Month: June 2020

I’m starting to think that there’s something about me that makes packages want to avoid me like the plague. I’m kind of getting offended.

I seem to be a magnet for shipping problems lately. First it was the PSoS/Horselet situation where they shipped the package as “freight on delivery” and thus I got a bill for $263 dollars before they would deliver my package. Lol. No. It’s been a month since this all started and there’s still no resolution. It took a while to get an original response to their mistake and for them to get a handle on just how many packages were affected (lots) but on May 26 they sent an email saying they were taking care of it and all packages would be delivered within 1-4 days with no charges due.

But, like… I’m pretty patient. I know with covid and all this other stuff going on across the world, things can be delayed. I waited two weeks before I emailed again. The response was a little huffy “you can see it’s still on hold, so we’re taking care of it”. Bro, I’m not the one that said 1-4 business days two weeks ago. But ok, if it’s still on hold then fine… I’ll give you more time. In the meantime I got a bill in the mail from UPS and two harassing phone calls from them trying to get me to pay. I explained the situation, and UPS seemed totally uninterested in anything I had to say.

And then I check it again and see that the package has been rerouted to… Kansas? To UPS’s lost/damaged/unclaimed packages location. I lost it. Turns out there is an end to my patience and we found it. I messaged the Horselet and they spent 3 paragraphs apologizing but providing no actual assistance before lamely giving me the email of their UPS rep, which made me lose it even more. This isn’t MY problem to fix, y’all did it, y’all fix it. Don’t push me off on your UPS rep. When I emailed my PSoS contact she copied said UPS rep directly on her response to me, which was slightly better but still real irritating. The UPS rep responded within a few hours saying “Ok it’s done, I fixed everything, the package will be delivered to you by Wednesday”. Which… 1) it was that easy? If so why has it taken a month?? 2) I can’t tell if this is true or not because the original tracking number stopped working yesterday when the package got delivered to Kansas. 3) I don’t believe him. At all.

But ok, I’m still a (slightly) reasonable person. I asked for the new tracking number, since the old one is marked as Delivered to Kansas City. I’m waiting for a response. I have a UPS account so I know when there are packages en route to me and right now nothing shows up. I’m trying very hard to tamp down my rage but I’m losing that battle. I don’t NEED what’s in the package immediately, it’s not time sensitive, I understand that shit happens and people are busy and blah blah blah. But… don’t lie to me. THAT is enraging. I don’t know if it’s UPS’s fault or PSoS’s, but I’m over it.

On top of that, there’s been major weirdness with my Pivo package. I ordered on May 22, a Friday afternoon, and got ship notification on May 26, the following Tuesday. All good. That tracking number showed slow but steady progress across China, all the way up the customs/export stage on May 30 when it stopped. Then on June 1 I get a “shipping update” from Pivo with a different tracking number. Huh? So I watch that tracking number for a few days and see it making it’s way across China too. Meanwhile, the original tracking number stalled out and had no new updates.

So I email Pivo to ask them which one was the right tracking number. Either the original shipment was seriously stuck, or they didn’t actually ship anything for over a week after my order date. The customer service person I talked to seemed equally confused, but finally said ok the original tracking number was the right one. Great! Except… that one now showed no updates whatsoever. Not even the ones that had been there originally showing it moving across China. Now it just said “no order information found”.

Emailed Pivo again and this time they said no, the second tracking number was the right one. Sigh. Ok. That one does show that the package is at least in New Jersey (it’s been sitting there since Friday), at it’s latest update. I guess we’ll… go with that? Meanwhile people who ordered their Pivos after I did have already had them for a week. Just like people who ordered from Thehorselet after I did have had no issues getting their stuff. I’m cursed.

It also doesn’t help that I finally caved to a Smartpak clearance item (I try to avoid ordering from them because I’ve had a lot of problems in the past) a week ago and that still hasn’t shipped yet. Things are behind, I get it, but I’m not having any problems with Corro, Riding Warehouse, or even Dover. It’s a sad day when Dover beats you.

