Boot Bliss!

Click on the picture to read all about um

At least I Hope!
After 6 tack shops I finally went to my most trusted shop: The Horse & Rider, Inc in Greensboro, NC. If you are ever in town, check them out. While their store is not large, their staff (all 3 of them) are very knowledgeable and helpful. I popped in on poor Nicole at 5pm (they close at 5:30) yesterday begging for help finding me ANY boot that would fit me! She threw me into a pair of medium weight tights and whipped out her measuring tape.

I, of course, have done my research and let her know what wouldn't work (Ariat, because they don't offer a wide enough calf for my foot size) and what I was looking for and my meager budget. She put me into an Ovation Pro Circuit Gold boot. The size 8 was a bit tight and the X-wide would not zip (go figure!). She then took out her handy-dandy sizing chart and realized that they offered an XXW in a 8.5 with the correct measurements. She also informed me of a 10% discount that I would be receiving (I can only imagine it is because I am a VIP, but I didn't ask questions). She then told me she would order them on rush and have them there for me to try by the time my mom comes in town next week! AT NO EXTRA CHARGE! I asked what would happen if they didn't work and she said she would shelve them and we would try again. After all is said and done they will cost me (read: my parents)$245. Sooo, although I have never been enamored with the brand: here are some advantageous qualities that they offer.
1) They offer a size big enough to fit my large calves(but seriously people, I don't weigh 300lb. YES, I am over weight. I am 5'8 and in a size 12... BUT it could be worse. What does anyone larger than me do for boots??).
2) These are a step up from their introductory model! They are made of calf skin so are super smooth and will be easy to break in.
3) Detailing around the toe
4) Elastic Gusset
5) Did I mention they will fit??!
So folks, It appears that my Boot Blunders have turned into Boot Bliss :)

Masters? Check! .... So whats NEXT?!

Hello All!
I finished my oral defense today which happens to be the final hoop through which I had to jump in order to walk across the stage and accept my diploma (read: diploma cover) next Thursday morning in front of my fan club of about 50!

So in honor of the occasion, I have been thinking about what is next in my life now that work and Granite are my only commitments and I have some thoughts I wanted to share with you all in addition to some blog posts I will be working on in the comming weeks...

Ideas to occupy my time (expect blog post dedicated to the following as well):
1) Earning my Open Horse Show Judging Card!
2) Becoming a 4-H Horse Volunteer
3) Attending Horse Husbandry "short courses" through the local extension service
4) Hoof Care and Shoeing Short Course (no I dont want to be a farrier but want to know more about hooves!)
5) Creating/ Joining a horse club (such as my best friend's "sporthorse competition club" in Raleigh-- I am jealous)
6) Volunteer to coach youth cheerleading (I will save you a trip down high school memory lane and hold back on blogging on this topic)
7) Get a Part-Time Night/Weekend Job (could be at a tack store or judging or schooling horses or...waiting tables-BOOO)

Topic on Which I (also) plan to Blog...
1) American Warmblood Certification (for beautifully conformed and equally talented warmblood mutts such as mine)
2) Upright Hoof? Impacts and Effects
3) Continuing/Adult Education in Equine Sciences (Community College Programs)
4) Adult Pony Clubs (apparently they DO exist)

Let me know if you think of anything to add to either or both categories. I plan to spend some time researching interesting topics to blog about and enlighten myself!! I can't wait to get invovled!

Cheers and expect these super awesome blogs in the near future!

Boot Blunders

My parents have agreed that Field Boots would be a lovely graduation gift since I outgrew mine in college and have yet to replace them (or require them as I have not been competing). Mom and I went to 4 different tack stores in Virginia Beach when I was home for Thanksgiving. NO LUCK!! I tried on a pair of Ariat Heritage II zip back in a size 8.5 Wide Medium. They Zipped which was AHHmazing since I was convinced that I would need an XW (I'm a chunker!). But, as you may know, Ariats run big. So my usual 8.5 translates to am 8 in Ariat. I love love my Heritage II zip Paddocks (size 8). I hate boots too large b/c I feel like I can't feel my irons. I guess its the same concept as me only riding in close contact no knee roll saddles-- I need to feel my horse. I tried on the 8 wide and what do you know... NO LUCK. In addition they would be a touch too short once they settled (I am 5'8).

Now, I'm not married to the idea of Ariats. I hear the zippers don't hold up very well on the tall boots anyway. This is my mother's money I'm spending here and she doesn't have much of it. She has probably been saving for a while for this. So my max is close to $250 (Internet shopping and such lets me get retail $300 for about that).

I looked at some new TreadStone's at a tack store this summer. They felt amazingly soft. Apparently the leather is Indian but is tooled in the English style which keeps the price point low and the quality high. They have the spanish top and I have read some COTH reviews that speak very highly of them. I found some on EBay and the measurements are 18.5 height and 15 3/4 W (for the 8.5 foot Wide Calf) These are the same measurements as the Ariat 8.5 MW that I was able to zip but may have been a tad short once they settled (now keep in mind they were NOT spanish top).

I am wondering... Do I take a chance on those? What are my other options? It seems that I may need semi-custom, but thats not in my budget!! My other thought was to get a pair of Ariat size 8 Tall and see about getting the calf stretched??

Suggestions? Opinions? Sympathy?-- I will take them all.

16 days til graduation btw... Classes are over & Papers are submitted. I only have Oral Defenses left on the 8th!!!

In other news, IT. WONT. STOP. RAINING. I am going to paddle out to see my pony tonight. When I went to see him Monday, his back legs were both swollen although he appeared sound (I trotted him through the barn aisle as it was pouring!!). I gave him a bute, antibiotic, and DMSO. The farm owner emailed yesterday saying she didn't notice any swelling. So lets pray it is gone and a non-issue. B/C I cannot afford a major (or any) injury. I may really have to consider selling him if he keeps getting injured! I just can't maintain until I get a better paying job :(

Thats all for now. I have been brainstorming awesome blog posts for after graduation. Stay tuned!

A lovely horse is always an experience.... It is an emotional experience of the kind that is spoiled by words. ~Beryl Markham

I quit...

Yes one of my big final papers came back for its THIRD round of corrections... I must be a moron. I quit! Throw in the towel! Call a truce with my prof! ARGH. OK-- Done complaining. I havent seen Granite since monday. I will go see him tonight and then probably spend the evening writing. papers.--- Have fun to all of you who actually get to RIDE!

More Pictures & Winding Ridge Farm

My Sweet Family!


Love my Baby Boy!

I emailed some of these pictures to the woman who sold Granite to me. I know I would want regular updates if I were her. That got me thinking that I should share her website with you. They are a really sweet little sporthorse farm. You can see Granite's mom and even some baby pictures of him on the site. You have got to check out the stallion that Granite's mom (Grace) is currently in foal to! LA Baltic Sunrise! Nice stuff-- I'll trade for THAT baby! JK.
http://www.windingridgefarm.com/#

I turned in a ton of work this week. Only 2 small papers and 2 classes left of my Graduate School Career! Its carzy. What will I do with all the time? And whats life like without stress and guilt? This is sure to be a new adventure!

Getting better... But looking BaD!

How can such a pretty boy have such a horrible looking mouth?? He must be feeling better because he finally let me touch his mouth. I didn't try his bridle or anything but he was alright with my fingers in his mouth for the first time since last Monday. You can see pretty well in the first picture that he has one cap still hanging on. He had about 4 new permanent teeth (all in one week) so I can't imagine the kind of pain he was in. Hopefully by next week he will be feeling back to his old self.