Doctor Who fans will get the reference. For Harry Potter fans we’ll say my grooming bucket is Hermoine’s beaded handbag. And if you still don’t get that reference, I don’t think we can be friends. The point of course is that my grooming bucket must be bigger on the inside than it is on the outside, because there’s so much crap crammed in there it doesn’t seem physically possible.

Breeches and Boat Shoes posted a while back (ok, two months ago) about what’s in her grooming bag. Emma picked up on it yesterday as an unofficial blog hop, and so now here I am copycatting. For some reason I find it fascinating to see how much crap, and exactly what crap, people can and do fit into their grooming totes.

I’m not fancy enough to have an official grooming tote, I just use a small bucket that I slapped a monogram decal on. The crap inside of it falls into three distinct categories:

Actual Grooming Crap  

• Leistner brush (I actually got this a couple weeks ago to review and am totally shocked by how I feel about it… review coming later this week)
• cheap crappy soft brush I’ve had forever
• jelly scrubber
• microfiber mitt
• tail brush
• Ultimate Hoof Pick ❤
• towel
• Fungus Amongus and Heal Quick from The Herbal Horse

Other Random Crap 

• Harcour gloves
• dee savers
• Pyranha
• AluShield
• Vet wrap
• Scissors
• Weight tape
• mane knife
• spurs
• the Roeckl gloves that Henry destroyed yet I can’t make myself throw them away (RIP my friends)
• black and brown flash attachments for my PS bridles
• thermometer
• syringe
• Sharpie
• pen
• extra hair net (I have hair nets stashed everywhere, it’s a major fear that I’ll end up at a lesson or horse show and not have any)
• Nathe
• Duct tape: regular white and thin rainbow tie-dye
• sunglasses

Dirt and Crap

Nice collection of hay and shavings that have been collecting for who knows how long. If nothing else, this little unofficial blog hop finally got me to clean out my grooming bucket.

Black Friday/Small Business Saturday/Cyber Monday is a tough weekend to be a tack ho… hoarder… connoisseur of all things equestrian. Well… it is if you’re a poor one that can’t actually afford to do any proper shopping. Compiling my sale list post is fun for me, but the downside is that I then end up going through every single link and checking out the sales. That ended up being 83 as of my final set of additions last night, btw. Good god.

What 95% of me says

What that 5% of common sense combined with reality says

I probably built a cart on at least half of those sites… so many awesome things and so many good deals. But I’ve got the vet coming tomorrow, the Buck clinic to pay for, and memberships to renew (oh and a truck to buy and trailer to finish refurbing, no big deal) so I had to rein myself in. The only order I actually placed was with Riding Warehouse. I love my merino Kastel sweater so much that I had to have the other color. Worth every penny, and a winter necessity.

I feel both victorious and a bit deflated. I would have loved to have made purchases from all my favorite small businesses but alas a) as hard as it is for me to say, there’s very little I actually NEED at this point b) I just don’t have the dough. It’s been very hard to control myself, but thankfully today is the last day I have to sit on my hands. I’ve almost made it.

Except… I keep eyeballing this coat from RW. I actually DO need a nice waterproof jacket for riding in the winter (how is it possible that I own nothing suitable for rain?) and I’ve loved this coat every time I’ve seen it in person. And at 20% off it’s only $107, with free shipping. Alas, that’s $107 I really can’t spend at the moment. Someone out there who loves me: gray medium. 😉

What about everyone else? Did you escape unscathed or did you score some good stuff? Tell me what you got so I can live vicariously through others and make it through the last day…

It’s that time again! Some stores have already kicked off their Black Friday deals (if you missed the $75 Spooks jackets and $25 Le Fash shirts yesterday, you should follow me on facebook so things like that don’t happen again), but others have yet to reveal details. I’ll be adding to this post as I come across more sales or get more info, so keep checking back for updates. If you know of a good one that I’ve missed, send me a message or leave a comment and I’ll add it. Happy shopping!

