Everyday I'm Hustlin' (Otherwise Known as "I Don't Sleep")

I got back from my externship on Sunday (I promise a blog post is coming about baby horses...), and started my next rotation on Community Practice- general small animal veterinary medicine. In an effort to keep the SO content, I've changed my riding schedule. Now that I don't have to get up at the crack of dawn to go in for my rotation (Critical Care- lookin' at you!), I get up before the crack of dawn to be on my horse by the crack of dawn to be in for clinics at 7:30.

The first two days went pretty well, I'll be honest. Lexie colicked over the weekend and had been stalled all weekend. So, that, in combination with two weeks off due to rain, Lexie was a bit ready to go Monday morning. Like... really ready to go. We had a few words about not pawing, standing still, and nipping me for not tacking her up fast enough. Then a few more words about not standing still at the mounting block. Finally, she stood still for 5 seconds, I hopped on, and we were off. We just did a light ride- 10 minutes of walk, 5 of trot, 5 just meandering around, since I wanted to ease her in and not risk her colicking again. Brought Candy in for a groom, and of course, Lexie screamed to her boyfriend after being separated from him for 3 days (unimaginable!).

Tuesday's ride was solid- we were lifting through our back, and balanced (as long as I kept my leg on). I didn't think I'd like to see the sun rise, but I enjoy the sunrise on the back of a horse. She felt much better and moved better yesterday morning.

Hustlin'.

You better tolerate me. I bring cookies.

Favorite man in the whole wide world.

Wednesday evening, I squeezed in a quick lesson. We did a small 2'6 (2'5ish) course of rollbacks, working on keeping her collected or "manhandled" as H likes to call it. A lot of hand, a lot more leg. She's getting there! We had a few wonky distances, and a few fire breathing mare moments, but I'm not panicking nearly as much, and I'm able to reason through the moments, "Add leg, pulse the reins, less hand, more bend" rather than just yanking on her face. It's slowly starting to (hopefully) hit that turning point where "bad"/"problems" are getting "fun" and becoming challenges rather than impossible tasks. It might be my big girl helmet. It might be my confidence.

Most likely the big girl helmet. You can't be a weenie in a Speed Air.

But I enjoyed my lesson Wednesday night, and I think Lexie did too! Now to break my nasty habit of pinching with my knee!

I noticed my saddle is rocking with the Thinline half pad, which I tried on Lexie to relieve wither pressure that my Beval wool half pad was creating. She hated the Thinline, and preferred the Beval, but I want her withers freed up and comfortable. We'll have to keep playing musical half pads, since a custom saddle is out of the question for a lease/vet student budget at the moment. Suggestions?

- K & C & L

Sun Shirt Showdown

Almost every blogger has done a comparison of the most popular sun shirts on the market, and being 2 steps behind as always, I am no exception. Let's put a personal twist on this.

Rider's stats: 5'8, average build (34" chest, 27" waist, whateva). Heat sensitive- giant hot weather weenie. Small obsession with my Black Olive TS Trophy Hunters. Bigger obsession with my leopard needlepoint belt.

The Shirts:

EIS COOL Shirt, size M, in Seabreeze and Black and Tan- retails for $86
Sleeve length: 20"

Kastel Denmark Charlotte Shirt, size M, Brown with Light Brown- retails for $75
Sleeve Length: 21"

Tailored Sportsman Ice-Fil Shirt, size S, Apricot- retails for $65
Sleeve Length: Pending.

Sizing

The Tailored Sportsman and EIS likely run the same. The EIS are a touch too big, but the TS is way too tight. Some of my issue with the fit of the TS may be related to the fact that I was expecting a light coral, and got a "it rubs the lotion on its skin" color, and it's very very sheer. Kastel fits me beautifully. Overall, the Kastel Denmark shirts seem to run small while the TS and EIS run true to size.

Cooling

I'm going to be honest here, when it's 90 degrees out in 80% humidity, I ditch the sleeves, and opt for my other hot weather riding top: Nike Dri-Fit V-Neck Tees. When weather is a few degrees cooler than Hell, I reach for my TS first, Kastel second, and EIS third. While I think the TS is a little too snug for my vet-school cushioned figure, it does a fantastic job wicking sweat away to keep me cool. The Kastel and EIS are comfortable for 60 degree days where I warm up as I go, and work up a small sweat as I ride. If I'm sweating walking from my house to my car- I'll wear a short sleeve v-neck.

Bits and Bobs

I really love the EIS fabric; it's more of a knit tech fabric rather than a straight tech fabric like Kastel or TS; this may also be why it holds heat the most out of the 3 brands. The zipper pulls are all ergonomic plastic, and feel high quality and durable.

