I bought a saddle

Because clearly, reading about several other bloggers purchasing sweet new saddles and various other expensive tack items wasn't enough, I decided I'd drop some dolla dolla bills y'all and get a saddle, too.

No, but in all seriousness - I BOUGHT A SADDLE!

An Ansur Classic to be precise.

And it was my biggest equine purchase investment to date.

After completing the Virginia Highlands 55 in Mary's Ansur (race 2 in this saddle) and having nearly zero soreness and being able to ride my own horses 2 days post-ride, I was convinced I needed this saddle.

The fit of the Wintec on Q isn't bad at all. But its not perfect. The Ansur is treeless, thus less of a fit issue when compared to treed saddles. And despite being a treeless, I have had very little issue mounting from the ground on the trail.

I rode Q for 8 miles in Mary's Ansur in early August with zero issue. I rode her in a borrowed Ansur from Mary for 10 miles the weekend prior and again this past Friday for another 14.5 miles with no issue. In fact, Q moved freer in the Friday ride than she has of late. She felt as though she were absolutely floating at times - and that's saying something because this little mare floats and bounces lightly along almost always as is!
I really wanted to say something on here when I found this saddle and when I purchased it and when I got the tracking number so we could all obsessively stalk it to my door together, but I just couldn't. I'm one of those people who is convinced that if I talk too much about what seems like too good a thing then it just won't happen.

And thus I only told a couple people. Only one horse person. I knew once it arrived, if it was truly in the condition in the photos, then I'd get to blab all about it.

And show up it did. And in such amazing shape!! It was really a STEAL at the price I found it for when you consider what they sell for new and what you usually find an older model like this one in this condition priced at. I base these facts on help I received from Mary, who has served as an Ansur rep for years.

The purchase was a little risky though as I found the ad on Craigslist...in Mesa, AZ. For anyone insanely new to this blog, I live in WV. Craigslist isn't exactly what you think of for secure internet purchases! But I emailed the lady and she got right back to me wanting me to call. I refused to call until I could see further photos. She sent them! Satisfied with what I saw, I took the plunge and called. She was polite and amiable on the phone. We discussed price/shipping/payment options and it was all squared away! She shipped it the following day and I had it within a week of shipment. Nicely wrapped, packaged, and boxed (which I believe the sticker on the box shipped USPS ground said was only $24 for anyone wondering what it costs to ship a saddle).

Happy happy happy.

I'm currently awaiting a Toklat Woolbak dressage girth (because the borrowed mohair/neoprene from Mary did not make Q's skin happy AT ALL) from the Distance Depot and then we'll be all set!

Onward to happy, long trails!

2012: A Year in Review

January:

Kenai tried his hand at being a ski patrol dog during my NSP candidate training and loved it. I spent every weekend training for NSP on the mountain and loved getting in all those ski days, even if the snow sucked. There were a few phenomenal days and I really loved my first season as I learned to telemark ski. I found some time to try my hand at chasing cows and had a blast! I accepted the change in my life as a good thing and then adopted some more change in the form of a new horse, Griffin!

February:

I had some difficulty coming up with a name for Griffin at first, but I eventually settled and posted a much-awaited (at the time) photo of him. He was so little! Mountain Khakis published their first catalog and I was the featured female ambassador. NSP training, despite difficulties, continued and I really began looking forward to its conclusion in March. I also found out that my summer plans to do a Leave No Trace Master Educator course with an emphasis on stock use in the backcountry would be happening!! I also finally got the edited video of me riding a horse I helped start the summer prior. Kenai had troubles with measuring, and I visited NYC for the first time for my birthday with my mom. I got to catch up with an incredible person while I was there, too. I learned to dance with a horse.

March:

NSP training continued and I completed! Huzzah! I filmed a training session with Griffin and Kenai got to play with a starling after. We bid adieu to one of the greatest horses I've had the pleasure to know due to a freak accident. Kenai turned two! Griffin got his first trim, and I posted photos of his improvement. And the biggest thing of this month, I went to MONTANA! We squeezed in a car. We skied. And we frolicked. And we visited Yellowstone and saw WOLVES! 19 wolves from three different packs. Marked that one off my 30 before 30, big time.

