Friday Five

It's been a fast week- I'm back in the swing of things at work and slowly resetting my routine of barn, exercise, and cooking at home. I'm catching up on lots of stuff, which means all sorts of things are on my radar!

ONE La Valencio Debora Competition Shirt

Pink isn't my first choice for a shirt, but I LOVE the studs on the shoulders. The fabric on this feels super silky and light, which makes it perfect for summer. I kind of want to buy it, but then I remind myself I have yet to go to a single show. 

TWO AchieveMint

I'd totally forgotten about this website until an email showed up in my inbox this week. AchieveMint is a site (or an app, if you have an iPhone) that rewards you for healthy activities. You connect apps you already use to AchieveMint (for example, I have a running app and My Fitness Pal connected); every time you use those apps, AchieveMint gives you points. (The number depends on the activity you're logging.) When you reach 25,000 points, they send you $25. Seriously. I'd totally forgotten about this until AchieveMint emailed me this week to tell me I'd reached 25,000 points. Woo, extra money!

THREE Straight Shot Metal Smashing

When Beka of The Owls Approve let us all in on the secret that is her Etsy store, I was thrilled. She made me a Hand Gallop keychain a while ago that has been nothing but excellent, so I was super psyched to purchase some hand-stamped metal stuff from her. I love, love, love these super-stylish arrow bracelets, and the sweet wedding keychain was a nice bonus. Now that the thick equestrian cuff bracelets are back in stock, yours truly has a bad case of grabby hands.

FOUR The Grindfather's House: Welcome to Tony Allen's Playoffs

Johnny introduced me to basketball shortly after we met, and I've been a dedicated Memphis Grizzlies fan ever since. (I've been a dedicated Oklahoma City Thunder hater ever since, too.) This hilarious and accurate look at the Grizzlies' bizarre and wonderful Tony Allen is worth a read even if you aren't an NBA fan. 

FIVE How I Learned To Give Up Luxuries So I Could Thrive In An Expensive City

Tulsa's a very affordable city, but this article has some great advice for enjoying the place you live- expensive or not. It's inspired me to look at and appreciate some of the free things offered in town, like the Philbrook Museum's free admission days and festivals like Hop Jam, Hanson's annual music and beer celebration!

Friday Five

Happy Friday, y'all! This week has been full of wedding meetings and endless emails; I'll be glad when this is over! 

Here's what's on my radar.

ONE Intentional Living

Johnny and I had a short pre-martial counseling session this week with our officiant so we could get our marriage license for $5 instead of $50. It was a great experience; one of the things that came up throughout the session was the concept of living with intention. The idea of doing things with a purpose and consciouslly making decisions really struck a chord with me. For example, when I snooze my alarm and wake up too late to go ride before work, is that something I'm choosing to do, or something I'm letting happen to me? I'm excited to work harder to make intentional choices.

TWO Live streaming of Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event on USEF Network

Competing at Rolex is one of my life goals, and I love watching it. I'm so happy USEF Network is streaming it- I'm hoping my internet connection on the mobile unit tomorrow is good enough to watch cross country!

THREE Horze Kiana full seat breeches

In my quest to be the tackiest person at schooling dressage shows, I'm always looking for a wild pair of full seat breeches in my size and price range. Horze has some good options. New colors for their Kiana breech include this green/navy combo and a white/brown option. I'm considering the green/navy combination, as I have a navy dressage pad, but I'm a litte concerned about just how large this pattern might make my already large thighs look.

FOUR The Bit & Bridle

Poor, neglected Moe Moe needs a new bridle- his cob-sized cheapie from SmartPak has finally stretched out to the point that I can't punch any more holes in it. Moe has almost always gone in a plain cavesson for all work; he goes in a figure-8 when he's feeling very rambunctious for cross country or other jump work. I've been curious about how he would do in a drop noseband in dressage. This article from Sustainable Dressage is an interesting, in-depth look at different types of nosebands and their effects.

FIVE What to Wear in the Show Ring

Although I'm not a hunter, equitation or jumper rider, I found this look into what's appropriate for those rings from Equestrian Coach fascinating. I liked how the emphasis was on looking neat, polished, and professional. Dressage and cross country attire are also addressed, but not nearly as thoroughly as hunter/jumper kit is.

