The weekend started on Friday afternoon when I left work early to meet up with Eli’s massage therapist so he could get mushed on again. This time, the therapist started with the right side and got much further in his right hind area than she had last time, so that’s progress!
right stifle! from patentlybay on Vimeo.
I had a meal and drinks with friends Friday evening, and tried more doughnuts, this time at Voodoo Doughnuts and ohmygodallthesugarallofitALLOFIT.
Saturday, Eli just got a light hack and felt pretty much fantastic–very loose under saddle. I just want to add here a note about my Ariat tall boots, as an addendum to my review of them. They are wearing really, really well. The leather, which at first I thought of as too thin and a bit papery, is now soft and supple. Additionally, the leather has developed a gorgeous patina. Definitely getting much more out of this purchase than I expected and the boots are less than $300. I still strongly dislike the zippers, but they are holding up.
Sunday, I jumped Eli around just a little bit–maybe a total of 20 jumping efforts. Six of those were through an in-and-out. One of those six efforts Eli gave to me as charity and I have no idea how he managed to save my ass and clear the oxer but he did. I mean, it was U G L Y. The remaining efforts through the in-and-out were basically flawless from my perspective because he really had every right to throw me to the dirt, but nope, he jumped anyway. Thank you, horsey.
Eli had a well-deserved spa day on Monday, and he’s getting some fun things in the mail this month so be on the lookout.
The long weekend also allowed me a little extra time to get some reading in, so I read Tug of War by Gerd Heuschmann and again looked through Cavalletti: For Dressage and Jumping by the Klimkes, father and daughter. I recommend both books very highly. Tug of War resonated strongly with me as insightful, direct, and powerfully thought-provoking and I think all equestrian sports need voices like Dr. Heuschmann’s. The book provides a number of helpful and interesting illustrations and at 135 pages I easily devoured the book in a few hours and I am sure I will re-read passages from it over and over.
Tug of War looks like it needs to be added to my reading list!
And those boots are gorgeoussssss.
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It’s a great book! And thank you 🙂
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I keep hoping my copy of Tug of War will show up before we leave, but I’m not holding my breath…
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I think you’ll like it.
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Loved this book. Can’t help but just see every horse that goes/has gone in draw reins now. You can’t unsee!
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You were the one who finally convinced me to just go for it and get these brown Ariats! – I love them so much! Still working through the breaking in process, but so happy with my decision. I’m glad you still like them now!
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They do take a few rides to break in and I also put inserts in mine, but I am so much happier with them than I expected to be!
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Love this book! You can’t help but see every horse that goes in/has gone in draw reins after this. Can’t be unseen!
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so true! I feel like I am still undoing some of that with my current horse (between the track and my barn, he was somewhere else for 4 years so I don’t know what exactly happened to him, but some of it definitely wasn’t good)
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I LOVE those breeches. Such a pretty color! I’m glad the boots are holding up.
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Thank you! I caved a while back and bought the tan patch Trophy Hunters in Bordeaux. I do not regret my decision because I love wine.
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Those boots are gorgeous. Def one of my next purchases!
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They have broken in so well! Totally recommend.
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Oooh! Tug of War has been living in my Amazon cart for a bit now, I just need to pull the trigger an get it.
But, if you’re looking for something else to read, I really recommend The Complete Training of Horse and Rider by Alois Podhajsky. Super insightful and lots of good stuff in there. 🙂
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I definitely know that name–that’s going on my reading list asap.
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That doughnut thing. Omg.
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I know. It’s life. But better.
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I definitely want to read tug of war.
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It’s good! Some of the illustrations are extreme examples and painful to look at, but they get the author’s point across.
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