Did I mention the bitless bridle I ordered in March is still on indefinite backorder?

Cursed, I tell you.

And speaking of all this covid/everything running behind stuff… Austin is not looking so good.

In the few weeks since everything re-opened, cases have started to sky rocket. Our mayor officially extended the “work from home” order through at least mid-August, which I’m hoping my company follows. I’ve been watching these numbers go up and thinking about how bringing people back into the office in July just seems like not a great idea. They also officially moved the city into Stage 4 risk.

It’s extra frustrating, because I constantly see people out and about with no mask. Drive past the water park or the outlet mall and it’s packed (with very few masks in sight). It’s as if people took precautions for the first week or two, decided they didn’t like that, and everyone just went back to normal. And our local government can’t do anything but make “recommendations” because of the state’s order. This just kind of has SHITSHOW written all over it.

I’ve still been avoiding anything except the barn and my bimonthly grocery store run, aside from Presto’s trail ride which required zero interaction with anyone but Hillary (who is also self-quarantined). There’s nothing out there I particularly need or want and I really don’t want to be part of the problem. The SO still has to go in to work, since it’s kind of impossible to be a work from home mechanic, but their work stations are quite separated and everyone has their own tools and they’re wiping all the car’s surfaces down, so his job seems quite low risk compared to many. I’m hoping my work will update us this week on whether or not their return to work plan is going to change, given these new updates from the mayor.

How are things in everyone else’s world?

Have I ever mentioned that Presto has way too much in common with the “Mayhem” character in the Allstate commercials?

I’m pretty sure he used up all of his Good Boy during the trail ride the weekend before, because last week the Mayhem was turned up particularly high. Like when he got into the feed room and ate all the cookies, destroyed all the feed pans, and tossed a bunch of shit all over the place.

Or like when the farrier came and he was all NAH I DON’T DO DIS and broke one of the crossties (may I remind you that he’s been getting his feet done every 5 weeks for like… ever? and has never done anything like that). If you need something destroyed, he’s your man.

Let’s hope he got all of that out of his system last week because “angsty teen” is not a cute look on a big baby horse. For real his show name should have totally been Mayhem Like Me.

While he’s been an absolute turd for regular life, he’s been pretty good when it comes to his (very part time, very entry level) job. Ever since the complete and utter rejection of his fancy bits a couple weeks ago, I re-routed to a new plan to try to see if we could fix some of his mouth fussiness. I was pretty certain by then that it wasn’t physical discomfort, but more of a “NO I DON’T LIKE IT” thing. So he’s back in the Myler and I’m lunging him twice a week in the balancing reins. He’d worn them a few times before, VERY loosely, but not really “worked” in them and not consistently. I made them a little bit more snug (still loose, but snug enough to where he couldn’t ignore what they were telling him) and used them in more regimented lunge sessions. And from working him those few times on the lunge line, I thought I was starting to see improvements. Moments where he wasn’t bracing or fighting or fussing, and they were getting more frequent.

Of course, it’s not consistent yet by any means. The good moments are sandwiched in between moments like this:

Still… the good moments in between the resistance and the avoidance have gotten longer and more frequent with every session and there haven’t been any real tantrums. I keep it short, maybe 10 minutes, and mostly just encourage him to keep the forward energy. We do some transitions (somewhere in the past couple months he’s gotten really solid with the word “canter”… since he didn’t canter on the lunge line much when he was younger, he hadn’t learned that one yet) between the gaits, but mostly I’m just trying to let him figure it out with himself by stripping it down to it’s most simple form. There’s no rider, just him. The reins are still loose enough to where there isn’t a lot of pressure (ie I’m not forcing his head down), just enough to be a persistent ask. He can figure it out the answer on his own.

Yesterday was the first time putting it to the test under saddle to see if it’s helping. I mean, we had gone on that trail ride last weekend but that was just a loopy rein walk, no contact or “work”. But yesterday I tacked him up and went to the ring to see how/if things were sinking in and translating.

