If I were a homie...

Having fun with the website Gizoogle.net where you can translate a page into ghetto homie speak, yo.

Here's what my blog would be like if I were a homie:

Read dis shizzle

Tales of a Cheapskate

Anyone who knows me, knows I hate to spend money. Ever. I rarely buy something that is not on sale, or price shop for hours/days/weeks to find the cheapest option. In the equestrian world, my shopping style is no different (though I make exceptions for things like board, farrier, vet, the essentials). Going back to school, I am reminded by the snobby equestrian team that not everyone works 40 hours/week to barely afford the cheapest options. I see all these girls (some of which I am acquaintances/friends with) decked out in Tailored Sportsmans, Charles Owens and Ariat. I just sort of cringe, knowing how much money they spend when they could have perfectly fine items for half the price, or less! So, from a cheapskate's perspective, here are my reviews of alternative, cheaper items!

Boots:
They buy: Ariat Monaco Zip Paddock Boots
Price: $280 See here
Gorgeous boots, no doubt. And if you want to spend $280 to stomp around in horse shit 6 days a week, be my guest.
I buy: Saxon Equileather Zip Paddock Boots
Price: $40 See here
I LOVE these boots - not only are they cheap, but you get a lot for your money. These boots look and feel like real leather, clean easily (just a wet cloth) and hold up to shit-kickin' and paddock muckin'. They do start to break down after a while, but I usually get a year or two until they go. Honestly, $40 a year? I can do that! Sure, I know people who keep their nice, expensive boots for like, 10 years or something, but that takes work and being careful with them and blah blah blah. I just want something that can take my abuse and I don't have to feel like I'm walking through mud and poop with a couple Benjamins strapped to my soles.

Breeches:
They buy: Tailored Sportman
Price: $150-275
Again, I'm sure they are great breeches, but why spend that much money on something that is going to get daily/frequent abuse?
I buy: Irideon Essential Tights See here
Price: $70
Or Tuff Rider breeches
Price: $40-60
I ride at a barn where appearance is not top priority. I used to ride in jeans. I ride with my hair in a ponytail, not tucked up. As long as it is safe and effective, nobody cares. So why spend so much money on breeches when a cheaper alternative will do just fine? If the difference between looking nice and really nice is $80+ dollars, sorry, that's not worth it for me. Even for shows. I am not showing top circuit, the fine line between dressed well and dressed top of the line isn't going to make a difference in my scores. And Irideon breeches are really nice quality, too, so I am getting plenty for a low price. I love my Irideons, they are so comfortable and look so sporty.

Helmet:
They buy: Charles Owen, GPA
Price: $300+
I buy: Tipperary Sportage See here
Price: $75
First, GPA and IRH don't fit my head. I haven't tried Charles Owen, because honestly, I can't spend that much for a helmet. Tipperary fits my head and my budget and look sporty! For shows, I have a nicer helmet, but I got that used for $80, so not exactly breaking the bank.

It's not that I'm poor or anything, just frugal. I don't see the point in spending loads of money when you can get something perfectly fine for much less. I'd rather that my money went to important things, like if my horse needs vet care, or a new supplement, or if there is some big item (like the saddle I just unloaded a grand for). So I might not look like a million dollars, but that's because I'm not WEARING a million dollars. My horse doesn't care, my friends don't care, I don't care.

Just my opinion and rant of the day (I get opinionated when I'm stuck in a dorm with nothing to do!) But Miss Beauty is coming down on Tuesday, YAY, so that will keep me happily occupied soon.

Chaos and a half

My delay in blogging has been, in part, due to the insanity that has become the last two weeks of my life. I am moving back to school tomorrow, playing the "Can we fit all my crap into this itty bitty Toyota?" game. And, to make matters even move stressful, yet wonderfully rewarding, MY PONY IS COMING TO SCHOOL WITH ME THIS YEAR!!!!! Which means packing not only for myself, but for her, coordinating with a transporter, making plans with the barn that we are moving to, figuring out where to get grain and supplies once I get there, etc.

I am pretty nervous about the whole deal, since this will be the first time Beauty has experienced a long distance trailer ride (it is a 9+ hour drive) and I don't know how she will be at the new barn (it seems lovely and everyone has been very nice, but Beauty is so sensitive that I never know if a place will be a fit for her). She will be living outside with a small herd and plenty of run-ins, in gorgeous horse country, so I am hoping she will love it.

Other than that big news and hectic business in my horsey life, there isn't a whole lot to share on the pony front. We've been doing our thing, dressaging mostly, but adding some jumping. She LOVES to jump and it helps her with getting the canter, which is always a big deal on the flat, so I've been using it to help her get out of worry-zone and build canter muscles without the stress of ZOMG TRANSITION I CAN'T.