Friday Five

I still don't feel like I've fully recovered from working the show last week; I've gotten kind of used to have weekends to rest and relax! I'm looking forward to wrapping up some wedding-related loose ends this weekend, not to mention riding Gina in preparation for the first schooling show of the year next Saturday!

Here's what's on my radar this week.

ONE Floral Montar breeches

What would a Friday Five be if it didn't feature some outrageous pair of breeches that I feel like I absolutely need to own? These floral breeches from Danish manufacturer Montar are amazing in a grandma's-house-wallpaper kind of way. Montar's usual offerings look like they let someone loose with a bedazzler, so I'm glad to see them getting creative.

TWO 74 Thoughts Brides Who Hate Wedding Planning Have

I laughed and laughed at this, because I've totally had all of these thoughts. The wedding planning process has been much more involved, much stupider, and much more not-fun than I thought it would be. I am very glad that this dumb wedding will be over soon, and I can go back to my regularly scheduled low-key Kentucky Derby party next year. Ugh.

THREE Mare Glares

I can't believe I missed Horse Nation's 24 hour photo challenge this week, especially because the subject was mare glares. Gina has the best mare glare, but these horses are giving her some serious competition.

FOUR Friends

Yes, Friends as in the sitcom that ran for 10 seasons in the 90s and early 00s. I'd never watched it when it aired; I think I had seen about three episodes of the show prior to beginning to binge watch it on Netflix with Johnny. Now I'm totally hooked, and I have so many questions! Why is Ross such a jerk? Why was it Joey that got a spin-off show? How are Monica's arms so freaky ripped?!

FIVE 102 Container Gardening Ideas

When our pool was demolished last summer, our raised garden beds were too. That's okay, because I was a very neglectful gardener. This year, I'm determined to decorate our new deck with gorgeous flowers and veggies- this list from Southern Living is full of colorful ideas and inspiration. Now I'm ready to hit the nursery this weekend!

Any neat stuff on your radar this week?

Friday Five

Show season is ramping up here, and I'm headed to a show three out of four weekends in April...but not as a competitor! I'll be riding a Training level test with Gina at a schooling show on April 18, but the other weekends I'll be manning the tack store's mobile unit! (I'll be working the weekend of the schooling show, too, but I'm taking Saturday off!)

Anyway, here's what's on my radar:

ONE Lilly Pulitzer for Target

I've been pumped for this collaboration since it was announced! The online lookbook was released yesterday, and it. is. everything. There are lots of cute styles for women and women's plus sizes, as well as home goods (I'm looking at you, beach chairs) and beauty accessories. For once, I'm glad I live in semi-rural Oklahoma- I won't have to camp out in front of Target to get things; the last few Target collaborations lasted several weeks in my local stores!

TWO Differences Between Mares and Geldings

This very interesting article from TheHorse.com is right in line with the recent spate of blog posts about finding the right horse for you (someone ought to round those up!). As the owner of a mare and a gelding (simultaneously!), I can say there are definitely differences in their behaviors, but I've always attributed them to basic personality differences that don't have anything to do with gender.

THREE euro-star Laura Infinity full seat breeches

My coworker Mary, who is the store's purchaser, pointed these out to me earlier this week and said, "Stephanie, I think I found your breeches." She knows me, y'all. I need to get my hot little hands on these things, ASAP. The dressage people of Northeastern Oklahoma won't know what's hit them.

FOUR Blendtec blender

Real talk, if you're only going to buy one overpriced small kitchen appliance, make it a Blendtec blender. Our old blender gave up the ghost a couple of weeks ago, and after suffering through smoothies made in the mini food processor, Johnny and I broke down and bought a Blendtec (of Will It Blend? fame). This thing is amazing. Smoothies, gravy, frozen margaritas: what can't it do?! It comes with a nice cookbook and it's super easy to clean. Obsessed.

FIVE The Unwritten Rules of Dressage Test Riding

I stumbled across this article from Dressage Today and thought it was a worthwhile read, especially as Gina and I will be stuck in the sandbox until we get our own wheels. There are a lot of details packed into this thoughtful article- definitely a good read for the dressage and eventing crowd!