My Pivo hasn’t arrived yet so I don’t have any media, but the ride was actually better than I would have thought. It’s still very rudimentary and inconsistent when you’re talking about actual correct acceptance of the bit, but there’s no more fighting the contact. Not once did he object. Several times both at the walk and the trot we were even able to string together several consecutive steps that were totally proper. And of course, since he’s not actively fighting the contact, other things are better too. Like steering. We made some legit serpentines and half circles, and his leg yield capability is kind of impressive. He is ridiculously in tune with my seat too, considering how freaking green he really is. I can feel the nice horse that’s lurking in there.

Considering it’s only been 4 sessions with the balancing reins I’m pleased with the progress. I really think he just needed a little bit of a lightbulb moment to get him over the hump so he could start to figure out the bit. I’m not asking him to go like a dressage horse yet, by any means, but he does need to at least have an understanding and acceptance of light consistent contact.

I’m not ready to say he’s “there” yet, but I do think we’re definitely on the right track. For sure there has been improvement in the past couple weeks, so we’ll continue down this path and see how it continues to develop. It would probably come along more quickly if I rode him more often or did more ring work versus trail riding or hacking, but… I’m not willing to do that. He’s just a baby and I still want most of his time to be his own. He’s got important baby horse business, ya know?

I’m happy with little tiny bits of progress. He’s already exceeded my expectations for where he’d be by ride… 14?, so no point in getting greedy.

I’m currently planning another trail ride day for him so we can spend more time out and about exploring. I got his hoof boots last week, so he’s officially ready for his next adventure!

Alright here we go! This might be the most requested Foal Friday edition yet, with updates on the past WTW babies and a little bit of information on what they’re up to these days.

The 2017 crop was pretty familiar to most of you, since they were Presto’s playmates. His original BFF was Liam, the big chestnut colt by Emerald out of Lissa.

Liam was sold as a foal to a Grand Prix jumper rider and left for his new home shortly after weaning. The good news is he stayed in Texas, so not too far away, and the owner has kept in touch with a few updates now and then. Liam is still a big beautiful colt, looking even more like his sire as he grows up. He was started under saddle this past winter.

After Liam left the farm, Presto’s new BFF was the other 2017 foal Murphy. Being a QH Murphy technically was not part of the sporthorse program but… I say he still counts as a WTW foal. He was Daisy’s first foal, a little red dun that held is own with the warmblood boys just fine.

Murphy is now owned by a lady in Texas who loves him dearly and he too has been started under saddle. He has a great brain, big personality, and looks like he will have lots of speed for the western events.

I think everyone remembers Manny from 2018, by Diarado out of Sadie. Mostly because of that whole incident where he was mistaken for a filly at first (which Michelle will probably never live down). He was a gorgeous chunky boy right from beginning, with tons of personality.

Manny was sold to a Texas hunter rider (shout out – she also owns Two Socks Designs) and will hopefully be her next hunter. So far he’s done a lot of groundwork and is learning how to be a good citizen. He’ll be started under saddle next year.

Manny’s foal friend that year was Mari, also by Diarado but out of Laken.

She is still on the farm, just growing and learning how to be a horse, and is currently for sale to a show home. She may do some YHS freejumping shows this year if any of it works out.

2019 brought us two polar opposites: a sportpony and a jumper with two GP parents. First up was Nalah, by Catoki out of Lissa.

Michelle finally got her filly, and Nalah is being retained for the WTW breeding program. The hope is that she will be able to have a sport career too, amidst her breeding duties, but she is not for sale.

The other 2019 was Nunez, the spunky sportpony that quickly became a fan favorite due to his antics.

He managed to cut his face and was pulled off the market for a while last year. Luckily he healed up just fine with time and now he’s off getting some rudimentary baby horse training. Since he’s a pony and could likely find himself as a kid’s horse at some point, he’s getting some early exposure to kids.

Of course, we also have lost two babies along the way, because horses don’t come without their fair share of heartbreak. Merlin, Sadie’s first foal from 2016, passed away from colic a couple years ago. It was particularly crushing because he had such a fantastic home with an amateur rider and was growing into a really promising young horse.

