Wasn’t it August like 2 days ago? How is it almost Christmas? I’m shooketh. I don’t understand how time just keeps moving faster and faster. Pause. Slow down. 2020 was like two years ago, how is it almost 2025? Is it just me??
Rubers!
This week snuck right on by me too, I truly thought it was Wednesday but turns out it’s Friday. My bad. Is time a social construct? Is it even real? As Billie Eilish said, when we all fall asleep where do we go? I have questions.
But anyway, it’s been more of the usual around here really. More rides on Rubes, who is so smart and catching on to this sporthorse thing more and more every day. I posted a vlog of him on the Patreon dashboard with w/t/c video and his first time cantering a jump, and for less than 3 weeks of re-training I’m super happy with how he’s improving. Literally from one ride to the next, and you can feel his gears constantly turning. It’s no small thing to go from 10 years as a racehorse to an entirely new life and new style of riding, but you have to love the heart and willingness of a Thoroughbred. He just tries his best to figure out what I’m asking.
I love this stage of training too, where they’re just like little sponges in the beginning and there are so many small “aha” moments. It’s really fun. And now that I’m riding him pretty much every day, more and more of his personality is starting to come out, too. He’s such a quirky little weirdo, I love it. Wouldn’t be a horse of mine if he was normal, right?
Exhibit A: Presto is entirely NOT normal
I had a lesson this week but have zero media from it. Your standard jump lesson, working on nailing down the same concepts we’ve been working on. There’s incrimental improvement, and Presto was considerably less spooky this week than last week despite the presence of the pig, so we’ll mark that as a win. We’re signed up for a schooling show this weekend (I’m so not in the mood to horse show but we need to go knock some rust off, so we’re gonna), and then next week Ellie is out of town, and then it’s January. You know what January is? The beginning of season in Ocala. ALREADY! What was once on the horizon is now suddenly staring us directly in the face.
We did make a plan for a more amped-up training schedule starting in January, adding in more lessons and probably some training rides. I’m mega tired of feeling a bit stagnant, so I’m going as all-in on the education aspect as I can afford. Now if we could make it through a whole season without one of us hurting ourselves, THAT WOULD BE GREAT (knocking on every speck of wood in my house). I also need to start drafting my RRP application stuff for Rubes in the next couple weeks, but my brain can’t even cope with that yet. One thing at a time.
In other fun news, this is the time of year where the mail gets exciting, both with things I knew were coming and things I didn’t. One such surprise:
books! horsey books! good horsey books!
Natalie came out to the farm to film social media content during the summer, and Presto got to be the background horse. We love Natalie, she’s the coolest. If you haven’t read any of her books, you should… it’s so rare that horse books are written well, and hers are among the best. It was super fun to get this package and find books inside. Always a win.
The FLAIR ambassador jackets came and I’m also obsessed.
breathe, man
The FLAIR strip on the back is just chef’s kiss, and it’s actually a really nice lightweight jacket. I needed one, so it’s an exceptional score. We love our FLAIR strips.
And then one thing I knew was coming: the Correct Connect thumb grip reins. I got these for Rubes’ bridle because he had some old half-melted rubber reins on his, and I really like them so far. There’s something about the weight and shape of them that sits really nicely in my hand.
fun shape
I also need to write a separate review post for the shop I got them from, because they were so helpful and above-and-beyond, they deserve a proper shout.
My saddle is stuck in customs at the moment thanks to UPS so I’m having some sads about that, but I can’t do anything about it so I’m trying to forget. Thus, I ordered myself some frozen jizzlets for Christmas. From this dude, who I am obsessed with:
He was only 3 in that video
He’s sooooo my type. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about him since I saw him, and the deadline for ordering the frozen from Germany was quickly approaching, so I filled out my paperwork and sent the deposit yesterday. I just love him, must have. He’s fairly young and the oldest offspring are only 5, but I went down a rabbit hole looking at videos of them and quite like them all. Lots of praise for temperament and rideability. Plus his pedigree is super. Done deal. Sign me up. Merry Christmas to me, bc what better gift is there than frozen horse jizzlets?
