JR
I have been following your posts on FHOTD for a while now and now I am also following your blog on a daily basis. I love the way you go about things in a very down to earth common sense approach. Like you, I am a very Old School trainer, and will remain that way.
I have been training horses for a few years longer than you in California. We have always had a full barn and when a stall did come open, we never had a problem filling it.
But lately, we have been our clients have been taking their horses home saying that they can no longer afford to keep their horses in training. Some of them have been long term clients. I know they will come back when the economy gets better and they have more money to spend.
The question I have for you is, are you experiencing the same problems and what are you doing to stay afloat?
Do you think things will get better?
Deb
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Well Deb
Times are tough of that there is no doubt. Work for me is slow but steady. I know of several trainers in our area that have been sending horses home because the owners are unable to pay the bills. And some of the owners are being forced to sell their horses at give away prices so they can just pay their regular utility bills.
As far as what we are doing, well we are plugging away keeping busy with a few client horses and a few of our own. I am getting our 3 year old's ready for the show ring so I have horses to keep me in the ring. I am starting to get CNJ's horses ready for her to show. And we are still giving lessons as well.
Meanwhile, we have the girls that are keeping us busy!
We do not go out like we used to and are definitely being creative in ways to have fun.
Going to movies are a thing of the past, at least for now, and our weekly jaunt to the Sushi bar is out, at least for now.
And as much as we come across as party animals, we really do not drink like we used to.
Deb, things will get better!
As professional and amateur horsemen we have all had to ride out tough times and have always managed to make it through.
So, I guess my questions are.... What is everyone else doing for fun?
What are you doing with your horses for fun?
If there is one thing that you would like to do with or without your horses, what is it?
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«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 230 of 230Shadbelly Dressage Coat
JR and CNJ I forgot a huge piece of the apology process.
Offering one of my own.
You two have been exceedingly gracious in your apology and ongoing consideration for me.
I got so lost in that that I forgot to extend my own.
I never really meant any of what I strung together in the past but do apologize all the same.
You have set a tremendous example for me to strive towards.
Thank you...
Blue Heron-what can I say, shiny objects distract me. lol
Dena, shadbelly coats are worn for upper levels of dressage and also show hack classes. This one is a prototype and I am impressed that it is turning out rather well. (Yeah Me!)
I wasn't going to post anything until I finishe it, but after sewing the $:@/;:@"-);:($ sleeves and lining together wrong, I need a short break.
They sell for well up to $900 that I have seen and usually have the damn dreaded "Dry Clean Only" label inside. Fuck that. If it can't go in the washer... yeah, you know the rest.
CNJ are you building something that our God given attributes(otherwise known as the girls)will actually fit in?
*Bless your heart.
I only ever went to a couple of schooling shows with regard to my Dressage showing career.
Back then not a lot of people who were starting in it even had a Dressage saddle.
I never even knew the coat with tails had a special name.
Now you know I want to know why.
Why is it called a Shadbelly?
Got a deal on my old Shadbelly for about $400. Pikeur. Nice coat. No longer fits. lol
CNJ, If you can set in a sleeve, you are a hero to me. I never got that part right, if you can create washable show clothing, you should do very well... JR, Hope you had a wonderful Father's day..I really enjoy your blog, it's great.
Man no doubt. Washable Shadbelly. Very cool. How much would you charge.
I'll send you my measurements, but you have to swear on your life, the life of your husband, horses, and children you'll never tell a soul. lol
HP- these are running Tiny, not just small. The 12 fits our 15 y/o. I am afraid. Very, very afraid. I may have to use duct tape...
Buckdoff- the sleeve wasn't so bad. Trying to decide which part was toughest. The directions might be a winner!
HP- the Pikeur's I have seen for $900. They better fit and be nice for the money. And spending that much I may dry clean without issue. But then with $900 I may buy another prospect or three in need of an upgrade...
Seen a half decent yearling TB colt on CL for $350.
Shhhhhhhhh!
Speaking of dressage-starting to shop for a dressage saddle that will fit my 13 hh aprox 750 lb. gelding, anyone know a good website? I'm gonna have to do under saddle work to prepare for cdes next year. What a change from my huntseat days!
CNJ, I haven't done any sewing for years, but sleeves always baffled me.
Buckdoff- apparently they are my sticking point too. Just blew it again.
JR's gonna get out his newspaper for turning this into a sewing guild.
Dena- no clue as to why the name. Anyone?
If we go with sewing and cooking we might be all right.
I think sharing ideas on how to live well and economize and still stay in horses was one of the components of his composition here.
I want to hear more about the homemade pasta. The chicken was delicious sweey with a bite.
And why are sizes never universal?
It is like some wonky joke.
Directed for the most part at the expense of women.
Windingwings.
Check out used saddles. Bucks Country, Trumbull Mountain, Pelham, Ebay. That's a good start. Oh, and warmbloods-for-sale. They have dressage saddles in classifieds. Lots and lots.
I think they're called shadbelly because they were supposed to look like a fish. Some old priests wore coats that looked like fishes...christian symbology or something (could be wrong. lol). Also called swallowtail, or just tailcoat. We need Blueheron to research that. She's good at finding answers.
Hey there folks - I see things got rather crazy while I was out and about (seriously JR, I don't know all the blog etiquette and all that, but there are moderators on a lot of these things, right???? I can certainly see the appeal...)
I know nada about dressage coats but my great aunt Jeanette - who was a character if there ever was one - use to always refer to the annual smelt run (tiny little fish) as "shaddies." So, horspor - I think you are probably on to something there with the fish reference.
