Just a Little Retial Therapy

Between the fires, hazardous air quality, Peebs colicking, and general anxiety I might have done a little retail therapy. I mean, why not buy stuff you only use when riding when you can't ride for a couple of weeks? Gotta get that serotonin hit from something. 

The barn I bought Peebs from is closing and was selling off pretty much everything not nailed down. They had jumps for sale, and while we don't need more standards or poles, we could use fill. Unfortunately they wanted to sell the jumps as a set, but had some extra flower boxes I snagged. The brown ones each need a board replaced, while the yellow and white ones just need some cleaning and a new coat of paint. 

In need of a little TLC

 

 I took advantage of the International Helmet Awareness weekend and bought a One K MIPS. I'm super happy that One K's now come in long oval and with the MIPS. While I don't need a new helmet, I'm sure Cinder is going to turn me into a lawn dart at some point and my Trauma Void is a smidge loose on my head. Much rather be out $$ for a new helmet than a brain injury. 

I was going through my blankets and sheets and realized the only sheet I have for Peebs is his Back on Track one. I love it, but he doesn't always need it. Cinder thankfully still fits into last years blankets but will most likely need to size up next year. Peebs and Cinder currently wear the same size, and Peebs can also wear the size up depending on the blanket, so I decided to get a rain sheet in 78. It's a little big on Peebs, but will fit Cinder next year. 

Because he's a unicorn

 So when I saw a unicorn sheet at the feed store, I had to get it. Peebs has the matching unicorn fly sheet in white, but I really like the blue rain sheet. I'm slightly upset of the thought of him going outside and rolling in the mud in it. It's almost too cute to use.

New Pony, New Tack

First off on the name front: After a couple days of having him I don't think Paddy fits his personality.  I'm taking a little bit to see what I call him consistently before ordering a name plate for his halter, but already I can tell it's not going to be Paddy.  So far I'm leaning towards PB or Peebs.   And I'm open to suggestions on show names.

Already a master of the selfie

It actually looks like I'm going to get away with not having to buy much in the way of new tack for PB.  I guess that's the plus side to having three horses at once who all wore different sized boots, blankets, and girths.  The only things I know I need are new open fronts, a new halter (ordered) and nameplate (once I decide), gallons and gallons of whitening shampoo, and a new stable sheet.  PB and McKenna wear the same size blankets but I don't think McKenna's pink stable sheet will look good on PB.  He's not exactly a gelding that can pull off the pink.  It's not a super critical purchase, he can wear what I have and just look bad for now, and hopefully in the spring I can get a deal on a new sheet when everything goes on sale.

Houston, we have a problem here...and it's just not that they chopped off his tail

While McKenna and PB are also about the same height, the mare being 15.3 and him being 15.2, they have substantially different sized legs.  The first thing my vet said when he came to look at PB was "Good bone."  Peebs' has that good stock horse bone for sure!  My medium EquiFit boots just barley fit so I think I'll be looking for a large sized pair.  This is a little more of a "need to buy soon" item since I prefer to jump with open fronts, but he can wear polos for now.

I'm hoping someday this will be our "before" picture for a #transformationtuesday

And what's everyone's favorite whitening shampoo?  Buddy had a couple socks but was very good about keeping them clean so I didn't have to do much in the way of extra washing for them.  But Peebs' has much more white and I can already tell I'm going to be washing those stockings a lot more often.

My Poor, Poor Debit Card

This weekend was our state's yearly horse expo.  It's held about 10 minutes from my house but I haven't gone in a few years because they haven't had any (to me) interesting clinicians and because my former good friend and I used to go every year together before we had a major falling out.  It seemed weird to go without her, and I didn't want to chance running into her because that would be my luck. I had today off work and I wanted to hit a couple booths from the nicer tack shops that are an hour plus away from me.

Reason #1 why I can't go to horse expos by myself

I had spent the morning getting new tires for my car so my debit card was already in pain.  I wasn't really looking for anything in particular, maybe some new gloves to replace my holey ones and maybe a new blanket for McKenna.  Her current one rubs her shoulders and she's in between a medium (too small neck hole digging into her neck) and large size (slides around and doesn't do anything) shoulder guard so if I could find a deal I'd do it.  At the first booth I stopped at I saw a Rhino medium weight turnout over half off with only one left in her size. And bonus, it was a cute grey and purple plaid!  Got that and decided I was done for the day.


Blanket fits, with no tightness over the shoulders! Also enjoy the Tia photobomb

I walked around a little bit more and ran into a former boarder from my barn.  We chatted and caught up and it was great to see her.  She had left to put her horse in training, and had a bit of an issue with my former friend I mentioned above.  Once I said that the ex-friend had left she perked up and asked if we had any open stalls.  I said in a month we would and told her to talk to the BO. It would be nice to have her back in the barn.  Funny how you don't realize you missed someone till you see them again.

McKenna's super embarrassed over the giant hood though.

After our chat I found the booth of a relatively new higher end tack shop.  I haven't been in the actual store yet, but I've seen their ads.  They had a lovely display of Ogilvys and I talked to owner for a bit about them.  I've been going back and forth over getting one.  McKenna's had some back soreness and I've done the usual "are Ogilvys the great or is it just a fad" thing. The shop owner said she has a demo pad she sends out with people to test ride in, only I would have to drive an hour north to get it and return it.  I was seriously considering doing that when she mentioned one of the gummy half pads on display was half off.  It was custom ordered with someone's initials but they didn't like it/didn't buy it once it got to the store so they were selling it cheap.  I contemplated for a bit before biting the bullet and saying I'd take it.  Once the pad was paid for and bagged up I hurried home before I did anymore damage. Then it was off to the barn to try things on!

