Gear Post 2023

Time for an update on last year's post with the addition of Goggles! 

I initially didn't think much had changed with my gear, but then I remembered I finally caved and bought a second helmet to keep at JT's barn. It's another OneK, but since it isn't playing double duty as a show helmet, I got navy and rose gold, shocking myself with the change from plain black. 

I'm still wearing the Xtra Tuffs as well, but they're starting to wear right at the toe bend (there's gotta be a more technical term for that spot) and are no longer waterproof. I think I might join the croc cult next. 

As far as show clothing goes, I have now tried out the AA MotionLite Show Coat and I LOVE it. It is comfy to wear, much cooler than any other coat I've worn, and it is just a really nice coat. I get soooo many compliments on the green on Ben. 

Best boy at Rocking Horse last December

Isn't his dark coat just so lovely with the green? 

Goggles: 

Bridle is a Micklem with a Myler Baucher. We played around with him in Ben's HS Sensogan Eggbutt, but he seems to like the stability of the Baucher and leans on it a little bit less. The micklem keeps him from being too busy with his mouth without making him irritated by feeling constrained. The Micklem competition bridle was on sale, but only in cob, so that's what he got. He's very close to outgrowing it, fingers crossed he doesn't. The cob browband was definitely too small for him though and rubbed him the first day I put it on, so it got swapped out to Yoshi's old Equiture Aqua and Sapphire browband. I also CANNOT hold onto reins that don't have leather grips (and lets be real, I can barely hold onto them when they have grips), so I got a pair of Smart Pak web reins. So far so good on that front, I haven't used any of SmartPak leather products so far. 

Saddle wise, he is going in JT's Forestier Boekelo with the B15 (slightly narrow) panels. I am taking full advantage of the ability to use her saddles until November or so when I think I'll look into a Tobias saddle for him. They've come recommended from a few different sources and are wool flocked, so would continue to be adjustable as he fills out. He's currently in one of JT's breastplates, or Ben's PS of Sweden Melbourne. 

Fluffy thinline, shimmable, but without shims for him 

I have fallen in love with the Lemieux saddle pads. They fit perfectly with the Forestier saddles, stay nicely up into the gullet over the withers, and have the elastic and velcro loops that attach to the D rings of the saddle. I have NO NEED to buy more saddle pads, so I only have two jump pads that I bought when they were on sale. I WILL NOT stalk the sales to see if more go on sale... I have an entire stack of pads in my closet that never even see a horse anymore... 

He wears the synthetic, squishy Collegiate girth that Ben was wearing last year 

That's it for Goggles other than his KL select bell boots. He went through a phase of standing and moving so closely behind that he was kicking himself and he wore the Silver Whinnys that Yoshi wore. However he seems to have outgrown(?) that phase ::knock on wood:: so I don't have to wrestle those on/off his legs anymore. 

Ben: 

We've made a couple of changes in saddles. He is still in the Forestier Boekelo, but those changes they made last year seemed to make it work. He goes in that with the Mattes pad, no shims. I caved and bought him his own since Ms. GY started using hers again. With the thick fluffy thinline pad, the saddle is actually too narrow. But without a half pad at all, it is too close to the withers.

Boekelo, mattes half pad, LeMeiux jump pad

Same bridle as last year, sans noseband because he's cuter that way and I hope that the less I screw with his tongue/mouth and home, the more likely he is to keep the tongue in for 4 minutes at a show. 

Loose ring KK - I put this in while Goggles was using his HS Sensogan. He's pretty lovely in either, so I just haven't bothered to switch it back. Noseband was back on for the POP show we just did. 

Dressage wise, we ended up putting the exact panels that worked for him on the jump saddle into the dressage saddle, a Forestier Aachen. This one always LOOKED nice on him, but it made his back super sore. Which was weird because the jump saddle always looked worse but never made him sore. However, putting the jump panels onto it made it work. He wears it with a THICK pad, but no half pad. Our vet correctly identified the half pad was making it too narrow around his withers and shoulders and when we took it out one day during a riding assessment, he breathed a sigh of relief.

Plain fillis irons... nothing fancy 

His girth is now the LeMieux GelTek Anatomic Girth. He seems to like it just fine, but he also liked the Collegiate Goggles now wears just fine. This was his show girth that got moved into daily use when Goggles got his Collegiate. So far I am really liking it as far as durability. It is the first leather LeMieux product we've had. 

Ben's cross country bit set up has pretty much been settled as well, it's a two ring double jointed gag with a chain. It gives him just enough WOAH that if he starts to barrel down and pull between jumps I can half halt and he LISTENS. 

Best action shot I could find of the bit, but you can barely see the chain 

One fun little touch... I bought my first ever fun spur straps for our slightly longer roller ball spurs for XC. 

CATS! 

