Gah.

As further evidence of my, less-than-stabilized mindset, I decided that what's better to help one decide if the boots are the right-boots than ordering more boots.

Had a slight spree on Dover (ugh) and threw three pairs of boots (from $199-$450) in the cart and and expedited them to me.  I figure I can only gain clarity (I think?) from some serious compare/contrast.  I'm freaked out the Sergio Grasso's are going to be too short and I won't spend that much money on short boots (again). 

I will spend less money on off the rack options that are in the 200-400 range if they get me within a 1/2" of ideal.  Otherwise I will cry, send everything back and continue to show in my boot-capris and embarrass everyone around me.

I suppose I really should give the Hunter Ring a bit more credit if Prair and I continue to place decently even without me looking perfectly prim and proper. 

Maybe it's less superficial than I've always assumed? I could test this theory and try some half chaps, or maybe a purple square pad? how far do you think I could push it???

GAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH boots.  (or problems that aren't actually problems but distract me from obsessing about my horses feet).

In Conclusion

In conclusion... this week can go away now.

I'm so thrilled it's Friday, I can't even.  Nothing horrid has happened, nothing horrid likely will happen but good golly this week has been a handful.  I usually pride myself on keep my latent stress level at something below normal but several times this week I have noticed my heart rate spike from just thinking about issues that are on the table (most non-horsey, some horsey).  I'm pretty sure that can't be healthy.

Anyway, the new boots came! They are really lovely. I like the shape, the foot bed is comfy and the leather is lovely, but not so buttery thin that I think I'll snag it on my own fingernail and rip them open.  I am paranoid that they might not be tall enough.  The back of the boot definitely hits me when I sit, but not much before then.  In theory these boots aren't supposed to drop "much" but I refuse to spend this much money on more boots that will be too short. So we shall see.

Also, the Farrier is coming.  Prair is getting front shoes put back on.  I caved. I want her bare, I'm pretty sure that she can be bare successfully, but I also really want to keep riding while we have our 6 weeks of summer and hit a few more shows. 

I think I'm cheating a little, but I chatted with my vet and in sprite of her very pro-bare bias, she actually thought front shoes were a smart idea for now. 

So, front shoes it is.  I'm thinking I might try to take them off again (with a bit more mindful preparation) in the fall.  We'll see. I am going to keep Prair off the grass for a little while longer and then ease her back on.  I know that's got to be having an impact and I don't want to ignore it even if she no longer appears to be sore.

But holy lord does that mare look pissed when I walked by her gravel turnout.  She spends most of the day either eating tree leaves like a giraffe or staring off into the distance at her pony in her big pasture (or glaring at me when I walk by..).

She'll live. 

I will too.  Today marks the start of about a week of 80 degree weather here, which when coupled with no humidity and access to a lake, makes things very, very nice.

We could both use a little of this...

Happy weekend all!

A few more Liebsters..

If I blog one more time about trying to maybe decide if I'm putting shoes back on OR NOT, or maybe... OR NOT AGAIN I might make myself cry.  So I'm taking a (brief) hiatus from that nonsense and answering a few more Liebster questions from a few more nominations.  

Huge thanks to Kate at The Adventures of Lucy, Sarah at Eventing in Color and KMEquestrian at Kiss Me, I'm Irish.  I'm thrilled you lovely ladies find my lunacy worth checking in on :)

Kate's Questions:

1) If you are female, do you wear makeup to the barn?

I wear makeup if it's already on.  Basically "getting ready for the barn" is a minimal energy activity.  If I'm not wearing makeup, I don't put it on for the barn, if I'm coming from work, I certainly don't bother taking it off.  

2) Do you have "barn clothes"?

Assuming my entire closet counts, then yes :) I do try to minimize the damage done to my "professional wear" but I can't say I'm very good at that as I just returned from a lunch break trip to check on the mare and I *might* have some bute on my trousers and some manure on/in my cute flats.

3) When updating your blog, do you usually have an agenda for your posts?

I don't think ever intentionally.  Sometimes agendas develop if I'm mulling over a decision (likes shoes for Prair. But not boots for me, those just get purchased..)

4) Favourite dessert?

If it's an option I'll take a cheese course over sweets any day of the week, but Tiramisu is my fav "normal" dessert. 

5) If you were locked in a room with Brad Pitt and Robert Downey Jr, which one would you talk to?

Well first I'd hope the lock down lasted long enough to hit up both of them.. But realistically RBJ.  I'm drawn to slightly crazy eccentric personalities :)  Brad (while charming) is probably too normal for me.

6) Did you grow up in a small town? Big city?

Smaller town 20 min from a big city.

7) If you had to move to another country, where would you go?

If I had to go tomorrow I'd pick the UK.  If I had time to learn a language it'd be Italy (I think).  

8) Do you speak any other languages?

I took Japanese for a (very) long time and was fluent but haven't had to use it in over 8 years.  I can still understand most conversation I overhear, but struggle to actually formulate sentences beyond basic vocab.

9) How do you feel about Christmas sweaters?

I think they provided a nice opportunity for ironic christmas sweater parties.  However, I'm ready for the next ironic thing I think

10) What is the best Halloween costume you ever had?

