I’ve looked at those boots & heard they are warm, I’m too cheap though. I just use boots from the local Farm & Fleet - only about $30!
I use to ride english. The mare I sold last summer was more suited for english riding & she LOVED to jump, now me, I guess I “tried” jumping. I liked it, but man you have to have some strong leg muscles, especially lower leg. I much prefer jumping in a western saddle! Probably cuz I’m a girl & not a guy!!! But I feel I don’t flop all over in a western saddle.

There wasn’t too much ice, Al. The road in front of our place was icy but it had a dusting of snow on it so it wasn’t so bad. Although the snow did go up to Mea’s knees since she’s so short! She’s only 14hh. It’s suppose to get pretty cold here for a few days then warm up to almost 50!! Can’t wait, although I think it suppose to rain some. Plus all the melting snow, ok not so excited anymore.

Most of our property got ice on it cause with the weather everything been thawing and refreezing. Me and my son been riding out in the front yard on the grass where it drains pretty well. But I been stayin off the younger ones cause the ground is a little too hard to have one decide to throw me off and see if I’ll bounce. As you get older ya start thinking of things like that.

It was 28 degrees this morning but as long as the wind stays down it ain’t bad. Horses seem to love cold weather, they’re all wantin to go.

Best thing I found for cold weather is a wild rag around your neck. Amazing how much heat you must lose from there. A lot of times if I’m in the barn outta the wind I’ll just have a flannel shirt on and be gettin warm in 30 degree weather. Course I gotta have my long johns on….wife says I look like the FTD guy in em.

Tomorrow supposed to be a high of 18 degrees and snow…suppose that’d seprerate the men from the boys. Good chance to see if my son thinks he’s as tough as the old man…or if the old man is smart enough to watch him ride from the window in the living room.

Hey, have you ever checked out Mountain Horse winter riding gear? I’ve been drooling over those winter boots they have. They’re more English stuff, but the boots are soooo cool. http://www.doversaddlery.com/ladies-mountain-horse-rimfrost-rider-ii-tall-winter-boot/p/X1-38194/cn/51/

Do you ride English ever?

You’ll be surprised when the dentist comes out and you get to see Leo’s mouth held wide open. I would expect he’ll have some pretty sharp teeth and kinda ragged looking. Maybe even still has his wolf teeth. Take the oppurtunity to look around in there and try to picture what the bit might be doing in there. Try to get an idea how different bits work on different points of the mouth. Don’t get many chances to get a good look at the part that gets a whole lotta work.

I think the equine dentist is going to take a look at Leo on the 19th. Hopefully that goes well. I’m pretty curious about it.

Ok, just kiddin. He ought be fine. This afternoon I took “Brandy” out while my son rode “Jake”. Due to weather conditions, work schedule and a few other excuses I got for being lazy, Brandy ain’t had much riding. I used her quite a bit when I first broke her but then she had mothering duty with “Jack”. Except for a couple rides down the road and out back in the woods she just been eatin and leadin the good life.

While trying to show my son some about using the reins and your legs and stuff I found out Brandy got a pretty darned good memory. After just a few minutes of reminders we were sidepassing, moving shoulders, moving hips, reinless stops with a couple steps back at the end. Not quite as refined as she used to do em but darned good. I think Leo is gonna surprise you when you get back to it. Shoot, he may be BETTER after a little break.

As for cleaning tack, I’m nuts enough to enjoy it. I like to go over my bridles and such, cleaning, looking at em, figuring how they work and stuff like that. There’s some tack I really like and others that just are missing “something”. I like to look things over and see what makes the difference that you might not be able to put your finger on otherwise. Some of the prettiest and most expensive stuff I got just don’t feel right. Then I got my ugly ol’ work stuff that has a magic to it.

I think making cards is a good idea, especially when you’re learning stuff. Lots of stuff to think about when you’re up there, having cards might let you concentrate a bit on other things. I would suggest laminating em in plastic, maybe even tape em to the saddle where you can see em.