Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Product Review: Stanley 50 Gallon Tool Chest

Stanley 50 Gallon Tool Chest

Tack trunks are expensive, heavy, and not always large enough. As is often the case, the second you take the word "horse" out of the equation, you can often find something that works better for less in other places.

While the link above is to the Amazon.com page so you can get a sense close-up of what this tool chest looks like, you can usually buy these for way less at a Home Depot or a Lowe's - mine was $50.

I love this thing. It lives in my trailer, in the front, and holds a TON of stuff. Most often, it stores all my XC gear, as well as a second grooming set and my trailering first aid kit. When I go to shows, I can repack it quickly and efficiently to hold all manner of things - bridle bags, boots, grain, you name it. There's even a tote carrier included with it that has plenty of space for grooming tools and other small, easy-access things.

The wheels and carry handle make it quick and easy to just roll out the trailer when we get somewhere, and the base is broad enough that it wheels across uneven ground pretty easily. It's sturdy and solid. The only wear I've noticed on mine after 4 years is a small bit of rust on the metal buckles, and that's because it lives outside 24/7 in my open trailer. Barn friends have theirs in the tack room or in enclosed trailers and they are spotless.

If I didn't already have a tack trunk that's something of a family treasure (my great-great-uncle's wooden tool chest) this would absolutely be my pick for primary tack trunk. If I were to have multiple horses, I would get one of these for each horse to keep all their things together. Love it.

5 Day Challenge: Day 2

Continuing the 5 Day Challenge from Tracy at Fly On Over.

Day 2!

6. Favorite equestrian book and movie.

Favorite book: Black Beauty. Hands down. There are many books competing for second place, but this has held first for as long as I've been able to read.

Favorite movie: Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken. The best. The absolute best. The very, very, very best. Can I find some more hyperbole for you?

7. Most common riding misconception.

"Why do you still take lessons? Don't you know how to ride?" Sigh. I don't know why this is the most common question I get, but it is.

8. 2 riding strengths and 1 riding weaknesses

Strength: I am not what you would call fearless, but my confidence levels are pretty good. I can't remember the last time I was genuinely afraid to do something a trainer asked of me. Falling off doesn't especially worry me; physical injury, ditto. (I mean, I don't want them to happen, but it's not something I am concerned about.)

Strength: I am fairly picky about most things connected with my riding: grooming, tack fit, warmup routine, footing, etc., and I like to adjust to keep things just right. This can easily tip over into weakness!

Weakness: Consistency. My work schedule can be unpredictable and I can often be so mentally tired if I do end up getting to the barn that I don't work as hard as I ought. I am very, very driven in every other aspect of my life, and often for me riding is the thing that I tend to be more casual about - which works well for Tristan, I think, but isn't getting us any blue ribbons.
9. Least favorite thing about horses and/or riding.

I am ever so very tired of being broke all the time, of scrambling to pay another vet bill, another mechanic bill, another supplement bill, you name it. It gives me some rather bitter attitudes sometimes, toward people who don't have that ongoing, immense financial burden. All the stuff they buy! All the places they go!

Runner up would be the way in which owning a horse has increased my anxiety levels exponentially. I was always going to trend that way but yeesh.

10. What do you feed your horse?

AM: 2 flakes of grass hay, 1 quart of Sentinel Senior, 1.5 oz of High Point Grass
Turnout: free choice hay (usually another 2 flakes or grass in the summer)
PM: 2 flakes of grass hay, 1 quart of Sentinel Senior, 1.5 oz of High Point Grass
Night check: in winter, 1 flake of grass hay




Monday, December 2, 2013

Etsy Shopping Guide: Vintage Horses

I have an Etsy problem. It's not as severe as it could be, given my horse-induced perpetually broke state, but it still qualifies as a problem. I start looking at gorgeous things on that site and I get sucked in and two hours later I'm sighing over an Art Deco inspired Star Wars end table.

I thought I'd put together a few posts of nifty horse-related things to buy on Etsy in advance of the holiday season - or, you know, any time you need to gift something to another horse lover in your life. I'm thinking that some of these in particular might make lovely trainer/barn manager/vet gifts.

