Wednesday Wishlist

Seeing as I can't ever manage to keep my "Wordless Wednesday" posts wordless, I am making a new WW.
This was not a Christmas wishlist as I hadn't mentioned any of these desires to people who might be buying gifts for me. Call me stupid, but I think these items are too pricey for me to ask anyone to buy but me *blush*
I'd feel bad, especially as this year I do not have excess funds to splurge on equally lavish gifts in return.
I see this as more of a never ending wishlist *grin*
I also hope to create a new tab/page at the top of the blog to facilitate my finding it and updating it. Either with more items I want (most likely) or if/and when I actually manage to tick things off the wishlist (less likely - let's be honest here peeps) ;-)
DONE LINK

- Tredstep Field Boots, Da Vincis if i can find them for a bargain otherwise I would be just as happy with the Donatellos. I love the fact that the DVs have button closures at the top and bottom of the boot to protect the zip. What leads me to lean more towards the Dts is the pricetag *faint*

 - Royal Rider stirrup irons...but must do background research into supposed benefits as I don't actually know anything about them. Hopefully they have magic-help-keep-my-heels down powers.

- Shoulders back aid.
My body could deff do with some retraining in this department, both in tack and in general everyday life. I sit very badly in both scenarios, although oddly i am slightly better when in a saddle - but still a long way from actually having my shoulders as they should be - which actually just goes to show how poorly i am in RL as you have seen my abysmal riding photos! Hopefully actually getting my shoulders back might help me lift my eyeline and stop staring at my hands/the horse's neck and actually look between their ears like one is supposed to *nod*

Now to figure out what the difference is between Shoulders Back & Shoulders Back Lite - although it is probably something simple like the material the product is made from, amirite?

- New bit for Kika, below is her current bit which I think I got in March 2013. Sorry the photo quality isn't great, but i have never remembered to take an actual picture of it laid out. *note-to-self* DO THIS!

Anyways, one of the rings is after getting stuck, probably because I don't clean it as well as I should. I mean sure I rinse the middle section after every ride, but I don't exactly get my hands soaked in cold water to de-funk it properly after every spin - especially not in the subzero temps we've been getting this autumn/winter #shameonme
Now I'll have to pay the piper though and keep my eyes peeled for the same bit again as she goes well in it and I picked it up for E20 at a trade fair. It's a no-name brand (as the price would suggest) but it works well for us & I have been super happy with it to date. I am just a little nervous now in case the fact I paid so little for it comes back to bit me in the ass - I just hope if it is going to break that it doesn't do so when I am riding!
Although if it did, it would totally serve me right for (a) buying cheap things but more importantly (b) not taking proper care of it. As it is not only price tag that dictates quality, one must also look after their things...lesson learned and I will take better care of Nancy's and whatever new bit I get Miss Kika.


- Rollerball spurs & a new schooling whip.
I misplaced my spurs a few months back and recently lost my good schooling whip, both times by forgetting to tidy them away after using them and so they grew legs and/or were kindly tidied away by the WS/trainers and as mine were both generic items i didn't bother trying to find them again. Moar spending required - *drool*
Open to suggestions - particularly on the spurs as I don't often ride in them, but have found that I am relying more on my schooling whip when riding Kika than I should be, so perhaps some gentle spurs could be of better use to us.

- Alternate winter jacket to trade off with my Eurostar Carlotta so that I can still be warm when one is in the wash. Maybe Horseware Babel in black although I am not sure about the leopard print inside the collar, advice please!
I'd better make up my mind quickly though as I don't think Horseware are still making this line of jackets as the link I have shared (and where i lifted the picture from) is the only place I have found it still for sale online & in my size!
Although i do also really like the look of the Cavallino Marino Atlantis Riding Jacket picture below. Both are quite pricey, but i haven't been able to find one as warm as my Carlotta on sale...shall keep my eyes peeled all the same.

- Monograms!!!!! I want to monogram all the things, so that my stuff won't go walkies, advise please on initials please. I have a bit of a dilemma; my initials are AA, and although I don't drink alcohol anymore...I did not give up because I couldn't control myself. I gave up so that I could afford to keep a horse (that ended up being Kika) while I was at university. Or else I was thinking maybe AKN; combining mine & the girls initials or some variation thereof. Methinks however i should probably lead with my initial and at least pretend like I run the show ;-)
Also advice me please on monogram productions, I know of Personal Preppy, Relatively Stable, Gigi & Tea ... am open to learning about any and all others. I would love to support a small business, but i need to know about them - also they would have to ship internationally. So i will have to do some investigating too

- Roeckl gloves - I mean come on who doesn't want a pair of these?! Especially after L @Viva Carlos' awesome review & ringing endorsement of the product *thumbsup*
The only question will be - whish colour(s) do I need ;-)

- Aztec Diamond Flight breeches and/or Annie's Tardis blue amazingness. I lay 100% of the blame for both these desires at $900fbpony's feet as if it wasn't for her awesome blog, i would never have heard of either of these brands and I would still be living with even more breech-envy than I currently do.

