This is Why I Love Schneiders

There's a store called Schneider's Saddlery.  It's up in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, but they have a great online store and they send out pretty catalogs of which I am a fan.

They cater mostly to the breed show people, both stock horse and Arabs and have a LOT of their own brands.  I've shopped with them online, in person, over the phone, and at their GIANT "booth" at Congress.  I hate to calculate how much I've spent there, but I find their prices to be competitive.  ALL of our winter blankets are from there.  Because they cater to the kind of show people who spend a week or a month at a show, they have a TON of handy portable show gadgets including portable blanket bars, tack hooks, show number pads, black spurs, black irons.... both of my show halters are from there...you get the picture.  And I usually get stuff in two business days since they're only a few hours away.

So why do I love them so much?  They're SO helpful and they stand behind what they sell.  I called last fall because Captain Destructo had managed to break ALL of the snaps that close his neck cover AND the plastic ones I had replaced them with.  The item wasn't under warranty; I merely was asking if they carried the item since they carry some other "repair" items.   They sent me 6 of the hooks at no charge.

Most recently, I called them to complain about the clipper/accessory roll-up bag I bought from them.  Not an expensive item and I bought it over a year and a half ago.  When I got it the carry strap came off the first day.  No biggie, I just did a kludge repair and it was still functional, so not a big deal.  But then I noticed the seams all started splitting and with the gentlest touch were shredding.  I intended to repair it but it seemed like such a hassle so I called just to see what they'd say.  ALL of the reviews of this item are great, and KAT had one that I KNOW went through WAY more abuse than mine has and didn't show it. Even though I'd had it for that long, they sent me another one free of charge.  No hassle, no worries, just excellent customer care.  She could totally have said that it was beyond the warranty or said that I'd have to call the manufacturer, or started asking prying questions like: "well, did you stuff it too full?"  or "were you rough with it?"  None of that.

And that's why I keep shopping there.

http://www.sstack.com/

WTFri... er WTMonday

I couldn't wait until Friday to post this.  It's just too funny...

New Rain Coat

Junior became the lucky wearer of a new rain sheet today.  I'm kind of surprised I haven't gotten him one yet considering how much it rains here in the Ohio river valley, but one new blanket a year is plenty and he doesn't get turned out in the rain all that often.  I'm more interested in using it to block the wind, keep the mud off of him on the warmer days.  The one I chose didn't come in all black so I chose the black/green combo.  I admit I was tempted to go with hot pink, but he gets beat up enough as it is.  In fact, he had two big ol' bite marks from his antics yesterday.  He needs exercise and I will be giving it to him a lot more regularly from now on.  Hopefully that'll keep him from pestering poor Bruin so much.

I haven't gotten my written evaluation from the Showmanship video class yet, but I was placed 2nd out of 3 entries.  In addition to the regular Adult Showmanship class, the judge is adding a "Jackpot" open showmanship class to the final show of the winter and it's a doozy:

Yes, that's a L-turn at the back and an EXTENDED JOG... in a SHOWMANSHIP pattern.  Woof.  I started working on the L-turn backing today and he got it pretty quickly.  We'll start on the rest this weekend.  I'm hoping I'll be able to enter one of the riding classes, too if I can sit a jog by then!  

I think YOU should enter too!!!!  Check out on Facebook!   And tell Judge Jennifer Moshier I sent you!

Gettin' Back To It

Hi!  Remember us?  Yeah, we've been quiet for a while.  Sorry about that.  Here are my excuses:
1) My work schedule this semester has proven to be a nuisance in the way of allowing barn time during the week.
2) My back issue, which I'll update you on later, wasn't making the little barn time I had very uninteresting.
3) I've been sick for a week.  Started with stomach flu, then turned into a head cold/allergy/sinusy thing.

But now I think on our way to getting back to "normal." And I'm SO ready to start getting both of us back into some form of condition. I'm in a teensy break between theatre productions, the 3 hours/week I have been spending in prospective student interviews will lessen, and we go on spring break in one week.  This should help extend barn time.

My back is getting better. FINALLY.  January was pretty damn miserable and February didn't start well, but finally it has improved.  I can clean hooves without pain!  Woot!  I've only ridden twice and only walking and trotting in 2-point since sitting the jog isn't comfortable yet, but I've RIDDEN and I can't tell you how good that felt!

And whatever sickness I had seems to be on the mend.  I had to cancel a whole week of classes and missed some important rehearsals, but shit happens.  I'm on the up and up now, better every day. Still weak because I'm still getting my tummy back to eating something more substantial than saltines and gatorade, but I'm improving.

Who you callin' a homeless goat?!?!

I should move on to current events: my poor pony looks like he's unloved. :(  Right before I got to the barn (first time in a week) he went through the fence and proceeded to wonder around until he found some grass.  They caught him fine and he was in his stall when I got there.  I took him out to groom him and my heavens was I embarrassed.  He is FILTHY from ear to hoof and the HAIR is just coming off of him in clouds.  And he's been blanketed!!!! There are horses being led past us with show coats and my poor boy looks like a homeless goat.  I brushed and brushed until I was too weak to continue (not kidding) but I could have done it all day.  And the static was not helping matters.  Do they make Static Guard for horses? Thank heaven for my Shed Flower.  Not great for bony parts, but that sucker breaks through that crusty mud and pulls hair out in sheets.  Then I go to the thick-tooth rubber curry and then to the jelly scrubber and then to the stiff brush.... and he was still covered in dirt and hair.  He's not very pretty during shedding season when I can only groom him once a week.  :(

And that's after I swept it into a ball!

 I took him to the arena and lunged him, more for manners practice and to make sure he didn't injure himself with this morning escapade. I was pretty proud of him because another horse being lunged next to us was being an idiot and bucking and dashing around, but my boy trotted along calmly... at least he's learned to be quiet!  Then I did a little showmanship but I got fatigued REALLY fast so he got to back to his stall in time to do his carrot stretches before his afternoon grain was delivered.

He seemed happy to see me and nearly enjoyed the grooming, but his manners have sure declined.  He does not keep those lessons nearly as well as he keeps others. Back to Bitey McBiterton I guess.  Sigh.  And he's even got his turnout buddy, Bruin back!  Last weekend I caught them playing face tag as I was leaving the barn, so he just needs to be reminded that's appropriate behavior for Bruin, but not for Boss!  And by Boss I mean ME.

Bruin and Junebug: Besties.