What have y'all been up to this week? Any fun plans for the weekend? Your truly has a wedding dress fitting, a friend's dog show, and a much-needed spa day!

Friday Five

It's almost the weekend, y'all! Here in Oklahoma, it's going to rain, which is totally lame, because that means I'll be dressaging this weekend. Ugh. I mean, hooray for leg yields!

Here's what's on my radar:

ONE Handwriting font creator

How cool is this?! This free online tool allows you to create a font from your handwriting. All you need is a printer, a Sharpie (or a felt tip pen), and a scanner. It seriously takes maybe 5 minutes. I am obsessed with fonts (and am eternally grateful to my boss, who lets me download whatever fonts I'd like to my work computer) and having one of my own writing is super neat. 

TWO USG Doreen breech

I am sooo into loud breeches. Like, if Lilly Pulitzer made breeches, I would buy them. I love this mint green/grey combo from USG. I mean, I know Annie's is kind of the standard for bright breeches, but the USGs go up to a size 34 and I can take advantage of my work discount!

THREE Sally Hansen Miracle Gel nail polish

I like to keep my nails painted for a variety of reasons: it hides the dirt I inevitably get under them when I ride before work, I can add even more bright colors to my person, and it prevents me from biting my nails. (I don't do that very often anyway, but this is a further deterrent.) I am a big fan of Essie polishes, but they were just not holding up to the wear and tear of an equestrian lifestyle. Johnny lost a bet a couple months back and owes me 10 nail polishes; on a whim, I decided to try the Sally Hansen Miracle Gel polish. It is fantastic! It's a two-step process: first, you apply a couple of coats of color to your nails, letting it dry between applications. Then you apply the Miracle Gel top coat. That's it. No UV light required! I didn't even use natural light the first time I applied it- I painted my nails while watching basketball and let them dry before bed. They turned out just fine and were chip-free for 5 days, which is a new record. 

FOUR Build A Barn That Works

This article from Practical Horseman is great; Johnny and I frequently discuss moving into a more rural area (so, you know, pretty much anywhere in Oklahoma) and developing a property so the horses can live with us. This article goes in-depth to discuss what you should look for in a potential barn site, what materials to use, and even sizing for aisles and stalls. While poor Johnny may be too freaked out by the cost of building our own facility to ever do it, I like daydreaming about the possibilities!

FIVE Ariat Heritage Contour Field Zip

I ordered a new pair of Ariats a couple of weeks ago; they came in this week. I couldn't be happier! I am longtime fan of Ariat boots- when I was a youngster, my very first pair of field boots were used Ariats from the local tack store. When I was about 15, my parents bought me a brand new pair for my birthday. (I still have those boots and still wear them when I can get them over my calves!) About five years ago, I bought a new pair of Treadstone boots because they were wide enough to fit my legs. They've been the absolute worst pair of boots- I've had the zippers replaced (twice in one boot!), had them resoled, and had parts of them restitched. When Ariat started making the extra-wide calf, I knew I had to get a pair. I am thrilled to report they fit over my 17.5" calves (and I tried them on at the end of the day!) and are just as comfortable and beautiful as my old boots- and with the convenience of a zipper! Now I just need a pair in brown...

Friday Five

Edited to add comparison photo of Tailored Sportsmans and RJ Classics breeches.

This week has flown by! I'm convinced it was because I had a snow day from work on Wednesday in anticipation of nasty weather that never materialized. There's nothing like a midweek break to make you feel rested (and give you time to clean your house)!

Here's what's on my radar this week:

ONE Buff multifunctional headwear

Fellow horse people, you need this! This soft, moisture-wicking tube of fabric is everything you need in life. It's the best $20 I've spent in a long time. My favorite way to use it is as a headband/ear warmer that moves down to a neck gaiter/scarf once I put my helmet on. It also works beautifully if, like me, you are a high foreheaded freak who struggles to find a wide enough headband for exercise!

TWO RJ Classics breeches

Tailored Sportsman on top, RJ Classics on the bottom. Both size 26 Regular
on my non-equestrian coworker.

RJ Classics' new line of breeches is niiiice. The fabric is pleasantly thick while still being stretchy, so they're slimming and do a great job of hiding any thigh cheese you may have. They offer a mid-rise breech, which is nice for shadbelly wearing riders. Best part? They have a great range of sizes: 24 through 36, all available in short, regular, or long lengths. 

