Shire Henley jacket, under $100

Lavendar is a bit loud, but still a lovely jacket, nicely tailored, and "different!"

Fabbri boots: Like we need another awesome boot vendor

We have La Mundial, DerDau, and Tucci boots. Now we have Stivali Fabbri -- OMG! Check out their web site for some nice photos of their styles and options. Ironically the dressage boots looked a little blocky to me. The others are drool-worthy. No idea about the cost of these boots or the reputation. Loved seeing the styles.

Rolex find: Pony Up bags

My sister first clued me into the Pony Up (ponyupkentucky.com) handbag line.  Few things that sound too good to be true actually are -- but the bags are gorgeous, classy, horsey, and according to their June 28, 2012 blog post, 100% of the profits goes to horse charities.

I can't find the purse I bought on their web site but it is really close to this one, pictured right. What's so special about it?

• The strap is high-quality halter strap leather (designed as the crown piece).
• Straps come in different sizes.
• You get a free engraved-brass plate. 
• The bags are interchangeable.
• They have an awesome selection of bags in at least a hundred colors, prints, styles, and fabrics/leather.
• They have several styles of handbags.

You can order online. I don't know how this company does what it does, but I'm grateful. 

Pink 'n black! In saddles, a winning combination

Devoucoux at Rolex.

Gin 'n Juice at an early fence

Not predicted: Rain at Rolex

Best Rolex apparel item

Shopping and exhibitions, Thursday!

 Italian Boot Company
(have to find out the name)

Friesian Exhibit

Antares

More Antares

Friesian Poice horse

Bluegrass airport souvenir

$6.95 seems a little steep but I suppose to some people to spent horseshoe is a novelty. I'm waiting at the airport to pick up bob so that our horse vacation can commence.

Parker's jog: Well, no wonder!

James Alliston's Parker was asked to rejog at the inspections today. On second try he passed. Sounds ominous, no? Well, when you look at this footage of what I assume is his first jog, you see what was going on...

Anniversary: Let's sing a song of 9

My anniversary gift (April 22). Nine years of marriage, cats, horses, and Rolex! The recognition of all this is Lurk, in the tiniest fragrance bottle I have ever seen. Base of Bergamot. Nice.

Bitless bridle giveaway from Two Horse Tack!

Pal's First Lady models the
bitless bridle. Lady is from
New Vocations Racehorse 
Adoption Program.

Two Horse Tack is offering a Beta Biothane bitless bridle giveaway (signup at the bottom of this post). The Two-in-one, two-color combo bridle comes in custom colors and several options.  There is a wonderful story about a sensitive mare, Pal's First Lady, to go along with the  bitless bridle photo (left).

Lady's Story
Pal's First Lady is the model for the bitless bridle. A sensitive horse, Lady's trainers had been struggling with her tendency to become tense with a conventional bridle and begin rearing. With the bitless bridle, she relaxed and really strutted her stuff!

We're thrilled to report that Lady made so much progress in her bitless bridle that she has since been adopted. Congratulations, Lady! 

Here is a video of Lady in her bitless bridle. 


To enter, go to this signup page especially for BTB readers.

Baby love!

Linda Woltz of Walnut Farm in Ohio kindly let me share this wonderful photo of her spring baby!

Easter sale at Two Horse Tack

Exceller Fund rescue "Benny"
models a blue halter

I've blogged some giveaways and product reviews for Two Horse Tack -- do you remember my halter review, an the recent bridle giveaway? Well, they've been great folks to work with, and recently I learned about Two Horse Tack's charity support. If you go to their site you'll see a wonderful variety of horses that are used as models. In fact, many of their models are rescue horses!

 For rescue horse models, they do a photo shoot and then sell the item donating proceeds to the charity itself. For example you can buy the halter to the right and 100% of the proceeds go to the Exceller Fund.  See their charity product listings which include the Exceller Fund, New Vocations, and the Kentucky Equine Center. They also have a program where if you donate to one of their charities (as little as $5!), you will receive a $10 gift card. That's a great deal!