Gosh you guys. Can we talk about this horse for minute? I am wrapped around his little hoofie.
RubyBoi, I am obsessed
Now that we’re almost two weeks into his official re-training, I’m loving him more and more. He’s got every quality that makes so many people love Thoroughbreds: he’s intelligent, forward-thinking, willing to work, and has a strong desire to please. I can’t imagine what it must be like to live the first 10 years of your life knowing only one job, one place, one set of rules, one way of doing things, and then suddenly be dropped into an entirely different world. Top to bottom, nothing is the same. I have to give him so much credit for handling it the way he has.
all of our mounting block “uber up” practice is really paying off now that we can finally use it
It’s just so cool what these horses can do and how they show up every day wanting to learn how to do whatever it is you’re asking. I bought him hoping he could be an ambassador to the breed, and to the older warhorse in particular, and so far Rubes is exactly that. Granted, he is also a little quirky, but we wouldn’t expect anything less from a horse I love, would we?
Oh, and… he’s hopped over a few little jumps now and omg. He is the cutest.
dem knees
Ok to be fair he’s jumped twice, maybe 12 cross rails total between both sessions, and after the first one of the day he literally just trots over them like a glorified cavaletti. He’s not that impressed.
But he seems to like and understand the game. We do a lot of poles (so many poles) and he’s really starting to figure out his footwork. Single poles, poles on an angle, skinny poles, raised walk poles, and sets of trot poles. He’s got the 3 trot poles pretty much down pat so the next step will be 5 poles, and then after that we’ll do a set of 5 where 3 of them are raised. We’re working hard on strengthening that hind end and developing the muscles he’ll need so that he can push his body up rather than pull it forward.
the goodest
Again, we’re taking 10 years of biomechanics and suddenly trying to change it. That’s not a quick and easy feat, and it’ll take time for his body to lay down the different muscling. But brick by brick we do the daily work, and he’s been very willing to figure it out.
he hasn’t missed any meals either
Michelle was here earlier this week and was kind enough to snap these photos for me on Tuesday morning when I rode him. He’s definitely a photogenic kind of guy (we all found that out from his first Riding Warehouse x LeMieux photo shoot, did we not?) and looks really at home in his new sporthorse job.
He also is really glad to be back in consistent work. One thing about him is that he thrives on a routine, and he wants/expects to come out and do something every day. Right now I’m aiming for about 5 rides a week, trying to give him the downtime to make sure all his newly-found muscles have some R&R, but also doing enough with him that he feels satisfied mentally. He’s figured out that I ride him after I ride Presto, so he always comes into his stall and waits for me when he sees me bring Presto back out. And if I don’t get Rubes out next, sometimes he gets big mad and has a gallopy little tantrum around his turnout. It’s not the worst problem to have, a horse that wants to come to work so badly, but thoughts and prayers for his shoes every time he does that.
he loves riding out in the field (although did you know the far corner houses demons)
On the Presto side of things, we’ve had a couple jump lessons since I checked in last week. It was cold AF last week (for me, the Floridian who excels at being warm and sticky)… I dunno how you northern people do this for months on end. It was 40 degrees and I couldn’t feel my toes like all damn day. Granted, I have a closet full of clothes meant to keep you cool and very very few items that are meant to keep you warm.
Either way, Presto was jumping great. Granted, he did finally come up and close and personal with the barn’s pig that day, and spent most of his lesson trying to crane his head around to look for it.
His name is Pastrami, isn’t he the cutest (Presto disagrees)
Presto really is terrified of that moving boulder. He knew rocks shouldn’t be trusted and this just proves him right (I fear we may never go past a rock without spooking again). Special shoutout to Kathleen tho for getting pics of him and the horribly scary pig (as we both laughed hysterically at all the snorting).
Either way, Presto eventually was able to focus enough to be good for the lesson. Today’s on the other hand… lord. We ended up moving my lesson time forward because a line of storms was set to blow in ahead of a cold front (*cries in why-tho-it’s-finally-75-again*) and Presto was one big spook machine the entire time. It was windy and sprinkly and ominous looking, and he came off the trailer looking for the pig, found the pig, spooked at it, and proceeded to spook at every leaf, bush, jump filler, chair, pole, etc that crossed his path. Do love trying to lesson on this animal as a cold front blows in.
