It's getting hot here; nothing like it will be, and so far nothing like it was last summer, but I just didn't feel like riding yesterday. Speedy and I are in frenemies territory, and Izzy is once again being a jackass - bit issues, but nothing that I can't overcome. Anyway, instead of riding, I started packing for this weekend's two-day show.

#1
As I pulled in, I spotted a mama skunk with a bunch of babies in tow. It seemed a little late in the morning for them to still be out, but you know how kids are. It's hard to get anywhere on time when you have to take the whole family. I drove by slowly, I am cautious when it comes to stink bombs, but despite their ability to ruin my day, they were very, very cute.

#2 & #3
My dogs almost never go to the ranch with me as the arena is up by the road, and I don't trust them to stay on the property while I am riding. When I tugged on a pair of shorts (instead of breeches) and grabbed my purse, tails started wagging in excitement; they knew they were going. Even though it was unusual for me to take them, they didn't care. Cars and trucks are magical things, and they are always up for an adventure.

I parked my car and let them run around for a bit, but then we hiked over to my truck and trailer so I could hook up. I didn't want to call my husband telling him that I ran over a dog, so I loaded them in the truck with me while I backed up to the trailer. That really threw them for a loop, but like I said, cars and trucks are wonderful things and not to be questioned.

​With heads hanging out the window, I pulled around to the barn to load up some of my stuff for the show. Dogs aren't always the smartest crayons in the box. When I opened the door, they leaped out excitedly, eager to check out someplace "new."

#4
​After I stuffed Speedy's hay bag with grass hay, I moved on to the alfalfa. As I was filling my half bale bag, I actually looked at it. I've owned that blue bale bag since 1997, but I never see it anymore. It's become as old and familiar as the 27 blue buckets I have laying around. Okay, maybe not 27, but close.

After I wedged it into the trailer, I caught what was written on the top and smiled.

Back when I was still competing in endurance races, and I am sure things haven't changed that much, ride managers had a lot of creative ways to entice riders to come back. For our winter desert rides, the three different race managers put together a three-show series. In order to compete for the series prize, you had to pay a small entry fee declaring that you were "in" for the Triple Crown.

If you got pulled from any of the three races or you weren't able to compete at all, you lost your money. If you completed all three races, you earned the prize. In 1997, it was a half bale bag. You'd think it would be an easy accomplishment, but it was much harder to do than you would think. I was really proud of that bag and the accomplishment that it represented. Seeing it yesterday brought back some fond memories.

#5
I've already shared how Izzy's coat fades pretty dramatically over the summer. I am not sure my strategy to prevent that is working very well, but his coat did catch my eye yesterday.

His barrel is definitely lightening up, but that's not what I noticed. Izzy is registered with the Rheinland Pfalz-saar International (RPSI) warmblood registry and sports their brand on his left hip. I can rarely see it unless he's all shed out. 

I always think of his brand as a secret tattoo that only I am allowed to see. He's actually the third branded horse I've owned. Montoya DSA, an Arabian, was freeze branded on her neck, and Sydney, a New Zealand Thoroughbred that I previously owned, was branded on both shoulders.

In general, when I am at the barn, I ride. I have to say though that it was kind of fun just puttering around without riding. There's a lot more going on than what you'd think.

I usually find that things come in fives, but this time, I've only got two. One I am sure you've heard about (the trailering thing) while the other is not so newsworthy unless you live in California - changes to the CDS Championships.

MAP-21 Bill
You've no doubt heard the buzz created by the the law's newest phase: Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) for Commercial Motor Vehicles (CMVs). Essentially, if you haul horses as part of your business, like trainers do, you are subject to the new law. If you are a sponsored rider, you are subject to the law. Basically, anyone who receives money for riding, and then hauls horses, needs a CMV. The law now mandates that owners of CMVs must install ELDs to record the number of hours driven in a 14-hour period. 

For most of us, this law doesn't pertain to us. As recreational riders, we can haul as many hours as we'd like. For drivers of what are considered CMVs, this phase of the law is going to create some real hiccups. Think about this: what if your trainer is hauling several horses to another state for a big, year end show? It's a 12-hour drive, but she really doesn't have a  place to pull over for the night. She's maxed out her 11-hour drive time for a 14-hour period. What does she do?

