When a Tack Ho Wanders Too Far...

I sort of assumed that all of my extensive Tack Ho experience would serve me well as I waddled blind into the world of baby stuff and kid gear.  

However I'm realizing that even though I have the will to extend my Tack Ho-ing to new territory, my profound experience hunting for, researching and compulsively buying bits of leather and gorgeous boots has not, in fact, prepared me for the totally terrifying and overly marketed world of baby stuff.

I find myself feeling more like a Minister-Without-Portfolio, than a seasoned hoarder as I attempt to (quickly) educate myself on the pitfalls and virtues of what seems like endless plastic crap and a few cool Euro brands made of sustainable wood and recycled bicycles.

With horses, I have a good sense of what is trend and what is tradition.  I indulge in both (obvi), but I usually do so knowing when I'm splurging on something lasting (leather) and when I'm chucking cash at the latest must have item (pads, boots, breeches...).  With all this baby crap I have no idea what falls into the heirloom column and what will be squished into the recycle bin as soon as Baby grows another 1/2" or gains one more pound.

I find this sort of ignorance and inexperience mind-numbingly painful.  If anything I would argue that the marketing machine behind kid stuff is even more diabolical than that of the horse world.  It's not so hard to convince me that _____ item will keep my horse happier, healthier, or just cuter - and if you do convince me, well, I can guarantee that my visa has already been put on the counter.

With kiddos the fear mongering is even less subtle.  In fact most things seem centered around commanding tenant to "DO THIS OR YOUR BABY WILL DIE."  

Uhhhh crap.  okay?

So my current conundrum is that with horses I have a decent bullshit meter.  When someone says "DO THIS OR YOUR HORSE WILL DIE" I can usually pause, think "hmm... horse hasn't died yet" and then say "no." or "mehhhhh it's a cute pad/boots/bridle/bit/supplement, and it comes in my color/size/ITS PINK! so okay!"

With babies I have no frigging clue so I tend to google (terrible, don't reccomend) and then when 1,348,000 hits come up screaming about dead babies I immediately order 5 of everything.

Another problem with all this baby gear is that everything looks like some sort of Transformer to me.

I can take a double bridle and have it pulled apart, cleaned, checked for wear, conditioned and reassembled (probably with new bits, just for funsies) in no time.

But I cannot, (cannot) get the god damn stroller to cooperate, or figure out which tab goes where. 

The what goes where?

It looks like an alien spaceship to me. Seriously.

I wish babies came in saddles, or at least had a section in the Dover Catalog next to the pony stuff.  Then I'd be set.

P1 Update

I know I (sorta) swore that I would respect P's new mom and their new lives and privacy together, but I'm just too thrilled with how things are going to stay totally silent.

P's New Mom is really friendly and totally gracious and sending me random pictures of them on trail rides, or horse nose selfies, or pictures of P rolling happily in a big, green pasture.. all of which I proudly show off to The Boy (or whoever else is within picture-sharing reach) while I ooooohhh and ahhhhh over how pleased I am to see her being a happy horse.

But when I got the latest pic of P and her New Mom, I decided I just can't-not share it with you guys.

Yaaaaaayyyyy!!!!!!!!

They Jump!

They jump happily! with soft ears and on uneven ground and... happily!

It sounds like they have a good thing going and are enjoying their lessons (both on the flat and over fences) with no sign of the anger or unwillingness that P had years ago.

I firmly believe that all the time at Summer Camp served P well, and that the set up at her new home (outside, lives with other horses...) is keeping P happy and healthy and setting her up as a good partner.

I'm so thrilled to see them clicking.  For all the angst I had about losing control over this mare, it seems to be for naught - as it looks like they are already a happy, relaxed pair who are getting to explore new things together.

LOVE.  IT.

For all of you who have watched P go through her (many) metamorphoses - How cool is it to see her here now!?

Love that mare!

VC Blog Hop: Is there an App for that?

I love this idea for a blog hop! I feel like literally all my apps come from a friend saying "have you seen this app??"

I literally never find anything myself, so this is perfect!

My favorite horsey app hasn't gotten a lot of use recently is my USEF EquiTests 3.  There are a few different versions of the app, mine has USEF tests from Training Level through Fourth with some of the "Rider Tests" included as well.  I believe the other versions that are available include FEI tests, Eventing Tests and maybe something else.  I'm sure Western Dressage is somewhere ;)

The Apps aren't free, and they range in cost from $1.99-$10.99 presumably based on the number of tests included, but as someone who almost never shells out money for apps - this one has been well worth it.

It's thoughtfully designed and I've found it to be an effective tool for learning and practicing my tests as well as keeping up with rule changes.