He’s become bored at this height
Which isn’t to say that he was bad. He was actually quite good at all the jumps. In between was a little bit of a rodeo, but ya know. Ellie ended up making the exercise harder in an effort to get him to focus, and that worked. That’s the tactic that always works with him… gotta make it hard enough to where he actually has to pay attention. The trials and tribulations of a wicked smart horse with way more ability than his job actually requires.
Last but not least, I hope everyone had a very happy Wrapped Day last week. What a fantastic holiday, even if Spotify did disappoint greatly with a half-ass Wrapped this year. Still, it’s a fun time of unity across the land.
Patreon folks, if you haven’t checked your dashboard lately you have lesson video from last week and a full album of Rubes pics plus a Hack Yak waiting for you! It seems like a lot of people’s notifications are going to spam folders now so make sure you’re checking for new content.
Please enjoy your complimentary Panic at the Disco reference this morning. You’re welcome. (That reminds me, I heard a rumor that Spotify Wrapped is dropping tomorrow… everyone gird your loins)
loins girded
So… how’d everyone make it out of the Black Friday *mumbles and waves hand at whatever that was*. Always a wild ride, is it not? For me anyway. I do mega greatly appreciate those of you that tossed a bit in the coffers on Buy Me a Coffee. Truth be told it has become harder and harder to justify spending the (massive amount of) time on that sales list because it takes time away from my actual paying jobs, so getting a little bit of something back in exchange for the time spent certainly helps to continue to make it a sustainable effort on my part. I salute you, my insatiable little money burners. You’re the reason it will return again in 2025.
As for the more fun part of our overt display of capitalism, what did everyone get? Any good deals? Stuff you needed practically or stuff you needed mentally? Say it with me… we listen and we don’t judge.
Not trying to brag but I got a gnarly chest cold.
necessary meds
Granted, that was free of charge. I did snag some actual purchases, too, and mostly practical ones I dare say?
First and foremost, I finally caved and ordered the Full Health Panel + Ancestry test from Etalon for Presto. 25% off is the best deal I’ve seen them do, and I’ve been hemming and hawing over wanting to have him done forever. Seemed like the right time. I’m mostly interested to see if he carries any elevated risk factors related to his health (like some horses have a much higher genetic susceptibility to West Nile, or uveitis, or PSSM) and to see what his actual blood percentage is compared to what it calculates to on paper. I’m endlessly fascinated by that.
On the educational side of things, I also went for the 50% off Noelle Floyd subscription. I’ve been really interested in some of their Masterclass series, and it seemed like a good deal. I haven’t had time to actually poke around and look at them yet, but we shall see. I think it’s still 40% off through this week?
As far as actual tangible items go, I nabbed a couple of sheepskin pads – dressage and jump – with correctional shims/pockets from Hufglocken. 30% off plus their lower prices on their house brand made it super cheap for two of them. Rubes fits pretty well into Presto’s saddles with just a shim at the front, so I got them for him. Now I can just have two pads designated for Rubes that keep a shim in them and not have to worry about switching stuff around or trying to rig something for him with my other pads (that don’t have shims/pockets). He loves his sheepskin.
The rest is entirely practical stuff – Farrier’s Formula, Effol, a gallon of fly spray, and a bunch of new underwear. I did need all that, and it was all 30-40% off, so thankyouverymuch.
#1 consumer of fly spray
In other news, we’ve also made it to December. RRP folks will understand the significance of this… we can finally get cracking on our Makeover hopefuls! I think Rubes will be absolutely delighted to go back to some kind of full work schedule. Every time I put Presto away he comes up to his gate just begging to be picked next. Boy is a work horse, he likes having a job. I’m happy to oblige him that one.
he understood the “filling out” assignment
He’s feeling better after his injections for sure. He still feels weak behind, but more regular and even. He has lots and lots of pole work in his future to try to help improve his SI and stifles and topline.
