For Inspirational Purposes...

I know show season is still a few months away for most of y'all, but get inspired early! Oh, and enjoy one of the comments from YouTube:

"Keira Knightly shows more believable conviction than Brad Pitt or Colin Ferrell. Bulky wimps, both of them. And if you were going to use a clip from Lord of the Rings, it should have been Theoden's speech, hands down."

Amen to that. Too bad Theoden's speech is a bit suicidal, not as inspiring as VIGGO'S!

And LOL at the Peter Pan bit!

More Interesting The Horse Articles

The Horse | Uneven Feet in Sport Horses Related to Other Conformation Traits

"Proper shoeing or barefoot trimming!!! at an early age can also help to prevent further development of uneven feet."

The Horse | HERDA Warning Signs

The Horse | HERDA: Preventing The Heartbreak

If y'all haven't subscribed to any of The Horse's newsletters (they have ones for nutrition, breeding, hoof and joint, healthcare, etc.) then I'd highly recommend to do so. And Equus magazine as well. Interesting little tidbits that you MAY need to know one day. Although I hope I never have to apply this HERDA tidbit :((

Quote of the Day - Jane Austen

‎"Whoever may have been so detestably your enemy, let them be cheated of their malignant triumph... by seeing how nobly the conciousness of your own innocence and good intentions support your interests. It is a reasonable and laudable pride which resists such malevolence."

Elinor Dashwood, Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

Not only does this apply as far as silly men named John Willoughby (oops, did I give that away?) it applies to pretty much any time somebody may say something malicious or disheartening to you. One must simply be proud in the fact that they know who they are and they don't care what others may think. You know who your friends are, you know how you want to do things, you know what feels best to you, you know who you do and don't look up to for advice. Only you, in the end, can make the decision. Don't be afraid to let others influence you, and don't be afraid to think "That doesn't sound right to me."

Ever since owning Greta I've had to repeatedly tell myself a message similar to this quote - as I just discovered it not but two weeks ago! - and often it was my parents or trusted trainers telling me. I like the path I'm taking with Greta. I'm glad I'm learning how to really ride my horse and make her a happy, relaxed, well-rounded partner, and not just a how we can win shows. For if one can truly ride a horse, then they can win any show they darn well please, if they choose to do so.

I like Greta being barefoot. I like not having to stress about a show season when we're not ready for it. I like my trainer. Scratch that. I love my new trainer! I love my pony, and I like the path we're taking, because I think it will set a great foundation for both of us. I'm happy, and I won't let anyone's demeaning comments change that.

Not like I have received any lately. Nothing but, "Is that Greta?! She looks so beautiful and well taken care of and relaxed!"

Yeah, I know. She's kind of awesome like that.

But it's just a topic I wanted to touch on since the discovery of that wonderful quote.

Now look at this happy horse! She likes to pose with friends.

You know something's up with you when...

I think I did one like this before, so this is a part two based on odd occurrences that I have noticed lately.

You know you're a crazy-horse-chick when:

1. When you're talking to fellow artsy, dancing, or acting friends about them going forward with those careers after college, and you think about the average income of those careers and unconsciously deduct the cost of a horse from them, and then immediately jump to the conclusion, "I don't think they'll be able to make a living off that job."
2. When you get bored you examine people's heads, labeling the oval shaped ones as Charles Owens Heads and the round ones as IRH heads. I have a Charles Owens head, by the way. I've checked. And my Statistics class is almost evenly divided amongst the two. That's not creepy at all, right?
3. When you look at clothes at the store - you know, actual non-riding clothes - you ask yourself, "Will this hold up at the stables?"
4. You decide you're going to get a pixie cut after graduation. No, not because Emma Watson and Kiera Knightley did it and you think it looks chic. No, not because you want to donate your hair, as cute as that sounds. No, not because it will look more mature. But those are all nice reasons. Honestly, you're going to do it because it will fit quite nicely under a helmet. Good bye, hair nets!
5. You don't want Chinese characters (which you will hopefully confirm that it means "strength" and not something Orientally Scandalous) or cutesy hearts or flowers or butterflies as your first tattoo. No, you want the Swedish Warmblood brand. With a heart around it :)
6. When you're examining Rococo art in European Studies, and George Stubb's picture Lord Grosvenor's Arabian Stallion with a Groom appears on the screen, the first thing the class says is, "Oh, look Breanna, a horse picture!" And the first thing you comment on is that you hope those aren't saddle rubs on his withers and belly, because that's what they really look like. This is followed by puzzled faces.