THREE 11 signs you were a horsey child in the 90s

Horse & Hound is one of my favorite publications (it's available on my e-reader, which is far cheaper than paying for the print edition here in America). This article had me nodding my head and laughing- while some of the things are clearly a UK thing (dismounted rallies, dandy brush polos), many are universal! I totally played Riding Star, read Saddle Club, and had Derby the Beanie Baby horse.

FOUR We Love Typography

I love typography. Something about how people can turn simple letters into art never fails to impress me. I love this site, which is a curated gallery of lovely typography. It's inspired me to attempt to make work-related graphics more beautiful!

FIVE Horse Nation's What Color Is This Horse? series

This series has thus far featured pinto and Appaloosa colors, which are two coat patterns I know next to nothing about. Coat colors and the genetics that cause them are fascinating, and I'm excited for this series to explore the dun family!

Friday Five

It's been an awfully boring week around here- thanks to the icky weather, I haven't ridden at all. I went to the barn yesterday with every intention of riding, but the ponies had just finished up with their lesson kids. I dropped off new blankets for them, since Moe's blanket had suffered an enormous rip and I get blankets at a silly discount through work. I'll be out tomorrow to drop off new halters, as both little brats managed to break theirs this week. Moe's halter apparently gave out for no real reason, while Gina's broke when she pulled back at a sheet of ice crashing off the roof near her. Sigh. Horses. SMH.

Anyway, here's what's on my radar:

ONE Scharf helmets

We just got a whole slew of these helmets at work and apparently, they're selling like hotcakes with the Florida unit. They're supposedly the most well-ventilated helmets on the market and come in a plethora of fun colors and designs. They're priced along the same lines as One Ks, so I'll have to try one on and see how it fits!

TWO Golden Button Challenge review statement

The Golden Button Challenge was revived after a three year hiatus and videos promoting it have been all over social media for the last few weeks. It's a cross country race near Tewkesbury, England that's three miles long and covers hunt-field type 25 obstacles. It was held last weekend. Sixty two horses started the event, 39 finished it, and 3 horses died. One was euthanized on course due to a broken back suffered in a fall, while the others are suspected of having heart attacks following the event.

Challenge organizers released a statement on the event, which was reviewed by the Ledbury Hunt (who put the thing together). You can read the statement at the link above; basically, the organizers stand by their event and don't feel any wrongdoing has been done. 

I feel like this event has a lot in common with the recent spate of event horse deaths. I have a lot of feelings about this. While accidents can and do happen in every sport, they seem more prevalent in eventing and eventing-type events. Why? Are courses too challenging? Are riders doing a poor job of preparing their horses? I am a very low level eventer, but I do my best to educate myself on how to best prepare my horses for the jobs I want them to do. I can't imagine that riders who participate in things like the Golden Button Challenge don't do the same. So what's going on? 

THREE Denny Emerson's Real Rules For Real Eventers

Moving from the terribly sad to the terrifically funny, Denny Emerson posted this gem on Facebook. I read it last night and laughed at several of his quips: 

• "Your boyfriend will only pretend to like horses and eventing while he's actively wooing you. After you've married him, he'll start to whine and complain about all the time and money horses require. (Just hope for his sake he doesn't ask the all-time stupid question, 'Who do you like more, anyway, me or that horse?')
• "There is always another way to get eliminated."
• "The morning before cross-country is scarcely worth living."

FOUR Canva

Am I the last person to know about this amazing website? I think I am. In case I'm not, you're welcome. Canva is a free design tool that lets you create slick graphics for all kinds of things- social media, websites, business cards, posters, whatever. I've used it to do some work-related and blog-related things. It's extremely easy to use, free (unless you opt to use paid features), and has a lot of great templates to get you started. 

FIVE Country Music Explained By People Who've Never Heard It

Totally unrelated to horses, or blogging, or anything, really. This list from Buzzfeed cracked me up, though. I'm not a country music lover, despite having been to the Grand Ole Opry three times, Pony Clubbing with Billy Ray Cyrus's daughter (not the famous one), and listening to the local country station for approximately 12 hours a day at my last job. Spoiler for the last question ("What happened to Garth Brooks?"): he lives about 20 minutes away from me, and one of my coworkers is his neighbor. 