We'll just pretend those are my initials

Retail Therapy

Nothing like shopping for pony supplies to make you feel better! Both Buddy and McKenna have ripped holes and leg straps off their blankets in the past month.  Buddy caught his on his water bucket ruining the bucket in the process as well.  I think my barn owner can repair it, but I'm hesitant to have her do it or get him a new one since he'll more than likely be sold this summer.  If I do have the blanket fixed I'm pretty sure it will fit Phoenix so he'll have a back up medium weight.

McKenna's blanket was an old stable blanket that my barn owner gave me, so I don't feet too bad that she's ripped it up.  I have a feeling she's going to be pretty hard on blankets so I think she'll do better with a tougher turnout blanket vs a stable blanket.  SmartPak was having a sale a couple weeks ago and their SmartPink turnout caught my eye.  It was on sale for $50 off list price so I bit the bullet and ordered it.  It came today and while it's just barley too warm for her to wear it now I tried it on before putting it away till (hopefully) next winter.

Fits her better than the old stable blanket did too, so hopefully no more shoulder rubs.

My second piece of retail therapy is still on order, but hopefully should be getting to me in the next couple of weeks.  Tack of the Day had Tredstep da Vinci field boots on sale last week for $199.  Normally those are $489 and since my 8yr old tall boots have started to die (my mom got the zipper replaced in the broken boot but there's something wedged in the bottom of the heel and it looks and walks a bit funny) I couldn't say no. According to the size chart they should fit, but if not I'll put them up on a couple local Facebook groups/Ebay and at least get what I paid for them then start the boot search all over.

Black Friday

I am not a die hard shopper, unless it comes to all things horsey.  I wasn't planning on buying much today besides grain and supplements for the ponies.  But this morning I saw that JenJ was selling some tack so I took a look.  I'm taking her 76 fly sheet for McKenna.  I've noticed in our times working the outdoor arena that McKenna really doesn't like bugs flying around her.  She'll shake her head and focuses more on being annoyed than on me. I was thinking that she'll probably be a bit of a diva about bugs in the summer so I was planning on getting her a fly sheet, fly mask, and probably the ear nets for when we ride.  I'm so happy to get a sheet from a fellow blogger and for only $10!

My second unplanned black Friday deal was from SmartPak.  I was looking at fly masks and ear nets and decided to check out their sales, just in case.  They had their Bradley breeches on sale for $27, so I snagged a pair in tan.  I have a pair already in the charcoal and I think they're pretty decent, if a little long for my short legs.

All the ponies got yesterday off, and today I turned them all out in our gravel paddocks for a bit.  I lunged McKenna in the side reins again, and she was good. I shortened the side reins and other than a few head tosses of annoyance she seemed ok with it.  She still has a way to go, but looks so cute when she's round!

Shop till you drop

I'm down in San Diego for a wedding shower this weekend and have had my trip planned for months. Imagine my joy and surprise when I saw that my favorite tack store ever, Mary's Tack and Feed, was having their yearly tent sale the same weekend! I told my parents that I had to go, even to browse.

Mary's is next to the Del Mar Showpark, a huge show and boarding/training center. For the sale, they make you park at Showpark and walk over as the Mary's parking lot is covered by a huge tent. It brought back some fun memories of showing at Showpark.

My plan was to just get new paddock boots as mine have been patched once and have holes in them. Their boots were 15%off, so I got a pair of Ariats that lace up the front and zip up the back. My mom and I then walked around for a bit while I drooled over all the pretty tack.

When I was just about ready to check out, Mom said she'd get me something for one of the boys, if I really needed it. Buddy is using an old pair of EquiFit boots that I got for Phoenix like 6yrs ago and they are starting to wear out. So we went to look at open fronts for him. The horse boots were also 15% off. After an agonizing 15mins comparing boots, I went with what I know and like, the EquiFit. Thanks Mom!!

Tack Sale

Twice a year there's a huge 4H tack sale about an hour north of here.  I went today with some of the 4H girls and another boarder, and scored a couple good deals.  I was looking for a western bit for Buddy, draw reins, and a figure 8 (either just the figure 8 or a whole bridle.  Jen suggested putting him in either that or a flash for a bit and I've always wanted a figure 8).  I didn't find the draw reins or a figure 8, but we did find a nice western bit for $15 and a very cute new set of polos for $9.

Green argyle!

Buddy proudly modeling the new wraps.

Anna got a pink set for Phoenix.  I'm sure he's going to look fabulous in them!

Busy couple of days

Since my mom's been here, I haven't out at the barn as much. I did get a nice ride in on Wednesday. I put the spurs on and we had some great flat work. We warmed up with shoulder in and some lengthening at the trot. He had a couple moments of crankiness at the spurs, but I tried hard to really stretch down thru my heel, and he got over it.

We did a lot of transitions and had some of our best yet. I was trying to keep him nice and soft in the bridle, but still forward in front of my leg. The spurs really helped with that. He was a lot more balanced in the downward transitions, and not plowing on his front end.

Nik rode him on Friday and did her first set of trot poles! Jen lead her thru a couple times, then she did them on her own twice. She was very excited. She also told us that she wants to show him this summer. Look for her in a trot-a-pole class soon!

Today the chiropractor was out to do a couple horses do I had her check Bud. She said he felt great and didn't need an adjustment. Yay for my checkbook and Buddy!! Then mom and I went up to Portland to do some shopping. We stopped at the nice tack store up there for a new mane pulling comb as mine has disappeared. I found $230 Ariat show breeches on sale for $100! Mega score!! Didn't get the mane comb though....