My debut in the jumper ring with Simon is just a few days away! Squeeeeeeeeee! Naturally, part of the reason I’m excited is because I get to wear all the fun tack. That is a reason for celebration… not stressing about late leads, super bonus! That being said, I really try to live by the philosophy that I should only use things I need on my horse. Though jumper tack is super fun, I don’t currently need a flash or figure 8. I…
The Winter Equestrian Festival is a equestrian lover’s shopping paradise. It’s also full of the 1% and many vendors cater to the 1%. Fun fact – I am not the 1%. Also fun fact, in the past two years I have only bought from the “WEF Boutique” (the souvenir store) and both of my purchases were well under $50. But hey, this year I took pictures so y’all could see some of the smanciness that I cannot afford. What would be…
I really do try to follow the mantra “buy needs, not wants” when it comes to horse stuff. Let’s face it – there is a ton of stuff to buy out there. Most of it I don’t really need. Still, I usually will splurge and get a few things a quarter that are true “wants” so long as they are reasonably priced and I can afford them. However, I currently have pretty much all of my “want” budget in 2014 invested…
I became obsessed with half pads around 2007 when they were all the rage for hunter shows. Everyone who was anyone was showing with just a half pad, and it was different! I liked different. Even though I show in a fitted pad these days, I’m still very pro half pad. I’ve owned quite a few of them, and now I’m going to tell you my 2 cents about each. Get excited. Cheapy no-name foam half pad I found at…
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…
I have a lot of dorky hobbies, and one of them is needlepointing. I love to stitch equestrian stuff, and although I’m good at finishing the stitching part I lack follow through on turning them into actual things. Example? I have five beautiful equestrian ornaments I finished last spring… and they’re all still in the canvas waiting to be turned into actual ornaments. I’m hoping to break my “not finishing” streak this year, because I got a belt canvas for…
Is there anyone who doesn’t have a wish list this time of year? If you’re one of those people who are like “I don’t need anything because I have the love and support of my family and Jesus” then that’s great… but I doubt you’re a horse person. Us horse people always need want shit. It’s a problem. This time of year is an especially hard time for me and my case of “the wanties” because my Birthday and Christmas…
My brain is almost 100% on the year end show, and because you guys are my captive readers I’m going to drag you down the crazy train with me. Most of my showing has been exclusively at local one day shows and schooling shows, and last year’s CTHJA year end show was my first “away from home” weekend show where I actually sat on my horse and rode him around a ring. Success! This year the year end show is…