So many contenders.  I probably need to go with when my housemates and I all dressed up as lunch ladies.  I liked it because I was supposed to look kinda gross and I was SO COMFORTABLE all night.  (I also just spent like 10 minutes trying to find a photo and failed, which is too bad...)

11) What is the best power tool in your opinion?

I use my plain ol cordless drill the most, but I'm infinitely more entertained by band saws.

Sarah's Questions

 Sarah cheated and told us to pick questions.  :) I'm gonna assume that the 77 I'm answering is enough.  (cheater cheater pumpkin eater!!)

KM's Questions

1) What is the most embarrassing/funny thing that has ever happened to you?  

There are many to choose from.  I think perhaps the most appropriate for this blog is the first time I bought white breeches (I know, doomed) and wore them to a schooling show.  I spilled hot chocolate all over them before I even rode and then I SPLIT THE SEAM during my first course.  I was horrified.  It was traumatizing and the last time I bought uber cheap white breeches.

2) If you could have any horse in the world, which one would you choose?

cop out answer- but my hands are full with the three we've got :) and I can't imagine trading one away.  Well. Maybe Pia on a bad day... 

3) What is your favorite book?

"100 Years of Solitude" is my all time fav, though my current trashy indulgence is the entire "Outlander" series.  I mean who doesn't love a good time traveling Scottish love story!?

4) If you ever decided to become a working student for a professional rider, who would you most want to work for and why?

Lord have mercy for every working student.  I don't think I have the gumption for such a position, but I wouldn't mind being a fly on the wall in Silva (or Boyd) Martin's barn.

5) If you were stranded alone on an island and could only take three things with you, what would they be?

Still assuming Husband isn't an option, Wine, Horse, Tent (I think earlier this week I said kindly instead of wine... silly me.

6)If you were a super hero, what would you choose as your super awesome B.A. name? 

I don't know but it'd probably have to do with my amazing spending powers....

7)What is your favorite sports team?

We have seasons tickets to the Sounders (Seattle's pro soccer team). I guess they are my favorite? I do love me some Seahawks though.

8)When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A Lawyer.  romantic, huh?  But now I sell sewer pipe so I suppose that's even less charming...

9) What do/would you say to people who claim that riding isn't a sport?

I usually let it go because I figure I'm not likely to convince them that it's all that different from sitting on the couch.  If it's a good friend, they know better than to say something like that in front of me!

10) What is your favorite board game?

Trivial Pursuit and Cranium get a lot of play when we are out at the cabin, but The Boy and I tend towards Card Games, specifically Spite and Malice.  I usually win :)

11) Which celebrity would you want to star as you in a movie of your life? 

I dunno, people always tell me I look like Leelee Sobieski so I guess she could pull it off.

At least she can ride a horse?

Flippity-Flop-Flop

Well if last night I was leaning toward shoes this morning I'm leaning away from them. 

Tacky, but accurate...

Yesterday when I went to get Prair I was surprised to see a chain attached to her halter.  I used a chain with her briefly early on (when she was supremely unaware of where her beak was) and a few times when hauling to a new place (again, beak management).  I've never needed one at home so my little antenna went up.

Prair seemed quiet and normal to me when I pulled her out of pasture (if anything her relaxation and attention when being led has improved significantly in the last 4-6 months). I jogged her out behind the barn on my way back and she *seemed* to be significantly more comfortable than on Sunday. 

On Sunday her walk was a little short over gravel and her trot was reluctant at best.  In fact after I jogged her once, she gave me a "really lady??" look when I asked her to trot off again. (she politely declined)

Yesterday she moved up to the trot willingly several times.  Definitely a bit sore, but decidedly less so, and certainly more eager. 

Of course, if she was a loon bucket all day and needed a chain to get her to pasture it's possible that her "willingness" is really just excess energy building up from 10 days functionally off work.  I've seen Gus mask his lameness like a champ when he puffs up and gets excited.  He trots off like big fancy Dressage horse, but hen returns to his usual limp when he calms down... With that in mind I tried not to get too excited about the potential improvement, but still.

I threw Prairie on the lunge for a few minutes and while she did look a bit short, she didn't look uncomfy.  She's still swinging her head around, willing to stretch down, look around, etc.  When she's been super ouchy in the past she doesn't get distracted by what's around her and tends to just wear a face that says "ow, ow, ow, ow."

So, that info gives me hope that maybe I can get things under control more easily.  That hope prompted a text to the barn manager to move Prair to a dry lot for the time being and a text to the Farrier to not kill me if I haven't made up my mind yet.  He responded politely that he could easily push our possible appointment to Friday to give me one more day of observation...  (I really like him).

To speak to some of the comments on the last few posts, I appreciate the support.  I think my problem is that I don't know what my threshold is for allowing Prair to be sore.  I know successful transitions can take months (and months, and months), so I think my (unrealistic) expectations for a quick turnaround are predicated on the previous success we've seen.  I am honestly dismayed at how quickly Prair's feet got out of shape.  Rationally I know I shouldn't be surprised, I've seen feet transform in a week... so a couple months of shoes should have a huge impact on her feet, and specifically her soles. 

I would prefer to not miss the rest of the show season, but as I continue down this path, I'm not sure how mission critical that is, or how much I would enjoy it all the while thinking that the transition will just keep getting harder and harder if/when I ever try it again.