And Rory, from the 2017 crop, passed away as a foal due to an extreme reaction to an antibiotic.

We’re all sad that we didn’t get to see what they could have become. The breeding business is extra tough sometimes. 😦

And of course from this 2020 crop, you guys know that Remi and Ellie have already been sold, both to an Advanced event rider in Tennessee. Very happy to see 2 of them going to the same place. Oakley and Ollie are still available as of right now.

We’ve almost wrapped up the breeding season, and as soon as we do I’ll have a full list of pregnancy announcements. We’re already looking forward to the WTW class of 2021!

Look, I know Questo isn’t a word, but when I was typing the title I accidentally created that word because my fingers are so used to “est” being followed by “o”. And then I kinda liked the word questo (perhaps Presto will go on a questo?) so I decided to keep it. This is the quality journalism you get here, what can I say?

Anyway.

I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect riding tights/leggings for a couple years now. I’ve kind of been a slow convert, mostly wearing them during the summer when it’s so hot and I wanted something lighter. But if there’s one thing this quarantine did, it’s really drive home that no one needs real pants. Like… buttons and zippers? How very 1900’s. My fat rolls are like nah fam. Nah.

I still haven’t found my own personal Holy Grail of riding leggings though. Here are the ones I have now or have had so far and my general thoughts/feelings:

For Horses Julie tights – These are my pick for most comfortable definitely. I like the fabric, it’s really smooth and light and stretchy. I don’t like the faux pocket flap on the butt and I wish they had thigh pockets (which have become a necessity for me). They’re also too expensive.

Tuffrider Minerva – I don’t like the fabric of these, it’s too cottony and cheap. Like walmart leggings. They stretch and sag and aren’t flattering. They do have pockets though, and the wide waistband is comfortable. The pocket could be wider, my phone doesn’t fit quite as easily as I’d like.

Tuffrider Bootie – see above comments about fabric. These only have one pocket and it’s in kind of a weird place that makes it hard to access when you’re riding. They’re a little more flattering than the Minerva though. Like… a tiny bit.

Ovation Aerowick – I wish the fabric was a little more “techy”, if that makes any sense at all. It could be a little bit thinner too, for summer. But I do LOVE the pockets, and they’re comfortable. If they would change the waistband from elastic to the wide yoga-pant type waistband, I’d just buy a bunch of these and be done with it. The price is right.

Horseware – I had higher expectations for these considering the price point. Mine were on sale, so they were cheap, but the fabric is a little meh for me and I don’t love the pockets. Or the black color blocking. And the extended suede patches are a little TOO grippy for my preference. I like the waistband and the color (I got fig) though.

Aztec Diamond – I’m not sure if these really even count because the ADE leggings I have are from the very first run that they ever released. Like 5 years ago. They’re more of casual leggings than actual riding leggings (no knee patch) but I really like the fabric. Hate the elastic waistband though, and there are no pockets.

So based on all that… give me some more suggestions. I’m convinced that my perfect riding leggings exist and I just haven’t found them yet. Here is what I’m very specifically looking for:

I have to have a wide waistband (not elastic), knee patch or no patch, thinner (and not cottony) fabric, and good pockets preferably on both sides. And not stupid expensive. Like, I want under $80. If they’re so great that it’s like Jesus himself made these leggings with angel fabric and holy thread, then ok… maybe $100. And I would strongly prefer a company that has been pro-BLM (hey look, new shopping requirements!). A lot of people have mentioned Botori and Equestriess Etelier to be before – I’m waiting for a Botori sale on a color I like, and I’m not sold on the waistband of the EE (if you have them please tell me more about the waistband!).

Drop some suggestions please!