Two Horse Tack is also doing an Easter sale. Use the coupon code below through April 30 for $10 off. Happy Easter!

Mule Fetches Squeaky Toy

Chocolate dressage!

GP Grand Prix Ladies jacket  -- almost $500 but a really nice color.

Something past my hip bones, please

I love this jacket -- the HKM Cavallino Merino Verona, and was tempted -- but when I saw it on the model, it was clear that this fit would not work. While I like the shorter-type jacket, this one stops at about the hip bones. It's going to be an unflattering "Baby Huey" type fit on the average person. However, if you're petite, I'd think it would be a huge thumbs up. Love the color and piping.

Rah Rah for Rolex: #7 is food

What's a vacation without great food?

Though it’s not really part of Rolex, you must go to Ramsey’s Diner (or one of them, there are several locations). Offering great southern food and hospitality in a casual atmosphere,  I’ve never seen so much good food on a plate for prices that seem circa 1970. 

All around Lexington, there are many dining options that are good, cheap, and plentiful. You can go fancier too, and I love Bella Notte on Nicholasville Road. Make eating out part of your Lexington experience.

Proviz Sports is giving away a Gilet!

The Proviz Sports giveaway is the vest (or Hi Vis gilet in British-speak) that I wore in my product review last week. It's the actual vest which is a size 12 UK (U.S size 8). It is generous and should easily fit a U.S size 12 too.

I love it, but I don't trail ride, and I don't usually wear vests. It's basically unworn/new, with tags. So if you love vests or love to trail ride, this is a giveaway for you!

How to enter 
To enter -- "like" the Proviz Sports Facebook page and leave a blog comment on this post -- say where you would wear the vest -- in an indoor, on the roads, trail, whatever. Make sure to leave contact info! Sorry but I ship only in the U.S.

Harvey Mud -- Harvey in the mud, that is...

In this muddiest of springs, I have been eager to get Harv out of his churned-up, undeniably muddy paddock and into the grassier, untouched-since-fall pasture at the back of the property. Yesterday was the day.

Harv went out. He rolled. And I'm shaking my head over his next move...

Lavendar and dressage: Thumbs up!

Shires Henley show coat in black and lavendar -- not expensive (around $90), very tasteful.

Floral themes in dressage coats, II

Floral lining? I'm all for it! Royal blue satin collar? Not so much.  This is the  SARM Hippique Azalea show coat.

Floral themes in dressage coats I

 Not sure I would wear it -- Pikeur meets Laura Ashley -- but I love it. It almost seems like something not intended to be sold, like a concept car, except that you can buy it in Europe: Veste de compétition fleurs Champ, Subscribe Equestrian.

At a recent Board meeting, someone made an observation that "judges don't like pastels." I am not sure if she was speaking from direct experience, from what she has heard, or just being funny. I love pastels and found the comment a little alarming :-).

Horses and cats in love

I love this sort of interspecies bonding. Riley enjoys one of the cats at his barn despite frequent smackdowns and swats. The barn kitty is a vocal, persnickety diva and the rest of us are just allowed to hang out. Riley doesn't get the established social order, and he loves to stick his nose in her face regardless of the consequences.

Post by Vin's Barrachin.

Rah Rah for Rolex #8: Sunday

Sunday we sleep in and miss some of the cool events, like the inspection/jog and the worship service.

But we would not miss the last day's main events.

We get seated in plenty of time to enjoy the ceremonial part of the day-- the parade of mounted police, the Pony Clubbers' victory gallop, and Dr. Everett McCorvey who sings My Old Kentucky Home so beautifully and makes me cry. This is also when retiring horses are honored.

The show jumping? It’s the dramatic climax to a grueling competition, and the horses and rider who had so much heart on the cross country course show that they have more left in the tank. We cheer as hard for the last place rider (it’s an honor and an achievement to be there) as the winner.

Proviz Sports: A product review

I got this great Hi Vis Gilet from Proviz Sports--it's lightweight, breathable, water resistant, with a full mesh back. The mesh back is awesome. The color is awesome, and it comes in green and pink, too, for those pink ribbon rides!

