Staying Warm

In reply to Marissa at Tucker the Wunderkind's post on how to stay warm while riding, I thought I'd share my own secrets :-)

Back in the day when I rode with a trainer, it was embedded into my brain that you are not to stop to remove any layers while you ride. When I rode at Telluride, the beautiful facility had an indoor arena that never got below 45º in the coldest winter months, so wearing a turtleneck & a vest was pretty bearable.

However, due to my own stubbornness I still live by this habit, & to me it's just natural and easier to not interrupt my riding for "undressing". The kicker? My arena does get colder than 45º in the coldest winter months. A lot colder. So, how do I cope? Easy: I dress like I'm skiing.

I'm a huge fan of LL Bean and my mom jokes that I look like a spokesperson for the store when I stop at her house for a visit after riding. If they made breeches, I'd live in them. (Someday?! It doesn't hurt to dream!!!) One day on an LL Bean excursion (I'm lucky enough to be less than 10 miles from a retail location) I found these incredible SportHill thermal shirts for skiing that have extra long sleeves with a thumb hole, so when you pull your glove and jacket on, your sleeve stays down! Completely brilliant.

These SportHill thermals are fleece-lined and have kind of a soft shell exterior, so they insulate and as your body produces heat & energy, it insulates you & keeps the heat close to your body! I also ride in fleece-lined breeches which I found on tackoftheday.com for $5. The SportHill thermal tops I haven't been able to find since – I think I spent $40-50 a piece (they were $75 orig.) and they are two different bright, obnoxious colors but they're the only two shirts I wear if it's below freezing and they're absolutely wonderful. 20º-30º and I don't need anything else, just the shirt. Any colder than 20º I wear a down jacket on top, but it's incredibly cozy!

I ride in tall boots with wool socks. An headband/earmuff type item would be really handy and probably complete my winter riding attire, but I haven't acquired anything of the sort yet.

Jimmy doesn't get dressed or undressed either - he has to be tough with me. He goes outside in a heavy weight blanket with a hood & get switched to a baker wool stable sheet at night. If he'll be standing in the aisle a bit while I set a course, I'll throw his baker over him. We asked Santa for a wool cooler for Christmas. I hope we were good enough this year to get one!!!!

Killian's Closet

Just recently someone I know started this website called Killian's Closet. Here you can browse, buy, and sell new & used tack and horse/rider supplies! Since I am selling my Prestige Nona Garson, I jumped on the opportunity for an ad on this site, and for only $1, how could I not?

I recommend for all of you to take a tour through the site and check out all the great stuff it has already! It's new, but it's growing, so I strongly suggest utilizing it's awesome features!

And just for reference:

"Used 17" Prestige Nona Garson Saddle. Does not fit my horse so looking to sell it so I can buy a new saddle. Not sure on the specifications, purchased it new, had it custom made for my old TB. Fits TB type body VERY well. Please e-mail if you have any questions or are interested in trying it. Thanks!

SURPRISE!

Yesterday I got a Facebook message from Anne with the subject line "Surprise For You!" and this is what the message contained:
SURPRISE!!!! Anne and Lucy went to Saddler's Row and got Jimmy a new mask :-) Lucy even decorated it with his full name and everything :-) Jimmy lost his Cashel mask in the field a few weeks ago & I was too stubborn to replace it. Thank you Anne and Lucy! You are the best horse-sitters Jimmy could ever ask for!!!

This week I took off from the barn to do freelance, but God had other plans for me. My car died on Monday, and I have been stranded in Palatine (with Bill, so really...it's not terrible!) without my computer all week. So much for freelance! I've been laying around the condo cooking and cleaning and catching up on Cupcake Wars rather than doing freelance, but at least it's been a break from the never-ending heartbreak that is Jimmy Choo.

More and more I look at photos of him from when he was still jumping and rocking at life and I get further and further into the state of frustration. Thank goodness Lucy loves him. Not that I don't, but right now my patience is wearing thin.

