Friday randoms

I have so many necklaces, seriously guys it is scary.  What I found funny though are the group that I wear most often.  Talk about a theme.

Horse, horse, horse, horse, pearl.

Because what self respecting Charles Owen wearing girly girl doesn't have some everyday pearls?  Shoutout to Equestrianista here, I love my necklace from them!  It came on a super long chain, but I shortened it and now wear it all the time!  They have so many cute things, I want them all.

In some house cleaning I came across a bunch of hats that I hadn't worn in forever, they are all washed and I've been loving memory lane.

Prisoner models

I won this Eagle Fall Festival hat with Apollo six weeks after his last race doing grasshopper, back in 2008.  That consisted of a Walk/trot dressage test, logs on xc, and xrails in stadium, he was a rockstar!
Proof of rockstardom:

Still have all that tack

Headed to the finish

Like no big deal

So many it is a small world stories to go with this horse, but that is for another day.

This next hat came from 2005 when I went to Twin Rivers.  I was doing JR Novice on the infamous Reveille (heart horse, chestnut mare).  We were first after dressage in a very competitive class, then a dirty stop in stadium and an honest stop on xc put us next to last.  Oh the joys of greenies.

Yay hat

I need to find some pictures from that show.

I was wanting to post some video from yesterday, but internet/computer is being way slow so that will have to wait for later.  Here is a picture from yesterday though.

Eeeek, I love him

I heart my horse

Last week my BO and I hauled over to Steph's arena for some riding on great footing.  It is the same place I had Diva a couple weeks ago with the red and black rubber in the sand.  Seriously, you could have standing water on that thing and still jump a course with zero slipping!

Having fun with Pixlr

Prisoner got off the trailer and was like, whatevs.  He stood while I bridled him up, walked around on the buckle, trotted and cantered like a pro and then went for a walkabout with no spooks.  *swoon*  I often can't believe he is really mine, I don't have to hand the reins over because he behaves.  I don't have to watch someone unravel the work I have put in, I can just keep on working with him and loving him.

That is a pony/cob sized KL Select bonnet...#ponyface

He was starting to stretch more over his topline in the canter, and was very adjustable in the trot.

Bam!

Wild tails

He still braces up from time to time, but the duration is getting shorter and shorter.  I can often just close my inside leg to push him out a bit and that will release the tension.

Look at that round and shiny horse

Looking forward to leaves back on the trees

Head coming up, but keeping a steady rhythm 

Fancy boy

Loving the shadows

I am really pleased with how his body is coming along!  Check out this picture, you can really see the difference.

This is actually a few weeks ago and I think he is looking even better now.  I really can't wait for summer and the return of dapples and true shine.  I love to joke that he is my dream Connemara/TB cross and was switched at birth.  He has the floofiest mane and forelock!  It would explain how he is supposed to be so well bred and so slow.  We are hauling back again today and I am looking forward to it, can't beat a giant arena all to yourself.  I think I will probably set up a x-rail or two as well.

Time for a nap

Yes, that is him loose, sleeping, in the wind.

C4 belts for the win

On cybermonday C4 belts ran an amazing deal that I couldn't pass up.  I ordered the light pink belt with a black chrome buckle and paid with PayPal.  I got a prompt response and it was waiting in the mail for me when I got back from Phoenix.

Hello beautiful

The packaging was slick and beautiful.  The colors matched the website.  It was love at first sight.

EEEEK so excited!

 I immediately put on my breeches with the highest waist and adjusted the buckle to fit on the tightest hole.  My thinking was that then all my other pants would fit on the looser holes, I was right.

C4, FITS, Irideon, winning

It did take me a few days to actually cut the tail, commitment issues, what if I did something wrong!?  Finally I did and I haven't looked back.

Easy as pie with a pair of scissors

I even tested the airport claims, and yes I walked straight through.  Funny story, the security guard was like don't forget your belt, and I said this is new and supposed to be airport proof, can I walk on through?  He looked at me like I was insane and was like what did you say?  *thinking to myself, oh crap I'm going to the tiny room to get interrogated.  I repeated that the belt was supposed to fine in the airport as it has no metal and he let me go through.  At that point everyone was like what brand is it!?  I informed them that they come in every color and look at C4.  Nothing beeped and I was good to go, yay one less strip step when flying!!!!!

Of course I got pink

So I've been wearing it at least a few times a week and am still in love.  Works on jeans and breeches, keeps a great shape and doesn't get dirty.  My only issue was that in the last couple weeks I noticed the buckle starting to rub.

Hmmm

My guess was that it was an issue with the chrome look.  My thoughts here are that it is kind of my own fault, if I'm going to rock a plastic belt I shouldn't go for a metal look.  I decided to email the company to see if it was normal or is maybe it was a faulty lot.  I emailed on a Sunday afternoon, Monday morning I had a response.  Wow!  They said that yes I was right the other buckles don't rub, it is the film that makes it look like chrome that can indeed rub off.  Then they went above and beyond and offered a new buckle in any color free of charge!  I was way impressed.  So I ordered a blue one and it was here on Friday.  Less than a week from first email to replacement buckle in my hands.  Color me impressed

All the colors

Now I have two totally different looks, and a new favorite belt.  Great products, great customer service, and a great company that supports great causes.  Go get one today!

#C4equestrian 

Because I love transformation posts

These have to be one of my favorite post types, so I should do them more often!  Let's look at Prisoner, because who else!?

Day 1 (July 4th)

Second ride

Third ride, first canter

Fourth ride, first jumps

Two weeks later

End of July dressage

End of July jumping

Early August, made me heart flutter

First field trip

Second grid night

Mid-august

Whee

Dressage in September

Dem knees

September, first time at 3 foot

October

Mid October

October dressage

November, first XC!

November dressage

First time bareback

One of few snow free days in December

First ride in January

January, able to dressage at the canter

So there you have it, Prisoner's first 6 months off the track.  Go OTTBs!