I am sure this list will evolve and grow with time - but these are the desires topping it at the moment. Some like the bit, jacket and whip/spurs are practically necessities - everything else is an unadulterated frivolous consumerist desire #noshame
Oh & the boots - the boots are of utmost necessity as my current paddock boots & gaiters are very much on their last legs. In fact every time I put them on I half fear they will either not go on, fall apart or never come off again as the zip sticks *blush*
I would make the worlds worst hunter princess - I literally fall apart at the seems

PS: all photos in the post are either taken from the links listed or in the case of the bit are my own images. No copyright infringement is meant!
PPS: I am making my first attempt at scheduling a post, so fingers crossed this works!

Pampered Ponies Photodump

I alluded to the fact that I finally cleaned up Nancy's mane with a pampering session which started yesterday & concluded today. Kika also got a once over today, but as i keep her mane shorter & she thankfully doesn't seem to get as much pleasure out of scratching her neck like the Jungle Book's Baloo with the aid of trees in the turn out area...

Thanks Google search for this image - LINK

I'll have to nab a video of Nancy next time - she is a daemon & that is how she removed a chunk of her mane around this time last winter. Here's hoping I don't make the same mistake this year of tuning her out braided without a neck cover!

"Puh-lease as if i would be
 so bear-baric (geddit?!)" -Nancy

The weather seriously conspired against me today, so much so that between black ice underfoot & ice rain falling from the sky; i didn't fancy turning the girls out and running the risk of not being able to get them back in this evening.

Snow sliding from the roof is deafening

I was also unable to ride due to the rain melting the snow and causing it to slide from the arena roofs making an all merciful racket which Miss Kika wouldn't be able to handle under saddle & even Nancy was nervy when I heard the first crash as i stood outside her stable upon my arrival at the barn - therefore I have already broken my New Year's Resolution...surely that is some sort of record on my part for quickest failure to meet blogosphere goals! Not even 24 hours after setting myself the task - I've already failed ;-)
At least I am the best at being the worst...so that's something ☺☺☺☺

"Oh Hai - whatcha gonna do wiff dat bristly ting? " - Nancy

Instead the girls spun on the walker while i cleaned their stables and finally hung up the Himalayan Salt blocks i bought them way back in October/November 2013 *blush*
Yes they have been sitting in my locker waiting to be hung up since then *hangs-head-in-shame*
I did check the packaging and there was no sell by date, so fingers crossed i haven't poisoned my precious ponikins. *blubber*

Not much of a difference but right
 is sprayed, brushed & trimmed

Well that's me caught up with today's non-events, so I'm going to stem the verbal vomit & leave you with the photo dump ;-p

N was rocking the dreadlocks
 *blush*

Some magic spray, finger untangling
 & brushing later...

Weeeeeeee braids - can't you
 tell she is ecstatic?

"Ok so maybe it's not so bad,
now I can be like WS & whip my hair back and forth"

Lest we forget Kika also got some pampering
 - can't you just feel the excitement from her?
 How cute is Nancy though ;-)

Her tail also got some TLC
(left = before as again not obvious)

She likes to keep a close eye
 on my handywork

I don't think she was
overly impressed at first...

Just kidding, she said she always looks
awesome & picture perfect

Last but not least -
N having her first taste of vintage Himalayan Salt Lick...
She has never had one before & hopefully won't know the difference
 - let's hope her stomach doesn't either! 

Eeep I'm a bad horse-momma & suffering from the guilts now #LeShame

Vjfdur

New Year - New Leaf

Start as i hope to continue was my goal for today. Not only did I spend some quality time pampering Nancy, aka: finally brushing out her mane & tail (trust me it was LONG overdue...photos to follow tomorrow as i hope to give K a similar spa day); i also managed to get my lazy butt back in the tack on both girls.

Sadly I've no pics to share of Kika as she was a bit fresh so we focused on forward and no sillies rather than stopping for mirror selfies - #sorrynotsorry

Pre-work selfie

In saying that Nancy was the slightly more troublesome one today, plenty crow hopping which made me laugh on our upwards canter transitions & on attempted bucking fit which she gave up on after two bucks due to my heels digging into her sides.
I do not blame her one bit for her antics today, neither girl had been sat on since my St Stephens Day stroll in the woods with my sister (Dec 26th) & it was rather cool as you'll see from the icy photos later in this post.

Post-work aka angel-face that would never buck

Despite the back arching shenanigans we had an overall positive 40 minute spin. I am not even upset about our numerous giraffe impressions as that is a work in progress and something that can only be remedied with more saddle time from yours truly - something I have been sorely lacking last year. Full steam ahead for this year with my main goal being to try to ride them both more - or else how do I ever truly hope any of us will get better?! Fingers crossed i will also be able to schedule some lessons, although with getting the keys to my flat earlier than anticipated i am going to have to tighten the purse strings on that front until I get used to charges, mortgage repayments and of course actually finish furnishing the place! Methinks there won't be lessons for a while...maybe not till May when the girls will go back on 24/7 turnout and the cost of their livery will decrease due to no longer being stabled - which should free up some funds to splurge on fun things like lessons ☺

Icicles around the turnout at 4pm - today was cold!
No wonder both girls were on their toes!