Enjoy the rest of your week everyone :-)

Let's Talk Jumper Boots

So Jimmy goes in Roma's open front boots. They're a lot like the Eskadron classic boots, but actually affordable. ($20ish compared to $90ish) He's got splints on both front cannon's and then just had surgery of course for OCD's, so I'm wondering what everyone with "problem" front-legged horses uses for protection and support? He's a jumper, so keep that in mind. I just e-mailed my vet the same question, very interested to see what he says. I am familiar with SMB's but, haven't used them in years. I've only had experience with the Eskadron style boots. Am I using the right boots? Or is there a better option I should be aware of?

**UPDATE**
General consensus of IHO commenters is that the style of boot I use on him now are just dandy. Hooray! That way it shall stay, then! If Dr. John says different, I'll be sure to keep ya'll posted!

Prince Jimmy

Well, the BO's are back and things are back to normal. Better than that, actually. I get a call everyday now about how Jimmy is doing and what he's up to, and what he's been doing all day.

I have a feeling it's because this blog leaked & got back to her, or because another boarder left and she's worried I will follow suit...not sure, but I definitely will accept the special treatment, and I'm sure the Jimmy appreciates being treated like a Prince!

Yesterday my friend Jimmy, who is like a brother to me, came out to the farm with me and just wandered around, spoiling and petting the horses. JC's previous share boarder, Lucy also came out. She's more than ready to get back to taking lessons on JC so I told her she can start coming out to help me brush and walk him, and then she can start taking lessons on him again when he's better (I'm thinking he'll be ready to do walk trot with her August-ish). The biggest thing is making sure he's ready mentally for her. Physically, I'm not worried about him. She's 13 years old and the cutest little peanut you've ever seen. She's exactly perfect size for Jimmy :-)

He was SUPER muddy yesterday too, so Lucy got to learn what the shedding blade/mud scraper is! She did an awesome job and he was sparkling clean when she was done!

The countdown is drawing to an end!!! Friday I get to ride him!!! 4 more days :-)

My Horse the Demon

Yesterday was "Spring Cleaning" day for me. It was the last day of spring...but better late than never, am I right?! Haha. So I set up a nice little area in JC's dry lot so he could "help" me clean his brushes and boots. He definitely did his part. Here he's ready to "help" (Side note: he's been leaving his mask on! HOORAY! I just keep it so tight there's not really any way to get it off!)

He drank half of the water out of the "rinse" bucket:
Then proceeded to knock it over and spray it all over me. He's such a gem...

Then that was boring so he started knocking around the brush box to verify there absolutely positively 100% were NO treats in it whatsoever. He is nothing if not thorough...

Since the treat in the brush box idea didn't work out so well, he thought about dumping the "wash" bucket out all over my toes when I called at him just in time before he knocked it all over me:

He's such a playful little fart I hate to ruin his fun!!! It's hilarious watching him explore and be nosey. I didn't mind having wet shorts the rest of the afternoon while I cleaned out my tack trunk anyway ;-)

It's a Miracle!

Something that ItsOnlyAnna said on my "Bath Time Terror" post was basically that I shouldn't feel like a failure because her horses don't always stand perfectly on cross ties....and that put a little bug in my brain.... I thought "What is one thing that Jimmy always stands for, and even if he gets hysterical, as soon as I coo at him, he chills out?" WHAM! Cross ties. How did it take me this long to do the math on this one?! I'll never know... but the good thing is eventually, I came to this conclusion all on my own.

So I got to the barn today and grabbed my awesome cross ties from my car. They have a quick release so I thought, even if he fought and WON against them, he'd break free and typically, as soon as he's free, he's calm.