April:

I spammed you with more photos from MONTANA. And I shared a video of us skiing western powder (squee!). And then spammed you with videos of the horses. And Griffin started tagging along on trail rides. I took a moment to reflect on how incredibly awesome life is. Griffin discovered his inner idiot. I updated on my year of yoga (which failed miserably due to a shoulder injury) and gave yummy recipe ideas. Somehow I had a ton of time to read books. We went to the Equine Affaire, too. Oh and of course, there were a lot of Griffin updates!

May:

I focused on the fact that I needed to be more present in my every day life instead of always looking toward the future. I scored a sweet deal on some minimalist shoes for running in a hope to start running more (which never happened because my ankles are whiny little bitches). I spent a fun week of adventuring and training with Griffin. I had a really big weekend of photography for prom, an engagement shoot, and finally went climbing. This Wordless Wednesday post got a heck'ova'lotta hits for some reason. I had another memorable weekend watching my good friend Chris graduate from college, taking photos for two of my best friends for their engagement, and ground driving Griffin. I went to a clinic/trail ride weekend in the southern part of the state with friends and met Q; I then proceeded to ask advice on her and ended up buying her. I think its safe to say she was a pretty good decision!

June:

I threw myself into life with two horses full-force. I found out that Q hates bears, but really doesn't mind ground poles, and she really has a knack for jumping! I got to fulfill a mini-dream of mine and play with Freisians for a day (and many after, actually). I finally left for 2½ weeks in the Great Smoky Nat'l Park where I learned to pack horses and practice Leave No Trace concepts.

July:

I re-hashed my pack experience gone wrong in three different parts (part I, part II, part III); it is the longest story I've told on my blog to-date, and was really hard for me to tell at the time. I went on a crazy-fast 20-mile training ride with a local endurance rider on two of her horses. And jumped back in action with my own horses, while finally pondering some of Griffin's potential TWH background. I continued to spend a lot of time with my horses, photographed one of my best friend's wedding, celebrated Griffin's birthday, and had an absolute blast fulfilling a childhood dream of riding my own horse in a parade!

August:

With August came the start of the coveted 30-mile ride. I had some pre-race anxiety, but Q exceeded all my expectations for this ride and did AMAZINGLY. I was (and still am) so happy with her performance. To get my mind of horse things I went and saw Mumford and Sons the weekend following the race (THEY ARE SO AWESOME LIVE!!). I shared a huge post of new experiences with my horses and then went to fulfill yet another horse-related childhood dream (wow, I really fulfilled a lot of these this year) and rode at Spruce Knob.

September:

I took some time this month to summarize the progress that both Q and Griffin had made during our time together. Q got a mystery ailment (which is still a mystery, though I lean toward a friction/heat cause) and I freaked out a bit and ended up not doing any more training or races this year because of it. I made the decision to really devote myself to getting into a better fitness routine for the upcoming ski season/life. I also dabbled with both horses lunging in a quasi-liberty exercise and decided it was something I would work on more this winter after I established both horses on the ground a little more. I embraced my favorite WV season (autumn) with several pursuits outdoors; this state is absolutely magical in the fall.

October:

Q and I did our second parade; the weather wasn't as great, but she did phenomenally again! A friend came and photographed Q and I jumping; our form is really improving. I spent a lot of time on the rail trail goofing around riding with cyclists instead of other horses. Q continued to amaze me during our last trail ride of the season.

November:

Frankenstorm (Hurricane/Superstorm Sandy) trashed my trails as over 3 feet of snow was dumped at the higher elevations. At this writing they are still clearing trees from roadways. I don't know if any of my summer trails will be the same for awhile. The horses weren't hurt, only a little sore. The weekend after the storm I put away studying to explore the woods with the ladies on horseback. Q and I had a blast. I worked on trailer loading with the horses some, and then goofed off with Freisian horses more. And then I went to Cape May with my bff Mandy and we caught some raptors and I met Dom IRL! Griffin's really gotten big and solid as of this month, and Q exceeded any expectation I had for her in our third parade of the year - a night parade.