When you open the App you are greeted with a simple list of each test as well as the option to select a "sketch" mode (on a full court diagram), check rule changes, or read USEF news.  What more could you want when stuck in a boring meeting at work!??

Clean, easy interface (even with gloves on!)

Let's just say Prairie is awesome and I'm not preggo, so I want to look at First Level 3 before a huge show this weekend.

When I click the test, I'm given the option of reading the test instructions in a simple format, looking through diagrams of each movement, recording a reading of the test, playing back a reading or looking at the official USEF Test Document.

Personally, the test diagrams are where this app earns it's keep.  Instead of just a written description of the movement, it also gives you a (color coded by gait!) diagram of what the movement looks like on the court, as well as a faded line indicating both the previous movement and the next movement to come.

For those who are spatially challenged and can't figure out if X-H indicates a short diagonal, or not, it's a good visual cue that helps avoid unintentional mistakes.  (Which I sometimes need).

Oh *that's* what X-H looks like....

I recorded a test reading once - basically you ride the test and record someone calling it, then the app saves the audio and links it to that test so at any time you can press play and have a "reader" - even if you're on your own.  It's actually fairly well designed, only prompting the reader with one movement at a time during the recording.. something I wondered about when I was initially attempting to use that feature.  And since you make the recording yourself, presumably it will be timed to your horse, and not a general reading that may have Sally the Short Pony racing to keep up, or Louis Long Stride ahead of the reading...

Personally, I tend to stare at the diagrams and then try to ride from memory, but I know some folks prefer the audio support.

Also, I've noticed that I pretty much always have my phone wedged in my pocket at shows, but I never seem to have a test booklet - which makes this app fairly handy for last minute reviews/panicked cramming or just reassurance.

Definitely an upgrade from the Jumping equivalent of just snapping a photo of your course map.

So my two cents are this app is well worth it, even if you're only going to one schooling show, or just want an easier way to keep up with current tests for schooling at home.  I'd gladly sacrifice a latte (or two) for this nifty little app.

Schooling Sesh - Video Update

Tromped down to see the big mare on Friday last week in order to watch her work over fences a bit and get my horse fix.

whee!

Amazing that somehow bending down to tie my shoes seems like a physical impossibility at this point - but somehow picking hooves is no problem at all :) Shocking how that works!

Immediate observations - She looks rad.  I love her summer coat, it's so short and velvety.  Especially with HLL and main groom man keeping her polished to a high shine.  Plus, since it's been a few weeks since braids were in, her mane is all spiky and mohawky.  It's cute.

The weird faux-diarrhea is not better.  So, we're back to the drawing board on that.  Not sure what our next step is, but I'm working on one.

My obsession with tack has not diminished with less time riding/contact with it.  I fawned over my saddle a bit (man it's sexy) and ran my hands over the bridle to see how it's breaking in/holding up.  There is just no substitute for really gorgeous leather.  Or rather there is a substitute - and it's called money (damn).

In terms of the work under saddle - things look good.  It sounds like Prair has been getting more consistent with her good moments, and her sticky moments are more consistent too.. which is it's own weird sort of progress.  She's alternating between the Myler Combo bit and the regular Myler Pelham, with HLL mostly riding in the pelham, and N taking the combo.

Nothing very dramatic to report, but it was really nice seeing Prair's turn on the forehand and haunch be executed with so much relaxation.  She's really stopped running through them or bracing against the bit.  N has her nice and loose and supple, and I think that confidence and mobility will continue to help us over fences.

Here's a short clip of our trot... very similar to the last video I posted:


Then they moved on to some small fences.  Still asking the mare to stay fairly compact in her frame over fences.  N feels like she's finally starting to breakover a bit more (even over smaller jumps) which is great news.  I like anything that indicates her back in comfy and she's willing to use it rather than hold everything stiff like a board.

She was starting to throw her head a bit, which I think is a reaction to the bit, and maybe some pinching at the corners of her mouth... hard to tell but N said that given the timing, it felt very independent of her "work" and more like "OW!" response.

asdfadf

After she was done I pulled tack and gave the mare a nice curry and plenty of treats.  She is such a lovebug these days it's easy to just enjoy a few quiet minutes with her.  I also gave the tack some love and cleaned everything to a shine.  Very pleased with how the new saddle is looking (both on the mare and on the rack) as well as the bridle.  CWD may have redeemed themselves after all!

My plan is to watch the mare once (or maybe twice!) more next week before the horses ship on Monday the 9th.  The upcoming show is where we had our first experience at an "A" show last year which resulted in two championships for me with the mare (Pre-Adult Hunter and Eq) and a rather tense/frustrating experience for S in the Pre Greens at the start of the week.  I'm eager to see how she does with a full year under her belt back at the same facility where we (mercifully) get to show outside.