As a professional who hauls clients' horses, she is required to have an ELD in her "commercial" vehicle. I know that this issue doesn't affect me directly, but I can imagine that there are a lot of trainers and assistants who are scrambling right now to figure out how to be in compliance.

CDS Championships
I've only competed in one California Dressage Society Championship. I had a fabulous time, learned a lot, and came home with a lot less money in my checking account. But when I entered such a prestigious show, I knew that would be the case. Championships, wherever they're held, are supposed to be a big deal.

Over the past month, Facebook has been filled with mutterings about some recent changes to the format of the CDS Championship. Not that Facebook should be your source for news, but the CDS website hadn't done an update, so I was left with social media. I saw a petition go by and several posts filled with a lot of "that's unfair" and "what do I pay dues for?" kinds of comments. Frankly, I wasn't sure what the fuss was about.

This weekend, the newest edition of Dressage Letters finally made it to my mailbox. I opened the cover to read the "President's Column." His first paragraph expressed deep concern for the horses and riders affected by the recent fires, but the rest of the page was dedicated to explaining the rationale for the changes to the Championship show.

From the article, also available online, it seems quite clear why the changes were made. The first two changes (no longer hosting the USDF Breeders Championship and combining the 4, 5, and 6-year-old futurity Amateur and Open Divisions with special awards given to highest scoring Amateurs) were done due to lack of participation. That doesn't seem so controversial to me.

Skipping number three for a moment - the fourth change was about increasing prize money for Horse of the Year (HOY) classes from $1,000 to $1,500. Who's complaining about that?

The fifth change bumped up the qualifying score for Freestyles from 62% to 64%. It sounds as though 62% was too easy to get, and CDS wants only the best competing. I get that.

The second change that seems to be irritating people is change six which requires a $25 nominating fee for each horse/rider/level for all divisions. I am not sure why this idea is causing so much turmoil. CDS has the exact same requirement for the Regional Adult Amateur Competition (RAAC). The money is used for prizes, swag bags, a hospitality tent with food, and so on. Riders only pay IF they're actually entering the Championship show.

​When we make it back to the Championship Show, the extra $25 won't be a big deal to me. It seems the least of the costs associated with going to a big show. I worry more about gas money!

So there you have it, two recent controversies. Are you being affect by the ELDs? Please share. What are your thoughts on the Championship changes? Am I missing something? 

When Chemaine Hurtado, owner and trainer at Symphony Dressage Stables, was here for a clinic this past weekend, I asked her if I should bother taking Izzy to schooling shows. It's not like I really want to, but I wondered if I needed to. 

You all saw this moment, right? Which, by the way, is actually one of my new favorite photos. The dude's got a super sexy badonkadonk! But yeah ... this is why I don't want to show him right now. We've got some work left to do.

Chemaine felt my time (and consequently, money) would be better spent cleaning up some of the sassiness that Izzy thinks is his to share. I agreed. So for now, there are five things to work on before we're ready to hit even a schooling show.

When I rode Izzy on Monday, I made sure to run through everything on the list. While it was pretty warm, and he was well worked from the day before, he wasn't totally push button. He actually gave me some cheekiness which let me use tips four and five.

In a 20 minute ride, he obediently walked every inch of the arena, did a number of changes of bend across the diagonal at the trot, and picked up both canter leads without too much fuss. To the right, I crossed my inside hand across the pommel for a few strides, but he gave up the fight almost immediately.

My goal, while pretty dang lofty, is to have no "felonious" moments the next time we see Chemaine for a lesson or clinic. Yesterday was a bit of a litmus test. Even with a day off, which normally elicits plenty of sass, he toed the line and was well behaved.
​
Will these strategies work well enough to convince him that it's easier to do it my way? I hope so, but if not, I know for sure that we are getting really close to that yummy, chewy center!

My mom and dad and stepmom all sent me gift cards for my birthday which was earlier this month. Can you guess to where? Did you say Riding Warehouse? But of course. I am really easy to buy for.

I still have money that is unspent, but with the various sales and discounts that Riding Warehouse always runs, I did mange to find a few things right off the bat that I wanted.

I know you got a little excited there for a minute. I LOVE seeing cool stuff that riders are buying. But this? Socks? Move on, lady.