Best Bebe

Goggles is coming along really spectacularly. I sometimes have to mentally pinch myself wondering how I lucked out with him. A barn friend and I took him and a 6 YO WB gelding for a hack off property last week. Goggles has made it to the corner of the street by himself once before and was pretty stellar for that. I was excited to venture a little further with solid company. We walked for an hour and a half and he was PERFECT the whole time. The WB gelding, who is the picture of a warmblood gelding in the dictionary, was pretty exhausted and sure he was dead when we turned around, so he was wishing to be left where he was and allowed to eat grass until a trailer came to pick him up. He carried this exhaustion into his ride the next day as well and was apparently VERY reluctant to go forward, poor dude. Goggles felt no such exhaustion and was happy as a clam to continue along, but equally happy to turn around and head home. We were passed by cars and trucks which barely warranted an ear flick. We walked over painted stripes on the road and a few different types and colors of concrete driveways. We walked by a tractor mowing, an arabian, a young (two or three year old?) horse who galloped the fence line and had a few donkeys for company, several types of rings and houses, and horses on a hot walker. The horses on the walker were THE MOST FASCINATING THING he'd ever seen. 

STARE

You can kinda sorta see the metal of it through the trees - there were two horses in it going round in circles

I think he couldn't see the metal well, but could see the horses moving and was thoroughly confused about why they would be continually plodding in circles. 

On the way home he decided he could in fact eat and stopped several times to grab snacks. I encourage it at this point, but I think he will cross the line from "relaxing" to "rudely turning the hack into a snack" at some point in the next year or two and we'll have to rework that. 

Since Ben had failed to take me with him to safety for the first time ever two days prior, I was especially delighted by the spook free trail ride. In Ben's defense, I was in LALA LAND while doing a trot set and two turkeys stood up out of long grass. He spun, cantered a few strides away, then let me catch him easily with a look on his face like "WHY would you stay with the MURDER BIRDS?!?!" And the long grass made for a soft landing with no soreness the next day.

In every other area Goggles continues to excel too. He's learning about bend SO nicely now and is just more and more together each ride. His canter transitions are getting really nice and he just stepped into a lovely left lead canter smoothly and easily during our ride on Monday. He also is pretty sure he's got this jumping thing figured out, and even though the cavaletti were on the lowest setting, did the CUTEST bounce over them when we were trotting around the field over ground poles. 

Reminding me that he is still a green four year old, he did levitate both of us when I had him walk over fallen sticks covered in spanish moss. There was more than one stick involved and a piece moved under his feet when he stepped on it and he shot straight up in the air. I felt about two feet out of the saddle, but he stayed straight, so I thunked back down into it. I got off and stood on the branches myself for a bit and then we walked over them together before I got back on and walked over them under saddle again. He is really reassured by me (or JT) doing things or standing on things, a nice trait that we'll keep using. 

I had to have another horse pre-start his apple for him, but then he quite enjoyed it 

Noms

POP fun!

Ben and I made it out to jump around the POP schooling show this past Sunday. We XC schooled at Majestic on Friday, the first time since April. That was when I discovered that completely neglecting your stud holes only works when you're using them every couple of weeks. And I couldn't get his hind studs in. Womp womp. We also were seriously dodging some sketch weather and in fact ended the school by popping through the novice water line, taking the last two of the novice course, and then trotting back to the trailers. Fortunately though, no one got struck by lightning, and we all got done what we needed to. He was super good, but there was long grass and it had already down poured once that morning, so it was SLICK. He slipped once behind, in spite of my best efforts to make long gentle curves, and was conservative off the ground. 

My saintly husband and my very patient horse and I spent an hour on Friday afternoon carefully using the blanks to clear the sand out of the stud holes, and so I had usable holes behind and sorta usable holes up front. My husband was game to continue, but I was DONE after an hour of holding up the hind feet. Compressed air was also involved, and Ben was being very good, but I think our quarter would've run out soon. LESSON LEARNED YA'LL, take care of your stud holes. 

Anyways, back to the show: 

Dressage: Ben was DELIGHTFUL. He is pretty horrified by the rings there, he doesn't like the banners and then there were some irrigation things at the other end that were also frightening. He warmed up beautifully though and we got that relaxation back about halfway through the test. We ended with a 27.2 and might've done better, but yet another dressage judge hates his tongue, and ended with a comment that sounds like a follow up to a bad date. It definitely made me laugh. 

I was still quite pleased though, he held it together so well and I managed to stay soft, slow, and light. He didn't forge at all, the tell tale for when he gets heavy in front, and he softened beautifully for the whole second half. It was really nice to be doing novice where we had more time to focus on those basics and I felt less pressure to continually be prepping for the next movement. 

