I Believe in Magic

I have updates on updates on updates, for real and only so much time and attention to divulge to said updates. Luckily, I got some media this weekend, so I have pics and video! 

I shall give a proper update on the Yankee later this week, with pics, and also a rundown on Bacardi's massage today, with pics! (and video!). ALL THE MEDIA.

Lately though, despite my lack of blogging, I have been riding. Like a bad eventer, I have not technically ridden in my dressage tack since he snapped my new bridle and I got new saddle, but hey, we are riding! I am LOVING this new saddle too, and I feel like we are adjusting well. Bacardi seems to have really taken to it, and feels wonderful in the shoulders. I am having a tough time getting used to all the room I actually have, after riding in a 16 inch for a literal decade, so don't judge my flopping everywhere!

What I really wanted to share though was the absolute magical powers that Liquid Titanium seems to have.

Behold, the Bonnet of Glory.

Its actually very plain, and try to ignore the giraffe ears, but it is real magic. 

Jackie suggested it after hearing testimonials from other people and how they swear by the Fenwick Farm products. I was skeptical of course, obviously, but after BOT products...I decided to "splurge" with my tax return. In addition to purchasing another BOT pad in white for dressage, I also snagged a bonnet from Fenwick. Here's the link if anyone wants to read about it.

When I first used it, I felt like it was a fluke because it was a warm day. He's generally better on warmer days, but they had also been in about a week due to weather and rain, so I wasn't sure.

The real truth came last week when it was freezing, windy and cold and he still was just, "meh, whatevs" about literally everything. Its like an actual calm switch and I am a true believer. For-rills.

So with my little friend, we have had some incredible rides lately. He's been nailing his changes, staying mostly relaxed through up and down transitions and truly showing up to work overtime. No battles of anxiety, no explosions. Its eye opening. 

Love. this.

Here's a little video I put together of our schooling on Sunday. the fun part is in the middle over the jump course, so if you have ADHD with blogger videos like I do, scroll forward to about 30 seconds in. If you dont like how tiny that video is, here the link for the youtube video.

So we took advantage of the nice day after running through the course set up inside a few times. I have a horrendous chest cold and literally suffocate while trying to do anything but sit still, so I was attempting to not die the whole ride.

Speaking of not dying, he slipped after jumping the ravine and somehow scrambled and saved us from eating dirt. Go pony.

He was totally game to splash through the water and jump the ravine and didn't bat an eyeball at them. I was thoroughly impressed with my lil eventer. Here we come USEA BN level (if we can afford it *giggles with anxiety*)

After playing in the water a bit (sorry Supertrainer) trying not to tear up the ground too much, we headed out to the field to do a little flatwork in our jump tack.

Hello uphill canter. We played with this canter and dabbled inlaid changes on the flat, in which he was only sassy once. Love. this. horse.

Overall, fantastic ride that has been our recent norm. Up next is a Yankee update and then the rundown on Bacardi massage therapy. Stay tuned and happy Tuesday!