The seabreeze EIS has picked up a few weird stains that have yet to come out despite multiple washes, OxyClean, and a myriad of stain removers- so I would be cautious about the lighter colors. I haven't had the same issue with my TS sun shirt.

As I mentioned above, the TS shirt is very sheer; I can only wear nude sports bras with it, whereas I can get away with other colors under the seabreeze EIS.

Overall verdict?

I like these shirts- I like them for hiking, running, and riding in temperate weather. I'm going to be the Debbie Downer- I don't think they're ideal or even helpful in hotter-than-Hades, moist weather. I love a good quarter zip, and live in an area where these are perfect 3/4 of the year, but I can't wear them for mid-summer riding- it's too warm.

Looking for something to keep you comfortable in 60-70 degree spring weather? These are fantastic.

Looking for something to keep you cool in 80+ degrees? Let me know- because I am still looking for the perfect shirt.

I haven't been riding the last week and a half- I've been in Kentucky on externship! I'll be posting a summary about my experience externing at one of the leading equine hospitals in the world after my externship is over. I'm going a little stir crazy not riding, but I'm having a blast in my old Kentucky Home.

- K & C & L

Grumbles in the Night

In this day and age, it's hard not to compare yourself to other riders, and lately, I've been finding myself regretting my career path and wishing I had chosen a more financially rewarding path in favor of bigger jumps and better horses.

Like many riders, I can certainly be prideful, and used to consider myself a competent rider. I'm just now beginning to find my footing over 2'6" jumps on Lexie, and, when I remember 4 years ago, I was schooling 3'-3'6", it stings. I almost feel like my riding has regressed. I've been so busy studying, working, and now, traveling to externships, for the last 3 years that my riding has suffered greatly. 

Is it normal? Probably.

Am I making the best choice for both my riding career and work career? Maybe.

I plan on putting financial stability on hold for another four to five to six years to pursue an internship, possibly specialty internship, and residency all in the pursuit of becoming a boarded criticalist. What does this mean? Four to six years of making a very very low salary, while student loan interest accumulates on itself. Four to six years of living uncomfortably paycheck to paycheck working 80-120 hours a week, all in hopes of sitting through yet another massive exam in addition to case reports, and research papers to add another handful of letters to the end of my name. Is it worth it?

I'm not sure. For the first time, what I want, what I think I should want, and what I can actually achieve are all diverging. Do I want to work away for pennies, unable to ride until my student debt is paid off? Or hit the ground running in the work force to fund horses and give up on my dreams of becoming board certified in critical care?

This is more of vent or a cry into the void for guidance. I'm not sure where I'm headed, and that uncertainty is scary to me.

- K & C & L

April Showers Bring Broken Ponies

Ok, so it's not April yet, but it's 3 days from April and it just rained a ton. But it never fails that roughly around April/late March, a horse breaks him(her)self right as I'm prepping for show season.

Well, this time around, it's Lexie. She got adjusted by a vet from the vet school last week, and I noticed she was more painful back in work. First ride, I assumed she was sore from the adjustment and took it easy. Second ride, I took the vet's advice and tried my Thinline on her instead of Beval wool pad to give her shoulders more clearance- still sore. Third ride, I asked Phil to film, and Lexie was at her worst. Braced against the bit, inverted, hollow, and, when I saw the video, stiff through her right hind.

So she's due to get her right stifle re-injected. My trainer thinks the adjustment may have inflamed her stifle, and we'll just avoid that area in the future. Hopefully, that's the end of it- maintenance injections.

She's 14 going on 15, and an ex-eventer so I'm not mad about Previcox and a little maintenance here and there (every 9 months or so- inject the right stifle). I am happy she "tolerates" me; I was warned she cow-kicked the vet when he tried to palpate her stifle last time; she was a little grumpy with me palpating, cold-hosing, and applying liniment, but one growl and a smack, and she put that leg back down and tolerated the rest of the "pampering" session (liniment, massage in her back and neck, various sprays and potions). COME ON, MARE, LET ME LOVE YOU.

"No.No pampering."

Candy has become a little creakier as of late, and it breaks my heart. His strides have really shortened at the walk, and he hikes his hip pretty hard trotting in his field. He's in good weight, good spirits,and happy as can be though, so I think his lameness bothers me more than him.

Overall, ponies are happy, healthy gimps, and I'm so lucky and grateful for both of them.

- K & C & L

Lesson Recap: Let Go

Had a quick lil lesson on Ms. Lexie this morning.

I had a migraine, but was feeling brave so we had some "easy" jumps, and some "scary" jumps, and kept it simple with a few rollbacks and two lines.