Stadium: He warmed up really well and then we went in the ring and did our thing. We did trot several circles through the MoveX standards that they had left up before #7, so he was less shocked when we had to canter through them later. He also did a couple look and chips, but then when he considered doing something other than two strides in the 9AB two stride, I put my spurs in, and he stepped up really nicely. Another layer of rust knocked off. It was far from perfect, but it felt solid. 

Cross Country: I couldn't walk the day before, so I walked twice after I got there in the morning. The course flowed really well, so I figured if I couldn't remember where the next jump was, I could just look around and find it. 

#1 roll top - get going, jump it, don't do anything weird 

#2 - cabin

#3 - wagon - then through the tree line and a left hand curve to #4

#4 - roll top - pointed you through the water

Unflagged water

#5 - brush - I was standing almost in the water though, so you had about 5 strides after the water to this one

#6 - log pile

#7AB - down bank to wedge - if you angled the down bank ever so slightly it sent you straight to the wedge

#8 - cut out table

#9 - Faux ditch wall

#10 - another cut out table then a right hand turn through a crater with some larger jumps

#11- corner and then right hand turn to the half coffin

#12ab - half coffin on a bit of a bending line

Then a left hand U-turn back through the tree line that the ditch is set in

#13 - peach thing

#14 log - then through the water which was a bit mucky at the edge

#15 - brush - basically 14-15 was a repeat of 4-5 with an unflagged water between two jumps

#16 - ramp

#17 - bench - and the finish! 

I was a bit concerned about the down bank because Ben was VERY surprised by one at Magnolia Sands one time schooling; he just didn't see it until the last second and then he slammed on the brakes. We also just haven't done one in competition ever, surprisingly. I planned to trot it so he had time to see it and process. The rest of it seemed quite straightforward. 

After stadium, we had some help from the barn family getting studs in and getting bit changed out and boots on. Then we were off. We looped over a few of the warmup jumps and then headed out! He was a bit of the Ben of last spring and early fall for the first half of the course. Way less wiggly, but definitely squatting to the base and chipping a bit. Never in doubt that he was GOING though. We did trot the down bank, but he definitely saw it and got the question just fine. Then the second half of the course, it felt like he remembered what we were doing, noticed that he wasn't slipping behind, and got his groove back. He picked up the pace all of his own accord, and we finished 40 seconds under OT. 

He only chipped the second table because I was staring at the disturbed flower pot in the cut out wondering if someone had slid into it earlier in the day. He was dead honest over the corner and powered through the second water like it wasn't mucky at all. He did skitter sideways near 16, but it was NOTHING to do with the jump and everything to do with a giant mound of sand they have built for the competitive driving folks. Once I got him focused on the actual jump, he was fine. He is who he is as a person! 

I left in the audio on the videos because it makes me laugh listening to JT narrate our jump round. 

Overall I was super happy with the day. It felt GREAT to get back out there and gallop around on my friend. And for the second half of the course, it felt like HE was happy about it too. There's no better feeling than that combined enjoyment! We ended up with a pretty purple ribbon too! Our 28 had put us in 9th to start, so a clear stadium round would've only moved us up to 6th. 

He got to trailer with Toby, a 19 YO OTTB, who is living at the GY's now. Toby has done 2*, but is now on a lease with a friend who is taking him around BN (and novice soon because they won the open beginner novice on their dressage score of 18.4!!!!!!!) Toby and Ben ADORE each other and thoroughly enjoyed chilling together. Maybe a tiny bit too much because I did have to hand walk Ben back from dressage since trying to ride him back to the trailer was resulting in a fussy, sideways, barely contained jig. To his credit, he gave zero indication of how much he was thinking about Toby in warm up or during the test. The flip side of that bond though is that he stood completely happy next to Toby, lead rope on the ground, while I put on his ice boots. I held him, but really didn't need to, while he iced and then got poulticed and wrapped up for the drive home. Still carefully guarding that cellulitis leg, since unfortunately there's some residual swelling around the fetlock and pastern. He's still wearing a silver sock on that leg other than when he is working. I thought it wasn't doing anything, but the night I left it off the leg was definitely puffier the next morning. 

Two dudes, hanging out

Ben's vet came out and adjusted him Monday morning and said he had his usual lumbar/pelvis things, but he felt great in his thoracic spine and adjusted the best he ever has. We're entered in Stable View at the end of September for another run at novice. Then we'll do his hocks in early October with steroids and Arthramid to get him ready for the fall/winter season and a hopeful move back up to training in November at Rocking Horse. 

Much media, much baby horse

Things have been very active in the baby horse department. AND! AND! I have a grand plan so baby horse will get to stay with JT in training until the end of December. Much excitement to be had. 

I also have media from two separate exciting things... 

First...