December:

I reviewed 23 things I've learned in my 23 year of life. Spent a rainy Sunday training Griffin; put in my first ride on him. I spent an unnaturally warm December day climbing (finally). I took some time to recollect resolutions and goals I had for the year and make some new ones for the upcoming year, and I finally updated everyone on fitness and what I'd learned from my readings.

Man, 2012 was a busy year full of fun adventures, welcoming horses into my life, and developing myself as a person. Here's to a new year, new adventures, building upon foundations I've laid, and making 2013 the best year yet.

Riding Stan

When someone asks me what kind of horse I want my first response is typically “a tall one”.  This is usually followed by the asker saying, “Why?” and me responding with, “I just like tall horses”. 

After finally gaining a ride on Stan the other day, I know why I want a tall horse.  I’ve spent all my time since February riding horses that might reach 15hh – if they’re lucky –  and time riding ponies.  Riding Stan, who is a solid 15.3hh, and may even be 16hh, the other day was uh-mazing.  (I scored a hack on a thoroughbred mare a couple weeks back and was astonished at how her strides just ate up the ground, but tossed it aside as a thoroughbred thing.  Silly, Liz, its just the nature of a typical taller, longer legged horse.)  Stan’s trot was huge and flowing and better than I remembered.  It absolutely gobbled up the ground in front of us.  I have no difficulty realizing why he was so talented in the LD race we did years ago.

After conditioning Orion this summer and attempting to get him to pick up the pace and trot faster to make better time, I realized this past Sunday that it wasn’t that he wasn’t putting out effort; he just didn’t have the stride that Stan does.  I wasn’t accustomed to a horse with a shorter stride after years on Stan.  Stan barely puts out, and he’s eating up the ground.  Its AMAZING.

I guess I’m just a little addicted to the thrill of speed. ;-)  But not like I used to be though.  In five years and time of owning my own horse, I have learned a LOT.  I have made a lot of mistakes, but I’ve learned from all of them.  I’ve become a better horse person for all of it.

I could tell Stan was a little baffled by my new altered riding style and behavior towards him while riding.  Our ground interactions are very similar to the way they’ve always been, but riding?  Big difference.

Difference #1: All my tack is different.  New saddle, new saddle pad, new breast plate, different bit.  The girth and headstall are the same. 

I’ve self-taught myself a LOT about bits over the past months.  I used to just ride horses in whatever bit their owners deemed necessary – or not necessary in the stead of a hackamore or bitless bridle.  Having a horse of my own meant I had to start making decisions and learning though.  Looking into what I’d ridden Stan in for all those years I’ve discovered it was an Uxeter Kimberwicke with a port.  The information I could dig up on this bit revealed it to be a very harsh one in the hands of someone inexperienced, though multiple sources stated how it is often a bit chosen for small riders on large horses they may need more control over.  I feel this last reason is probably why it was the chosen bit I rode Stan in most often all those years.  Now I have him in either a simple stainless steel broken snaffle or a sweet iron French d-link.  He’s not half as responsive to the light pressure I’m used to giving him with these bits.  By the end of our ride though he was responding a bit better – but I still had to ask more than I am accustomed.

The Wintec saddle and Toklat breastplate probably don’t make a huge difference for him, but the saddle in particular does for me.  My beautiful, wonderful, amazing Crosby is really in disarray – something else I’ve learned over the past few months via the internet.  The flocking is pretty much shot, not giving poor Stan much padding against my bony butt all those years.  He never had back soreness though – which I would like to attribute to my riding ability a little bit since people have noted how centered I am through the years (another concept I didn’t get until recent months).  Mostly it probably just helped that I’m a featherweight and he’s a big boy.  No matter my riding ability, I’m more comfortable in my Wintec now.  And the Toklat breastplate, with its fuzziness (and awesome bright redness) is probably a twinge more comfy than the simple leather one of past.

Difference #2: I’m much more aware of my seat, my hands, and my communication to Stan.

Riding such an unbalanced horse – Orion – for most of the summer really screwed with my seat.  A lot.  People had noted previously how centered I rode.  Then I took a centered riding lesson on Orion, learned more about centered riding in general, and realized how poorly I was now riding in comparison to former days.  I was still leaps and bounds above beginner riders, but I was over-compensating for my horse’s poor balance and killing my form in the process.