Riding Warehouse – 20% off site wide (items will be automatically discounted once you add them to your cart) and lots added to the sale section. I highly recommend perusing the sale section! And yes, the awesome Kastel Merino sweaters qualify for the discount too. Crap.

PS of Sweden – 30% off riding aids

Straight Shot Metal Smashing – 25% with code SHOPSMALL on Saturday 11/28

Divoza – 25% off one item and free gift with code WS15DH25

One Horse Threads – 30% off storewide and free shipping with coupon code THANKS through 11/30

Aztec Diamond Equestrian – select items on sale

Teddy’s Tack Trunk – 15% off all orders and free shipping over $50, 11/26-11/30.

Dark Jewel Designs – 20% off browbands with code BLACKJEWEL20. Sale ends 11/29

The Herbal Horse – 15% off with coupon code SBSLOVE and a free one ounce tin in your choice of organic salve with all purchases over $50. Leave your choice in the “NOTES” section at checkout

Equine Art by Julie – 30% off now through 11/29

The Horse of Course – 30% off Friday 11/27 through Monday 11/30 with code BFSBSCM30.

Spur of the Moment – 11/26 and 11/30 get 15% off with code CYBER15, 11/27 get 30% off with code BFriday30. 11/28 get 20% off with code SMS20.

Dapplebay – 20% off store wide from 11/27-11/30 with coupon code HOLIDAYSALE

Deco Pony – 11/28, 30% off everything (excluding custom orders), discount automatically applied

Animo – 15% off new collection, 40% off sale items

Hunt Club – 11/28 only, use coupon code Holiday15 for 15% off storewide

C4 Belts – 30% off with coupon code C4BF2015

The Painting Pony – different sales each day: 11/27, 11/28, and 11/30

Moxie Designs – 30% off with code MD30SALE

Iselltack.com – 4 day sale, Black Friday through Cyber Monday. 15% Back on Track with coupon code turkey15

O’Shaughnessey – 40% off site wide, free gift with purchase, free U.S. shipping, and complimentary gift wrapping

Horze – up to 60% off clearance items, 20% off breeches, 15% off Back on Track

Struck Apparel – new clearance section (the USD/CAD exchange rate is in our favor right now, good deals!) plus free shipping with coupon code GETSTRUCK15

Solea Equestrian – 20% off Parlanti on Friday 11/27

Bit of Britain – 20% off with coupon code BLACKFRIDAY

Beval Saddlery – 25-40% off, excludes Butet Saddles, Tailored Sportsman, Select Helmets, Tredstep, Cavalleria Toscana, Baker, Custom Items, Workshop & Repair

Just Riding – 11/27 – 12/1

Mary’s Tack – select items on sale (including GPA helmets)

Horseloverz – daily flash sales and closeouts up to 80% off

Selwood Equine – up to 70% off

State Line Tack – 20% off

Adams Horse Supplies –  20% off TuffRider, Ariat, and Equine Couture, 10-20% off HDR.

Equus Now – 20% off Parlanti and up to 40% off other items on 11/27

VTO Saddlery – 20% off orders $100 or more, 11/26-11/30

Smartpak – 15% off with coupon code GIFTME15

ADDED 11/26:

20 x 60 – 15% off everything with coupon code THANKFUL

Big Dee’s – up to 70% off select items 11/26 – 11/28

Equestrianista – 15% off plus free t-shirt and free shipping on orders over $75

Rider’s for Well Being – 30% off with code givethanks

Total Saddle Fit – free calfskin stirrup leathers with orders over $100, use coupon code FREEFRIDAY

ADDED 11/27:

HorsePreRace – sitewide discounts through Sunday plus free shipping on Friday

Asmar Equestrian – up to 80% off select merchandise and free shipping on all orders

Le Fash – free shipping on all purchases with code THANKS, free embroidery on all Bomber purchases with code CUSTOMIZE, free LFNY logo baby pad with purchase of any 2 different styles with code ROOTD (Bomber/Shirt, Bomber/breech, Shirt/Breech)

OTTB Outfitters – select items on sale

Welsh Wear – 30% off site wide with coupon code TURKEY30 and free gifts on orders over $35

Alessandro Albanese – 50% off select items

Ronner Design – 30% off everything, discount automatically applied to cart

The Houndstooth Horse – coupon code BLACKFRIDAY10 for 10% off anything or BLACKFRIDAY15 for 15% off orders over $75.