 

I think if one thing has been made ABUNDANTLY CLEAR over the last week, it’s that racism is indeed alive and well not just in America, but right here in equestrian sports. I’ve seen so many people saying that they have never witnessed any incidents of racism in our sport. I haven’t either. Then again, I’m white, and pretty much everyone at shows is white too, so… we wouldn’t see it, would we? You know who’s way better to ask? Actual BIPOC people who are involved in equestrian sports. And what they had to say was really enlightening. This is just one of dozens of examples:

Another example: this reddit post is 3 years old, so… clearly this is an ongoing problem that we just have not been talking about. Not a one off. Not something that happens somewhere else. It’s right here and always has been.

Horse Nation and Heels Down Magazine have also been posting some good articles, they’re definitely worth a follow.

Chronicle of the Horse, on the other hand, really took a dump on itself when they published Missy Clark’s op-ed. If you want to see exactly what white privilege and passive racism looks like in action, her piece is a flaming example. Also: hey horse people, you don’t get to wear “but we’re nice to the gays” like a freaking merit badge. No. Just no. For COTH to give a voice and a platform to this was well beyond tacky in so many ways that I’ve run out of digits trying to count them all. They tried to balance it with a couple of other opposing op-eds (and this one was really good actually), but JFC can we please just agree to not perpetuate or give a platform to racism at all? I really hope that was just a serious misstep on their part but I suppose we’ll see going forward. Not holding my breath. If you felt the same way about COTH running that op-ed and want to let them know how you feel, there’s a letter here that you can add your name to. It’ll be submitted tomorrow.

But even with all of this swirling around, there are still a lot of people out there that are unwilling to believe that racism exists in equestrian sports. Despite comments from BIPOC equestrians telling their experiences, most people say “well, I’ve never seen anything like that”. I’ll say this once: your experience is not THE experience. It’s time that we shut up and listen. And if you don’t think racism is alive and well in our sport, I have some unfortunate news for you:

These comments (along with others, most of which were less egregious) were made on a post that simply said “Racism is not okay, ok?”. A post that everyone should have been able to agree on. Benign, simple, straightforward, no argument. This was not my post, so I left the person’s name out, but this is it:

Turns out that “racism is not ok, okay?” is indeed NOT something that we can all agree on. Those lovely comments from Ivy there (who is an upper level dressage rider) certainly prove that. And to make it even worse, there were people liking her comments and agreeing with her. Such as this farrier:

Fun fact, some of my friends used this farrier. Key word used. Past tense.

At the beginning of the day yesterday, Ivy and I had 15 mutual friends. That was distressing to me. Luckily as the news spread people started dropping her like hot cakes. Now we just have 2, and unfortunately… I think those two have willingly chosen to stick with their incredibly racist facebook friend. A couple hard conversations are about to happen. I also saw some people defending her, saying that “she’s always been nice to me”. Well yes, dear… you’re white.

I do believe that there’s a difference between the covert racism we saw in Missy’s piece (and that we’re seeing in SOOOO MANY comments, like the ones on the US Equestrian post yesterday) and the overt racism we see from people like Ivy and John. One reeks of ignorance, and one reeks of hatred. There are a whooooooole lot of people out there that need to read Lies My Teacher Told Me, White Fragility, and How to be an Antiracist.

If there’s one thing we’re all finally waking up to right now, it’s just how prevalent racism really is, even in the sport we love so much. How many other Ivy’s and John’s are out there, and they just aren’t dumb/brazen enough to put their true thoughts out in public on the internet? Are they among my friends? Yours? Statistically the answer is – probably, yes.

What do we do about it? I don’t know. But it’s past time that we acknowledged the problem, it’s past time that we had these conversations, and it’s certainly well past time that we held people accountable. Silence is consent, and it’s obvious that we’ve been silent for far too long. It’s certainly made me think long and hard about my friend circles. Am I willing to lose friends over this? You bet. Absolutely. Am I willing to lose a farrier or a vet or stop shopping at a particular store or buying a particular brand? 100%, no question. And you can bet I’ll be paying closer attention after this. When we know better, we have to do better. If you’re still on the fence about all this, I encourage you to read Tilly Berendt’s post.

Racism is not ok, okay?