Have you ever thought about how much the equestrian world feels like a rat race at times? Something about the sport seems to bring out a ‘more more more’ mentality in me at least, and I thought it’d be an interesting topic for a mini-blog series to see if other bloggers felt the same way. There’s no denying that the equestrian world is full of trends, and they seem to change completely each time I get back into showing. When…
When I was super sad and down on top of on a 100% spending freeze, I was oh so excited to win Sprinkler Bandit’s blog contest for a custom beaded browband from Dark Jewel Designs. Beaded browbands aren’t super popular in the hunter/jumper rings, and I’d figured I would get two “fun” bead strings and one pretty conservative one. Let me say that when I got the browband and beads in the mail the quality far exceeded my expectations! Pictures…
Before I review today’s stirrups, let me give you a little stirrup history (I know you are dying to hear it). In the early 2000’s, I got a pair of Herm Sprenger flex stirrups. I rode in them until 2012, swore by them even, and then decided that my leg felt more secure in regular irons. I switched to $30 irons, and said death to gadgets! Gadgets bad! Special stirrups bad! Blah blah tradition fox hunting George Morris blah blah…
I love horse boots of all kinds, and that definitely includes bell boots. Though Simon isn’t terrible about holding shoes, he will occasionally reach too far and step out of his front shoe. When we’re in sporty sport horse mode, bell boots are a constant part of our tack routine. So you can imagine I was excited to try these No Turn Bell Boots from Horze! Though I’m no stranger to bell boots, these were new to me in a…
I’ve never been a person to have a lot of extra stuff. I find something I like, and then use it until it dies, hence my one bridle. Even my bit collection is pretty small, with about 5 bits total. Two of those are for my old horse, and are too small for Simon. One is western, and one is for my DraftX… so that leaves Simon with his one and only bit. I use a 5″ Myler Comfort (Level…
When I go to WEF, I feel like I’m at a horse show aquarium. So I watch a lot and take a lot of pictures and learn by observation. One of the things I like to do is pick a class and see what kind of bits/hardware/tack people are using. For this trip, I chose a Low Junior Jumper classic. It was interesting, because overall I’d say that the horses at this level were super athletic, fast and scopey… but…
If you’re like me, you grew up thinking there was one kind of boot that belonged in the equitation (and often jumper) ring. You know what I’m talking about… the “boots with the fur” otherwise known as leather sheepskin line open front boots. Bonus points for a matching fetlock set. I still like those boots, I really do! They have their downsides though – they are hard to maintain, super expensive, and they tend to warp and not always fit…
One of my “30 before I’m 30” items is getting a new saddle, but it wasn’t just because I like pretty new tack. The fit on Simon’s saddle has gone from not ideal to pretty much abysmal. With his bulking up over the summer, the tree width is officially too narrow for his shoulders. That’s causing the back to rock and move even more than previously. We went from occasional rocking, to having his hair under the back panels being…