Jimmy was just getting his lunch when I got there, so he wasn't really thrilled that I was taking him away from that, but tough toots, Jim. You're at least 100lbs over weight. This "lunch" thing only happens because you're in recovery. I pulled him out of his stall & grabbed all the bathing supplies and walked out to the "area" where we give baths. He knew right where we were headed so started to pick a fight as soon as we were aiming that way. I have said this before and I'll say it again - I know better than to pick a fight back with him. He's too strong and stubborn for me to ever win, so I just let him have his fit, flying backwards, then he steps forward & I coo at him. FLIES back....forward, coo. You get the picture. It took three tries for him to walk all the way up to where he gets his bath and as soon as he got close enough I snapped the quick release on one side of his halter & threw the loop end of the cross tie over one of the hitching posts.

He saw me do this, and froze. It was that easy. I put the other side on, and left the lead rope on for good measure, but really, it didn't matter. Soon as he realized he was cross tied, game over. Mom = 1 Jimmy = 0. He stood like an ANGEL the entire bath. Not as much as a stomp of a pretty little hoof or anything. I was shocked.

Mom just added a new toy to her bag of tricks ;-) In case you were wondering, this is the look of defeat:
When I sprayed his mane, the water even spattered onto that tarp-covered fan behind him, and he stood there like "I'm tied up, can't move if I wanted to, Mom. I'm not scared. Whatever". It was unreal.

MOM WINS!!! I LOVE IT!!!

Cashel Fly Mask

Well, I took everyone on IHO's advise and bought Jimmy a $22.95 Cashel fly mask WITH ears......he hates it. I mean, really hates it. This is what the barn owner said, because every single day I get there & it's covered in poop & shavings, laying in his stall:

"I'm not sure what it is...he wears it for a little while then all of a sudden...he gets it off"

This little Houdini child of mine wore a fly mask every summer of his LIFE (I know, I was there) and never made a fuss. As you can see from the linked image above, I even went to the extent to buy him a fly scrim sheet last summer (it was too big and he stepped on it so many times he ripped it to shreds, but he didn't DELIBERATELY UNCLOTHE HIMSELF!) I just don't get it. What is so different about this Cashel that he hates so much?! He gets it off without destroying any inch of it, too. It's always fully put together when I find it in his stall, and I'm the one who puts it on sometimes and he STILL gets it off. So what gives? Anyone have this experience...with Houdini horses?

...it just urks me no end that I do nice things and try to be such a generous mother and he pulls this garbage. What a P-U-N-K.

Helmet Debate: UPDATE

WE HAVE A WINNER!!! HOORAY!!! *crowd cheers*

The Ovation Extreme Helmet takes all! The Tipperary that I really wanted did NOT fit whatsoever and the lower-priced Ovation wasn't quite as comfortable to me. So HOORAY! Now I have a goal: I must save up $74.99 + tax to go buy this helmet at Saddler's Row. I've looked it up online and the cheapest I've found is $66 at eqtack.com and $67 on Equestrian Collections both of which have shipping fees, and I'd have to WAIT to get them after I saved up the money...which I don't wait very well, so that just isn't happening. With my size and color, I can hope that they'll have it at the tent sale, but since it's a very new line of helmet, I doubt it. I will be scouring the horse show prize lists I get in the mail for coupons though!!!

Here's a picture of it:
I think it looks really nice! And since all helmets now are ASTM approved, why wouldn't I buy a $74.99 helmet instead of spending $150+ on something that protects my head the same way and is less comfortable? In the hunters now even styles like this are completely acceptable, so the schooling and possible eventing I plan to do in the future won't be a problem. I'm going to be cool and COMFORTABLE, BABY!!! Can't wait!

Helmet Debate

So, those who know me... know that I love to plan. In August of every year, Saddler's Row has a tent sale...with deals so incredible, it's unbelievable. So naturally, being me... I start planning for said "tent sale"...in June. This year my mission is a helmet.

