I have been awake since 4:00 this morning. After taking a car, a bus, an airport train, a plane and then another car…we have arrived in Ocala, FL! Chelsie and I are here for Live Oak International, which promises to be pretty epic, with FEI Combined Driving and CSI** Grand Prix jumping. We are staying … More Live Oak International, Here We Come
I keep telling myself that I should be glad I’ve been so busy – after all, it’s freezing outside, so what else would I be doing? Lately, between the cold weather, finishing up a huge project at work, a last-minute business trip and a family emergency (don’t worry – it turned out to be okay!), … More Review: FITS Winter Socks
Okay, so. I know that it’s the middle of January and the first show here in Wisconsin is approximately 4.5 months away. But, guys, I am jonesing hard for summertime. That’s not such great news for my mental health, since winter in the Upper Midwest is literally endless. To combat my premature spring fever, I spend a … More What to Put in the Ultimate Horse Show Cooler
Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post, however I did receive a sample for my review. All opinions are my own and not influenced in any way. I admit it: cleaning tack is not my favorite chore. I know it’s necessary to care for the leather, so I do it occasionally but I could probably … More Review: Leather Honey Cleaner & Conditioner
Wow, it has been quite a good three months. I can’t believe I’m about to officially turn 5 years old! I’ve been learning a lot with my Person and we’ve gotten really good at some things. I am starting to fill out and look like a real adult horse instead of a baby. These last … More Drifter’s Diary: Part II
This week our barn suffered a sudden loss, the second this fall. Both were fairly young, well-cared for horses that colicked and took unexpected turns for the worse. Knowing myself how difficult it is to make these life-altering decisions, my heart goes out to my friends. These poems are in honor of Whinny, Diesel, their … More Farewell to Four-Legged Friends
Title: Basic Training of the Young Horse Author: Reiner Klimke Publisher: JA Allen (1st edition) Date: 1985 Pages: 144 Topic: Training, young horses, dressage Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5 My Take: This is a great overview of a method of training a young horse. Given that I am working with a 4-year-old who has … More Book: ‘Basic Training of the Young Horse,’ by Reiner Klimke
I love reading other bloggers’ answers to the questions posted each month on Viva Carlos. So, here are my 10 questions for October. 1. How many pairs of breeches/jods do you own? I have six pairs including my one pair of nice show breeches. I have one pair that I don’t really like because they … More October’s 10 Questions
I had an unfortunate incident last night during my lesson, while we were doing grid work. Heels down, leg on = beautiful form: Heels not down, leg not on = nearly going over the jump without the horse: These are both screen captures from videos that my patient mother took. For giggles, here are the … More Heels. Put Them Down.
I really like using rope halters for ground work and training. I find that they allow me to have a softer and more precise feel, particularly when there is no metal clasp under the chin. But the one thing I don’t like about them is tying them on, especially when it’s cold and I have … More Review: Do or Do Knot Rope Halter
Centered in the Saddle 