Friday Five

This week has gone by quickly, y'all, and I'm a little sad to see it go. It kicked off with beautiful 70+ degree temperatures, but there's a chance of snow in the forecast this weekend. What?! Bring back the sunny weather! 

Despite the impending cold front, I'm dreaming of spring. Here's what's on my radar this week:

ONE Indoor Seed Starting

Every year, I resolve to plant a vegetable garden. We had a few raised beds, and I did plant a garden for a couple of years. Inevitably, it would get hot, I'd stop weeding, and within a week, the garden would be a jungle. When we had the pool filled in last year, our raised beds were partially destroyed by the equipment that was moving in and out. So this year, I'm starting seeds indoors and planning to do some container gardening. We'll see how it goes- despite having a degree in soil science, I don't have a green thumb!

TWO How To Be Assertive (Without Losing Yourself)

Being assertive is not one of my strong points. I'm an extroverted people person. I want people to like me; I'm often afraid of offending or upsetting someone. I'm pretty laid-back, so I don't often feel the need to protest or disagree with someone, but when I do, I really struggle with it. This year, I've been reading a lot of articles with tips on how to be more assertive and trying to implement them. This has been especially helpful when dealing with wedding-related conversations- whether it's my mother suggesting something I don't want, or expressing a preference to a vendor.

THREE Haas Diva Lambswool Brush

My body brush got lost in the depths of the trailer after schooling show championships. I'm a little sad- it was a great brush that I'd had since I got my first event horse, Sadie. (That brush was nearly 20 years old!) That said, I was more than happy to (finally) replace it this week with one of these super soft body brushes from German manufacturer Haas. Like, I would brush myself with this thing. (Maybe I already have.)

FOUR Equus Magnificus (German Horse Muffins)

A friend thoughtfully gave me a bag of these for Christmas and I just finished feeding the bag this week. Both horses love them. Moe is kind of like a garbage disposal, so I wasn't surprised when he wolfed these down. Gina's a little more refined, but she scarfed these like there was no tomorrow. They're very soft and chewy, and of course, my horses always enjoy a molasses overload.

FIVE Horses Can Recognise Their Owners' Voices

Even dopey Moe knows when it's me shouting "MOE MOE! GO RIDE?", so I wasn't surprised by this study's discovery that horses can recognize the voices of familiar humans. I was surprised to learn that horses appear to form a mental picture of the speaker by matching visual and auditory cues. Horses are so cool.

What have y'all been checking out this week? Any big weekend plans?

Friday Five

First of all, thank y'all for chiming in with your thoughts on this week's Wedding Wednesday post. I really enjoyed reading the responses!

In other news, it's the weekend, y'all! Rejoicing! I'm headed to the Oklahoma Dressage Society's annual general meeting tomorrow, doing my taxes on Sunday, and hopefully finding time to ride. 

Here's what's been on my radar this week.

ONE Aztec Diamond technical leggings

After reading good reviews of Aztec Diamond breeches from The $900 Facebook Pony, I decided to splurge on their leggings and socks during their after-Christmas sale. They arrived a couple of weeks ago, and I've been rigorously wearing the leggings. They're a good thickness- not so thin they're see-through, and thick enough to feel supportive and slimming. I've used them for jogging, riding, strength training, and yoga (and lounging around my house). My only qualm is the tag, which is sewn on the back. Every now and then, it rubs something terrible. Other than that, these things are excellent.

TWO Horse Trader Tricks

Dedicated to exposing the tricks often used by horse traders to move unsound/ill/unsuitable animals, this site is full of practical advice and real-life examples. I spent at least an hour yesterday reading through the "Trader Horror Stories" section; many of the stories are heartbreaking and you can't help but feel sad for both the people and horses. They serve as excellent cautionary tales, though- horses are an incredibly emotional subject for many of us, and this site is a good reminder to stay objective while horse shopping.

THREE Basic Physics' Nightlife in the Northwoods

This album came out in 2011, which is when I downloaded it. I promptly forgot about it, but in my recent quest to find music for jogging, I rediscovered it. It's 15 tracks of mashups (which I'm a sucker for) that are pretty awesome. The tempo is fairly slow, so all you hardcore runners out there might not enjoy it, but it's perfect for me.

