Please Hold!

I have escaped the seasonal drizzle for a quick trip to see old friends and absorb some L.A. sunshine. (Both very good things)

Since my brain is addled with vitamin D I don't have much interesting to say except that I will get the pony closet clean out stuff mailed next week. So if you haven't left me an email address to either invoice you at, or get you my address info, comment here or in the original post and I'll get to busy when I return on Tuesday!

Also - Prair officially gets a ribbon AND little engraved Julep Cup which means her horse show cocktails just got more festive!!!

Have good weekends!


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Location:Pause for Sunshine

Year End Award?

My invite came in the mail today for the USHJA Awards dinner, which I think happens sometime in between arguing about rule changes and drinking too much cheap zinfandel at the annual meeting...

My first response was "WHEEEEE Award!! More SATIN!!!"

Followed by my second response of "There is no god damn way I'm spending "horse show money" on a trip to Atlanta to collect a ribbon without my horse."

I'm sure that Atlanta is super fun and super convenient for.... someone, but for us all the way out here in Zone 9, I'm thinking no.  I did wave the invite in The Boy's face briefly just to remind him how worthwhile spending all of our money and time on coercing Prairie around the Hunter Ring has been.

He seemed less than impressed that the however-many-thousands-of-dollars (let's not count, shall we?) spent on entries and training and hotels and everything else managed to snag us an invite to what I'm sure is a less than mind-blowing buffet dinner 3,000 miles away in the national capital of hip-hop.

So as I checked the "politely declines" box on the RSVP card, I started thinking about what's behind year end awards (especially the "second tier" type ones we got) that is still so exciting?

In no way was "win year-end satin" part of my goals for this year with Prairie, or even really something I thought was an option.  It didn't drive my entries, or add additional shows, didn't affect my decision to bop around in different divisions collecting random points in random things, it just wasn't on my mind.

That is... until it was. 

I got an email stating that we were "top contenders" for something and then all the sudden I was stalking the USHJA website like a crazy person after every show looking at point totals and standings.

So I suppose if nothing else, being "in the hunt" for a year end award had me visiting the website and poking around a bit more.. I paid slightly more attention to emails from the organization and actually followed some links about proposed rule changes and whatnot. 

I guess increased involvement and awareness is exactly what our governing bodies are looking for - and it seems that they've finally figured out the quickest way to our collective hearts (or at least mine), is through bribery.

Ergo, the exponential increase of year end awards across all disciplines...

• Adult Amateur riding an unregistered horse that is over 10 but with less than two years of showing...
• Non-Thoroughbred Working Bay Hunter with less than two white markings shown by a first year pro
• HOTY for the best US bred Hanoverian competing in both Dressage and Jumping disciplines in more than two states but less than five....

I'm not complaining though.  I will gladly add yards to my future Ribbon Quilt and I will gladly accept any accolades for what really was a pretty successful first full season out...

And I must say, finding a way to feed the ribbon addicts in the off season is very clever indeed...

Pony Closet Cleanouts!

Okay, so the horse closet cleanout took slightly longer than my human closet efforts (thank god for former roommates who have always been in *slightly* better shape than me - they provide happy homes for all my *slightly* too small sweaters...)

As for the pony pieces.  I have emerged (moderately) victorious.  I think I have cleared enough space in the garage to either allow for new acquisitions, or an ever expanding "Christmas Decor" section.

Anyway.  Here are some of the pieces up for grabs.  As mentioned, I loathe all post office/UPS store situations with an irrational vigor so you can either pay me via PayPal (I think I can figure it out) the listed price which will coerce me to package and ship the item, or mail me an empty mail bag with a return label pre-paid (but no cost for the item).  You pick.

Kensington Fly Sheet: Held for JennDonovan

Catalog Pic

Size 84, worn... maybe 10 times. I honestly don't remember why I stopped using this, but I got a different fly sheet this season and never even took this one out of winter storage.  It's the pretty purple ice color and in great condition.

Belly band is removable if you just want to use the surcingles

I apparently didn't wash it, so there is some dirt/dust on a few straps but that's it.

Approx $130 new, yours for $45 or $0 if you send me a prepaid shipping bag for it.


Wool Quarter Sheet: Held for JennDonovan

mothy holes shown, girth straps just out of frame...

I inherited this from an older Pony Club member when I was in High School because it was in my colors - but I never really used it much since I almost never clipped my horses and it almost never gets super freezing cold here...  It's traditional, has girth straps and I assume would work pretty well.  It does have a few moth holes in it that would keep me from using it at a fancy show or clinic, but it still looks pretty sharp and is serviceable even if it's just to keep dog hair off your car seats.

In terms of fit it worked great on TB's and my last eventer, it's a little too short for Prair.  Measures 49" across the top.

I feel like these things are ~$100 new, but this is not new.  If you lived near me I would just give it to you, but like I said - I hate packaging, so it's $25 for me to mail it out (free if you send me a pre-paid thingy)


Veredus Piaffe Evo Dressage Boots: Held for Mare+Missy

 I bought a full set of these (fronts and hinds) for Prair before I even brought her home.  Turns out I forgot about them and they ended up sitting in a box.  I guess if we haven't used them in two years, we don't need them, though I can only find the fronts for some reason... The hinds must be hiding someplace else...

