I realize that I am long overdue for a post about Henry – the poor, neglected star of this blog. We’ve been doing a lot of dressage at home since our January show (probably 75% dressage rides) in an effort to just… be better. I think once I realized we could actually survive Training level, I became more determined to suck less at it.

Our month of dressage bootcamp between the Jan and Feb shows paid off with a score that was 8 points better, which, as it turns out, is a fabulous motivator to keep working. Last week in particular we hit a big milestone when real sitting trot suddenly became possible. All of you dressage folks out there know the saying “the horse has to give you a place to sit” – meaning that in order to have a good sitting trot, the horse’s back has to be relaxed and lifting, not stiff and braced. A lot of horses have that right off the bat, or it comes quite easily to them. Henry is not one of them… he basically lives with every ounce of his tension stored in his back. I can honestly say that until last week, he had never really given me a place to sit, thus our sitting trot work has been minimal.

But Monday I sat a little bit in the haunches-in on a circle, and instead of a tense tight back, I found a soft relaxed one. So I stayed sitting, moved off straight again and then into some shoulder in and leg yield with still no resistance or tightening of the back. I pretty much just halted, jumped off, and shoved Henry full of carrots.

But… was it a fluke?

Tuesday was conditioning day (ERMAGERD GALLOP) but Wednesday it was back to dressage tack for the moment a truth. I warmed up as usual, then started some lateral work, then spiraling in and out, then changing the stride length in trot, then eventually starting spritzing in some sitting work. And honestly? I think it was the best dressage ride he’s ever given me.

Not only did he accept my seat, all of his lateral work improved when I sat and was able to use my seat bones more effectively. I still kept the sitting portions short and always rewarded with stretchy trot afterward, but… I’m pretty thrilled with him at the moment. Dressage has always been such a struggle bus, especially when it comes to tension.

The positive trend has continued. I dunno what, exactly, is responsible for the magical progress lately, but I’m not going to question it. Now we need to get back to dressage lessons (of which we’ve had none since, uh, August). Maybe we’ll finally be able to take some of the derp out of our derpsage???

I said some, not all. I’m not delusional. Let’s remember what horse I own.

Time to rename this network. Sadie’s not just a fat mare anymore, she’s an ANGRY fat mare. And she isn’t shy about hiding the fact that she’s uncomfortable. She’s taking it out on basically any non-living thing that she can get her teeth or feet on. Stall wall, fence, water bucket… whatever’s in her way is fair game. Y’all got a glimpse of it in my post the other day but that was really just the beginning of her rage.

This is exactly what she did before she had her last foal, so this behavior is apparently standard for pre-baby Sadie. But damn, girl is pissed. Not at people, of course, or her BFF Lissa, but inanimate objects beware.

She was really raging mad on Tuesday night/Wednesday morning and stayed raging mad during the day on Wednesday, so I thought for sure we were gearing up for go time.

But then she was only kinda sorta mad on Wednesday night, pretty normal yesterday, and just sorta mad again last night. Still no change in the milk test either. Come on mare, wtf? Although her milk definitely looks like real milk now, and her udder is quite full, and her vulva is giant (sorry, TMMI – too much mare information). Physically, she’s ready.

I give up on trying to guess what the anger means, too. It just means she’s an angry mare, apparently, because I still ain’t got no baby.

Going back through the overnight clips, I think this particular series is my favorite, where she tried to murder her feed pan.

Meanwhile Lissa is equally miserable but she tends to just lay there and grunt, or stand there and look pathetic and yet still totally beautiful. I’m starting to think they’re dragging this out on purpose because they’re drama queens.

Really this is probably all my fault, because I packed my go-bag on Tuesday and made all kinds of preparations to be gone for several days. Shouldn’t have done that. Horses can always sense when people are prepared, and they hate that crap.

 

Wow it’s been a remarkably long time since I did one of these posts. Probably because I finally have my riding wardrobe and tack/equipment in a really good place finally. Of course, that doesn’t stop me from bookmarking other things that I want-need-gotta have.

Aegean Blue Aqua X breeches

I’m waiting for these to hit Riding Warehouse (a couple more weeks!) and then they’ll be joining my closet. I’ve continued to be really impressed with my Aqua X breeches and want more colors. This teal color is a little bit brighter than I would normally wear, but it works with a lot of my shirts, so I say lets do it. You can only have so many pairs of navy breeches (uh… 4, to be exact).

Romfh Gabriella breeches

I’d also really like to try the new Romfh Gabriella breeches, because I love a silicone knee patch, but I don’t like any of their current colors. Maybe white to join my show breeches collection? My favorite whites are to the point where they come out of the wash looking more cream than white these days…

Brown Ego7 Orion boots

I’ve been trying to buy these damn chocolate brown Ego7’s since the day they announced their release on facebook, but so far I haven’t had any luck finding them or getting anyone to tell me when they might be available. As soon as I find them, they’re mine. My brown Mondoni’s are finally giving up the ghost, so I need new schooling boots like NOW.