FOUR My boss thinks he's a Mayan shaman

A few weeks ago, Amanda of Bel Joeor posted a link to the excellent Ask A Manager blog. I immediately subscribed, and I'm glad I did. The advice is spot-on and covers all kinds of situations- from how to get money an employer owes you to interview tips. This week, the blog addressed how to handle your boss thinking he's a Mayan shaman! So helpful. And hilarious.

FIVE Dressage Exercises for the OTTB

Dressage Today has an excellent article on exercises to help the off the track horse become a successful dressage mount. There's advice for fresh-off-the-track horses, as well as for horses that are somewhat further along in their training. The exercises are helpful for everyone- not just dressage riders!

What are y'all checking out this week? 

Friday Five

Confession: I haven't ridden either horse all week. I have been feeling super tired in the mornings and couldn't force myself out of my cozy bed at 5:00 AM to brave the cold temperatures at the barn. It's supposed to be warm (60s!) and sunny this weekend, so y'all know I'm going to go hack The G after we run some wedding-related errands!

Here's what's on my radar this week.

ONE The Athletic Rider Fit Club

If you're a Horse Nation reader, you've probably read one of Leah Hinnefeld's Athletic Rider posts. They're full of helpful tips about fitness that are especially relevant to equestrians. Leah also runs a Facebook group, The Athletic Rider Fit Club. I joined a couple of months ago, but I've been involved this month. It's a great group: there are very short daily workouts posted, everyone's supportive and encouraging, and it's full of great resources on exercise, nutrition, and general health. I use it as a sort of online accountability group. Bonus: No one's trying to sell you anything, and I have yet to see a judgmental, bitchy comment.

TWO Yoga With Adriene

Locally, my options for yoga are pretty limited. I can go to the local rec center for a 5:30 AM class. (That's a good joke!) Or I can drive half an hour to a class in Tulsa. Neither of those is great, but I'd like to start doing some basic yoga once or twice a week to increase my strength and flexibility. (And calm my mind.) My former go-to was Yoga Zone, which was previously available on Hulu. It's no longer online, so I've been searching for a new video series. I really like Yoga With Adriene. I've been doing the 30 Days of Yoga series, which is fine for a yoga newb like me. Adriene moves at a beginner's pace, takes time to explain what she's doing, offers modifications, and encourages you to do what's comfortable. Am I breathing correctly? Probably not, but I've enjoyed the focus and the stretching.

THREE Kerrits Spring/Summer Collection

I am so excited for the tack store's Kerrits order to be shipped. Mostly so I can spend half a paycheck buying myself things I don't really need. Kerrits has so many fun colors and patterns this year- I'm thrilled! I'm especially excited to get some color in the store- it seems like the only thing anyone in the area wants to buy is black tights for schooling! I'm hoping the infusion of colors and patterns will be a hit.

FOUR Lucky Braids Grooming Resources

Lucky Braids for Top Turnout is quickly becoming one of my favorite brands for grooming products. Ruthann, the company's founder and owner, is an extremely nice woman and an extremely good braider. I've loved the products I've used, but I also love the variety of grooming tips on her website. They range from how to get big, full tails to techniques for bathing faces. Totally awesome.

FIVE Dressage Tips At A Glance

Short and sweet, these 13 tips for improving your dressage test are great! From the obvious ('Show at an appropriate level- don't attempt more than you and your horse are capable of") to the "I never thought about it that way" ('Understand each test's purpose and requirements so that you can demonstrate these to the judge'), these are things you can apply pretty easily!

What have y'all been checking out this week?

Friday Five

With low temperatures and an even lower windchill, I'm living in long johns and layers. My boss calls from sunny Wellington, Florida nearly every day, which definitely makes me jealous. Le sigh- maybe I can convince her that I need to fly down to sunny Florida soon!

Here's what's on my radar this week.

