Snow Shoes & Shopping Sprees

Weekend got off to a tricky start as our trip to the Equi-Expo in Saarbrucken (Germany) Saturday morning was a bit of a bust, upon our arrival at the expo-center we were kindly told by guy in Hi-Viz jacket that the Equi-Expo fair had been the previous day and that an entrepreneur/business start-up bash was being held Saturday - why they organised things that way around is beyond me...surely the business thing should've been on Friday & the horsey-thing Saturday, but whatevs!
Yes, eagle-eyed readers with working memories, the same thing happened to me last year - so that is two years in a row we've missed the expo...if we do manage to get it right next year they won't have the stuff I have been wanting for the last two years lol - perhaps we are just destined to not return!

Loot - sadly no longer nicely neatly-rolled up

Instead we went to three tack shops, continuing our country hopping. We went to a nice shop just outside Perl in Germany LINK and two in Metz, France: Padd, sadly they didn't have the horseshoe earrings in shop @equestriantrend but I did get a catalogue and have every intention of ordering a couple of things from them including the earrings. :-) I also picked up plaiting bands for Miss Nancy's mane, an orange Equi thème waterproof hi-viz quarter sheet for hacking in the woods, two Equi Thème fleece quarter sheets for everyday winter excercise (Red for Nancy & Blue for Miss Kika) and a purple halter holder for stable door.
We also went to a Decathlon where I was very good and only picked up a schooling whip for a little over a fiver, mine is busted...I'm very proud of my self-control in there as they had lost of lovely stuff!

Model-puss

I did get some saddle time in over the weekend: Kika on Saturday, Nancy on Sunday & Kika again last night. Both girls have successfully modelled their new sheets and looked mighty fine doing so, although I am biased & a muppet as I forgot to snap a shot of Kika rocking the blue stripes - oh well the brain might function some night this week and remember to get a picture - if anyone want's to see her mug ;-)
When riding Nancy on Sunday, the Guru was riding her mare in the arena at the same time as me - and as always, kindly offered me constructive criticism as I rode. It would appear that I am my own worst enemy and get in my own way when riding. She said that when walking on a loose rein to warm-up/cool-down my position is perfect, but that as soon as I pick up the reins intending to get to work I go to pot! Apparently I am trying to hard to do things right resulting in tension in my body which then breaks the horse' natural striding - darn getting stuck in my head!
Back to the mind-shut down attempts for me - I really need to get over this, but getting mad at myself is not the answer I don't think.
Anyone got any tips/advice?
L has suggested lunge work, her on the ground + me in the saddle - plan is to try with Kika first and see if I can make any progress on that front.

Kika's kicks

Kika got her first "snow" shoes this year, as you may be able to see from my poor quality picture she now has a rubber lining on the inside of her shoes (fronts only as barefoot behind) - this is supposed to help prevent snow packing under her hooves. Last year she was barefoot until January and I kept forgetting to ask farrier to do this in the following months, despite us still getting snowed on in March/April last year - lord was winter long in 2012/2013!
I've just realised you can also see the little "pointes" stud type things at the end of her shoe which gives her extra grip when walking on tarmac - she used to slip something awful after two weeks in new shoes before these.

I have been able to transition Nancy back to shoeless after her summer in front shoes (precautionary due to all forestry hacking we did from June to September) - both the farrier and myself are keeping tabs on the wear and tear on her feet and I shall not hesitate to have front shoes put back on if she needs them, but so far so good for my pocket. ;-)

I forgot to snap a shot of the above in use, another fab recommendation from @equestriantrend's H2Go blogpost back in August. We used it for the first time Saturday evening and find it fantastic - it does exactly what it says on the packaging and is very straightforward to use. There is a handy anti-slip matt to put along the bottom of your wheelbarrow. Fill the blue bag from a house and away you go - easy-peasy!
Thanks so much for the recommendation Missus! If you haven't checked out her blog before, please do - it is chocka-block full of fab suggestions from gift ideas to clothing to everyday equine related items.

PS, aswell as blaying with the water-barrow we managed to fix the fencing on Sunday - so WE HAVE POWER! Now to score myself a day off work, so that if worse comes to worst and the nags do make another bid for freedom I won't be an hour in getting to them. And also just cos a day off would be awesome, ;)