They have tab closures, which I know some people hate, but I really don't mind them on my t-boots.  They are sized Small, though they fit like regular sized horse boots (Both Pia and Prairie).  Originally these things sold for like $200 a pair.  I think I got them for $150 for the full set. 

$30 takes the pair I can find, with dibs on the hinds whenever they show up (or send me a pre-paid thingy).


Moxie Cavalero Techno Sheet: Stolen by SprinklerBandit

OMG I love this blanket.  I bought it for P1 originally and if we were showing I would not be getting rid of it, But it's a size 78, so too small for P2 or Gus to rock on field trips... It works as a cooler, though the thick, heavy drape of it means it's a really cute dress sheet and the suede texture with "shearling" collar is just too flattering for words.  I got the navy with natural colored trim and think it is the most traditional/dashing which makes me sort of sad to list it here.  P probably wore it 5 times, no more - but someone needs to take this blanket out on the town! 

Catalog Pic in red...

pretty front closures (also catalog pic)

omg. so cozy.

I'm not sure it's even on the market anymore but they use to be around $150 new. 

$50 or send me a pre-paid thingy....

Ancient Big D Stable Blanket: Held for Kitty Kat

Like this, but open front

Okay, this thing has been sitting in my garage for 10 years (albeit sitting clean).  It belonged to my last high school horses which means it's definitely not new, but it's in really good condition and still looks clean. Size 78" and  maroon (with maroon trim).  I used to layer it under a turnout, or use it by itself away at shows. 

$40 (because it's bulky) or send me a pre-paid thingy.

Toklat Stable Blanket: Stolen by SprinklerBandit

78" Hunter Green with black trim, in great shape. I think I picked it up from someone else who wa cleaning out blankets but it never got on the Red Mare...

Sleazy Hood: Held for Appydoesdressage

This thing is hideous. and also... never used.  It came in my trailer (?) so who knows what it's story is. I put it on P once just to see if it fit (it did) but that's it.  I've never used these things so I can't speak to anything other than the eye-blinding pattern. 

I forgot to take a picture of this, but I will... It's black and white and maybe one of those Magic Eye thingies.

$20 to ship or send me a pre-paid thingy....

I have a few more items at the barn that are worth adding to the list (like a Nunn Finer Dressage Girth, sized for Giant Piggy Mare) and maybe some bits and things.  I'll do a round two if I find enough crap!

Back on the Meds

I have literally gone through an entire checkbook this week.  Board, farrier, multiple vets (oy).... seems like I'm sprinkling checks around like fairy dust! wheeee!!!!

one of those checks bought a nice cocktail for Prair.  She looks pretty sexy (for a drunk girl).

I'll start with Wednesday which was pedicures and bodywork for both horses.  Prair was the clear winner here.  Her back is doing great, so we just focused on mobilizing her withers even more and limbering her up.  Nothing radical at all, though she did get her first shot of Hyaluronic Acid because... why not.  Might as well be proactive about her big giant joints instead of waiting for her to complain.  (I guess)

Prair's feet looked good.  She got a bit contracted in her show shoes over the summer, but is starting to spread her heels again.  The clips came off her shoes and I told her that she would get extra cookies if she didn't suck them off in the mud immediately. 

Gus had a bit rougher of a day.  After his rickety, stiff hack on Monday vet confirmed that his body felt like he had either a) been t-boned by a large truck or b) somersaulted down a very long, very bumpy hill.

rad.

Since neither of those events had (to my knowledge) occurred, we ruminated over whether to treat him like he fell (likely in pasture being a nitwit) or to proceed as though he was doing all this damage and tension to himself in an attempt to compensate for the every-awful Right Front.

Lacking any heat/weirdness in the RF, we went with "must have fallen being a nitwit" and worked appropriately.  Honestly, after 20 minutes of stretching and releases his demeanor perked up and his gait was significantly less - lurchy.  It was nice to see such an immediate improvement - however small.

Gus' feet are also looking pretty good (for him).  There's way less rotting, grossness around his white line and while his heels are still pretty crushed (and flat) they aren't as fractured as they were this time last year.  It's still a bit of a challenge to trim well, but his foot overall is much healthier and better balanced.  His fronts are finally normalizing and looking pretty good too.

Gus came away from the day with a prescription of a week of 2g bute daily, followed by 2 weeks of 1g... along with lots (and lots and lots) of walking.  Hand walking, tack walking - whatever.

When I hopped on him yesterday his walk already felt looser and more even.  I'm hoping some low key exercise and lots of carrot stretches help us stay on track.

This morning Prair got her third shockwave treatment on her back and that vet confirmed that she is much more comfortable to palpation - specifically with regard to her muscles.  She's still a bit ouchy if you directly poke at her spine/ligament, but we sort of expected that... So we're continuing with normal work, but she'll start a 40 day course of Previcox to try to help keep her super comfy and encourage proper use of her back while she continues to strengthen her topline. 

Whew. 

I'm am still full steam ahead on closet cleanouts.  I am also totally incapable of figuring out how to use paypal or anything else along those lines so this maybe be a case of "send me a mailing bag with a pre-paid usps label and I'll just pack and ship anything people want."  Stay tuned! Hopefully someone has a need for gently used Giant Mare sized things.