I hear you, but man do I have a thing for socks. My mother-in-law always stuffs my stocking full of socks for Christmas, which I really appreciate. On a whim, I ordered a few of those super cute If You Can Read This Bring Me a Glass of Wine socks, and then my step-mom sent me an even cuter pair of the same. 

Whenever I order tack or fly spray or wormer, I always toss in a couple of pairs of tall socks. These are a pretty basic pair of CoolMax Tall Boot Socks from Ariat. As I've mentioned before, I always buy in twos so that I can eventually pair the socks that don't have holes in the toes, effectually creating a new pair.

Moving on to something more tantalizing - breeches! I cringe at even sharing this. Many of you know how many pairs of breeches I already own. I think it's more than 30. If I have a thing for socks, I have an obsession for breeches. I simply can't help myself. 

These are pretty nice ones, too. They're the Euroweave DX Campania Ornate Full Seat Breeches by Ovation. They come in midnight navy and boysenberry which are more like dark teal and a very dark eggplant. At $79.88, I thought they were an awesome bargain especially since they come with all of the bells and whistles: Dry-Lex fabric, sock bottoms, fancy embroidery, and full seats. I know I have put on a few pounds this year, but they do seem to run a size small. Oh, all right, it's more than a few pounds.

Not from the Riding Warehouse, but the riders of Team Symphony, my trainer's barn name for her students, all have jackets that they've embroidered to celebrate their team spirit. I finally got a chance to order mine. I LOVE it!!!! It's a soft shell jacket with a scrumptious fleece lining. It's almost too nice to wear to the barn. But don't worry, I will!

Since I was having the jacket embroidered, I decided to also personalize the Union Hill Dressage Pad that I had been saving. Now that Riding Warehouse is carrying them for $17.95 before any discounts, I have at least three of them. When I eagerly took it out of the bag, I noticed where the embroiderer had placed the logo - in the front! 

I immediately cracked up laughing. Izzy won't know which way to go! Fortunately, my saddle should cover the goof. I've since ordered a new pad and had it sent to the friend who takes care of all of Team Symphony's customization. She's going to ensure that the embroiderer does it again, this time correctly and at no charge. Good thing the pads are so cheap!

I've got money left on my gift cards, although I did make a pretty good dent. I think I'll wait for some spring stuff to make its way onto the Riding Warehouse shelves before I spend the rest of it. I am sure I can find 5 NEW things to buy!

Five reasons why I haven't ridden this week ...

1) A clinic - riding two days with Chemaine, twice on Sunday, plus hosting the other riders and then having the clinician stay at my house kind of wore me out a bit. I figured my boys could use a day off. That was Monday.

2) A dental appointment happened on Tuesday, the day I was going to start riding.

3) A presciption needed to be refilled, and then a large floor lamp had to be picked up at Pier 1 Imports (love that place by the way). There went Wednesday.

4) Our weather turned really gray and dreary and somewhat drippy on Thursday. Instead of a ride, I hand grazed the boys on the lawn.

5) But the real reason I took a few days off is that I am finally, finally settling into a routine. That doesn't sound right, I know, but moving really rocked my little world. I dislike change to my routine, and moving so dramatically has really shaken my foundation.

We moved from a 1,200 square foot house into a house of more than 3,000 square feet. This house is just big. Navigating its maze of rooms alone keeps me mentally challenged. I also had to furnish the house (yet another delivery is coming tomorrow), and numerous repairs had to be made. After nearly two months, those things are still happening. 

Most people would probably find my circumstances exciting. It's truly an amazing house, but for someone who thrives on repetition and routine, all of the upheaval has caused me a great deal of mental and pysical stress.

The lamp that I picked up the other day somehow helped to settle some of my anxiety. While it is beautiful to look at it, it's more than that. The placement of the lamp in my reading room was one of the last "big" things that was on my mental list of chores; the two chairs being delivered on Saturday will complete that list.

That little detail has helped me finally feel at home in this house. We all know that there is a difference between a house and a home. Somehow, that lamp just says home to me.

So on Thursday, when I swore that I was going to saddle up somebody, I didn't. All I could think about was rushing home to my now cozy home to cook dinner and relax, something I haven't been able to do for nearly two months.