❤
He’s such a handsome dude though, and I think he’ll be a quick learner. Once he gets a little more regular ride time under his girth it’ll be time to start venturing off property. For now he’s working on slowing down his tempo, bending through his body, and learning half halt and leg yield. He thinks leg yield is fairly easy but isn’t convinced half halts are totally necessary. I have the feeling that once he’s getting ridden 5-6 days a week things will start coming along pretty quickly. He trotted a line of poles yesterday and a crossrail the day before that, so I guess you could say things are getting pret-ty serious.
I also got to go XC schooling again over the weekend!
the casualness with which Presto pops over large things is borderline insulting tbh
We headed over to Jon Holling’s place this time, where Presto has actually never been before. I’d only been once, to film some content for Ride iQ, but didn’t get a super close look at the XC. There’s actually a good bit out there, and some bigger/harder/more technical stuff. It was great. Well, I mean, it was cold AF when we got there and Presto was WILD for the first few minutes, but I was actually pleased with how he settled down and got to business once we’d warmed up. We got to gallop some stuff, work on a few combinations, and practice that “keep coming forward to the base” xc ride that I really have to nail back into my brain.
Alright, who’s ready to participate in a little bit of capitalism at it’s finest?
Or, if you need to make it sound responsible and intelligent, we can call it “stocking up on essentials and buying holiday gifts while things are on sale”. Whatever you gotta tell yourself in order to feel less financially irresponsible. I’m not here to judge, I’m only here to enable.
Either way, welcome to the Equestrian Master List of Black Friday sales for 2024!
Here we go with the usual spiel: some of these sales are already active, others won’t be live until later in the week. I’ve included date info where I can, but if you’re not seeing the sale yet, just try their page again later. What I’m publishing today (Thursday) is very much just the tip of the iceberg – I’m tracking dozens of different sales that will be releasing their info later in the week. Keep checking back here, new ones will be posted AT THE BOTTOM BY DATE ADDED so they don’t get lost in the mix. Happy Shopping!
***Just a PSA, because apparently I have to say this due to the events of years past… if you are a business owner who’s sale is NOT on this list and you would like it to be added, please just send me a polite email or DM with the information for your sale and I will happily add it. I am just one person trying to do this as a public service in my spare time, so naturally there are plenty of sales I won’t see. Kind notes are always appreciated! Rude ones are not.
If you value the many days of work that goes into making this list and want to help keep me caffeinated so I can continue to update it frequently (dopamine for errybody!), I appreciate you the extra mostest.
Ride iQ – 35% off your first membership payment (that’s over $100 savings if you do an annual membership) 11/27 and 11/30 with code TAKE35. Note – you must redeem this via the website, not the app, and it applies to new members only. Y’all know how much I love Ride iQ, this is a great deal.
Riding Warehouse – Their best sale of the year! 20% most items (some exclusions) plus big markdowns on clearance.
FLAIR Strips – Spend over $30 receive a FREE FLAIR Strips Single Pack, spend over $100 receive a FREE FLAIR Strips Six Pack, plus orders over $60 qualify for FREE Shipping through 12/2.
Black Diamond Designs – Plaited Halters (the stunning one that Presto has!) marked down to $80 on Black Friday only. This sale is exclusive to this list, you won’t see it anywhere else!
Breed.Ride.Event. Patreon – Trying out this little Black Friday thing and offering a discount to my Patreon for the first time ever. Get 10% off a new annual subscription from 11/27 to 12/2 with code BREBF10.
Luxe EQ – Even more exclusive codes! 10% off $100 order with BRE10 or 20% off $500 order with BRE20. Check their website and Instagram for huge savings, up to 75% off a huge clearance collection of top brands.
Pinsnickety – 20% off storewide from Black Friday through Cyber Monday plus free shipping on orders over $80.
