OTTB Charm

(I also considered the title "Thinking Cap") Guess who finally rode her horse for the first time in practically a month? You guessed it! Me! My bronchitis problem isn't 100% gone, but it is back to a point where doing a little work won't make me die of a coughing fit, so riding can be back in the picture. After a month of not riding, I've been itching to get back on. Plus I have a pretty new browband from  BrowbandsByJayne  (if you guys are interested in a browband, I highly suggest buying from her. Beaded with real swarovski crystal and sterling silver, and they are all handmade and gorgeous) and who can resist new pictures with pretty browbands.  I may or may not have had a little bit of a crazy idea - lets try a whole ride with a loose rein. Now you have to remember, this is the horse who hasn't been ridden in a month, and generally has a very loud opinion on being ridden, at any gait other than walk, without contact. Seems like a good ...

I have really been enjoying these review posts on everyone else's blog, so I figured I would jump on the bandwagon. First outside ride First jump school We kicked off the year, in January , with typical frozen ground and no riding area. So it started out with indoor flatting rides. The last week or so of January, our outdoor finally thawed enough to ride out there (yay!). We got one simple w/t/c flatwork session outside, and then our first outdoor jump school of the year! It was actually our first real jump school outside ever, since my injury forced a long delay from jumping, and by the time we started, it was too frozen to do anything outside. With February , came more thawed ground and outside rides, but a very fresh and forward pony. Around this time is when he began to learn he had this fun move called a "buck". I pushed through lots of physical issues and mental blocks and really tried to better myself as a rider, and teach...

I have a lot of big dreams for things I would like this year to upgrade for me and my horse. So this is my Christmas list/wishlist of things that I want. But to be real, no sane person in their right mind will spend this kind of money on me for Christmas, so it will end up turning into more of a wishlist for the things I want to buy for myself throughout the year. Ovation Tierra Monoflap Saddle I can feel the security just looking at it This saddle is a huge goal for me and Charmer. The interchangeable gullet system is great for his ever-changing topline. And the fact that it's a monoflap with nice, large, external blocks are a huge bonus for me in the security department for those green baby horse jumps. Also if I can pull off getting this saddle, it will be the first slightly higher end saddle I will own, so very excited for that! Millbrook Leathers Okay I do not know if these leathers are just a complete hoax, but honestly I think they are the coolest things ev...

So I have had this nagging cough for the last week or so. And anytime I try and exercise in any way, I start to basically hack up a lung. Well this is frustratingly similar to how I felt a couple years ago with pneumonia. I went to get checked out by the doctor. Luckily no pneumonia. Unluckily, its bronchitis. So yay. The doc said I'd be fine to be out in the cold, but should probably keep the exercise to a minimum to avoid an infection. Which basically means little to no riding for at least a week or so. Well what do you do when you can't ride? The answer is play with your pony on the ground and buy new pretty things. Or play with the things you recently bought. First off. Lets look at pretty, new, shiny things that my pony just NEEDED (or so I justified) Heavy weight Freestyle Weatherbeeta blanket in navy/grey. Such a great fit. Nice snap on the front. Perfect weight for the cold front we have coming in. Love the fleece lined neck. Bonus: Comes in our favorite col...

I really want to post, but its the middle of December and I have ridden my horse all of probably 4 times this month due to the weather and construction going on in our barn indoor. So instead of a recent ride post, I am going to just do a series of fun trot progression pictures. Enjoy! July 2015 August 2015 September 2015 October 2015 May 2016 June 2016 June 2016 July 2016 July 2016 August 2016 August 2016 September 2016 September 2016 September 2016 October 2016 November 2016 Sorry about the huge gap during wintertime. It was cold and I did not have a photographer. So I tried to make up for it by some doubled up photos from this year when I finally got Jayne  who takes pictures for me 24/7 and its fantastic. I also doubled up photos because I couldn't choose between some of them and I couldn't leave out any of my favorite pictures!