Oops that was a tangent & a half! *blush*
Kika was a good girl despite herself, she still had her fair share of scoots, head lifting and hollowing at every little thing, but overall we managed to keep a lid on it & my mother got to see how far she has come from the drama-diva of a few months back. I didn't ride her for as long as Nancy, K & I only did about 30 mins in the tack as she had spent a good hour spinning on the walker while i rode and put Nancy away first. I was rather apprehensive about riding Kika as she was super on her toes coming off the walker - not a good sign. Methinks she had been on her own for too long on the walker and the gremlins started eating at her brain cells. So when she got back into the grooming bay the first thing she did was call out for anyone to answer her (i think Nancy did - bless) so K managed to get her witty about her knowing the apocalypse hadn't happened while she spun on the walker and that other horses were still living. She is such a Silly Billy!

Pre-ride mid-grooming

Once K's brain re-engaged to the job at hand, we got some lovely work. Lots of transitions up and down and changes of rein through S-shaped circles, diagonals and serpentines to keep her brain  focused on me and not on shadows or whatever else she was watching. I was super glad that my mom got to see her behaving so well, we weren't perfect and although she was overall very good she still had blips here and there where she'd loose focus. There are deff two of us to blame, lack of work, poor fitness and easily distracted...to be honest that could describe either of us ;-)

Almost ready to work

The plan from here on out is to continue to enjoy spending time with my girls - with a focus on spending more time on their backs. Fingers crossed i can be stern with myself & buck up and ride in the evenings after work. I need to be more strict with myself and actually head home at 5.30pm every evening and I'll have the time & energy to ride at least one an evening that way. Not the greatest New Years Resolution  or January Goal - but one i hope to achieve nonetheless ☺

Mischief & Mayhem

Aka two of the nicknames i have for the girls...yes they are longer then their actual names so maybe pet names are a more accurate description ;-)

Mischief

Mayhem

Although maybe I should swap the names considering Nancy tried to trample me as i led her to the field due to getting a fright when a jeep & trailer passed us. Really she was just taking advantage of the situation to let off some steam after not being let out yesterday - well a combination of that & the fact that the snow makes her antsy and un-Nancy-like.

Looking like butter-wouldn't-melt

I had a fab day in Paris yesterday meeting up with one of the awesomest people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. Sadly I'm an idiot and forgot to nab a picture of the meet up, hopefully the one(s) they got come out ok. I had a ball of a day chatting & laughing with a long time friend. In the mean time here are some snapshots i did capture of the beautiful city.

Sunrise over the Seine

Order of equestrians

And finally some blooper shots of Nancy from earlier today. Wishing every reader a very Happy New Year & I hope that 2015 will be an amazing year for all.
Thank you all so much for the wonderful support and comments all year. Lots of love to all ♡♡♡

HAPPY NEW YEAR
☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺

Monday Mugging

A few snapshots from when I turned the little darlings out this morning. I led each horse individually to & from the field today across the frozen tundra that is currently besieging us. I may not have sat in a saddle since the 26th but i am still getting a workout ;-)

I know this is nothing compared to the snow fest Scandinavians, Russians, Canadians & North Americans have to deal with - but i hate the cold, snow & ice and was overjoyed to have had such a mild winter last year.

No such luck this year sadly, temps plummeted to -6C on Sunday evening & are due to stay below freezing for the rest of this week. Whether this means we'll get more snow or not I've no idea. One thing I do know is snow on top of iced snow is a recipe for disaster when leading excitable beasts to turnout. So they may not be going out again if temps don't increase.

They are deff staying indoors tomorrow as i am off to Pareee for the day for a super awesome meet up. Fingers crossed all goes well! At least there is no snow there - i am reliably informed ☺

Silent Sunday - Snow Day

I couldn't get N to pose - she hasn't seen
snow like this in 2 years.
 She was having fun in it

They had fun kicking their heels up playing in the snow when I let them loose in the turnout as you'll see from the yeehaw'ing in the videos.
I was super glad my sis & I went for our hack in the woods St Stephens day before the snow completely covered the country yesterday.

Twice as Nice

My baby sis came with me for a hack in the woods today. She rode Nancy & I was on Kika the Chicken.

She is so funny, for as often as she has come into the woods with Nancy & I while on the lead, the terror is real when she has as rider on her back lolz. A few hesitant steps here and there where she got a little sticky but walked on like a good girl when I asked her too & of course Nancy was on hand for figurative hand-holding and general cool-level-headedness that she is awesome for. ♡

She is miles better than she used to be, and will never be 100% zen hacking in the woods but she was as good as she can be. She walked on well, in front, beside and especially behind. She can doze when she slots in behind Nancy lol. My sis got a good kick out of Kika's emotive satellite ears.

Love my big brave girls ☺
Happy St Stephens/Boxing day