Dark Jewel Designs – Use code Gamble30 for 30% off most custom items in the Etsy shop through 11/30
Royal Equine – different deals every day, including Customer Appreciation: First 10 orders of the day from Friday-Sunday receive a surprise gift in their order, Cyber Monday get an e-gift card for future purchases, weekend BOGO deals including buy a show jacket, get breeches or show shirt 40% off, buy a saddle pad, get ear bonnet 40% off
Equestrian Club Shop – 30% off regular price items with code BFDEAL, plus free Club slides with code EQSLIDES and free shipping when your order is over $300.
Stubben NA – 20% off saddle pads, reins, breastplates, and bits, 50% off bridles and stud girths
Rick’s Heritage – 20% off Kerrits and One K, 15% off Kask, Ariat rebates
MDC Stirrups – phone orders only (if you’re into that sort of thing) $100 off MDC Ultimate stirrups, MDC Comfort Stirrups, and MDC Black Ultimate Stirrups
Barnes Tack Room – 11/29 through 12/2 get 10% off saddles, girths, and stirrup leathers. On 11/29 get 25% off bridles, reins, and martingales. On 11/30 and 12/1 get 25% off Custom Derby halters and leads, on 12/2 get an extra 25% off sale items. Every $100 spent gets an entry for a giveaway on $1000 off a custom saddle.
High Point Eq – 20% off lifestyle items, 50% off white crystal saddle pads, 40% off other pads, buy a set of four boots and get a saddle pad free, and free shipping over $100
Fenwick Equestrian – four weeks of BOGOs. Week 1 buy a horse blanket, get an Equisuede calming throw. Week 2 buy any mask get a set of ear plugs. Week 3 BOGO quick wraps. Week 4 Buy a set of boots get a set of leg wraps.
Spiced Equestrian – Free gifts with purchase: scrunchie with every order, hat with $80+, watch with $150+). Secret sale for newsletter subscribers (hint hint).
Draper Therapies – $20 polos, save $25 on dressage saddle pads, save an extra $5 on body wraps seconds, save $10 on shoulder wraps, and get free shipping with code FREESHIP
Omega Fields – 11/29 only get 25% off 9.5lb Omega Horseshine Complete with code BLACKFRIDAY24 and 25% off two or more 3.5lb Nibblers with code BFTREATS
Equestrian Outfitters – 15% off Brave Pants breeches and shirts, 20% off Brave Pants jackets, 20% off Ikonic bridles and strap goods, 10% off Ultimate RepairV
Levade Kentucky – 70% off jackets, ponchos, and tights or 40% off any 2 vintage varsity items (discount applied at checkout)
Flexible Fit – 30% off sitewide on orders over $75 with code friday30
11/30 8AM UPDATE
Novella Equestrian – get the Cody shirt for $49 and free shipping on all $50+ orders
Etalon Equine Genetics – on 12/2 take 15% off Pro Package, Ancestry Package, Pro Package + Ancestry Bundle, Health Panel, Color Panel, and the APHA Pro Package with code Cyber15.
Last update (sorry about yesterday, I’ve had the plague)!
Tip: if any companies had sales that ended before today and you wish you’d bought something, it’s worth checking them again. Some businesses have extended their sales or are offering different discounts today. It might not be too late!
While it’s a holiday week for most, this is always one of the busiest weeks of the year for me. When you work mainly in social media, the holidays are busy. Plus there’s that pesky Black Friday Sales List that I have managed to bring upon myself like a lifelong curse, and yes it will be back this year. It might not be as ridiculously mega as it’s been in years past just because I truly don’t have 6+ hours a day to babysit it, but I’ve already been spending a fair amount of time gathering sales and the drafting process starts today. The first iteration of the list should be up by Thursday morning, so keep an eye out for that.
Since that’ll take up the whole end of the week, lets get caught up on all the other goings-on, shall we?
First and foremost: Mina update!
high alert Beanie
She has continued to improve day over day since she came home a week ago. Her attitude and demeanor are totally back to normal, she’s been eating great, and as of today she’s down from 5 medications to just one (and just a couple more days of that). She doesn’t have that TBI wobble anymore, and her back legs are getting stronger. The left hind is almost back to moving and holding weight normally… it’s pretty darn close. The right hind has been much slower, although it’s definitely still shown improvement. It was basically a dead fish floppy limb and now she’s able to brace it against the ground some, and she’s trying to move it when she’s walking.