ONE Kiwi the mini vs. the tablecloth


I saw this on Horse Nation this morning. I've watched it at least 5 times. I've showed it to my coworkers. I've sent it to my friends. It's so cute. It's so funny. You can't go wrong with adorable minis doing adorable things.
TWO What do the different dressage judge ratings mean?
Practical Horseman answered this question and explained what those mysterious letters mean for both USEF and FEI judges. Now I can be suitably impressed when the Oklahoma Dressage Society has clinics with an 'S' judge!
THREE Dressage boots

A couple of months ago, Horze was having a sale for its dealers and I scored a pair of fluffy white dressage boots for around $15. I think their benefit is primarily psychological; Gina doesn't interfere, but strapping these things to her front legs makes me feel like a total dressage queen. And that's like, half of successful dressage, right?
FOUR Riding and training the senior horse
As the owner for two senior horses (Moe is 20; Gina is 18), I'm always interested in how riding, training, and competing older horses is different from doing the same with their younger brethren. This excellent in-depth article from Horse Channel discusses some things I hadn't considered, like how older horses' thermoregulation is not as good as younger horses'.
FIVE SmartWool neck gaiter

You know that song from the musical Oklahoma! ? "Oklahoma"? Well, they weren't kidding with the "where the wind comes sweeping down the plain" part. Wind regularly whips around at 15+ miles per hour, which makes already cold temperatures feel miserable. I bundle up with layers and layers, but I dislike wearing scarves while riding. They're either too bulky or bounce around too much. This neck gaiter from SmartWool looks like a dream- lightweight, warm, ugh, I should probably just order one right now...

Friday Five

I'm not totally sure I'm ready for the return of normalcy and the five day work week after the holidays- it's been pretty great having Johnny home to hang out and eat lunch with and I don't think anyone dislikes having an extra day off. Ah, well- all good things must come to an end!

Here's what's been on my radar this week:

ONE Lee Baines III & The Glory Fires


Ever since I read a write-up of Lee Baines III & The Glory Fires on the digital magazine Bitter Southerner, I've been meaning to check out their music. I finally put it on play this week, and I'm so glad I did. It's fiery, slightly twangy rock & roll full of great imagery and insight about the South. Dereconstructed is available to listen to on Spotify, so there's no reason not to check it out.

TWO What Are The Best Breeches For You?

Let's face it: breeches aren't always a flattering garment. Some things that affect our ability to look good in skin-tight stretchy pants are beyond our control, but Dressage Different's guide is a great place to start in the quest for the something that doesn't make you look like a sausage.

THREE Cavalor Leather Shine

Confession time: I'm not overly picky about my leather care products. I have a vast array of them at home and feel like I use a different product every time I clean my tack. A couple of months ago I received a sample of Cavalor Leather Shine in my monthly Horse Box. I used it to clean my dressage saddle, then rode it in the next day. Whoa. If you're looking for something that makes your tack just slightly grippy, this is it. My saddle didn't feel sticky to the touch, but once I got on, it felt like I was wearing full seat breeches. I'm making this stuff a regular addition to my saddle cleaning equipment!

FOUR How to Tweak Your New Year's Resolutions to Work

I like making resolutions and setting goals, but sometimes, I get a little too vague or way too specific. This guide on setting effective goals and forming a strategy to achieve them is great. It essentially boils down to asking yourself why you want to accomplish something, and using that as a motivator. Good advice!

FIVE Whole30

I started my second Whole30 yesterday, and I'm really excited about it. Last March, Johnny and I completed a Whole30; both of us felt great about ourselves and the way we felt and looked. If you're unfamiliar with it, it's a sort of nutritional reset eating program. For a month, you eliminate sugar, dairy, grains, alcohol, and legumes. Many people use it to discover food sensitivities and allergies. While Johnny and I don't seem to have those, we both found that we felt more energetic, lighter, and mentally better when we left those things out of our diets. It also helped us control how often we ate out, which was a huge help to our health and our wallets. (Don't ask me about how often I dreamed of Whataburgers.) We're back on track with clean eating and I'm super pumped. (Ask me how I feel three weeks from now, when I can't bear to make my own mayonnaise or eat another banana with almond butter.)

Friday Five

Work is gearing up for the holidays pretty aggressively: not only do we have Black Friday and Small Business Saturday specials going, we've also planned a Cyber Monday sale, a 12 Days of Christmas campaign, and special in-store holiday shopping events. Guess who gets to make all the graphics and send all the emails and set up all the online sales? (Hint: it's me.) It's a little stressful, but I love being busy!

