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Monday, January 19, 2015

Oops I did it again

too cute to be believed

Yeah, we're rocking the 90s pop blog titles lately. Sorry not sorry.

I don't really know where to start. Some of you probably remember when I took my teensy puppy out for barn day and got to play dressage (poorly) on blogger Micaylah's horse.

I absolutely loved her saddle, though it didn't make me look that much like a dressage rider. Oh well.

obviously, he's fine
Anywho. Courage and I have been playing dressage in a jump saddle this winter. My instructor assures me it's fine--it won't make me a dressage rider, but Courage can certainly learn the necessary skills at this level without specialized tack.

It's certainly been fun.

Buuuut I have taken dressage lessons before and I know it's easier when when you ride like a proper dressage rider and dressage shows are on our goal list this year.

yeah. just keep thinking that.
I'll admit to having poked around online for cheap saddles, but nothing struck my fancy and I hate cheap tack and fit is such a crapshoot.

And then there was the slight problem of Micaylah wanting to sell her old saddle. I asked about it, but apparently she wanted money for it and money is not so much for me right now.

But what harm could possibly come of me taking it on trial, right? I mean, if it doesn't fit her and her giant super wide horse, there's no way it will fit me and my average medium horse.

Am I right?

and lipstick
I put it on Courage by myself the first day and it looked pretty perfect. I sat in it and my butt sang songs of happiness.

Seriously.

There may have been butterflies.

But that was just me on my own. It's been like two years since I've sat in a dressage saddle correctly and I knew for certain I was doing it wrong.

I didn't want to commit to anything (plus the whole cash flow thing) and I'm not 100% comfortable fitting saddles without a second pair of eyes.
that time i accidentally bought polka dot polos
So I dragged Micaylah out to the barn. Now you might say it's a conflict of interest because she's the one trying to sell it, but bear in mind she has to live with me if I hate it... so I was ok with that risk.

She liked the fit on Courage just as much as I did.

We poked around with it (on my hotass freshly clipped horse) and then tacked up.

Complete with cookie monster bonnet because **** you, January.




the best at stretchy trot
Micaylah talked us through some dressaging, which was fun (SIT UP LEG DOWN OMG WOULD YOU SIT UP ALREADY)

She also took pictures, but dark and blurry indoor+iPhone will only get you just so far apparently.

At any rate, Courage looked and felt fantastic. Plus some of the pictures are blurry enough that I don't look THAT terrible. Yay!

So. Micaylah is taking payments and I'm buying a dressage saddle.

Sigh.

if you squint a little, i could be dressaging. squint harder.
Wait, what?

How is it that I suddenly have a friend whose cast offs I want?

If you need me, I'll be over here playing with my saddle and pretending I look all glamorous and German instead of like a dumpy American who can not haz dressage.

34 comments:

  1. Isn't it a rule that for each horse, you have to have three of everything? I mean, I'm not even an eve yet and I abide by that rule... #TackHosUnite

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  2. Muhahaha! Welcome to the dark side! Now... sit up!! ;)

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    1. Yeah pretty much need to hear that on every 20m circle and probably 2-3x per lap around the arena.

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  3. Oops I did it again would be 00's pop I believe, also your second b.spears reference...I'm worried ;-) yay dressage!

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  4. Well now you need a new bridle to match it.

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    1. I have to pay for the damn thing first. :-(

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    2. You're getting way to hung up on details.

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    3. I have to wait for new, fancier PS leather anyways, remember?

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  5. Sometimes, love comes along when we least expect it. When it's right, you know it's right. Yes... we are still talking about saddles ;)

    It is an investment in your future! You MUST have it!

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  6. Pretty fly... for a dressage guy. ;)

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    Replies
    1. Lol ' in so mug right now *rocker finger salute*

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  7. Seriously can't be annoyed about that.... getting a dressage saddle helped me and my pony so much! And sometimes black tack just looks soooooooooo good on a bay horse.

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  8. Yay! You'll love it! It makes a big difference having the right equipment :) c-rage looks totes amaze!

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  9. Yay c-rage! I am always more than happy to yell at you anytime :)

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  10. Inching closer and closer to the dark side! muwahahahaha

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  11. To be fair, if someone brought me a reasonably priced dressage saddle that fit my horse I'd probably buy it too and I don't even like dressage.

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  12. He looks great! Dressage saddles really do make a huge difference

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  13. I've had to suffe without a dressage saddle before. In fact, we competed at training level (eventing training level) and showed 1st level dressage at rated shows in a close contact... But it's not nearly as nice as riding in a dressage saddle! Now that I have one again, I can't quite figure out how I urvived that!

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  14. Yay Dancing Divas need dressaaaahge gear. Ya'll look fab!

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  15. one can never have enough saddles, or blankets, or saddle pads -uh you need saddle pads :D

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  16. A saddle that fits horse & rider is nearly at unicorn status in my world, so congrats -- I'd snap that up too!

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  17. Alright...now we need to know what kind of dressage saddle it is! I just bought one for Benny...although I don't have it yet and I don't know if it will fit.

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  18. Dressage saddle purchase was the best thing that happened to my life. YAY SADDLEZ

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  19. When your butt sings a song of happiness - you gotta listen! :)

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  20. There is nothing better than sitting in a dressage saddle after riding in a jumping saddle for a few years. The feeling of being "in" the saddle instead of "on" it is heavenly! <3

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  21. Oh gosh... I've also been playing around with looking online at dressage saddles because I had a saddle-fitter out to readjust mine and she told me it doesn't really fit him... but I'm going to resist actually buying a new one until I try a shoulder relief girth and see if that changes the fit. I'm jealous you found a friend with one to sell that fits you guys! (Also - I died - dumpy American who can not haz dressage - exactly what I look like in the mirror when I think I'm sitting up and expecting to see Charlotte Dujardin looking back at me).

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  22. you'll enjoy the investment! you really can only go so far with a jumping saddle. after about a month or two your leg will start to drop and your hip angle will change. you two look great in it though!

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  23. haha i love this - it sounds like pretty much the ideal saddle buying situation!

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  24. I kinda hate to ask this question...but how many saddles do you own now? Like 10? Looks great on both of you though!

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  25. I understand :-) First lesson after I got my new saddle, my (über-awesome) trainer said, "You don't need a trainer, you just needed a new saddle!" I swear, I love that woman!

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