DefinitelyDressage.com

heddylamar

Blob — have you tried removing yourself from the situation? I know I start doing weird things with my aids when we're not getting something right, and it becomes a self-fulfilling mess. Instead, if I try the movement out on trail — where we have loads of natural forward and softness — it works every...

heddylamar

I need to get some recent photos of Anz ... but, Maia and I had a "does this saddle make my butt look big?" photo shoot :lol: Short answer: Yes! No matter how girly stands, she's got a big ol' butt :D https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50714861092_c75befaab7_c.jpg In perfect happenstance,...

heddylamar

I *may* be a bit closer to a decision — I just ordered reins from PS of Sweden. I need a new set for the dressage bridle anyway, since Maia and I have completely destroyed the original set. If I like the reins, I'm leaning towards this bridle . Yes, yes, it's not one I was considering originally :lo...

heddylamar

Maia's fine-boned but clunky :lol: She's got all of her momma and grandmomma's refined features ... in a great big honkin' package. Seriously. The girl cannot shoehorn herself into any of their cob halters or bridles. When I brought her to MD, nothing fit except the "long" cob Jerry's brid...

heddylamar

Oh. Wow! The Nirak is lovely! I'd looked at Nunn Finer, but totally missed the build your own aspect. Minus 1 bridle, plus 2 more

I found the saddle barely broken in — 2017 model, extra long flaps (woot!), and less than half list price.

heddylamar

And here are the other bridles I'm considering:
Bridle three
Bridle four
Bridle five

Thoughts? Any experience with these? Anything else I should consider?

I use a Jerry's on Maia right now ... and really wish they were still in business!

heddylamar

I'm looking for a new jumping bridle to go with one of these gorgeous saddles :D My requirements: - padded mono-crown - flash - buckles Deal-breakers: - crank noseband - hook fastenings I've broken my fingers so many times, I cannot handle hook fastenings. The last few attempts to change bits have r...

heddylamar

Maia : Get over the last trailer hump This is not going so well. We've stalled out at about our July progress. I stand at the base of the ramp, and send Maia back and forth in half circles in front of me, over the ramp. Then, when she's begging for it, into the trailer, where she self-serves 1-2 tr...

heddylamar

Yawning, blowing, and licking are all signs of relaxation. When we were just starting Maia, she would blow after about 10 minutes under saddle. After that it was like "Yay! No one's eating dirt today" :lol: Now, I use that moment to signal when we can really get to work. If I ask for too m...

heddylamar

IT Crowd is on our to watch list. It's kinda on topic here

Queens Gambit was a big draw for both of us. The first few episodes were tough — too much reality right now — but by the third episode, we were glued to the TV. The Crown and the Witcher are too dark right now.

heddylamar

We just finished "Superstore" and "Queen's Gambit," and picked up "Better off Ted" and "Kim's Convenience."

heddylamar

Maia has a big canter too, and wasn't fond of half seat. I think it put her even further off balance. I went with my least sticky knee patch britches, so my butt would slide

heddylamar

I've asked for one for Christmas. Pretty sure I'm not getting one — per DH "I ordered your gift. It won't be here for several months." [God knows what he ordered, but it's probably 200% perfect :D ] If I don't get one, I'll be ordering a Pivo in January. All your reviews make it sound perf...

heddylamar

I use the spiral or leg yield to canter with greenies. It works great. At some point, once they're with the program over half the tine, I quit pushing into the canter. So trot leg yield to canter [horse rushes], come back to walk. Start over. Sometimes a ground pole prevents rushing — leg yield out,...

heddylamar

No two point, just posting trot ... but I think I over did it

I've spent every sitting moment today on a heating pad. Definitely feeling every one of my 40+ years right now.

heddylamar

I'm at 2 weeks out as of tomorrow. This time I went down with a 20# pack. Last time I was lugging a commercial carpet cleaner down the stairs. I don't remember how long it hurt, just that it wasn't great. Add 15+ years, and I definitely don't bounce as well. Back then, when I went to the ER — and la...

heddylamar

I should clarify. I don't use food as an unlimited lure. Maia's *very* food driven, so after our trailering incident, BO and I started free feeding in the trailer: we'd close all the yard gates, put Maia's dinner dish partway in the trailer, and Maia had to walk into the trailer on her own to eat di...

heddylamar

khall wrote:Does anyone feed their horses in the trailer? I did this with a couple of horses. One that was truly terrified to the point of shaking.