As I sat on the sofa watching something mindless, my husband flipped on the switch to the new lamp. He knows how unsettled I've been feeling, but he also recognized the happiness that lamp has brought me. I hope I am feeling up to a ride this afternoon, but if not, I am okay with it. My boys will still be there tomorrow.

​Enjoy your weekend!

I've got a bunch of little things to share that aren't enough to warrant their own blog posts, so I present 5 mini posts:

Number 1

Speedy's eye has healed up quite nicely, although it took longer for the swelling to go down than I had thought it would. In all, it took almost two weeks to heal up completely. This photo was taken one week after he had banged it on something. I had just picked off the scab, but the swelling was almost entirely gone. 

Number 2

Izzy's wound is doing really great. After several applications of New Skin covered with two layers of loosely wrapped Vet Wrap, he is now going sans wrap. That wasn't my plan yet, but one day last week I forgot to wrap it when I left for the day.

I had been taking the bandage off when I arrived so that his leg would have several hours with no bandage. This was all done in an effort to reteach the leg's circulatory system to function without the pressure of a bandage. The last few times that I've removed the bandage too soon, the leg has filled, cracking the skin back open.

I am happy to report that when I showed up the next morning, the leg was clean and tight with no filling.  I will admit that my heart skipped a few beats when I first saw it unwrapped, but apparently, the time was right.

I know it looks a bit fugly right now, but that's just the New Skin you're seeing. It looks and smells exactly like clear nail polish, and it's super sticky. I am not sure how long it takes to wear off, but I've pretty much left it alone other than running a brush over it to knock off any flaking skin or dried on "stuff."  We might finally be getting to the end ...

Since I wrote this ... Izzy scraped the wound, but it's just minor. Sheesh!
​
Number 3

I detest dealing with my horses' manes. Tails I can do, manes I hate. Izzy's mane is particularly unruly because it won't stay on one side, and it's really thick. I hate pulling, and I don't think he's a fan of it either. I used the scissors.

Yes, I can see that it looks like crap, but I don't care. At least it's half as short as it was. Judge me if you'd like, but then come over and fix it. I like the taste of humble pie, and I'll even pay you to serve it up.

Number 4

I am not sure if you've heard the news, but it has started raining in California! It rained "so much" that I opted NOT to ride in the arena on Tuesday. It probably would have been okay, but it was an "Izzy Day" which means that things could have gotten wild and crazy, and I didn't want to tear up the footing.

It rained the night I dismantled my dressage court, but since it has been so dry, the footing was actually perfect the next day. I rode both horses and found that riding without the dressage court in place might be a good thing for a while. 

With Izzy, I had a lot more room to "fix" the canter before running into the fence. It's also easier for him to canter a 30-meter circle and then spiral down to 20-meters and even 15-meters. The same is true for Speedy. With so much room, I can leg yield as long as I need to before I feel it's good enough to change the bend and go the other way.

Normally, I can only water the area that is my dressage court, but since the rain is doing the whole space, I can now ride anywhere I want, dust free. It will also keep the footing from getting tore up by riding in a larger space.

Come on El Niño - let it rain, let it rain, let it rain!

Number 5

It's been at least a month since Izzy has been ridden out of the arena. Since the footing was questionable on Tuesday, I opted for a neighborhood hack. He was so good, mostly. The first obstacle is that little hill with the puddle in front of it that has given us trouble - no problem. And the puddle was even gigantic thanks to the rain.

He stepped into it without even hesitating. Once he was was in, he stopped, looked down, looked around, and then climbed up the hill without another thought. 

The second real obstacle is passing by our barn. Nothing. He stopped to poop (very loosely), but then he walked on. Most days I have to get after him with the whip. Nope.

The third obstacle is the stretch of dirt road behind Laurel's property. This was the only place he got naughty. He jigged, flung his head. danced, pranced, and basically acted like an idiot. I just kept changing the bend and pushing him up to the contact.  I thought passage the whole time. Not that he did, but if he wanted to be a jerk, I figured he could work hard.

Once we turned the corner, the tension started leaking out, and he relaxed much sooner than he usually does. I was so pleased with how much progress he has made over the past couple of months.

The Wrap-Up

So much is in the little things, isn't it? If I wait around for BIG changes, I'll always be disappointed. It's important to be grateful for all of the little battles we win.

