Behind the Bit

WEG 2010: I'll be watching it on video...

2009-11-09T17:03:00.008-05:00

I bought my WEG 2010 t-shirt in 2007, when I was at the Rolex 3 day event. In a Scarlett O'Hara moment, I told Bob, "God as my witness we're GOING to the WEG!"

It looks, though, like we'll be watching it on DVD.

I appreciate that it takes a lot of preparation and sprucing and renovation and staff and planning. But, when I saw the ticket prices, an old southern expression came to mind: "That's enough money to burn a wet mule." If you haven't yet experienced the sticker-shock, here is a rundown...

Date	Event	AM Low High	PM Low High	Daily Total
Sept 27	Grand Prix Team part 1	$60-$90	$60-$90	$120-180
Sept 28	Grand Prix Team part 2	$60-$90	$60-$90	$120-$180
Sept 29	Grand Prix Special part 1	$90-$125	$90-$125	$180-250
For a grand (prix) total of...				$420-$610

Bring a spouse, and you could be spending $1220 just for tickets!!! Throw in a four night stay at Super 8 in Georgetown, KY ($660), a rental car ($120), and you're at about $2000ish plus air travel for two ($700?) and food, for a total of *$3000 let's say. The park and ride is free, at least.

By contrast, a seven day riding tour in the Exmoor National Park in jolly old England, including all accommodations, meals, riding, and taxes for two people is $2,000. Plane tix for two runs about $1200 on Priceline, so we're at $3200 for a vacation.

So if you have about $3,000 you can choose between...

a 4 day domestic vacation at a crowded, overpriced venue
a 7 day pony trek through the 300 square miles of moorlands in southern England

May you choose wisely.

The WEG also has a list of prohibited items, which includes bags larger than 12X12X12, anything that looks like a lunchbox or icebox, and food/beverages. Do they mean you can't bring your own food? Geez. That's how I got through Rolex!

My backup plan...
Well, there's always the General Admission tix to the Trade Fair. And, I have a surprise for those of you who are in the same boat as I am. Stay tuned!

*I'm pretty sure you can buy packages that make it cheaper....

Winter shopping spree: An ode to Ariat

2009-11-08T16:53:00.010-05:00

Marimekko fabric
(ties into the story)

“Lead us not into temptation. Just tell us where it is; we'll find it.” --Sam Levenson
For the last few months I've been pouring time and money into Riley. Vet bills, meds/supplies, extra handwalking, hauling expenses, you don't even want to know. Throw in a little marital strain (missed vacation, no time for spouse or recreation) and lack of sleep, and the result is inevitable: an unbridled shopping spree (so to speak).

"Just add it to my tab"
Last weekend I went to Chaar Saddlery -- an innocent errand to pick up Himalyan salt licks for Riley and Harv. Bob was out of town, I had a little time, and like a fool I ventured into the apparel section.

My first temptation was an the Ariat Jacket (below). It may not look all that tempting, all traditional and austere. But the lining! It's totally whimsical and fun, reminiscent of the old Marimekko fabrics. Actually the top right swatch is close to the lining on this jacket.

"Oh, Stacey, that's not so bad"
Hah! I didn't stop there: Add to that a pair of lycra-infused Wrangler jeans with sufficient stretch for me to wear a size FIVE. A must-have based on size alone. The last of the ladies apparel is a taupe microfiber turtleneck (Kerrits) with zebra stripe inserts.

Oh, yeah, the horses
At the checkout I ran into a friend buying a Saxon waterproof sheet. Harvey needs a sheet, I realized, as a top layer this fall. So I ran up and pulled one in a lovely blue and grey combination. Oh, and the salt licks.

Screw you Susie Orman! I handed an already over-used credit card to the cashier and instructed her not to announce the final amount. The good news, is, no buyers remorse! Inspired by my own self-indulgence, I wrote a poem. It's posted on Facebook, but here it is for those who haven't seen it...

Ode to an Ariat Jacket (a poem)
I went on a spending spree,
At a local saddlery,
A phone call is for me?
A collection agency!
Why can't this stuff be free?

For the want of a screw...

2009-11-07T17:08:00.001-05:00

You know, I was embarrassed last week when I lost that screw to Riley's hospital plate -- felt like such a bozo. It's the worst kind of stupid mistake, the kind you have to reveal to half the planet because you can't fix it yourself.

I'm happy to report that the Internet has offered me some vindication. By chance the other day, I was googling hospital plates to see if I could find a type that Riley could be turned out in (hope springs eternal).

Click on this image (a Web page from the NCSU Vet school) and notice the part that I've highlighted/enlarged. Yippeee!

Never mind that it says to provide extra screws in case they get worn (not lost).

An inside look at Totilas (back at the stable)

2009-11-06T16:10:00.005-05:00

Last night I was talking with a friend about Totilas, and we wondered aloud about "what he's really like to ride," "what's he like around the barn," etc.. By sheer coincidence, Horse Hero sent me this video interview -- Fiona Price poses just those sorts of questions to Edward Gal, with Totilas in his stable rug behind them.