I would laugh...

... but I've seen it to be quite true sometimes. HAHA!

Horse Terminology!

• Event Prospect = Big Fast Horse
• Dressage Prospect = Big Slow Horse
• Hack Prospect = Pretty Color
• Sporting Prospect = Short Fast Horse
• Camp Prospect = Fast Horse which can turn
• Endurance Prospect = Fast Horse which will turn sometimes
• Flashy = White Socks
• Attractive = Bay
• 15.2hh = 14.3hhh
• 16.2hh = 15.3hh
• To Loving Home = Only Expensive
• To Show Home Only = Very Expensive
• Needs Experienced Rider = Potentially Lethal
• Elegant = Thin
• In Good Condition = Foundered
• Free Moving = Bolts
• Quiet = Lame in Both Front Legs
• Dead Quiet = Lame in All Four Legs
• Good in Traffic (Bombproof) = Lame all Round, Deaf and Blind
• Loves Children = Kicks and Bites
• Pony Type = Small and Hairy
• Arab Type = Looks startled
• TB Type = Looks Terrified
• Quarter Horse Type = Fat
• Warmblood Type = Big and Hairy
• Draught Type = Big and Exceedingly Hairy
• Easy to Catch = Very Old
• Must Sell = Wife has left home and taking kids
• All Offers Considered = I am in Traction for 6 months
• Reluctant = Sale Comes with Title Deeds to Sydney Harbor Bridge

Ich liebe dich, neue Stübben trense!

I love you, new Stübben bit!

So, today I invested in a new bit for Pretty Pony. I realized that she needs more room for salivation, and her eggbutt just wasn't cutting it for her tiny more-thoroughbred-than-warmblood mouth. So when Grampy and I went online to order a Hunter Dee for Choco, I went ahead and ordered a Metalab loose-ring snaffle with a French Link, 5". I thought it would work. But it didn't, bummer. It would be wonderful for a large horse's mouth, but not Greta's. It was seriously thicker than my original eggbutt, and it was just short enough on wither side that the poor girl was pinched three times during our first and only ride in it! I was really bummed out.

So... rather than hit the internet guesstimating out the yin-yang, I thought it would be best to go to the local tack shop (which I seriously have not gone to for over a year now, because I can usually find better deals online haha) where I know they have a large selection, and be able to physically feel and see and compare the bits first-hand. I didn't go as in-depth as I thought I would.

I walked in, told the owner (whom I had forgotten how much I liked, as she's always incredibly helpful, and she actually remembered me... don't think THAT didn't make me feel guilty for not coming in for over a year... I know business is business and all, but that's just how I am) what I was looking for, and she immediately went over to the bit wall and pulled off a Stübben loose-ring snaffle with a copper link, 5 1/4", and said "Like this?"

Exactly what I was looking for.

When I tried it on tonight, it was the perfect size, perfect thickness - 14 mm, I measured :) - and Greta Golightly salivated tons more than I have ever seen her do before. I don't know if it's the copper link or the reduced thickness, but it works. I didn't get this bit to magically improve her frame or make up for any rider connection flaws or any of that nonsense, I got it to allow her to salivate more, and it has done just that, and I'm sure the increased softness in her mouth will help with other things. I'm feeling pretty self-satisfied right now :)

Greta's still gorgeous and sweet, even going as far as muss up my hair when I bent over into her stall trunk to get out apples tonight. J'adore!

BTW I am starting a winter Greta Golightly sweatshirt tradition. It shall be amazing.

Greta and Maximus...

I LOVED this pony. LOVED him. And that little smile reminded me of something Greta would do. Everything else... in my dreams. But still, can we not all imagine our horses as cartoon characters every now and then? Or perhaps that's just me being weird... again :)

BTW it's fun to go see these movies with horsey friends. Our nerdy joke of the night: "Did he just jump from a rooftop? That horse could do eventing! HAR HAR HAR HAR!!"

Soooooo, question of the week, or whenever I get around to posting again:

What cartoon (or live-action) horse does your pony remind you of?

I would have to say that Greta could be the Unicorn from The Last Unicorn.

Haha. In my dreams.