I’ve noted since riding balanced horses as of late, how much more comfortable and improved my seat is.  How easy and instinctual it is for me to keep that imaginary line shoulder-elbow-hip-heel no matter the gait.  How posting is suddenly not this awkward dance between horse and I, but this magical ease of movement.  How with my seat alone I can really adjust how the horse moves beneath me.

I’m more aware of my hands.  Of contact or lack thereof.  The bulk of my horse-related upbringing involved western-style riding, but the English side of it all is something I have looked into and practiced lately.  I’m incorporating it all into the way I ride dependent upon my situation and I think its really aiding my communication with the horse better. 

Both my improved awareness of seat and hands helped Stan the other night.  (I’m now riding with blunt spurs instead of a crop as well which helps as the tiniest of nudges with my heel brings a greater response from him than the crop ever did – and I feel SO much more attune with this aid than the crop.)  The ride began with him being very hesitant and very resistant to the less harsh bit.  By the end though, through my seat especially, I had him calming back down from a canter (which eats up the ground even more awesome than the trot, oh. my. goodness! *squeal*) with 60% less effort than I’d had to put out at the beginning of the ride!

I still have SO much more to learn though about myself and about the horses I will ride in the future.  I’m more horse-obsessed than ever before though.  All this new knowledge that was left unturned under a rock somewhere pre-horse-ownership has sparked my love of all things equine so much stronger than before!  Aaaaah, its not healthy!  lol

What kind of horse do I really, really want though?  A leggy desert horse.  (Yes, I'm more than aware these horses don't reach outrageous heights; they have so many other attributes I'm fond of.)  You know, the “hot-headed” type.  Except that stereotype of being feisty is something I admire.  I mean…I’m a redhead I share the same stereotype, haha!  But seriously, as an experience horse person, I understand how to adequately care for and understand an Arab, and I really, really, admire and love how finely-tuned they are to the world around them.  Flighty and feisty?  Maybe, but that’s fine with me.  It will make me so much more attune to myself and my actions and communication.  And the bond these horses have with their owners is something more that I think is amazing.  One day in the next couple years I’ll find my Arab.  We’ll start slow and work our way to the top as our bond builds.  Definitely something to look forward to.

Maybe a bond like this redhead has with RB Cavalier (more here)

Doors

I spent my yesterday doing nothing but inane non-sensical tasks to free my mind from everything stressful that has been going on school-wise.  It. Was. Wonderful.  The biggest part of the day was spent cleaning a bunch of tack.  I had my one saddle, breast strap, girth, and stirrup leathers - and then I was recently given a bunch of stuff that had been abandoned in a barn.  It was in BAD shape.  But everything looks great now, and my right forearm is killing me from all the elbow grease I put into it all!  In addition to my tack I was given another English saddle (no girth, breast strap, or leathers), two western breast straps and two western headstalls (all matching).

This is my original saddle - it doesn't fit Orion well

The new saddle - subtle differences

Browband of one of the new headstalls - the same flowers are etched in all four pieces of tack

The new setup - stirrup leathers, stirrups, girth, and breast strap were
originally on the other saddle

I also dropped by Mike and Jaci and Jackson's place to take them some home-made sushi for dinner.  Such a sweet little guy.  Finally got to hold him.  He's a freakin' heater.  So warm and toasty.

Today I closed a lot of doors with school.  I completed - or mostly completed - a lot of things.  I have a table left to do for my thesis corrections/additions - the only reason I have this left is because on three different computers today I received errors when trying to run the process.  Boo on you Arc10.  I have graphs for another report - but I probably won't do them.  I completed that report, completed revisions on my thesis and review paper, designed and completed my power point presentation for my one class, wrote one of two thank you letters, and sent a lot of email to F&WS about the job. 

What?  Job?  That's right, job.  Two days ago my friend that works at F&W wrote to tell me they had funding to hire a second person.  Yesterday I got accepted into Oregon State's online GIS master's certificate program.  I forwarded F&W the email.  The director emailed me back today wanting a ton more information on me.  I sent it all.  So, **fingers crossed** - I may be getting that job after all!  As some doors closed, others are opening.  I'm super excited for the possibilities that are in front of me.