Dare I say that I think… I think it’s starting to feel like fall? I’ve had to put in a hoodie a few mornings in the past week, and even slept with the windows open one night. I mean, it’s still hot in the afternoons but… feels like progress. Also the horses are starting to grow their coats, which is exponentially less exciting because emotionally I’m not ready for clipping season.

Last week was, like all weeks, busy. Presto jumped on Monday, I just took him over to Majestic and had Hillary set everything between 1.05m and 1.10m and jumped a course. Presto was super so we left it with that. Later in the week he went XC schooling, which he was kind of a turd for, so we took him XC schooling again on Sunday and it was exponentially better. He was WILD but settled after a few jumps. Trainer reminded me that at one point Will Faudree told me that when Mason first learned how to loosen his back and move all his legs they had a bit of a yeehaw period, and I’ll be damned if that’s kinda what’s happening with Presto. He’s like DID YOU KNOW I HAVE ALL THESE PARTS AND THEY MOVE ALL DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS? Great. Superb. Can we use that power for good, please, and not evil. I’m not out here trying to go splat, sir. His ego is a bit large at the moment.

Since the heat has relented a bit, Henry’s been getting ridden more, too. I’ve been on him a few times, and our friend Sarah is back for the fall so she’s been riding him some too. And yesterday he ponied Freya (Hillary’s new mare) around, which he was… so delighted about. He’s really the best dude. He’s all business and doesn’t tolerate bullshit, but he’s also not aggressive or belligerent if they want to act silly. He does always look peak annoyed tho. Hard life for a Henny.

In between shooting content and doing some writing projects (and riding my beast) I went on a search for some new dressage reins. My current Thinline ones are dying, and I like them but I’m not convinced there isn’t something I’d like more. I really wanted to look at/feel all the Correct Connect reins, and figured that surely somewhere in the 9000 tack shops in Ocala I could find some to look at in person. And while I did find some CC reins, they weren’t the ones I was after. Womp womp. Strax did get his first Pup Cup while we were at WEC though, so it wasn’t a totally wasted trip.

Turns out a friend had some of the Sure Grip ones, which are FEI legal, and she let me try them. I did quite like the grips being so close together, they feel really stable in your hands, and it helped me keep a better hold of them. The grip strength in my left hand is greatly diminished since I broke my ring finger (and it’s now a bit… disfigured) and those seemed to help. I ordered a pair in black hoping they’d be here this week in time for Stable View but I don’t think they’ve even shipped yet, so. Prolly not.

I did get Presto’s sparkly new hat that I ordered though.

I think, if nothing else, I’m winning the sparkle. Have I gone a bit too far? Probably. Am I ok with that? Sure why not. I do love the bonnet a lot, the black crystal trim is most pleasing. It goes with either the blue beaded browband or his gunmetal spiked browband. Tres glam.

This week I’ve got sale horse pics and videos and more social media client content stuff to do, plus I already submitted a piece to EN for an upcoming series and am trying to wrap up a pedigree report. Doing my best to get my plate cleared before the end of the week, because we leave for Stable View on Friday!

Hope everyone is having a good week! If I can get all my stuff done in advance I’ll try to have a Foal Friday prepped for y’all this week, but I guarantee nothing, because I have the attention span of a gnat sometimes. It be what it be.