Its been a while...

I know I do not have a huge following...but for those of you that do follow my blog, I am sorry for disappearing! Life sort of took over and I had to take a hiatus there for a while. The good news is, it is all for the better and Tillie and I reformed our partnership.

While the time off wasn't exactly planned, we came back into work fresh and without all the baggage. The training was rusty, but still there. We have been working on rebuilding fitness and it seems Tillie has grown up even more over the winter.

Last year, she continued to get more rideable and accepting...but aside from an odd ride here or there since coming back she has been rock solid. Her brain seems to be more focused, she's calmer and much more accepting. She has always been ready to work, but now her work ethic is matched with allowing me to push some buttons and move her around more without so much sass. 

First dressage lesson in quite some time...Tillie didnt miss a beat

This winter seems to have done us both well. I am not putting as much pressure on us and it seems Tillie's answer has been to give me what ever I ask for with way more try than ever before. Which is saying something considering how much she always tried for me before.

Fancy new Lund tack so we look the part!

I always planned to give her time off this winter...just didnt exactly plan on THAT much time. But apparently it was for the best so now its just a matter of refocusing and rebuilding strength. 

We certainly have hit the ground running this spring since I have been back in the saddle...I will be sure to post specifically about each of these things, but Dom Schramm has already been back teaching us...which I missed sorely while he was gone. We have done our first XC school of the season and Tillie was such a rock star it made me want to cry.

The Dream bit seems to be a great option for us XC!

I am excited with how she is feeling. I signed us up for the Twilight CT at Loch Moy next week similar to what we did last season...hopefully it will dust off the cob webs and get us back into the swing of things. 

One of our first jump schools with the jumps put up since being back into work!

I am totally loving my stubben, which I believe I blogged about last before I disappeared:

Not to mention my partnership with Lund saddlery...I can not speak any more highly of the quality of this tack. They are not paying me to say this at all. I chose to partner with them BECAUSE of their foundation their company stands for and because of the quality. 

Her heart on her butt is still there

at least we look the part right?!

I know this has all been a bit vague, but I just wanted to say hello again! I've missed you all and can't wait to catch up on what you all have been up to as well!

I did something crazy

Yes, I know once again I have been MIA...life has had a way of taking over. After my horse tried to gain herself a full vacation by severing a vein....we are back at it and cutting the lighter work period short. Luckily she was only out for 2 days with this...and you best believe I am ready to put her new hocks to use and make sure she doesnt get the zoom zooms all over again.

(beware some graphic photos below)

Yes like Tillie severing a vein after getting loose...

Soooooo much blood

Literally started to panic at this point

To make up for it, I decided to once and for all end my saddle fitting woes (hopefully for the foreseeable future!)...you know since we clearly need to do more galloping.

I got us a dressage saddle not too long ago...and decided to leave our jump saddle alone since it was working for us with the help of a thinline pad + shims. It has been working well for us... that is until recently.

This saddle has been there with Tillie and I since the first year I got her.
and all the ups and down since..so its been hard to let it go

The fit for Tillie wasnt poor, but not optimum either. The bigger issue with fit has fallen on me and the fact it puts me in a chair seat like something horrible and my bottom hits the back of the saddle over fences.

You can kind of see the chair seat happening here

I was willing to make do for my own liking as long as it worked for Tillie...but lately she made it clear when saddling up she is not happy with it. After having 2 fitters take a look, one non-biased to Stubben another a Stubben fitter...it was obvious we both needed to move on especially with our goals for next year.

Which should hopefully not include ANY MORE sedation

So long story long, I bit the bullet and placed the order for one of these:

Stubben Zaria Optimum

If you all remember, I blogged about one when I rode in my trainers, Dom Schramm. It was odd at first and I wasnt quite sold. I think the fact it felt so different was part of it. But when the fitter came back earlier this week and had me try a slew of them...I was hooked and I knew I had to have it.

Tillie the first day back after her injury...laughing at my anxiety

So we are a 29cm tree now, 18" seat (who would have thought!?) and regular flap with a soft seat. I didnt do any fancing color or stitching for fear of how it would wear and longevity...so literally the image above is the color I got with it being the ebony brown with the ligther medium brown duo tone.

Tillie says, I so spoiled!!

The 18" seat shocked the heck out of me, but when trying a smaller seat it just want enough room...especially considering when  your out XC and you get yourself into a hairy situation. The Biomax was something I thought for sure I would want, but after trying it...didnt love it enough to warrant the extra cost. I just never felt like I got the close contact feel I did without it. It also tended to hit my bottom right in a spot I could feel the crease of it ending every tine my bottom touched the saddle.

All done fitting!

I also sprung for the crazy looking girth too, (their Equisoft Girth) but what the hell right?! Whats another few hundred dollars?

Stubben Equi-soft Girth

I will tell you I was a non believer in this girth...paying almost $400 seemed insane to me. I did not receive it for free nor am I being compensated in anyway for saying this but holy cow what a difference it made.

I was always of the belief the girth was meant for XC or galloping when the horse was exerted and working...that it would expand with the horse's breathing helping with regulating its heart rate and comfort when breathing became labored.

Stubben's description of the Girth is as follows:

"The Equi-Soft girth, when properly adjusted, effectively deals with the constriction by giving in all directions and markedly reducing the tension.  This frees the underlying musculature, allows better circulation, and decreases the restriction of motion of the gut.  As respiration is enhanced and the horse experiences less discomfort, pulse rate has been shown to be reduced during exercise.  Since the muscles are less restricted, lateral flexibility is enhanced as well as the horse’s ability to employ the external obliques, serratus and other abdominal muscles necessary to support the topline.  This is manifested in greater extension of the foreleg and more active employment of the hind quarters."

It was INSTANTANEOUS when using this girth + the saddle that I felt the difference. This girth plus the saddle were used on the first go round and the final...both times I had a horse that was through, relaxed and on the aids and her striding was open without being tense. This is just flatting her.

I have been told its like this with some horses while others there is no difference at all. If you are ever at all curious, know your horse has been properly fitted, ulcers checked and soundess but still doesnt seem to be quite fluid....this may be something to try.

Tillie REALLY liked it

So once I wrote out my deposit, I promptly cried a little realizing this cost me more than my first car, but find it really hard to regret at all considering how marvelous Tillie felt and also, the kicker, I felt too! I was in a much better position yet solid and not moving anywhere. It was slightly odd at first with the monoflap because the reduced bulk almost tricked my mind into thinking less support. 

But when we tried a few jumps and Tillie got some sass and excitment, I did NOT move nor did the saddle. Not to say I wont have any falls off this saddle...and just for good measure, I found an AWESOME deal on a Hit Air vets for less than half retail value and just received that today too!

I have been putting off getting one...but I have been told by many people that Training level and above you want to start thinking about it. So when I saw this being listed, I couldnt resist. 

So now that I am officially broke...at least Tillie and myself will have the best comfort and safety there is to offer. Heres to hoping if we dress for success...it will follow. You know the whole, "Build it and they will come" mentalitly.