Yes. Food is the only reason I've gotten Maia to step foot in the trailer since our accident.

heddylamar

Has anyone bruised or broken their tailbone? How long did it take to get back to riding? I landed on my tush a few times backpacking on the AT a few weeks ago — wet leaves, roots. I'd guess the second time was just added damage ... but the first time I landed right on a pointy granite rock and earne...

heddylamar

I ride early morning, so light isn't a problem, but frozen or saturated footing can be a challenge. Oftentimes that's easily solved by riding in the pasture — we've got a large field with a significant grade that drains well. And the grass is so thick it's padded in the winter. I don't ride out ther...

heddylamar

Great decor <3

heddylamar

I am also a fan of doing a walk warm up on a 15-20 m circle of shoulder in to counter shoulder in to travers to renvers. Doing it on a circle is hard, but extremely effective to limber up my short bodied, tight mare. FYI, I start with free walking before doing this series. We do a low-key version o...

heddylamar

What a lovely tribute to your Kirby. He sounds like a wonderful, willing partner. So many hugs, Robyn. This part sucks

heddylamar

Horses are so weird.

heddylamar

I've owned a few Arabians over the years. I definitely am a fan of the breed. I prefer Polish, Spanish and crabbet lines. Totally agree! I've got two Polish Arab crosses, and they are absolutely fabulous. Anz gets constant compliments on the quality of her movement and confirmation, even now as a c...

heddylamar

Maia's not a fan of always engaging her left shoulder on a circle. If I tighten my left thigh, most of the time she'll stand up, but some days we need more intervention: Counter-bend 2-3 strides 1-2 strides straight Return to original circle Repeat as necessary It's mostly a strength problem at the ...

heddylamar

Ooooh. Yes. I have family in Yakima, Snohomish, Chelan, Whatcom, Okanogan, Lewis, Kittitas, and Clallam. My aunt's at a hospital in Stevens County.

heddylamar

I am in washington were are taking patients from Idaho. Not sure what will happen when our hospitals need space for washington folk. Particularly those in the wedding party of 300 where + cases are now at 42 What area of Washington? [Which leads to: is my aunt being less than forthcoming about the ...

heddylamar

Sue B wrote:Has anyone read the new Tana French novel yet?

Not yet. I'm saving her latest two novels for my next travels. Or maybe our Christmas vacation ... hmmm

heddylamar

That poor guy. He sounds like he needs a really confident, unflappable, kind rider. Or no one, and retire him now ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

heddylamar

And, of course, numbers are spiking here in Maryland too. Is there a state where numbers aren't increasing? :shock: It really shows nationwide that people have become really lax with masking and distancing. I'm glad to have the barn and running ... and after slacking for several years, a girlfriend ...

heddylamar

I've got my fingers crossed you are correct, Chancellor.

heddylamar

Maia saved me from a killer squirrel tonight

heddylamar

The relief was instantaneous! Now we need to get to work in Georgia.

heddylamar

My mares are my best buddies. Joy – sweet, kindly caregiver Triple A QH stock, who'd give you a big "what for?!" if you stepped out of line. But if you were clear, polite, and respectful? She'd do everything you asked. She was a cutting horse when I got her, and I turned her into an evente...

heddylamar

Lambchop expressed it best: https://youtu.be/CXHXUgXG1tM

heddylamar

DH is upstairs curled up sick. Anxiety-induced

heddylamar

I am too ... but ours haven't been counted yet. Put them in a drop box over a week ago (have receipts), and still not marked "accepted!"

heddylamar

I am. It's all still so early. So many mail-in ballots not counted yet.

heddylamar

That worked with mom's appy gelding ... but, if I nagged like that, I'd have a very, VERY, ticked mare on my hands!

heddylamar

Welcome back!

heddylamar

Maia : Get over the last trailer hump, and off to my trainers so we can start jumping! Anzia : Ride at least 1x week. She is retired, so expectations are low :) But, she's a good tool for me to walk through movements on — if I do something wrong, she either ignores me or gives me "what for?!&q...

heddylamar

Thanksgiving will be just us at home. DH's family is all local, and we normally go to the big family potluck at BIL/SIL's house ... but we're not interested in being part of a super spreader event, nor are SIL's parents. So we're trading some dishes with the SIL's parents who have stayed home throug...

heddylamar

Hello!

heddylamar

I would never tie any horse in the trailer before doing the butt bar up no matter how good they are about riding or loading. That's sorta the premise of what happened with Maia :| She was being a pain about self-loading, so I walked her in, tossed her lead over the breast bar, and told her to "...

heddylamar

Maia and I had a trailer loading accident a few years ago ago, that resulted in a chipped bone and staples. Before the incident, she self-loaded. Since then, she's given the trailer a hairy eyeball. With my other horses, I had zero problem convincing them that they should get on the trailer. While t...

heddylamar

What?! I can't imagine that shows insurance policies would allow anyone to ride helmet-less. We're required to wear helmets at my facility.

heddylamar

I think horses, like humans, have dominant sides. Some are more pronounced than others. When we got him as an un-started 2-year-old, mom's Appy was very one sided. He never cantered on the left lead in the pasture. Even on the lunge or in a round pen we couldn't get him to pick up the left lead. It ...

heddylamar

Oh wow. Even my "cat-hating" DH would have been all over her! (He really adore cats, just hates the allergies).

heddylamar

My mostly retired mare, Anzia, trashed — and I mean trashed — my confidence. Even riding a friend's older been-there-done-that eventer, I was a nervous mess. It took a lot of time in the saddle of a 4yo Maia, wrapped up in a crash vest, to regain my normal loose relaxed confidence in the saddle. Now...

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