I'm grateful and glad that I was able to do my annual birthday ride yesterday. It's been a whirlwind the past few months with two little ones underfoot. I will never ever regret my decision to start a family but the reality of things is that it does make it just that much harder to find time for myself.
The more you love something, the harder the universe sometimes makes you work for it. But in the end, things somehow will work out.
Earlier this year I was contacted by Two Horse Tack to try out the Better Than Leather Turnout Halter and looked forward to the opportunity to review another one of their products. I had this review drafted months ago, but it is being posted rather delayed due to my daughter deciding to arrive several weeks earlier than we had anticipated. Before everything descended into chaos, I did manage to jot down my first impressions and get out to the barn to take some photos.
I'm very familiar with biothane/beta biothane material as I pretty much exclusively only use synthetic tack when I ride or do anything with my horse. This is my first ever experience with the "Better Than Leather" material. I was quite surprised by how much it actually looks like real leather. The material is thinner and more pliable than regular beta biothane. It has a matte finish to it that gives it the appearance of traditional leather while still being easy to clean and maintain. As usual with all THT products, the halter is customizable and is made to order. The options are endless for individual needs and wants. This turnout halter comes in black or brown beta biothane and in 3 different material widths to compliment a variety of head sizes.
Hi blogger world, it's been awhile! I've been away the past half year taking family leave and enjoying my new little one who decided to arrive on her own schedule. She took me by surprise so I didn't really get a chance to really prepare for anything and left a lot of things in a lurch. Thankfully we're doing well though and I have plenty of cute photos to share, which will come soon.
However first off, a long overdue horse update....So remember that the barn that Quest and I moved into earlier this year? Well, it didn't work out.
Our first few months at DF were wonderful, almost heavenly blissful. The drive distance was reasonable, the property was aged but immaculate, the trails were gorgeous, and most importantly Quest was out in pasture 24/7, content, and living her best horsey life. I felt so very lucky that we finally found something that hit all my must-haves plus some more.
However about two months ago, everything started to unravel. It started off with a random message from the manager J saying she was moving some her show horses and clients back home (she lives on property) so she needed the boarders to accommodate. She asked if I wanted to move Quest to a sister barn that was located an hour away. I was very confused by the request at first but after talking to a couple folks I managed to get the full story. Apparently the show clients were unhappy about the distance to the sister barn so out of convenience, J decided to move all the show horses and clients back home and severing all ties with the sister barn.
I politely declined to move, mostly because of the fact that I had two younger kids and I moved to DF to try and balance out actually being a parent with my riding hobby. But I had a feeling that the manager would be looking for any reason to try and get as many boarders out of the barn as soon as possible. From that point on, things started getting weird. The easy, laid-back vibe of the trail-riders barn became more chaotic and hectic once all the show horses came back to the barn. J moved the boarder tack trunks out and rearranged saddles to make room for her horses and client things. My tack went missing for awhile because I didn't know about the re-shuffle until after the fact.
However annoying, the final straw was J blindsiding me with a huge paragraph message that Quest's hip rubbing while she was in heat that was apparently causing damage to the fence. She gave me two choices: Find another barn or put Quest on Regumate year around via monthly injection administered by vet. She did not allow a supplement, did not allow the oral daily dose, did not want to individualize the treatment (annual was "easier" for them to manage) and there was no consulting a vet.
Bottom line, it was obvious that she wanted us out of the barn and would do anything to make it happen. My hands are full with taking care of my family. I just don't have the time and energy to deal with insanity anymore.
So we're leaving. It was a nice place while it lasted.
NaMoPaiMo or National Model Painting Month is an annual event that takes place each February with the goal for customizers to start and finish a model horse within the month. This year the rules were expanded to allow for completion of a model that was started before the event and also welcomed international participation.
I honestly thought I wouldn't be able to participate, let alone finish a model, for this year's event but I somehow managed to get it done!
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| Breyer Stablemate Arabian Stallion "Twist" repaint. This is one of my favorite molds that I conga. |
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My project queue is full of fun things coming up and I'm hoping to use the time during my leave later this year to make headway during baby downtime. This is very optimistic thinking obviously but here's to hoping!
Barn moving day came and went uneventfully. Last minute, manager J told me that her hauler would be able to meet us at 8am instead of the originally agreed upon time at 1pm. It's kind of a huge time difference...but we made it work.
I've done every move on my own in the past but with how massively huge I am now, I requested W to come along to help carry my tack trunk and other things. I really can't risk a fall especially with how close we are to the finish line. My wonderful husband already anticipated my request and was happy to help thankfully. With groggy C along for the very early morning adventure, we got a quick on-the-go breakfast and arrived at the barn with time to spare. The hauler arrived a little before we did and was ready to load whenever we were.
W grabbed my stuff while I took care of Quest and led her to the trailer, a 2h bp with ramp. Mareface hesitated midway up the ramp but within 10 seconds she followed the rest of the way in without a question. After a thank you and big goodbye hug with T, we hit the road and arrived at the new barn in less than 20 minutes.
Quest hopped off the trailer alert and attentive, and I walked us over to her new pasture with barn hand M and pasture mate, a QH gelding named Bert, leading the way. Mareface trotted off and after about a minute of that, she decided that she was more interested finding a nice place to roll. That being accomplished, it was time to immediately stuff her face with hay.
It was the most boring move day ever and just the way I hoped it would be. Manager J has been giving me updates throughout the weekend and Quest sounds like she's settled right in with no drama.
It never ceases to amaze me how far along mareface has come mentally since I pulled her from the feedlot all those years ago. Back then she would have been a lathered mess from a trailer ride but nowadays she is just attentive and settles down within minutes. I'm hoping my gut is right about the new barn move and things continue to go well.
About 2 months to go until Baby Girl's arrival! Time really seems to be flying by.
The baby shower is in a week and I'm really looking forward to celebrating with our close friends and family. We had to skip out on all the "fun" things back in 2020 so this time we're hoping to make up for it in some ways with a little gathering of sorts.
I don't fault the hunters - they have every right to enjoy their hobby too but hearing a gun go off in the field nearby is just a little too much for me sometimes. Mareface, to her immense credit, has never ever put a foot wrong during our rides last year even when things got a little too much for her. At her worse, she'd snort and jig for a few steps before relaxing back into my hands again. But I never pushed it and if the parking lot was crowded with hunter trucks on a particular day, I turned us right back around and we usually just putted around in the pasture or the little outdoor arena.
The original plan when we moved in about a year ago was that the BO would to take us on a trailer ride down the road to the 5-mile ballast trail so Quest and I could get some miles in. But sadly, after over a year of being there and asking multiple times, the trip did not happen due to a reason or another. I think I gave up on asking. It's not like me to give up easily or quickly, but I was honestly tired.
After thinking long and hard, I've decided it's time for Quest and me to move on to our next adventure. A few weekends ago, W and C joined me on a trip to go check out a prospective barn. The new location is nearly the same drive distance and time as the current barn but has miles of horse-safe trails directly accessible from the barn and about 2000ft from the driveway is nature preserve with miles of bridle paths to explore. Quest would go back to being 100% pasture boarded as well, which was what I had preferred. I feel in my gut the new barn will be a good fit for us and what I want to do with Quest in the near future.
Over the years as a horse owner, perhaps my lofty goals have become simpler now- My biggest priorities are top care and safe, accessible trails. I did sign up for PonyUp 100 this year though. You can be sure once I get medical clearance, I'm going to be right back in the saddle again! I still dream of doing distance riding, but that's for another day whenever that door opens. For now, I choose to enjoy what I have and nothing better than a good mare that is sound and game for any trail I put in front of her.