Hopefully I will have more to say once I get Miss B down to college with me, but for now, I have to get back to packing!!!!!

No fair weather riders here!!!

I had my dressage lesson with the FEI instructor on the island today, in torrential downpour! I called to see if it was still on, and apparently, they are tough out on the island and ride rain or shine. So, I borrowed a gaudy yellow raincoat, donned jeans and my old helmet, and proceeded to arrive to my lesson looking like an unprofessional fool. Luckily, everyone else was bundled up, so it didn't seem to matter.

Wet pony, wet rider

I rode a lovely, huge gray Trakehner (my favorite breed!) named Jack, who was confirmed third level dressage. He was absolutely a schoolmaster, and just plodded along steadily, waiting for my aids. Honestly, I don't know if I've ever ridden a more submissive, quiet horse (excluding deadbroke trail horses). That being said, he was not the easiest ride in the world - he was quite lazy and took a much stronger aid than I am used to on my little, sensitive Morgan mare... He would respond when asked, but it took a bigger ask. I am going to be sore tomorrow, both horse and trainer made me WORK for that ride!

I really liked the instructor, though her method was EXTREMELY different than my trainer's. In a way, that different approach helped me figure out some position problems I have had and several things clicked, even just in a half hour lesson. On the other hand, there were some things I disagreed with; first, she used a tie-down on the horse. I'm a gadget minimalist, so I dislike using artificial aids to get a desired look, such as roundness, since many times they can be used as a shortcut, rather than addressing the underlying issue. The trainer stated it was to "put him in that round place so we can focus on real riding and not just flexion." Personally, I'd rather spend a half and hour trying to get a horse to work correctly than strapping them down and being able to 'do more' but with less true work.

Well, I'm Bracy McBraceArms, but the horse looks good!

The trainer also emphasized big posting and a lot of weight in the stirrups, which is almost the exact opposite of how my trainer asks me to ride (calves and heels wrapped down around the horse, not pushing out on stirrups, and small posting). I can see how it was beneficial on this horse, who was bouncy and needed posting to encourage momentum, but it was very different for me.

She really helped me figure out how to connect my upper body and seat/lower body, though. She described it as anchoring your elbows on your hips, to connect the seat to their mouth and bring the energy back towards your center. She also talked about using my upper body weight as leverage and think about how the weigh was transferring to my seat, which can only be achieved when your chest is open and upper body upright (I have a tendency to go into the 'hunter perch' from my years as a jumper).

Overall, despite the rain and blisters on my fingers from lack of gloves, it was an awesome experience and helpful to ride with someone new every now and then. I can't wait to try these techniques on Miss B!

Recap and Vacation surprise!

I'm off on a family vacation on an island, so I will be away from my wonderful mare for a whole week (the horror). We've been having some frustrations lately, so it will be good to step back and start fresh, not to mention letting her back heal a little (decided to go with the Duett saddle after all, since it really does fit her well). However, we did end on some very good notes, first with our first even tackless (bareback and bridleless, with only a neck rope)! We just walked and practiced novel things like "Stop please" and "Let's not drag me across the ring to the door". We trotted for maybe one lap around the 20m circle, and she was fine. It was more of a "Can we do this and not get killed or be traumatized?" experiment and trust exercise, so I call it a success! It wasn't pretty, but it was calm and a fun adventure.

And then I put tack on and we had a great dressage school.

"I am good pony, yes?"
Yes, but we still have to do dressage

Then, on Friday, we had our first even JUMPING LESSON! My instructor had never seen her jump and was amazed at how much Beauty loved it and how calm she was! We just schooled over a little crossrail, but we did it several times each way and even cantered to it a few times! Not bad for pony's third time jumping with a rider on her back. Never even hesitated!

Gorgeous facility!

Now, I am off on this island and didn't bring riding pants or chaps or gloves, because what are the chances of a barn being out there? However, I did bring my helmet and boots just in case. Well, there just so happened to be a barn just down the street from the house we are staying in! My mom and I stopped by just to check it out and pat some horse noses. The barn manager was there and showed us around the GORGEOUS facilities (arena overlooking the ocean, anyone?) and mentioned that they do dressage lessons and the head instructor is an FEI level rider and most of their horses are trained up to second level, some at 3rd and 4th! The prices are pretty steep, but my mom agreed to get me a half hour lesson while we are here! I am so excited to ride at a beautiful facility, with well trained horses, with an experienced instructor!