I realized this weekend that I haven't gotten a new helmet in probably 5+ years and I've definitely had enough hard hits to the head (with..and without... Haha!) that it's time for a new one. Now, I'm not a big, fancy Hunter/Jumper rider anymore, so the ridiculously overpriced GPA and Charles Owen "show" helmets need not apply. I can get some cute little schooling helmet that I've always wanted because they frankly look 100 times more comfortable and...THEY'RE CHEAPER! So I've asked around some fellow, knowledgeable eventing people and got my hands on the USEA Rule Book and learned that so long as it's dark blue or black, and ASTM approved, I can show in all levels of eventing in it. WOOOOOO DOGGY!!!

So the FUN part?! PICKING ONE OUT!!!! Tonight I'm going to Saddler's Row to see what they've got to offer. They only have the Ovation Schooler Helmet online, which is one that I definitely want to try out ($49.99, respectively). The other that I'm seriously considering (aka: really really really want) is the Tipperary 8500 in carbon gray - which is basically black ($59.95, respectively).

Anyone know anything about either of these helmets? I haven't gotten a new helmet in so long, I am so excited I'm counting down the minutes just to go TRY ONE ON!!!! Let alone buy one. OH BOY!!!!!! Excited.

Barn Theft

The barn owner is a wonderful woman who just sent out an e-mail to everyone at the farm. She's noticed recently there's been a bigger issue with theft at the farm and was wondering what she could do to discourage it. Meanwhile, she asked that everyone please keep everything of value under lock & key, just to be safe. I replied with the following:

" I've never had a problem with this at this barn or any other for I'm assuming one main reason: I plaster my name/my horse's name all over everything I own. That, or...people are scared of what I'll do to them if I catch them with my stuff – Watch your step. (completely kidding - thanks for not stealing my belongings, everyone!) "

Hehehe. I'm in a devilish mood today ;-)

HAPPY TUESDAY!

Visit with Bill

Last night Bill came out and helped me with Choo. We walked up and down the driveway 3 times! Which is a ton for Jimmy right now. Well within the realm of our 10 minutes tho, so I know it's okay for him.

He seemed very down in the dumps, kind of mopey. Someone was clipping their pony & sprayed the cleaner onto the blades, and Jimmy surely thought it was a monster, out to eat him...Thankfully Bill was RIGHT there, petting JC and telling him it was okay, so Jimmy calmed down right away & dealt with it just fine.

I think he was mopey because everyone was in all day & he spent so much time socializing with his ole' buddies through the stall bars that by the time we got there he was exhausted. I like to think this, rather than the thought that he's not happy or in pain. His stitches still looked great so who knows what's up with him. We'll see how he is this weekend.

Bill helped me wrap and was the perfect assistant - it was so much easier with a helper! and I used two rolls of vet wrap instead of one and they felt WAY more secure - I bet I can leave them on until Sunday at least. Maybe even Monday. They felt like casts, it was awesome. Bill said "Babe, you're pretty good at that!" I said "I've been doing it for a long time...I should be good at it by now!" hahaha. He was in awe of how fast I could wrap but it didn't look like garbage. :-P I love a man who appreciates a good leg wrap!!!

Today Jess is handling JC for me so Bill and I can have a night to ourselves. I can't wait.

New Wraps Tonight

Last night his wraps were so, so sad. They SO did not last from me doing my "cheap" version of what the vets did. Oh well. Tonight Bill will be going out with me to walk, brush, clean JC's stall, and re-wrap him. I'm going to have to use two rolls of vet wrap per leg instead of just one. Oh well.

As soon as these cotton wraps (which came yesterday from Stateline, btw!) are toast, He's getting no-bows. They are a jillion times easier.

Scrim Sheet

Ran out to the barn after the bank today and unloaded all my crap from my car from the horse show. It feels so awesome to have the house clean, my tack clean, my laundry done... and the rest of the day to relax & sew purses.

