in the trailer next to us needed a hole punch and I could say "oh here, use mine!" Yesssss :)

Once we were on OF property, things settled nicely into gear. We set up shop quite close to the lesson shed, which meant that I used that 'normal for us' mounting block every time. Not sure it was even necessary tho - Isabel travels like a mofopro. 

Anyways, the 'showing off-property without a trainer' thing wasn't as big of a deal as I expected... Because the quick moments I *did* have with my trainers had seriously positive repercussions on my rides... so I can't really claim to be un-coached. Nor do I really want to.

I was also extremely pleased with Isabel's behavior. She never screamed or acted restless or spooky or anything around the trailer. And she stayed tied to the trailer (with a twine breakaway loop just in case) for about an hour on two separate occasions. 

This gives me a lot of confidence about future events. All in all, I'm not sure this event could have gone any better in the 'non-riding' aspect. I am SO THRILLED to be able to haul out on my own, and crew my own self. It's a lot more work, sure, but in a way more relaxing? 

Regarding the 'riding' aspect of it: there were some holes uncovered during our rounds. We have a lot of work to do - but nothing unexpected. 

This outing didn't necessarily show our abilities to the best of our potential, but it provided a true demonstration of our current level of training, on average. And that's what matters right?

HT re-cap: XC + results!!

Our cross country round started at 3:30, following the 3:15 stadium round. I let Isabel nibble grass while I donned my vest and re-checked the course map. 

Walking the cross country course was a first for me, and I did it alone (trainer P was positioned as jump judge on course). We met the first four jumps at our xc schooling last week. So I didn't take pictures of them. Jump 1 was the candy cane, as expected, and 2 was a neat little hanging log thingy that we jumped twice last week. Jump 3 was a log set in a hollow between two fields (the one that *almost* looked like a keyhole). 

After that, it was over a patch of cedar chips (to fill in mud) then up a long hill with a hard right turn and short approach to our small rolltop friend from last week. I already had a good idea of how this needed to be ridden: forward with commitment. 

Jump 5 was a fallen tree that I did with a lesson pony on my first ever xc outing - ie not bad. And then jump 6 had me questioning every decision I've ever made leading up to this day. It was another fucking BIG green rolltop. Except this time, no astro-turf. No no, none of that faux soft shit. Just straight up 2x4s nailed into a solid green round monstrosity. And easily the biggest thing on course.

yep i can totally do this

hahahaha nope nevermind

My confidence started waning at this point. Tho this is also where I decided that YES, I *would* be carrying a stick - for the first time ever with Isabel. 

Provided we made it past 6 without elimination, we'd go through a narrow gate into another small field with a quick left turn to follow the perimeter, then sharp right to 7. 

The ground slopes down to the left here, making that side look bigger. But given the turn and short approach, I was worried about a fly-by to the right. So this one would be a balancing act for sure. Then continue around the perimeter of the small field to jump 8, an inviting brush covered log. 

must choose track with care

this is *only* inviting when compared to that f*ing rolltop

After 8 it was back out the way we came, looping towards the water complex, where 9 was just skipping through a corner of the water. I also happened to run into trainer P at this point of the walk. She was stationed at 6 and I had somehow walked right past her moments before (clearly I was in the ZONE - or, ya know, quaking in my boots, blind with fear...).

So we had a nice chat about my thoughts on the course. She told me that little Sally Cousins adage that I paraphrased yesterday about getting the jump done the first time no matter what because it won't look any better the second time (this mental note clearly came in handy during stadium!!). And she reminded me that we are really truly capable of that rolltop. Isabel can trot it if need be. Hell, she even said we could go as slow as we wanted to on course - even coming down to a walk - so long as we didn't go backwards. 

It was also good timing to see her at this point on course bc she gave me very good insights on jump 9 - the water obstacle. The flags were set so that the approach was an easy shallow diagonal line across a corner of the water square. But she said that was deceptive - and some riders who tried to follow that diagonal line were going to have runouts. She recommended instead that I point Isabel straight into the middle of the water, rather than worrying about any particular line.  

After the water was a roundabout left turn straight up a short, steep hill to a biggish coop that Isabel and I jumped a couple times on our second xc schooling. 

It looks big to me, but as I've mentioned before, my brain prefers angular jumps to rounded jumps, even tho the round ones are easier for the horses. My only concern here was running out of gas since it was the 10th xc jump after 10 stadium jumps and some schooling, PLUS it was right on top of a big hill. But at least the steep approach made it look smaller??

So it was time to go. Our stadium round was clean, but with lots of hesitation and trepidation. It was clear that I needed to support Izzy and really encourage her to go forward and stay with me. After a few moments of rest following stadium, we cantered the itty bitty warm up log with no problem, then came around and did the actual height warm up log - again with no problem. After that it was just grazing around the starting box til they counted us down. 

Isabel started really well - settling into an easy canter up and over the candy canes. The rest of it is honestly a bit of a blur, but I'll try to recount it as well as possible. 

nom nom nom

She was still a little sticky leaving the ground for the jumps, but was listening and staying forward. I was actually a little surprised at how well she settled into a strong gallop. We made it over 1-2-3 no problem, then had a mini spook at the cedar chips spread over the track right after 3 lol. She jumped 4 and 5 ok-ish. We chipped into one of them pretty badly, but I can't remember which one. At this point she was hauling along and I had some difficulty settling for the jumps. 

Then came 6. And it came and went. No big deal. Huh. It wasn't great, no - we took a pretty tight distance to it (as we did with pretty much everything on course) - but you'll see in the video: we were just up and over and on our way (hint - the jump is the green blob behind the car). Phew!!

We had an oopsie moment going through the gate into the small field for 7 and 8, wherein we turned left too sharply while cross cantering and Isabel lost her hind end (anybody else noticing a pattern here?). But we continued on, and 7 and 8 were fine. We then *trotted* back out of the gate like civilized, balanced beings before cantering to 9. 

There was a solid hesitation at the water - followed by Isabel's first EVER smack with a crop by me. (So glad I heeded P's advice here, we would have run out for sure if I went for the shallow diagonal cut across the corner!). Then we were through (with a beautiful trot, imho) and out and up the hill to 10 and our finish line! 

YAYYYY!!!!!!

Isabel's fan club got to see us out of the box and over our first fence before cutting through the woods to the water complex where they saw jump 6, the 9 water crossing, and the hill leading up to 10 and the finish line. So that's pretty much what you get in the video:

I was kind of astonished - we finished on our dressage score!! None of the jumping efforts were great, but they were also kind of on par with my average piloting skills. After Saturday's schooling, I *know* we've got better abilities buried in there somewhere. But now I also know we can get around a course at this height with minimal drama. 

It turns out that everyone in my division who completed (one elimination in stadium, one rider fall in xc) did so on their dressage score. And we placed a very respectable 4th in our first outing!

good mare!

I'm pretty happy :) The pressure and show atmosphere opened up some holes that I thought were almost closed, but no big deal. I want to make sure we establish a solid foundation that allows for safe and enjoyable outings. 

Also - for those of you interested: I have been using my new stirrups and LOVE them!! But a word to the wise: when my exhausted self went to dismount and 'kicked' my feet out of the stirrup... the kick was relative to a heavier stirrup and didn't work for these light composites... I got almost tangled in dismounting... ooops. All was well tho and I still highly recommend them! 

Stay tuned for one more post about all the other incidentals related to the event :)