Swanky Saddle – 15% off entire store and free gift with orders over $100 with coupon code BLACKFRIDAY

EquestriLifestyle – 15% off entire store with coupon code ShopSmall, free shipping with code SMALLISBETTER, or extra 20% Sale items with code Extra20

Schneiders – Blanket sale on 11/27 only

Thinline – 20% off with coupon code BLACKFRIDAY

Annie’s USA – 20% off with coupon code STARTSHOPPING

Personally Preppy – 10% off plus free shipping with coupon code BLACKFRIDAY

Higher Standards – 15% off with code SHOPSMALL15

Bridle Bling – 25% off with code BBHOLIDAY25

USEF – $10 off orders $75+, $15 off orders $150+

Emily’s Equine Creations – use coupon code SHOPSMALL15 for free shipping and a free gift on every order over $15

Pony Up Equestrian – 20% off (some exclusions)

Righteous Hound – 20% off with code FRIDAY20

Kerrits – free knit hat with any purchase plus free shipping on orders over $59 with code FREEHAT

Relatively Stable – 20% off with coupon code SB2015

Tara Kiwi – 15-40% regular priced items

Padded Ponies – 15% off with coupon code BLACK15

Jeffers – 15% off with coupon code BLACKFRI15

Ride Heels Down – buy all 3 “Heels Down” tees and save $10 with coupon ccode 3WAYS3DAYS

Knix Wear – 30% sitewide with coupon code BF30

Road ID – up to 60% off

Spiced Equestrian – 50-80% off clearance items plus holiday sample sale

Delfina Saddlery – up to 75% off while supplies last

ADDED 11/28:

Gray & Co. Designs – 25% off with coupon code SBS2015 and free gift with purchase on 11/28

Sock it to Me – 15% plus free shipping

Saddle Lockers – $150 off 71″, set of 51″&20″, and set of two 35.5″ lockers with coupon code BFRIDAY15.

Loft & Livery – 30% off storewide including custom orders with coupon code smallbiz30

Woven Beads Browbands – 10-50% everything in store through 12/1

Paradise Farm and Tack – select items on sale

Rose Hill Equestrian Woodworks – prices reduced store wide

The Printable Pony – 50% off site wide with coupon code SMALLBIZSAT

Rolex Kentucky shop – 20% off store wide with coupon code BLACK15

Charleigh’s Cookies – 15% off store wide with coupon code SmallBiz15

ADDED 11/29:

Farm House Tack – 20% off with coupon code CYBERSALE (some exclusions). Midnight tonight through midnight Monday

Equestrian Prep – 15% off with coupon code NOV15%

The Pampered Equine – 25% off storewide with code CYBER until December 1st

I’m late to the party on this one from The Red Mare, but this is what happens when I don’t have time to write a new post and have to pull from previously drafted ones. It still counts.

1. Mares or Geldings? Why? I don’t have a strong preference either way, but all other things being equal I prefer mares.

2. Green-broke or Fully Broke? Again, no real preference. As long as I like the horse, either is fine.

3. Would you own a “hotter” breed? Yes. I prefer a sensitive, forward-thinking horse.

4. What was your “dream horse” growing up? A 16.3h dapple gray warmblood gelding. That is no longer the case in any way, shape, or form!

5. What kind of bit(s) do you use and why? A fairly fat KK loose ring, because it’s what Princess Henry likes. Sometimes I ride him in a hackamore too.