We started out trotting over a cross rail- one refusal because I got her crooked and behind the vertical on the shadowy side. Then cantered the cross rail with a rollback to a small two foot vertical, which rode wonderfully. The best was a 6 stride cross rail line. A medium cross rail (3'6 on either side) to a large cross rail (3'9-4'0 on either side). I stopped forcing myself to find the distance and just made sure my eyes were up and I legged through the line. It was a perfect distance, perfect pace, and a perfect jump.

We added another roll back to a Swedish oxer bending to a vertical and an outside line to round out the course. I'm getting better at being comfortable with a forward pace; we're no longer doing the "gun it and chip" ride and she's respecting my half halts (sometimes immediately... sometimes... after a while), so I feel better letting her go forward and having a more aggressive ride to fences.

It was a fun little lesson and I hope our good rides continue! Hopefully it means moving up is in our near future!

Candy is doing well- he's begun the 3 month long process of shedding out. He's happy and healthy- loving the spring grass, and loving his every-other-day grooming sessions.

Also got permission for late night/early morning rides from the on-site assistant barn manager, so I get to keep riding on my next rotation!

- K & C & L

Adult Amateur Dilemmas

I used to be a mildly ballsy rider jumping 3'3-3'6 on a horse I was told would never school over 2'6. I got really into the 1.0 m jumpers, purchased myself a *navy* CO AYR8, because I had the *skills* to pull off a different, fancy helmet. 3.5 years later, I love my helmet, but it's become a titch faded, and unfortunately, finally... moldy. Which is... gross.

It might be time for a new helmet- I have a job that can pay for it in no time, so the dilemma is... What helmet?

As much as I love my AYR8, I'm ready for a change of pace. I feel a bit like a goober in an expensive helmet, jumping 2'6, but I'm hoping to move up this year. Current candidates are:

GPA Evo+2x

I like that the brim is between a First Lady and Speed Air, but I just feel like GPA is way too nice for a 2'6 adult amateur.

GPA Speed Air 2x

Fits well, and I love how I look in it. But... too fancy for a 2'6 jumper?

Samshield

It looks like a flying saucer landed on my head, but fits well. I feel like this is the standard fancy ammie helmet.

If I order a GPA helmet from Amira, Samshield, GPA, and Charles Owen are all about the same price range +/- $50 or so. I need something vented because Alabama heat, and need something with a removable liner because Alabama humidity.

I'm just trying to decide if I would look like that goofy, timid amateur in nice, expensive gear bouncing over glorified cavalettis in a GPA or Samshield. I always told myself when I was schooling 3', I could get a Speed Air, and I'm only averaging 2'9 or so. I do see it as an investment. I want to purchase something that will still be "okay" 5 years from now- hence the nice boots, the TS breeches, etc. I'm at a point in my life where I wear breeches for years, rather than months, and wear boots until they break, and I won't be able to afford things of this price range in the near future, so I might as well buy it while I can a little before I need it.

Dilemmas. Dilemmas.

- K & C & S

*I promise I'll be back to riding posts. Just been exhausted from clinicals and riding minimally.*

Kingsland Equestrian Review: Kelly Knee Patch Breech

I hit up the Beval Saddlery Anniversary Sale over Valentine's Day and snagged some goodies for me and Candy. Candy got a new medium weight blanket, and I became the owner of a new pair of breeches for roughly 60% off normal retail. Definitely a bargain win in my books!

I have been looking for a pair of black breeches for about 6 months now- call me picky, but I wanted a Euro seat, low-rise knee patch black breech with back pockets, and minimal sparkles. I don't know why, but these were my specifications. I can't tell you how many black breeches I found that were "too fancy" for me (too embellished, too sparkly, too flashy), or just plain out of my budget. So when I saw the Kelly Breech for roughly 50% off, I jumped for it- in my budget, back pockets, minimal sparkles- perfect.

I did struggle a bit with the sizing- I am a solid 28 in Tailoreds, a snug 26 in Pipers, and a 27 in normal people pants. I winged it and went with a 36.

Onto the review:

The breeches are beautiful. They have a more normal sized waistband, rather than the 2 in. waistband seen with most breeches. They have a dust/water repellent 4-way stretch fabric that I love. They're surprisingly long enough for me, and I might wear them in "real life" as comfy dress pants. They fit more like a medium rise than a low rise, but I prefer to have all the important parts covered (and be able to bend over comfortably).

My only con is that I feel like they just don't quite fit, which is no fault of the breech specifically. I'm definitely not skinny by any means, but I'm not curvy either. I think these would fit ladies with a little more "junk in the trunk"- they fit well around my thighs, but just gap a little at the waist. These are breeches I HAVE to wear a belt with. If I were being nitpicky- I also hate that the inside of the pockets are white.

Overall- I'm really happy with these breeches, and see myself keeping them. They don't fit perfectly, but they fit well enough for me to justify keeping them.

- K & C & L