First up: let's talk vintage horse items. I happen to have a tiny collection of vintage horse objects that I love, and any of these would fit in great on my shelves.

US Cavalry Saddle Bags ($249.99)

As soon as I saw these I let out a pathetic, besotted sigh. These went with a McClellan saddle, arguably the greatest military saddle the United States has ever produced. I wrote my master's thesis on the beginnings of the US Cavalry, so I'm more than a bit of a buff.

Beyond that, though, they're just gorgeous - all those buckles and the wonderful soft supple leather. Lovely.








Art Deco Knife Rests ($79.00)

I'll be honest: I'm not entirely sure what a knife rest is, or why one would be needed.

But aren't these lovely? I love the long lean lines of them, the elongated yet elegant neck and backs.








Equestrian Horse Head Cigarette Holder ($32.00)

In my opinion, this is the best bargain on the list. It has great Art Deco lines, is in beautiful condition, and actually has some practical use - it's not just a tchotchke for a shelf. I think this would look incredibly classy on an office desk.





Brass Winged Horse Figurine ($10.00)

This is tiny but whimsical, and would make a nice shelf piece, especially for such a low price.












Vintage Hunting Candy Tin ($14.99)

Another small and sweet item. I particularly like vintage hunting themed items, and this one has the added bonus of being on a tin that could be repurposed for all sorts of other things.

5 Day Challenge: Day 1

I'm stealing the 5 Day Challenge as created by Tracy at Fly On Over: 5 questions a day for 5 days. I'm a sucker for big survey memes, and these looked fun.

So! Day 1.

1. Most influential person on your riding.

This is a really tough question! Can I cheat and say Tristan? No?

Probably my first serious trainer, the coach of my college equestrian team, who helped me start Tristan. She gave me my confidence back, and helped me start Tristan under saddle and over fences, and introduced me to dressage. 

2. Piece of tack you’d love to splurge on.

Nunn Finer 5 Point Hunting Breastplate (Cob). Drool. We definitely need a breastplate of some kind; this has been on my wishlist for a very long time. 

3. Top 5 riding playlist

I can't listen to music while riding. I've tried, believe me, but it screws me up. (I can't listen to music with words while working, either.) I won't turn the radio off at the barn while I'm riding, but I never queue up a playlist, either.

However! I do sing while I'm riding. I can remember the exact day this started: the day after Tristan's disastrous first show, when I took him back out to the warmup area he'd lost his marbles in the day before in an attempt to retrieve them. We spent a solid 45 minutes jigging and bucking and occasionally bolting and about halfway through I started to sing Cole Porter songs to remind myself to breathe, and to give him something to calm down, hopefully. It seemed to work. So now I sing Cole Porter when I am nervous, or when I think he's nervous, or when we're on a long hack and I feel like I'm alone. "Night and Day" is a favorite, followed by "Under My Skin."

(I also almost always clean tack to Astaire & Rogers movies, sensing a theme?)

4. Most important aspect of your barn?
Gorgeous scenery doesn't hurt.
Horse care: first, last, always. This is absolutely crucial to me. Do they notice if he's colicky? Do they text me if he's injured himself? Do they follow my instructions when he's recovering? Do they check in with me when I've asked them to? I tip toward the neurotic end of horsekeeping, and a barn manager that will work with me and understand that is key. My current barn fulfills all these requirements in spades, and thankfully I had seen them go the extra mile (or hundred miles) for other horses before Tristan had his surgery, so I had the utmost confidence in their hard work and professionalism.

5. Three winter riding goals.

1. Topline - that is to say, rebuilding muscle.
2. Fitness - mine and his. 
3. Jumping again, to see whether his foot will hold up.

Sunday, December 1, 2013

Blogger Gift Exchange

I've been feeling for a little while now like I want to do a holiday gift exchange with horse people, and Fly On Over has answered that need for me!

So go, sign up for her gift exchange and perhaps I will draw your name. :)