My Five Things - small on their own, but put together, they show definite progress!

I don't do blog hops, mostly because it takes too much work, but I did enjoy reading about Wyvern Oaks's non-riding life. I read a lot of blogs, some of which I check every single day. Sometimes I love hearing about the blogger's non-riding life, other times, like when it's about babies or kids or cats, I am a lot less interested.

Basically, my life is about horses, and not just my own. I struggle to live a balanced life that includes interacting with non-horsey people doing non-horsey things. In general, I am not very successful at a non-horsey life. I am not always sure why my husband hasn't traded me in for a more interesting model.

So when Wyvern Oaks wrote about her life outside of horses, it got me wondering whether I could name five things that I enjoy that have nothing to do with horses, dressage, or farm life. Even last week, my husband and I watched the National Finals Rodeo on TV; it was on all week. I can't even count that as a non-horsey thing because IT'S HORSES. In my defense, we both dug watching the bareback bronc riders get their asses kicked.

If I didn't have horses, I know there are a lot of things that I would be doing - more pedicures, trips to the movies, hair appointments, girl's night out, more frequent weekend getaways with my husband, and on and on. I do have horses though. And truthfully, it was really hard to find five things that I truly enjoy that aren't equine related.

​Here they are ...

1) Reading ...

I read at least 25 books a year, usually more. It seems that most horsey girls are readers, or at least used to be. As a kid, I read every horse book written including the obligatory favorites by Walter Farley and everything by Marguerite Henry. I read King of the Wind at least a dozen times. Today I read books from every genre, but I most enjoy contemporary literature, historical fiction, and fantasy. 

2) Cooking ...

I actually started a food blog last year, but it was just too much work to keep up. It's still around, and I'd like to revive it, but ... riding. While I enjoy cooking, it's not something I look forward to each evening, but I find that once I am in the midst of chopping and sautéing, I get a sense of satisfaction out of the process.

My "specialty" seems to be ethnic foods with a twist, and I try to use as many fresh ingredients as possible. I do a lot of Italian, Greek, and South of the Border type dishes. Living in central California, the nation's garden, means I have access to super fresh, high quality produce and meat products.

3) Going OUT for Dinner ...

If you look at my Facebook check-ins, you'll see lots of Friday and Saturday evenings out to dinner with my husband. The thing I like about going out for dinner is that it is in the company of adults. Tall people. People who aren't wiping their noses on their sleeves and coughing their yuckiness into the very air I breath.

Instead of being in a room full of 30 short people, dinner out means I will probably be surrounded by 15 or 20 adults, most of whom can probably use multisyllabic words and know what they mean. When you spend your days, weeks, months with a roomful of noisy children, the slower energy of adults is a welcomed respite.

I also enjoy my husband's company away from the TV, laundry, and leaky faucets. Plus, someone else does the dinner dishes.

4) Trips to the Cabin ...

If I didn't have horses, we'd probably be there every other weekend. As it is, we try to squeeze in one weekend a month. While up there, we do all the stuff that I already enjoy: reading in the hammock, riding the quads, snowshoeing, hiking, sitting around the fire pit with a drink, and watching movies. Basically, we unplug from the real world as we feed our marriage and replenish our energy levels.

5) Traveling ...

I've shared this many times already. After riding, I enjoy traveling more than anything else. Weekend trips are enjoyable, of course, but our favorite type of travel is international. We are blessed to have incomes that allow us to indulge in this hobby, and I am even luckier to have a partner who loves to travel as much as I do. 

So far, I've visited at least ten countries as well as Hawaii (twice) and the Canary Islands (which belong to Spain and lie just off the coast of Morocco). I've been to Central America (twice) and South America. We're going to Italy this June which will make five trips to Europe. So far, we haven't made it to Asia, Africa (unless you count the Canary Islands), or Australia, but they are definitely on our list.

Maybe I am not quite as boring and single minded as I think I am. It's good to know that I do have other interests outside of riding, but I should probably try to cultivate more, especially those that involve people ...

So what about you? What do you like to do besides riding?

Reading someone's blog gives you a false sense of their life. First off, many of us edit out a lot of the stuff that goes on. I do a lot of editing to protect the privacy of those around me. I also don't like to share all of my foibles and failures. It's hard enough to live through them once - who wants to do it for eternity on the internet?

