Unsurprisingly, as basically every aspect of my life has gotten exponentially busier, blogging has fallen a bit by the wayside. In a lot of ways, riding has too. Up until last weekend, the entirety of my weekends have been spent fixing our house up to sell because there is a SIGNIFICANT difference between a project being in a good spot to take a pause and a project being “Finished” for purposes of selling a house. Once we have it on the market, I might do a post on all the before and afters because even in the less than 3 years we were in the house, we got a lot accomplished.
Lessons have continued though because next weekend we are headed up to the Hoosier Horse Park for some socially-distanced eventing! We attempted to enter this show when it was originally going to be in early June, and we are excited to have the opportunity (FINGERS CROSSED) to compete now in August. I am desperately hoping that it is not wildly hot because neither May nor I are hot weather lovers. (I say as we move to literal desert.)
Leading up to the show, I am hoping to get a XC schooling in, but it wouldn’t be the end of the world if we didn’t. But I definitely need one more jump school. Our last jump school was 7/15, and while it went well, I always like to get one more under my belt before a show.
This weekend will be spent tidying up that every fluffy mane, maybe XC schooling, or doing some fitness work, washing that tail because that job is never done, and maybe cleaning up the Dressage.
Speaking of Dressage… I still haven’t sold my Stubben Dressage saddle, but I found a deal I couldn’t look pass up on. I found a woman selling an Albion Platinum Ultima Dressage saddle in the specs I needed…. for significantly less than $1,000. The saddle needed some work (new flocking, new billets, a patch on the seat), but most of the used ones I was seeing her around the $1,500 range. So overall, still a good deal.
After getting the above work done, I am SUPER happy with it. The tree is a great shape for May. The blocks give me some security without locking me in to place, and the seat depth really helps me sit INTO May when I need to. Of course, these changes don’t come without drama.
In the first down transition from Canter to Trot… May suddenly couldn’t pull me out of the saddle and fall on her forehand. Cue complete mare meltdown. Suddenly, we just COULDN’T. Everything was SO HARD. I just sat quiet and deep for the rest of that lovely dressage lesson, and now? I am seeing a serious improvement in those downward transitions that have been plaguing us for… ever.
So overall, I feel pretty confident going into this show. Previously, I had hope of using this show to get a placing that would allow us to attend AECs in 2021 (if I got the other QR). But now, I am just hoping to go and really enjoy running my pony around Area 8 one more time and attending a horse show I have wanted to go to since I moved here… even if it is in the wrong month.
You guys are going to do so great. So odd to think that might be your last event in KY (well not KY but you know what I mean) for a while. Since you are so good at finding deals on saddles for you, how bout applying some of that voodoo my way! thank you very much! 🙂 How many of you are going to IEA?
Working on it. I think Mandy has like a dozen horses going to IEA between the people at our barn and her trailer-in lessons that are showing with her. So it’ll be a lesson in time management for sure!
NOOO I want the good saddle voodoo! I’m sick of your search already, I don’t want to start my search! I feel like I’ve been hunting for your saddle in the hay stack forever!
I can’t wait to see you guys there even if I’m so sad we won’t get to run together!
I am sooooo sad that we arent running together. Was literally going to be the only good to come of 2020.
So jealous of your dressage saddle. Nice find! I’ve been scouring around for an Albion SLK. Just love them so much!
This one is wildly nice. And very cool. The whole tree can actually be swapped out. Just remove some bolts. Pull the saddle apart. Put in a new tree. And bolt it all back together.
I would love to see your horse before and after because I’m weirdly into that type of thing
Before and after the move? Or the new saddle? Or pentosan? 😂😂😂 we’ve been doing a lot.
All of the above but mainly the house fixing up before and after you mentioned!
Oh yes! I will definitely do that!😂
Haha so funny how the new saddle changed yours and May’s transition relationship!
Nothing angers a mare more than learning she no longer has the upper hand 😂
oohhhh, nice find on the saddle!
Yay for horse showing soon!!!
thanks! So far, I am SUPER happy with it, which was a fun surprise haha