6. Helmets or no helmets? Always helmets. Pretty ones preferred.

7. Favorite horse color? Bay.

8. Least favorite horse color? Pinto or cremello or dominant white. Blue eyes creep me out, too.

9. Dressage or Jumping? No contest – jumping.

10. How many years have you been riding? 24. You’d think I’d be better at it by now.

11. Spurs/whip or no spurs/whip? Either or both, when circumstances call for it.

12. Your first fall? Not long after I started riding, but I don’t remember the exact circumstances. I fell off a lot as a kid, it all blurs together.

13. When was the last time you rode and what did you do? Yesterday, riding around so the vet could watch.

14. Most expensive piece of tack you own? Believe it or not, the Childeric dressage saddle that I just bought for $1295 is the most expensive, even more than my CWD. I try to be cheap frugal even though I love nice things.

15. How old were you when you started riding? 8 years old.

16. Leather or Nylon halters? Leather

17. Leather or Synthetic saddles? Leather. I’m not Bobby.

18. What “grip” of reins do you like? The Nunn Finer soft grip rubber reins are my favorite.

19. English or Western? English. Although when I’m old and can’t jump anymore I’ll get a reiner.

20. How many horses do you currently own/lease? I own two.

21. Do you board your horse? Self-care/full board? Home board? Full board.

22. Have you ever had to put down a horse that you loved? Thank god no, not yet. Knock on a million different kinds of wood.

23. How many saddle pads do you have? Uh. A lot.

24. Slant-load trailer or straight haul? Straight load, for sure. Nothing over 15.3h seems to fit comfortably in your average slant stall, plus I think it’s harder for the horses to balance. During acceleration and braking they’re putting more stress on the right front or left rear vs balancing themselves equally on both front or both hind legs in a straight load. In a straight load they also have a lot more freedom of movement for the head and neck, so they can stretch their neck down and clear the lungs. Plus you can access whichever horse you want without having to unload the others. The only thing I don’t like about a straight load is that they have to back out, but with a ramp all of mine have backed out just fine.

25. Why do you ride? It’s the only thing that keeps me even remotely sane.

For the second weekend in a row I was able to have two very fun horse days. I know, it’s odd that it hasn’t rained 10″+ for like two whole weeks. Miracles never cease. Don’t worry, it’s gonna rain Thurs-Sat this week to make up for it.

On Saturday Bobby and I loaded up the boys and made the short journey to our dressage trainer’s barn for a lesson. We haven’t had a dressage lesson since… oh… August? and there was a pretty impressive 30mph wind that accompanied a cold front. I thought I might die but Henry was actually pretty good. His brain hurt by the end (“Haunches WHERE? But I just figured out how to put my shoulders there! Make up your mind!”) but he tried, and he wasn’t a total idiot even with the whole roof and barn rattling. We’ll call that a win.

I also learned two other very important things on Saturday:

1) don’t put sticky spray (even just a tiny bit) on your saddle and then put the new fleece lined saddle cover on it. Saddle will come out looking like it mated with a sheep, and it will take 10 minutes to defuzz it.

2) Baby powder is magic. My saddle has had the most annoying squeak coming from the bottom of the panel since I bought it. It’s been years since I had anything squeaky so it took a few weeks for me to remember the baby powder trick. I turned her upside down, doused her with baby powder in all of her cracks, shook the crap out of her to settle it deep in there, and voila, no more squeak. Magic.
On Sunday Bobby and I loaded the boys in the trailer again, and this time headed out to Pine Hill to XC school. It was just an informal school with the two of us bumming around and having fun. I jumped a couple of Training fences and Henry was great, but I mostly schooled ditches and the bank at the water. It was his first time jumping a bank down into water and a bank up out of water, which he was also really good about. Nothing particularly exciting but it was fun anyway, because XC is always fun.

Today the vet is coming back out to do lots of diagnostics to see if we can pinpoint that weird stabby thing that I still sometimes feel in the canter and the sometimes swapping out behind as he leaves the ground. Nothing like trying to find the cause of something very slight that you only feel when the horse has had a few days off. I suspect a hint of stifle arthritis but we’ll see. This all just sounds like cha-ching cha-ching to my bank account. That’s ok though. I’d rather try to figure it out now when it’s still no big deal than wait until it’s a problem.