So while it might seem like I've had a busy week, rest assured that I have not. In fact, I have been installed on our living room sofa for the entire week awaiting death. I watched more Netflix this week than I have in all the years that we have had Netflix. That was number 1. 

I also did a lot of texting... Number 2.

Number 3 ... I also got Izzy's SmartPak order. I am trying out a magnesium supplement to help with relaxation. My vet also thinks he might be low since he lived on grass pasture. I haven't been able to start it yet, but hopefully he'll get his first dose today.

An exciting number 4 - I firmed up my riding plans for when we go to Portugal at the end of May. I'll be riding with a very small company called Algarve Horse Riding. They only have four horses, so it will be a private ride. 

And finally, a disappointing number 5 - since I am a responsible adult, I cancelled my upcoming Monday lesson. It's hard to justify taking a serious lesson when a) I haven't been on my horse since the last lesson where I didn't feel very good, b) I am still on drugs to help me breathe better, and c) I have yet to leave the house for a walk, much less a ride.

I woke up feeling much better today, so I have high hopes that I'll make it back out to the barn today. I am very much looking forward to getting back on my regular schedule. Have a great day!

... also known as even more birthday swag!

I am either the most frustrating person to buy for, or the easiest. If it has a horse on it, I'll love it. With that being said, it must be exasperating to buy gifts for me because that's all I ever want!

My step-mom has obviously caved because now she's even handcrafting equine-related gifts for me. Check out these five things!

Yes, those really are feedbags! I am not sure exactly how she does it, but they are crafted on a sewing machine. The one on the right is strictly made from the feed bag, handle included. The one on the left is much fancier! 

[Lauren, are you checking these out? These seem right up your alley!!!!]

This bag has nylon handles that are even stitched closed at the top so they are narrower and less bulky.

This bag also has an adorable liner in a horsey print along with an interior canvas pocket. I don't know a lot about fabrics, but I want to know where she bought this piece. It says, "I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free."  - Michelangelo

Included in the gift box were these other items: a "sippy" cup, mug, and journal. Each has a dressage motif, which I love, Check out the sippy cup - the evolution of a dressage rider, too funny! I am off on a road trip today so this is definitely coming with me! The mug says Dancing with Horses. I broke my last trailer coffee mug, so this one is going in the trailer for my over-night stays. The journal is also going in the trailer as it is perfect to use at clinics and shows.

And if the text on the journal's cover isn't the perfect idea to take to a clinic, nothing is!

Many thanks to my step-mom and dad for the birthday gifts. I'd always rather have an equine-inspired gift than anything else. The mere image of a horse brings me joy.

I totally stole that title from Cha Ching's Mom. She wears bling like I wear a pony tail. Toss it on, and forget about it.

My Ovation Glitz helmet arrived the other day, and it is the coolest, sparkliest, awesomest thing I have ever bought!!!!! Two years ago, okay, two months ago, I would never have been brave enough to wear it. I do not know what has come over me. Could it be the new confidence that Sydney and I have found together? Is a right lead canter that much of a life changer?

I also added one of my monograms from Personally Preppy (check out their brand new website). Now I wish I had bought a fancier font!

And as if a new helmet and monogram stickers weren't enough, I also bought Sydney some baby spurs. My bigger ones rubbed a little patch of hair off of his right side, which is totally weird since I've been using them for almost two years. I think my position has changed now that he has a right lead canter. Or, he has a right lead canter because my position has changed. Either way, a hole in his side is unacceptable.

But wait. Embarrassingly, there's more! My little zipper pull/bridle tags also showed up! They are simply too sweet. Check out Emily's Equine Creations on Etsy.

And finally, do you remember that lovely purple lead rope I just bought this past February? I loved that lead rope, but unfortunately, Sydney freaked out while grazing in the yard in his halter and galloped off down the road and around the corner and back up the road and back down the road until he finally saw me waving at him. Once he came back to me, this is what I found - a shredded purple lead rope.

So I had to order a new one. That also just arrived. It's been like Christmas at my house this past week. Unfortunately, all of these things were very specific items which meant that they came from many different vendors. At least I can say I'm supporting lots of small businesses!