Here's what's been on my radar this week.

ONE One Horse Threads Black Friday sale

I know many of y'all are fans of One Horse Threads- I am, too! I have several of their shirts and wear them to work, the barn, and out in public all the time. These would make super gifts for all sorts of people- horsey and those who just enjoy horse-centric looks. You can save 30% and get free shipping with code HOLIDAY30 through Sunday! 

TWO Williams-Sonoma recipes

It's no secret I love cooking; I love Williams-Sonoma for their high-quality kitchen supplies and regularly wander through their Tulsa store. Lately, I've been obsessed with their online recipes. I made a beef stew last week that was out of this world. The green bean casserole recipe from yesterday's Thanksgiving feast was also from their site- it was a hit with everyone. Plus, the photography is stunning. 

THREE Blogging From The Barn Facebook group

Tracy of Fly On Over highlighted this group in her recent Favorite Equestrian Facebook Pages post. I joined it, and am now totally obsessed. Everyone is pleasant, there are so many new blogs to read, I can creep on some of y'all. 

FOUR Ariat Primo Down Jacket

This jacket...Ever since we got this in the store, I've had my eye on it. It's less shiny in person and more of a soft brown-grey. And y'all...it is soft. Like, soft and squishy and perfect. We've sold all the jackets we received except for the extra-small, which is somewhere in the Fat Guy in a Little Coat range for me. I'm seriously considering ordering one for myself, even though I need another jacket like I need a hole in my head.

FIVE Thoroughbred Athletes

As the owner of two almost-elderly Thoroughbred (ages 19 and 17), I always kind of have my eye on younger prospects. Even though Moe and Gina are sound and reliable, I question how much I really want to push them as they age. I also enjoy the process of bringing greenies along. (In case you're wondering, Freddie is still around and still getting time off.) Thoroughbred Athletes is my favorite OTTB non-profit in Oklahoma. It's a huge mistake to follow them on Facebook, because they're always posting pictures of cute TBs who are looking for homes. Can I sneak another horse to the barn without Johnny noticing? Thoroughbred Athletes makes me want to find out.

What are y'all into this week?

Friday Five

I feel like it's been the coldest week ever, y'all. It sounds like everyone is freezing, no matter where you live! Between worrying if my partially clipped ponies are staying snuggly warm and trying to motivate myself to get out of bed and pull on my long underwear under my breeches, the week has flown by.

Here's what's been on my radar this week:

ONE Horse Blanketing Flowchart

It's so easy to project your feelings about the weather onto your horse! I've always been a blanketing minimalist, because my horses have been furry and fat. This year, both horses are partially clipped and are still trying to gain weight. This flowchart is a good reminder that sometimes, your horse doesn't need a blanket, even if precious baby looks cold. 

TWO Choosing and Using A Quarter Sheet

I think we can all agree that quarter sheets look pretty- but do I really need one? This article outlines different types of sheets, why you'd use one, and what the differences between different types of fabrics are. Gina tends to warm up slowly in the winter (she is 17, after all), so I've been curious about if a quarter sheet would help. Have any of y'all used one? 

THREE Patagonia Baselayers

A couple of years ago, I received a pair of Patagonia Capilene bottoms as a gift; they're so comfortable and are thin enough to fit under my breeches without adding a lot of bulk. They're great for reducing that feeling of wind shearing through your clothes! I'm currently eyeing this pair of Merino midweight bottoms- they're heavier than the Capilene, but I'm willing to trade a little bulk for warmth!

FOUR CotH Sporthorse Breeding Forum

My favorite pastime lately is dreaming about producing a lovely sporthorse foal out of Gina. She's a fancy-moving, well put together mare with good legs, good gaits, and a nice jump. The CotH Forums are a vertiable fount of information: stallions, bloodlines, how-tos, etc. Will I ever breed Gina? Probably not, but it's fun to think about.

FIVE Open2Study

This has nothing to do with horses, but surely everyone can find something here they're interested in! Thanks to the power of technology, massive open online courses are available for anyone to learn about nearly anything. I particularly like Open2Study's easy-to-use interface. I've completed a couple of courses there, and am currently enrolled in a couple more. Learning is fun!

What have y'all been checking out this week?