Thursday, December 11, 2014

If I self-identify as a dressage queen, does that mean I don't have to ride in the rain?

I had plans to ride tonight when I got home. Big plans. The last show of the season is this Saturday and we're slated to do the 2015 1-2 test, which is approximately 934761831289 times harder than the old 1-2 test. It's the same movements but they come up faster in the new test. Plus I'd like to have a better trot lengthening and more consistent leg yield. Obviously we're not going to miraculously improve since the last show, but a little better would be nice. However, improvement requires riding, which is what I did not do tonight because it was raining.

As I was putting out hay I thought about how it wasn't really raining that hard and it wasn't that cold and now we have lights for our tiny pretend arena so dammit, I should ride. Plus, the weather is supposed to be worse tomorrow and it might be muddy by then so really, I should ride. While I was mucking, it started raining harder, and I thought about how maybe if I just did a short walk ride, that would be better than nothing. I thought about how we could just do a little leg yield down the rail, and that would help. But by the time I was done I was pretty soaked, and Red - who generally will not let anything stand between him and food - would not come out of the barn to get his hay.

Y U NOT LEAVE HAY IN BARN STUPID HUMAN. IS RAINING.

So I gave up on riding and decided to play horse dress-up instead. I tried Paddy's new special "stock horse" cut blanket from SmartPak on him. They're made especially for horses with square builds.

Alas, Paddy is apparently not square enough. That's the SECOND blanket that doesn't fit him. We tried the Rambo Optimo but it didn't work either - went down past his knees. Haffies are impossible to fit, I tell you. 

So I tossed Cash's new Wug on Paddy to see if it would work, since their wear the same size. Paddy's problem is that his wide shoulders are hard to fit, plus he's short. The Wug pulls a bit in the shoulder, but otherwise seems OK.

Fits in the neck area, and this closure style rocks. Red has the Rambo version of this blanket and I love it.

So, gotta send the special "stock-cut" blankie back and get him a Wug. Hopefully the third blanket's the charm!

P.S. It's still raining.

29 comments:

  1. I will say, I'm definitely a fan of the 2 snap closure on the Wug....sometimes it's easier to take off and put on than those stupid T-clips!

    Although, I feel like Paddy would still be adorable wearing a burlap sack. Just saying :)

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    1. I feel like the 2 snap closure is overkill, but I like the thumb-snaps better than any other kind since you can still manipulate them through gloves.

      I will have to get Paddy a burlap sack someday...

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  2. I love the new front closure on horseware items, have that on the last blanket I bought Stampede. I bet a Rambo Wug would be perfect since they run a little looser in the shoulders than the Amigo. I can't buy anything but Rambo, in that case you totally get what you pay for!

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    1. Red has the Rambo Wug, Cash has the Amigo Wug because I needed something ASAP and it was what they had in stock. Paddy will likely also get a Rambo Wug, but I am really hoping for some other color than screaming purple. EEEEK!

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  3. My trainer won't ride in the rain. I make copious fun of her for it. She calls me an uncultured eventer. ;)

    Pig has the Rambo Wug, and I LOVE it. It's the best fitting blanket on him ever. His shoulders are so huge, almost every blanket under the sun doesn't fit right. That one is perfection.

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    1. I'll ride in the rain, but only under duress. If I were more concerned about the show this weekend, obviously I would have sucked it up and done it anyway.

      Yeah, Paddy's gonna get a Rambo Wug. Now, if I'm super lucky someone will have them on sale...

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  4. I also identify as DQ and at this point I really don't ride for any good (or not really good) weather related reason. Perks of having a 17 y/o horse who is the same whether she's had 2 days off or 20.

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    1. I'm lucky in that Paddy is very forgiving of me if he has several days off. He's definitely better if I ride him every day, but he's not BAD if I don't. Also, he's not a fan of working in the rain lol!

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  5. Replies
    1. I do. I really do. But only 'cause of your indoor. ;)

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  6. I'm glaring at you because I have no words about you complaining about this little tiny spittling of rain.

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    1. It rained MUCH harder at my place than it did where you are, and started about an hour earlier too. So neener-neener thhhbbbpt. ;)

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  7. Oh wow he DOES have huge shoulders.

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  8. So I love my Wugs for Miles, but one other type of blanket you might try are Schneider's "V-free" blankets (sstack.com). My previous horse was a TANK with huge shoulders -- stood 15.2hh and wore a size 80 blanket. The way those blankets are constructed really helped with the massive shoulder issue!

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    1. I had looked at those, but the cut-back doesn't work on his withers. Blargh.

      Wugs for all!

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  9. the spotted pony and reddums!!!! always love a good sighting of those guys ;) fingers crossed the Wug works out!

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    1. Yes, Reddums has enough sense to stay out of the rain, lol!

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  10. (Sorry if I am duplicating)
    My answer is YES it does
    and also my guys are frequently much improved after a couple of days off.

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    1. Paddy has now had off since Sunday. That's a few too many days off lol.

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  11. I find that particular Horseware front closure very restrictive on my big chested Nancy & sadly I can't find a way to make her rug wider. I have been meaning to ring the tack place i normally order from to find out if the 200g stable rug they have on sale has the "old" fasteners.

    I'll perverse on the many haffies at y barn and see what rugs hey are rocking and report back with brand names :-)

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    1. The Wug does seem a little more snug in the shoulder than the Rambo "Original" cut, but it's also a shorter cut which seems good for midgets. Which Rambo did you end up getting for Nancy?

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    2. I got her the duo with removable liner & neck for turnout, which had the same clip front fasteners but as I got it a size up to go over her stable rug i don't find it restricts her shoulders.
      It's her stable rug (with the same clasp closure) that I find is rubbing her. I find the other "slide & twist" fastener (sorry can't think of a better way to describe it) of the older rugs better as Horseware actually have an extra piece that can be bought as a chest extender for that fastener...I asked last year about a similar product for these clasp fasteners but sadly they didn't seem to be planning on making one :(

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    3. Oh I've just realised the fasteners i am trying to describe as my preference are still used for the belly straps

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  12. I stuck it out and went to a show in the pouring rain once. In hindsight, I should have stayed home. Live dry to ride another day.

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    1. Fortunately it's not forecast to rain this weekend and the venue has a covered arena. But I agree - live dry to ride another day!

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  13. I have a WUG thats 14 years old..cant go wrong! Didn't realize they made Amigo Wugs now...very cool.

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