I bought Jimmy a scrim sheet this weekend at the horse show for $30!!! Great deal! It's a nice one too, Betty even liked it. I'm really pumped because it was so affordable and it was EXACTLY what I was looking for. It's very light weight and a soft material, so it will be comfortable for him to wear all the time. The bugs at night get so pesky, I feel terrible walking in in the morning and he's all swollen with bites. Mike sprays the aisle with repellent, but at night they still sneak in and use Jimmy's skin as a snack!!! His skin is so sensitive too, one mosquito bite swells up to the size of a nickel. Poor James. So today after I unloaded my stuff I went out to his field to "bubble wrap" him in his fly gear and spray some home made all-natural bug spray on him. Dang, he is so spoiled, isn't he?! Especially since I only have him now... the spoiling is almost out of control, but I think he appreciates it. He let me love on him in the field today and didn't walk away <3 AND he stood stock still like a statute while I sprayed him with fly spray!!! DID NOT MOVE. What an improvement!! Augustine worked with him this weekend at the show to chill him out. Every little bit helps and now Jimmy is learning to be a trusting little angel.

Manny had a different opinion of the home made fly spray... and trotted away when I tried to squirt him with it, taking Jimmy with him. :P The two best friends. I think Jimmy just pals around with Manny to keep Manny from kicking his ass. Secretly, Jimmy whispers sweet nothings to Greta over the fence :P Since she came to POF she's gotten more muscular & beautiful, and it's almost like the girl who comes the first day of school with boobs. The boys go "Whoa! When did she get hot?!" That's how Jimmy sees Greta. Hubba Hubba. <3

Enjoy the sunshine!!!

The Light Bulb Always Goes On

Hello hello!

I should be doing freelance for my dad, but I'm tired and I have a headache and the last thing I want to think about right now is doing another thing in InDesign. So I'll blog.

Today the frame light bulb went on in JC's brain. It was awesome. I love when he has light bulb days. As Chelsey says, "He always gets it. He will struggle with an idea for a while, then all of a sudden, his light bulb goes on." Well that's totally what happened. I remember on "Jump Day" I was telling Kate and Chel "I want to just touch the corners of his mouth and have him 'get it'" and Kate goes "He will! It just might take a while. He has to learn first" and today that happened. I was trotting around and I touched the little corners of his mouth and his head just... WENT DOWN. I was like HOLY CRAP! so I stopped, and then I tried it again.. and he DID IT AGAIN! It was amazing.

So now he's got it at the trot, we have to work on canter. First we have to get him a LOT more sensitive to my leg bc he's dull as a doorknob. Once he has a little reminder to be quick off the leg, I think our success rate will be a lot higher at getting his head down at the canter. The problem is when I sit down on him and put my leg on at the canter, he puts his head STRAIGHT up in the air and gets this look on his face like "AHH!! WHAT THE HELL!!!! I'M GOING!!!" haha. Because I've always ridden him like a floaty hunter- go FORWARD, canter LONG and LOW.... while kind of standing in my stirrups (**which reminds me of something else I will bring up later) so now when I sit down on him he has this "What the hell" face and albeit comical... it is not efficient for winning ribbons in the equitation. Eq is all about making my horse look good while I also look like a rockstar... it's a team effort. If he looks like shit, what does that say about me as a rider?! Not much. (alright, he's 4, I know he won't be perfect.... but he better be damn near close to it) So, our next task to accomplish is proper head carraige at the canter, which I am confident he will master by the horse show which is T MINUS SEVENTEEN DAYS AWAY! (not that I'm counting)

Tonight I went to LL Bean and got THREE awesome polo shirts for $23!!! WHAT A BARGAIN! I got a blue short sleeve, a black 3/4 and a black s/s. GREAT show shirts! Since pretty much every horse show we are going to this year doesn't have a dress code beyond "boots and helmets required" I'm going to embroider a whole line of "Clover Hill Stables" and "Jimmy Choo" Wear. We're going to look hot. I can't wait.

**STIRRUPS** I think I'm going to switch back to my "BLACK STIRRUPS?!?" (as George autographed my book) because, they were like $100, and I really loved riding in them when I did... and I HATE.... H-A-T-E the clicking nasty grindy noises that my stupid irons make. Time for a change.

Alright. I should get back to work.

Cheers.