Too Cute For Words

5/26/2016

It might have been a pain in the neck, but the embroidered pad that I ordered for Izzy turned out super cute!

I tried to get the "ü" done correctly, but SmartPak wasn't able to do it with this font. They called me to say that the ü couldn't be done which caused yet another delay. I didn't want to take even more time trying to find a different font, so I told them to drop the ü.

This is the Union Hill Dressage Pad. I ordered another one a few weeks ago as a show pad. When I saw how well it fit, I knew I had to have another one for schooling. When SmartPak offered free embroidery, I couldn't resist. And at $20, this pad is a total steal.

Photo bombed!

It fits perfectly, and I love the simplicity of the design. I hope SmartPak doesn't run this deal very often, or I may end up with even more pads that I don't need.

I cannot think of a better way to spend $20. Money well spent indeed.

13 Comments

Tracy link

5/26/2016 08:12:56 am

I have a pad with this same design for Miles. It's one of my favorites <3

Bakersfield Dressage link

5/26/2016 11:24:52 am

I am in very good company then!

Kelly link

5/26/2016 08:45:00 am

That is beautiful! My mare, Riva's, registry as well!

Bakersfield Dressage link

5/26/2016 11:26:12 am

Thanks! I wish SmartPak offered the RPSI bridge in their breed logos. :0)

lytha

5/26/2016 08:47:34 am

Did you know there is a workaround for this? Ever since typesetting/the computer age, umlauts were not used in URLs, for example, because they would not be accessible to users in other nations who do not know how to type an umlaut (although any computer can do it). The workaround was to add an e after the vowel that should have an umlaut. My husband's email addy contains his name and since it has an o umlaut, he has oe instead . I type without umlauts cuz although I'm typing on a German keyboard right now, I never bothered to learn where those characters are, so I always use the e option. It's slightly less professional, but I really don't care about how my emails look, using proper German grammar is hard enough. So if I look at your saddle pad, I'd be tempted to pronounce his breed improperly, because there is a difference in the sound between a u and a ue. Not to sound like a snob: as an American I cannot easily hear the difference, but Germans hear it right away. An example is the difference you hear between the words beg and bag. You hear it, as a West coast resident, I think, but some might not. If I were you, I'd pay another 20$ to get the e put in, just so people don't pronounce his breed wrong. Oh wait, probably the Zw is impossible anyway so never mind, it's all good. Now you probably know my husband's name: )

Bakersfield Dressage link

5/26/2016 11:42:48 am

I can type the umlaut without trouble on my Mac (I even have the key stroke memorized). It was the embroidering machine that couldn't do it. :0) And here, those who have never heard of the Zweibrucker horse just sound it out. Most of us here pronounce it as zwi (long I) broo (as in zoo) ker. I think the w is actually pronounced as a v sound, as in "svi", but that would sound pompous to our American ears. :0)

lytha

5/26/2016 12:16:46 pm

you learned the umlaut keys? you are dedicated! respect. it was a bible engraver that couldn't give me my husband's name properly on his bible so i gave up.

holy crap really, we can't move to America if every single time we said our last name, that starts with a w, we sound pompous!?

tsvi is how germans say zweibruecker. you're right. the zoo is not quite right but I'm not comfortable whining at you anymore, so I'll shut up. Thank you for letting me rant about this on your blog. I know as a teacher you aren't especially offended.

Bakersfield Dressage link

5/26/2016 02:13:56 pm

Pompous might have been a strong word. :0) We just Americanize everything so when you hear someone say it "correctly," the rest of us roll our eyes. Not me - I DIG foreign languages - whenever we travel abroad, I try VERY hard to learn as much of the language as I possibly can. I carry a phrase book and ALWAYS try in the native language before pantomiming. As a last ditch effort, I switch to English. My Portuguese got pretty decent in just a week, and I hope my Italian will work.

I am very hard to offend! I LOVE it when people are willing to share from personal experience. Whine away!!!! :0

Micaylah link

5/26/2016 10:20:25 am

I never knew I needed something. My baby Zweibrücker will definitely need to be outfitted with this!

Bakersfield Dressage link

5/26/2016 11:48:58 am

I hope you'll share what you end up with! :0)

When I chose Izzy's barn name, I thought long and hard about how to honor the official name his owner chose for him - Imperioso, so I kept the initial "I" and then borrowed the Z from Zweribrucker. I liked how it sounded - Izzy Zweibrucker. It's a fun breed, and baby Z's are even better. :0)

Appydoesdressage

5/26/2016 12:07:08 pm

I have one for Mia as a show pad and have been very pleased as well. I agree, if they run this special often, I may end up with even MORE saddle pads....

Bakersfield Dressage link

5/26/2016 02:18:34 pm

I totally hear that! Embroidery is FUN!!!!

emma link

5/26/2016 06:07:13 pm

that turned out super cute!

About the
Writer & Rider

I am a lifetime rider.
I began endurance riding in 1996 where I ultimately completed five, one-day 100 mile races, the 200-mile Death Valley Encounter, and numerous other 50, 65, and 75 mile races. I began showing dressage in 2010.
Welcome to my dressage journey.

Photo by Lori Ovanessian

Email Karen

About Speedy G

Speedy went from endurance horse to dressage horse and occasional trail horse. He is a 2004, 15'1 hand, purebred Arabian gelding. His Arabian Horse Registry name is G Ima Starr FA.

May 2018

About Izzy

Izzy was started as a four-year old and then spent the next 18 months in pasture growing up. I bought him as a six-year old, and together, we are schooling the dressage basics. He is a 2008, 16'3 hand Zweibrücker gelding. His Rheinland Pfalz-saar International (RPSI) name is Imperioso.

Second Show - July 2016

Bakersfield Dressage approved!

National Awards

USDF First Level Rider Performance Award - 2015
USDF Training Level Rider Performance Award - 2013

Stuff I'm Working On ...

Regional Adult Amateur Competition (RAAC) Qualifying Scores
Second Level Scores:
Score 1: 63.485%
Score 2: 61.282%
Score 3: 62.879%

CDS Championship Qualifying
Second Level Scores:
Score 1: 63.485%
Score 2: 61.282%
Score 3: 62.879%
Score 4: 61.970%
Score 5:

CDS Ruby Rider Award
Training Level Scores:
Score 1: 70.179%
Score 2: 72.600%

First Level Scores:
Score 1: 66.093%
Score 2: 68.750%

Second Level Scores:
Score 1: 63.485%
Score 2: 62.879%

USDF Second Level Rider Performance Award
Score 1 - 62.879%
Score 2 - 61.970%
Score 3 -
Score 4 -

USDF Bronze Medal
First Level - 70.179%
First Level - 72.600%
Second Level - 62.879%
Second Level - 61.970%
Third Level -
Third Level -

2018 Show Season

Show Rating
(***) CDS/USDF/USE
(*) CDS
(s) Schooling
(c) Clinic
(t) Ride-a-Test Clinic
(Q) Must Qualify

2018 Pending …
7/22/18 Tehachapi (*)
7/28-29/18 El Sueno (***)
8/11-12/18 RAAC (Q ***)
8/26/18 Tehachapi (*)

2018 Completed …
1/14/18 Hurtado Clinic (c)
2/10/18 Hurtado Clinic (c)
2/24/18 Hurtado Clinic (c)
3/17/18 Hurtado Clinic (t)
3/18/18 GEAHS (*)
3/31/18 Hurtado Clinic (c)
4/14-15/18 El Sueno (***)
5/27/18 Tehachapi (*)
6/16-17/18 El Sueno (***)
6/24/18 Tehachapi (*)