This and That

So thankful for him, I am not that experienced in jumping, so I’m super happy that it is getting better each time🤎

I just wanted to share something that you guys might find helpful now or for future bit fitting, since in this particular case, this is not what I thought would have worked. 😂 Anyway, so if you've read my bio, you know I work with a stallion. Stallions, as one vet clinic said, "we treat them like the divas they are." They're not joking when they call them that! While the one I ride is a pretty good, he's very, and justifiably so, fussy about his tack. Recently, I had to get him new EVERYTHING. The hardest part was the bit. His previous owner (I do not own him) rode him in a D-ring, as I saw in photos. I was told by his rider before me that he couldn't be ridden in a bit because he was too mouthy. I refuse to ride such a horse as a stallion without a bit, so I decided to treat the situation as if he were a young horse. At a local tack sale, I found a copper single joint full cheek bit for cheap and decided to buy it because it had the full cheeks, which would help me should he not have very good steering. However, he is a Gypsy and being draft, he has a big tongue and low palate. Turns out he was mouthy because both bits, mine and the former rider's, were single joint and so they were jabbing him in the mouth. So, I searched for what he was ridden in to find the D-ring. Again, a bit that would help with steering. I borrowed one with my beloved double joint and while there was significant improvement, he wouldn't take contact for more than a second at a time. So, after a lot of thinking, with my only reason to try this being that a cheap dressage legal D-ring is really hard to find, I decided to borrow a loose ring double joint snaffle to see how he could take contact. It is very easy for him to blow through the bit on his stiff side, so I didn't want to make it even easier by using a straight bar. To my surprise, his steering was improved despite the "weak" cheekpieces, the loose ring even made him better on his stiff side, and he was MUCH happier to take contact!! All this to say, it's absolutely worth trying the opposite of what you think would work. Sometimes, that's exactly what's needed! 😁

Pony waiting for his clinic! Donna Gatchell is definitely my equestrian icon and I’m so blessed to be able to ride with her! She solved 3 months of our problems in 45 minutes and is just so positive. Has anyone else ridden with her? 💗

Just had my new pair of tall boots delivered and I am in love! I’ve never bought off the rack boots, my only other pair are semi customs, so I was shocked at how nicely these fit! Totally forgot breaking in boots is not exactly enjoyable but I think these will be broken in pretty quickly

I was wondering if anyone knew which sizing guide PSOS follows? as there appears to be several different sizes for the EU vs italy , vs Spain vs France I am dropping a lot of weight, as of today 30 lbs or 2 stone and so I am trying to figure out what size I am in Sweden from the USA I have purchased 38 tights from PSOS an at my heaviest they fit , Most recently I had a pair of the 42 jean type PSOS breaches , and I couldn't fit until about a week ago. These we not the faded wash jeans that everyone said ran small /mine were more of a material dark blue jean styled breech.

Had a beautiful photoshoot during the sunset 🌅

Shoutout to @Caitlin Allen!! A while back, I think on a post I made about sitting the trot (?), @Caitlin Allen brought up Steffen Peter's hip flexor exercise in the saddle. I just wanted to say thank you SO MUCH for that, as I have noticed a tremendous improvement because of it!! And for the rest of you, you should totally give it a try!

Competition finals are happening in the US! To really clean your saddle pad and get it too look whiter, stain remover is always my go to, but I also like baking soda. It also helps remove any smells. The same is with vinegar. If the stain is too strong for that, then I recommend a whitening spray (could be one for the horse or just spray paint). The downside to that is it can look a little crusty, but if you use a toothbrush to help get it into the fabric, that should help.