Stuff I've Bought #12

Have you ever had that feeling where you wish you didn't know as much as you did? Just so you could save your mind from all the stress? I feel like this a lot, especially about this saddle fitting deal. Good lord, there is so much to it that you could drive yourself insane! Anyways, getting off topic. I was trying another saddle out the other day and although the saddle yet again rubbed her back, her sides were rubbed as well, from the cinch!! I really wanted to punch that cinch in the face for adding to my already aggravated mood on this whole thing. So, I went into the tack shop and they had exactly what I needed and at a great price, only $20 for a $60 cinch! I love used horse items! The cinch is a Charmayne James Barrel Cinch and it solved that rubbing problem completely, so all things are good (at least with that).

Field Riding Fiends!

Yesterday Cappie and I went out on a field ride. It was beautiful, hot weather and Ava and I enjoyed every bit of it. Cappie was good company too and his horse and Ava got along great. Here are some pictures from the ride.

Ava and The Ranch

Me and The Ranch

Ava and Poco eating dinner

Cappie failing at picture taking, haha!

Deworming Day and a Little More

It is that time of year again. After working Babe I argued with her on how she has to have the dewormer. She wouldn't have any of it until finally she stopped the head bobbing for a few milliseconds and I squirt it in. Poco on the other hand was a pure angel! I would show it to her, let her smell it and she was chill, even when it was pressed into her mouth!

Today it was rainy and cloudy so we worked inside. I totally forgot but they were having a cutting lesson today but my BO was nice and let me join in. So, we worked on our cutting techniques. Ava benefits from this but she does get a little antsy towards the end.

We also decided where we are going to move to. It isn't 100% but unless something better comes along then it will be. We decided to move back to RS. After much conversing it sounds like it would be the best decision (at least for the time being.) They have what we need, they are hosting lots of shows which would be great for us to participate in, and one of the boarders at The Ranch will be moving there as well. So, although it won't be perfect it will do just fine.

Out on the Hill

A few days ago I took Ava on a field/trail ride. The barn was filled with people and the day was gorgeous so I told Ava it was a perfect day to go out and explore. I first worked her a little inside then went out to the outdoor arena and practiced a little reining pattern. We would do circles on both leads then I would run her straight down the arena and did a mini sliding stop then we would rollback and go off again. She did wonderfully, I think practicing that with her really helps her focus. We then set off to the field. We walked and trotted and spooked only once, it was more like she stopped dead in her tracks! Although you could tell she was a little nervous I know that she enjoyed herself, I tried to be a good leader for her. I always think that if she is misbehaving or nervous I'm not being a good enough leader for her. Or they are just really good, haha!

Overlooking the ranch

Decisions Decisions!

The new barn hunt isn't going as great as I had hoped but the places that we've found look quite promising.

Right now I have three to consider.

The first one is RS, the place we moved from. The pros are: it has everything we need; great care, indoor and outdoor arena, round pen, and trails etc, and it has job opportunities as well. The cons are: it can get really windy out there, a lot of the people are kind of judgy and snotty, and it always seems to be busy.

The second one is a high end cutting barn barn. From the pictures that I have seen it looks great! The pros are: indoor arena, great facility, well known trainer, etc. The cons are: it gets windy, it is more expensive than any of the barns we've stayed at, the horses would have a smaller pen than any of the other places, and no trails within riding distance. I will know more about it soon after we have taken a tour.

The third one is more of a private place. I took lessons out there when I first started riding. The pros are: it is really quiet, we would at most times have the place to ourselves, the horses would have a really large pen (right about the size at The Ranch or bigger), they have what we need (a lit outdoor arena, roundpen, and lots of trails), it is closer to home, and the weather seems pretty decent. The cons are: no indoor for winter, it is quite rocky, since there aren't many boarders around I don't feel as safe, and our opportunities for different things would be minimized to almost none.

Reading back on these it makes it seem like RS would be a fair choice, besides having to deal with those kind of people again. We'll just have to see.

Ava after a ride in our "almost" saddle

I trimmed Ava's feet the other day, and it was hard work! I think she feels much better though, she was being kind of a butt beforehand.

My BO also had a saddle for me to try out that he was considering selling. It was an old bull-dogging saddle and when I placed it on Ava's back it seemed to have also meshed onto her back. I was so happy, I was going to try it a couple more times then buy. Although, sadly the next day after riding in it my BO tells me, as he's laughing, that he sold my saddle. First I thought he was joking but no... I was so pissed off at him and now leaving won't be as hard as before... Anyways, I did my best not to let it ruin my time down there, every minute needs to be savored.