Can I put in a plug for Horse Hero? Their videos are informative and entertaining, and registering is free. I'm a member, and can view all the videos -- the subscription fee is totally worth it. Fiona Price gives a relaxed, fun interview, and she has an intuitive sense of what people want to know. Kudos to Horse Hero!

Most hated barn tasks

2009-11-05T16:52:00.007-05:00

Thurs, Nov. 5, 2009: Day 3 of antibiotic-free Riley, he's doing fine. No news is good news!

Seems like I was busy doin' somethin' close to nothin'

But different from the day before...

--- Prince, Rasberry Beret

"Something close to nothing" -- that pretty much characterizes the barn tasks I hate the most. Mucking? Hey, it's exercise. Feeding? You're making the horses happy. Sweeping? It's progress by the linear inch. But some things are so unsatisfying to do! These are a few of my least-favorite things...

De-cobwebbing is definitely close to nothing.
Filling buckets (I'd rather scrub than fill).
Checking for moldy hay. Why would I want to get close enought to make the determination of dust vs. mold?
Anything to do with leg straps. Wrong end of the horse.
Folding blankets. I only have one set of bedsheets so I don't have to fold them. They're in the wash or they're in play.
Anything to do with bell boots.
Feeding the cats.

This last one I feel guilty about, but in my less charitable moments I reason that they shold be eating MICE.

So what are your most hated tasks?

Falling off is a spectator sport - thanks to Youtube

2009-11-04T17:08:00.008-05:00

Youtube has it's share of horsie atrocities on film. At least as remarkable as the rider/horse mishaps are the spectators...

"Nerves of steel" mother of the year award...
Goes to this mom (videotaping at 24" and 1'19," through three bucking fits).
The girl is certainly gutsy, but that's no kid's pony.

A Mexico vacation
The teen claims he was coerced to ride while on vacation in Mexico (read text on Youtube for his account of the event). If mom was the one who insisted, she has a come to Jesus moment while videotaping...

"Knock it off"
Moms are all about being helpful. Chiding the bucking horse. That's real helpful...

Low-brow entertainment...

Youtube reveals our humanity in all its forms, and it isn't always very flattering. One look at the image hints at the Jerry Springer moments to come. Pony comes out of it unscathed, but still, those with delicate sensibilities may want to skip this one.

For Horses Only! The Rollkur Poll

2009-11-03T16:12:00.012-05:00

I've shared my views on rollkur, and of course every horsie bulletin board has thread after impassioned thread of on the topic. It occurs to me we're missing an important viewpoint. How 'bout we let *horses* weigh in on rollkur! Here's a poll, just for them.

Note: Owners may respond on behalf of their horses if they're really, really sure...

Russian Front, 1942

Horses only!
If you had to choose,
which one would you pick?

Next week's poll:
Which would you choose?

Rollkur

A tour of duty in Afghanistan

(I'm kidding, there won't really be a poll next week)

Tom Waits' November

2009-11-02T16:32:00.001-05:00

Excerpts from November

No shadow
No stars
No moon
No care
November
It only believes
In a pile of dead leaves
And a moon
That's the color of bone

November has tied me to an old dead tree
Get word to April to rescue me

Tom Waits

I wonder how many people love John Denver and Tom Waits....

Well, we've had perfect Halloween weather -- damp, a hint of a chill in the air, windy, and grey, and of course a full moon. The trees still have color, but it's on the wane. I spent the weekend visiting with the horses, traveling around on back roads in some of the most beautiful landscape in Bucks County. Harvey got clipped, and Riley's blankets are at the barn should he need them. It was a good weekend.

Totilas: Trash talk

2009-11-01T16:47:00.003-05:00

In a recent COTH posting, there was discussion of a mini-controversy at the Global Dressage Forum at the Academy Bartels in Hooge Mierde, Netherlands. Totilas -- that big-moving, 90% scoring, knockout stallion -- was brought up in an unflattering light. I guess toward the end of the forum, someone (Richard Davidson) stood up and waved around a magazine with this picture (on right) on the cover.

A lively discussion ensued...
Davidson challenged members of the forum -- specifically Arthur Kottas -- to identify the gait (extended trot versus passage). Kottas, who was on the hot-seat, was hard pressed to answer. Awkward!

I have a few reactions...

As someone who occasionally manages meetings, maybe I empathize a bit too much with the blind-sided Arthur Kottas. If you wanna talk about something put it on the agenda.
Doesn't the whole scene (as described) sound a bit theatrical, a la TV courtroom drama, or Mr. Smith Goes to Washington?
I daresay that most of us have taken photos that fail to capture how gorgeous we obviously are. Yes, Totilas' neck looks a little short there. I've got some photos suggesting I have a prominent double chin, but no one's posting them on magazine covers, praise God. I can just destroy them.

Oh, by the way...
Later, it was pointed out that at the moment the photo was taken Totilas was transitioning from an extended trot to a passage. So it was not any one gait, it was mid-transition...

Tennessee tango

2009-10-31T17:01:00.001-04:00

This is a fun video -- I'm not much for this kind of equestrian 'half-time' performance, but the concept is intriguing and the dancing (on the part of dancer and horse) is quite lovely. A charming pair!

The Tango
Uploaded by Horsedancer. -