I got to go play polo today. What a blast. Turns out there is this guy that has lived in my little podunk, decidely NOT PALM SPRINGS, town for the last 25 years and he is really into playing. Has 3 polo ponies about 2 miles from my place. This blew me away. He is a plumber. Bob the plumber the polo player. What a crack up. Anyways, he asked me and my insurance agent (who has competitive reining horses) if we wanted to come play and we tooled around on his very well broke horses and hit some balls at mostly very slow paces. What a blast! I swear, I didn't get my former polo mare with intentions of getting back into polo (like I have anywhere near the time or the money...), but man it is sure addicting! Ride a horse AND whack a ball. It's all of America's best past-times rolled into one exciting game!
PF
While I can see the appeal for moderators I feel that we are all mature enough to play in the sandbox together. And I imagine everyone can practice a little self policing and self control.
Not sure why sizes can't be universal. I guess to spare peoples feelings sometimes?
HP, I second WB4Sale. Lots of eyecandy. Both kinds, eating and not. Also tacktrader let's you do an advanced search. eBay, if you know what you want, need and what it sells for new. Local tack stores, even CL has some deals, but ya gotta wade through everything.
WW- just curious, but why the need to ride to improve the driving?
Ironic since sometimes a riding horse is taken back to ground driving to solve problems. LOL, What's up with that?
PF, that sounds like a blast. I've never played polo.
Well with driving since as someone pointed out you only have reins and whip as aid, spending time under saddle will improve scores. Which I will need lessons, also improving score. (if you are concerned about me riding pony, my nickname@ work is tapeworm)
Yeah it is ironic ground driving can fix problems..whew I don't wanna go to work! It's TOO EARLY. I wanna stay home and play with ponies!!
horspor -
It is seriously addicting! I also think it is a cool sport because it is actually one of the few fast-paced, action-packed sports where women can potentially compete at the top level with men (I was always the type of gal who would never have been caught being a cheerleader for the football team, but I wouldn't have minded PLAYING on the football team). There are a few top woman players out there - but not too many yet and not quite at the level as the top men, but the potential is sure there. Yes, men have more strength in getting a really long shot on the ball, but a woman with great form and control can be just as good but in slightly different ways (like more strategic and precise control of the ball). And then the horses - and riding ability - of course, are the other major leveling factor.
JR - Well, I certainly respect that! I don't know if I could be as nice as you but more power to you for doing so.
horspoor wrote:
Got a deal on my old Shadbelly for about $400
Washable Shadbelly. Very cool.
- - - - - - - -
Don't hate me, but...
Well, my first shadbelly was a Hobby Horse (still have it, beautiful coat) when they were closing out all the original English stuff, including the Saddleseat day coats. Paid only $300 for it. :)
However two years ago this past April, when I was down in Pomona for an Arab show I took a student to find some new breeches and tall boots at The Horse Mart (a retailer in San Dimas that also carries consignment stuff). They had a beautiful navy shadbelly I found for about $300 as well, and since my HH is black, I liked the idea of picking up a navy one. Looked a little bit further and what do you suppose I found? Another navy one ~ BRAND NEW, price tag $29.99 (!!) and the kicker? NOT "dry clean only". Yep, it's washable!!
I even went to the girl behind the counter to ask if is was a mistake and really supposed to be $299.99. She said no, what the tag says is thirty bucks, that's how much you're paying.. Woohoo! :-D So, now I have two, a black one and a navy one.
Thought my husband was going to have a heart attack when I told him I bought a new coat. LOL!
ww- It might have been me saying whip, reins and voice are your only forms of communication, and they are when driving.
Funny how the opposites can help improve the outcome sometimes. In my situation with my pony, riding is not an option. I have been on him a rare, few times, but he is too small. At a whopping 11 hands... it just isn't right.
PF- I haven't tried polo, but cowboy polo with brooms and a soccer ball can be hella fun. Of course it usually involves very few rules (if any) and everyone running amuck in different directions at once. Organized chaos?
HP- there are plenty of wools and wool blends available and many are machine washable. With the new technology available in pretty much all aspects of design and manufacturing- the simple things in life are becoming less simple.
CNJ:
How about using Alpaca fiber for your line of clothes. It is softer yet stronger than sheep fiber and it is hypoallergenic (does not contain lanolin).
Yes, another shameless plug of my new adventure. Sorry, couldn't help myself.
Can you imagine how wonderful the coats would feel if they were made with Alpaca fiber?
Anywho, just wishing as I would love to have a hunt coat and even a hunt vest made of it. I think I will have to pursue this angle of it in the future.
CCC- if you could get the fibers spun and woven into a fabric, I would be game at giving it a shot.
On my first trip to Alaska, we went tithe musk ox farm. We were charged at the fence by one of them. My daughter, friend and I just stood there in awe as she barrelled down on us, stopping right at the fence to snort in defiance. Incredible, yes it was.
They brush off and otherwise collect the undercoat called quiviut which is shipped off to be spun into yarn. Once spun, the yarn is sent to various island tribal, knitting co-ops where they either knit or crochet it into mittens, scarves, hats, sweaters and various other items.
Quiviut is very thin but extremely warm. The farm raffles off a blanket every year as a fundraiser.
It's all too cool!
CNJ:
Sounds good.
We do have a contact locally who has been in the business for 10 years. They will have lots of info on things like this.
Will keep you informed.
CCC-
Here is the link to the farm.
Gilda is the one who charged the fence at us.
Apparently I spelled qiviut wrong. Oops.
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