As a rule I do NOT look good in vests, just don't have the body type. But this safety product fits like an expensive jacket. I love it -- standout, safety-oriented, and fashionable! I don't really trail ride, but I plan to wear this running. I run on the rural roads by Riley's barn, with earplugs (tunes), so this will help me be safer.

The company is in the UK but they ship to the U.S., fast and reasonably priced.

Proviz Sports is kind enough to offer BTB readers a giveaway of their products -- coming soon!

As seen in Wellington

Thanks to Velvet Rider for clueing me into these great jackets. Would I wear the elbow patches?

No.

But if it weren't for the $799 price tag I would own this great jacket! Create your own on the maker's web site; also available from Horse and Rider Tack Shop.

My dream dressage jacket (or close to it!)

If you go to flying-changes.com there is this great "create your own dressage jacket" app. Here is the one I created. It may not be the precise jacket I dream about, but given the USEF/USDF rules and the available colors, it is close!!! Just 365-395 euros, or $505-$550.

From Equetech -- dressage buns!

Pretty, yes? If only I had long hair. In black, navy, and white, from Equetech.

A summer to show?

2012 show season, courtesy Stephen Crowers Photography

Riley has been going really well. I'm so proud of him! The canter work difficult for both of us, but we are getting better -- huge improvements over the winter. At almost 8 years, Ri is huge, now 17.1 1/2, and I just think it is a lot of horse to manage for me.

I am thinking about the 2014 show season.

We have all the pieces to do First Level, reliably doing the individual pieces and long stretches of consistent work with all of the elements, if not the actual test.  We're doing little mini-shoulder-ins, ten meter circles, and canter work that is more reliably balanced -- even in the dreaded transitions. I bought a new stock tie in February (more on that later), so I've go an eye toward the show season. But... Here is the show-stopper, literally.

Riding outside
I've been riding him indoors since I fell off back in June 2013. The thought of riding him outside is scary. He's a good boy, but because of his feet he is not getting regular turnout, and over the years he has shown he's capable of that 1% unpredictable behavior.  At every show I've taken him to, he has bucked in the warmup -- not ugly, pretty rideable. It didn't worry me then, but now I know what the ground feels like, and I know that if I fall off, getting up right away is not a given.

I quake a little at the thought of taking him outside on our home property! And away from home? Ugh.

My game plan is to take it in steps -- go outside, go to Bucks County just for a quick ride, and then off the property for  a real show.

CDIO3* Freestyle Wnners - Adrienne Lyle & Wizard

I wanna go to Wellington! Next year?

Harvey's April fling!

Harv is happy to see the end of a long winter! He shows he is no worse for the wear, and I get such a kick watching him. He was relatively quiet today -- I first turned him out in the outdoor a few days prior -- now that was an event. He can still leap around...

Ariat Denim Breech Giveaway!

Ariat Perfomer color block

Here is how much I love you guys.

Ariat -- yes, Ariat! -- contacted me about doing a breech product review and offered to send me a pair, gratis.

How could I say no?
Here's how. I'm a long-time customer of Ariat -- I counted about 7 logos on clothing that I currently wear, never mind what I've purchased in the past. I had just purchased a pair of their Ariat Performers color block breeches from a local tack store (here they are pictured right, from *Victory Canter).

Bob says I have too many clothes, and I DO have too many breeches. Instead of adding to my already abundant breech stack, I asked Ariat if we could do a giveaway. Score! Thanks so much to Ariat for sponsoring this breech giveaway.

If you like DENIM -- and who doesn't?

The giveaway is for a pair of denim breeches valued at over $100, and the winner will have a choice of two styles: a plain-stitched pocket and a flap pocket.

To enter:
Just fill out this giveaway form to enter.

TAKE A LOOK AT THE GIVEAWAY!!! I have a detailed description and enlarged photos of both breeches.

View Style 1 details and View Style 2 details

*Victory Canter is a store I recommend for its reasonable shipping and good service