Goggles did his first grid! He had long lined the day before and walked through the cavaletti bounce on the lowest setting of the cavaletti. He tried to nope out of number two and got told what for. He apparently learned the lesson quite well because he did not even veer a tiny bit through the grid. It was three bounces, a one stride, and then another one stride followed by a placing pole. We walked through it as ground poles in hand first and then I went and tacked him up and then we walked through it, still as poles, under saddle several times. We did another few passes at the trot and then made the world's tiniest half cross rails out of the bounces and world's tiniest real cross rail of the first one stride. He was an absolute champion. He fumbled through the bounces the first couple of times but still didn't touch poles, just did a leg salad at the trot. 

The last time through, the wheels in his brain turned and he figured out cantering made things make the most sense. So even though we'd been encouraging him to trot in and pick up the canter over the first one, he decided to canter before and did it beautifully. 

Such a good, brave baby horse. JT and I were both delighted with him. 

Looking so enthused but also so grown up all of a sudden, pre-ride

Acquired his own bit and bridle and sparkly browband, hand me down from Yoshi, therefore not matching with the bridle 

Each time through the grid he figured it out more and more. He kept his brain engaged the whole time and listened to direction. I could not be happier. 

Second... 

He had his second training ride with JT! He's been in partial training with her since the end of July, but she correctly deduced he needed A LOT of long lining to have a few fights about connection with himself. And he has benefited so much from it. She rode him once a week or two ago, but I was out of town. This time I was around to watch and video. 

He was SO GOOD!!! He did baby baby leg yields and each time he gave more of the right answer. The first time he did a half step sideways and got a load of praise. The next time he offered 75% more. How cool! 

She was insistent that he hold himself and that he keep his shoulders in front of his haunches. She explained the ball of energy, the bit is the top of the trapezoid, rider's legs are the base, the energy ball is over the withers ideally because that's what you want to lift. And you use leg and to a lesser degree rein to keep the energy ball in line. If they're behind the leg, the energy ball has slipped back. If they're running, it is too far forward. Focus on keeping it in the right spot with leg, your own balance, and occasionally rein. 

She also helped with the timing of the halt aids. I had been struggling with being able to put leg on into the halt, but she was getting after me because without leg they will just drag down and get heavy and hard. Seeing her do it made it so much more clear. 

Then they worked on the canter. Again she emphasized that he's really pretty naturally balanced in the canter, so don't rush him forward and off that balance. They did work on the right lead transition with a bit of a conversation about shaking him off the left shoulder when he tried to yank down onto that and fall onto the left lead. 

He did quite a few 15m canter circles and even the long side of the arena. The lack of struggle I've had doing 20m canter circles on the 17h(+??) 4 year old has been amazing. I don't have a ton of experience with green beans, but he is hands down the easiest I've ever sat on in that regard. 

Look at that hind leg!

Weeeee!!!

Left lead too!

Pats for the goodest boy

Goes without saying we're not fussing with his head right now. His body parts have to be straight and he has to be going forward, he can put his head wherever he feels like it.

I'm still holding hostage the video I pulled all these screenshots from, perhaps for another post. It has JT's commentary of exactly what she's doing, and a lot of me irritatingly saying "yeah" very close to the microphone. But her commentary is incredibly helpful. 

August Wrap Up

August continued to be brutally hot. We dodged Idalia pretty well at the end of the month though. My husband and I took off for NC (pre-planned) right before the storm. Both boys were at JT's for the week, Ben came down for some training while I was gone. Moving him 45 minutes south didn't seem like a bad idea either. Overall we got very, very lucky though with the turn north though and only had a few branches down. 

	Ben	Goggles
Training rides	2	1
Lessons	2 - jump	4 - 2 "jump", 2 flat
Hacks	5 - including 1 canter set	2
Ground work, lunge, long line	0	5 – 1 with me, 4 with JT
Flat rides	1	7
Aquatred	0	0
XC school	0	0
Total	10	19

Ben: Ben took the liberty of giving himself from the 18th through the 28th off with cellulitis. Another horse at JT's barn also had cellulitis with similarly puffy legs and was... sound the whole time. Not a stoic creature, Ben my friend. 

Monday post-15 minute trot. He was sorta sound so JT and I decided he needed to go get his heart rate up and work it out 

Leg is much more leg shaped post-trot 

It was supposed to be a month of putting fitness back on, hence the single canter set (the day before he rolled under the gate and developed cellulitis). Well, since it was still brutally hot and we're not looking at training until November, we've still got time. 

He did return to a "show" with a stellar two rounds at Majestic at their schooling jumpers.

Goggles: Goggles had a pretty busy month with lots of long lining and lessons. I, unintentionally, dropped the ball on hacks, so I'm going to focus on increasing those to at least once a week during September. He was a VERY GOOD BOY for the whole month though and has learned a TON. I'm trying to squeeze around finances so he can stay down there in training with JT for a while longer, through December, I hope. September will hopefully bring a couple of off property outings for him.