Celeris navy boots

I came really close to a Treat Yo Self moment the day I saw these custom boots on Instagram. They’re not actually something I’d wear to the barn obviously, but I could live in these the rest of the time, they’re so pretty. I talked myself down off the ledge for now, but no guarantees going forward.

Majyk dressage boots and bell boots

The dressage boots are definitely on my list of needs for the season… Henry is wearing his old Gen 1 XC boots for dressage, and they’re starting to look quite abused. He deserves some fancy new leg wear. I’d also like to try their bells too, since Henry has actually been able to transition off of wearing his rubber bells 24/7 at this new barn. Mud-free living seems to be the key to him keeping his shoes on. I’m a bit lazy about pulling his pull-on boots off and on for riding, so maybe we’ll give the ME’s a try.

 

French Blue show coat

 

This makes zero sense, since literally nothing I own accessories-wise would go with this, but I’m really digging the french blue coats lately. The Winston Devon model above in “mid blue” is ridiculously gorgeous, and I actually like the color of the AA Motionlite (which RW carries now!!!) too. Makes me wish I had a gray horse or a chestnut.

 

Some things will be mine soon… others, well… we’ll see how long I hold out. What’s on your must-have list this spring?

 

There was kind of an informal blog hop going around about this, although I forget now who all did it (my brain is on shaky ground these days – PLEASE FOAL ALREADY, MARE) … so if you participated and want to leave a link to your post in my comments, please do. But the premise was asking who can ride your horse – both ability wise and “allowed to” wise.

I feel like if I’ve done my job reasonably well, pretty much anyone should at least be able to get on and tootle around. I’ve spent a lot of time trying to make this horse more rideable (because I think that being really rideable is always a great thing for a horse to possess) so I like tossing someone else up there every once in a while and watching them push the buttons. Pretty much any rider should at minimum be able to get on and w/t/c and point the horse at some jumps. I harbor no delusions of grandeur about my ability as a rider: I don’t think I’m so special that I’m the only one who can ride him without messing him up. In reality he’s been putting up with my shit for quite a while, so he’s gotten to be pretty good at it by now. I have no qualms about giving just about anyone a leg up under my supervision, and most people who have experience with a forward-thinking horse should have no problem riding him.

The difference is supervised versus unsupervised. If I’m sitting there watching, I can control the situation and what the person does/doesn’t get to do. People also tend to be on their best behavior with the owner watching. So in that scenario, there are very few people who wouldn’t be allowed to ride my horse. Only exception: people with really bad hands. Y’all don’t get to come near Henny, sorry. Take up knitting or something.

But unsupervised rides mean that I have to trust you to have good judgment about my horse and what is appropriate. It’s one thing to trust someone to just pilot him around for fun while I watch. It’s another thing entirely to be trusted with a solo ride. The people I’d trust for that are limited mostly to the pros I’m comfortable with and friends who I know have a similar approach as I do.

Otherwise, as long as a situation is under my control, I feel like it’s good for my horse to get exposed to as much as possible, including different riders. What about you?

Today is 330 of Sadie’s pregnancy and she’s still hanging in there. Yesterday she started biting the stall walls a bit and smooshing her butt into things… last time she did that for about 3 days before she foaled, so I’m hoping she’s going to repeat the same pattern. Funny, because last time she went 332 or 333 days (there is some debate on breeding date) so she’s literally on the exact same schedule so far. If she foals in 2-3 days I will give her extra treats for consistency (did you hear that, mare???).

In the meantime Michelle gave me access to the stall cameras so that I can see Sadie myself (sorry, it’s all part of their home security system so I can’t give it out to everyone). Really I think it’s because at least 4 times a day I was texting her asking how Sadie was and Michelle was tired of my shit. Either way, now I can pull up Sadie’s camera whenever I want! Which has been a lot. Like… A LOT. Sometimes I can’t stop watching her. Granted, most of the day she usually stands outside in her paddock where I can’t see her, but that doesn’t stop me from checking compulsively. And then taking screenshots when she does anything remotely interesting.

It’s FatMareTV 24/7 around here! Love having the cameras though, it’s lessening my anxiety a little bit. This morning she looks even more uncomfortable, keeping her butt pressed against the back wall and alternating between biting at her sides and attacking the stall wall. It’s definitely ramping up. I swear her topline looks a bit different today too, like her shape is changing.

When they’re not feeling totally miserable, this is what she and Lissa spend most of the day doing:

They’re pretty adorable.

Know what else is adorable? These teeny new Quillin foal halters with Willow Tree Warmbloods plates. They’re all ready for their babies!

Let’s get this show on the road!