She still can’t get around on her own, we’re utilizing the harness to assist her, but for a week it seems like pretty good improvement. She has a check-up appointment back at UF today, so we’ll see what they think of her progress.
I also got a new addition to my tattoo collection last week.
Abraxos
About a month ago my intrusive thoughts said I needed bangs and a tattoo, so naturally I did both. They were both fabulous ideas. I love the bangs, and I finally got the tattoo I’ve been thinking about for a long time. It’s Throne of Glass inspired – my favorite SJM series and my favorite characters were Manon and her wyvern Abraxos, so I went with Abraxos (and his flowers of course) and 13 stars to represent Manon’s coven, The Thirteen.
My appointment was Wednesday night and we didn’t even start until after 8pm, and ended up going until almost 11. We got a lot done in that session considering how big it is! It’s pretty much the whole front of my left thigh.
fresh in the Saniderm
I’ll go back in a couple weeks so my artist can finish it… guessing we’ve got another hour or two to finish the bottom and add the rest of the line work detail. I love love love it though, I’m already thinking about what I want next. The only bummer is that I have to stay out of the pool until it’s all done healing, so I’m on hiatus from my 3x a week swims for a while. Genuinely sad about that, but in the grand scheme of things it’s short term.
Of course, like a day after I get a bangin thigh tattoo, Florida decided it’s winter. I have been DISPLEASED. We had a couple nights in the 30’s, which I feel like it’s godawful early to be that cold in Florida. I’m not into it whatsoever.
this it be some bullshit
It’s warmed back up a bit now, but next week is supposed to be cold again, perhaps even with one night getting near or below freezing and the high being in the 50’s. What. The. Actual. Florida. Hardest of passes, my dude. I am an IGUANA, I want to be WARM. Why was summer 6 months long and fall was like a week?
Ya know who loves this weather tho? Our resident PA-bred boy.
His smile is coming along
He’s continued to really love his new turnout situation, and now that the worst of the bugs have retreated he’s spending less and less time in his stall. It seemed like he was really only coming in to eat his grain and alfalfa, so I moved all that outside (it’s dry season now) and I’m not sure that he’s been back in his stall since. He grazes, he sunbathes, he naps… but he’s suddenly a real outdoorsman, and I’m super pleased. He’s had so little turnout in his life, seeing him settle and relax into just being a happy outside horse gives me some feels.
The extra grass has also really upped his dad bod status.
chonk
He’s starting to look downright chonky, such that I’ve been able to cut his grain back and he still looks like he’s gaining. Super pleased about that too! Hopefully now that it seems like his system and metabolism have caught up to the sporthorse lifestyle I’ll be able to keep cutting back the concentrates, and he’s eating more forage.
Last week I also had a jump lesson on Presto, which was heavy on the rideability. There were cloverleafs, there were circles of death, there were tight rollbacks. Thank goodness we’ve finally figured out the flying changes because it was not an easy exercise with all the turning, but it was beneficial for both of us. The overarching theme was “leg”. This leg. That leg. More leg. Leg.
This week I’ve got another jump lesson on the docket today and then a XC school again on Saturday. I was serious about going out every couple weeks and doing a little bit of XC so that I can get back in my gallopy mojo again. Season is quite literally just around the corner.
Which is maybe why one of the consignment shops I follow in Insta really got me in a weak moment.
had to immediately try it on in the barn bathroom
The pic doesn’t do it justice but it’s a brilliant bright royal blue Horse Pilot jacket (with elbow patches… I do love a good elbow patch) that somehow fits me like a glove. It was a wicked good deal and I don’t even feel bad. Do I need more jackets? Sure as shit don’t. Does it please me? Absolutely.
I don’t really need anything as we go into Black Friday this year… I’d like to re-up my Farrier’s Formula if I find a good sale, otherwise I’m really just keeping my eye out for gifts. That doesn’t mean I’m marked safe from literally anything, but I’m gonna try my best to resist. Thoughts and Prayers.
breedrideevent.com 