:~: "Noseband-less" :~:

So recently Cheeky has been clenching his jaw and resisting my hand while riding, causing him to be stiff. He'd made me have to wrestle with him for like 10 minutes to get his head down...

On Sunday I did a little experimenting with his bridle -- I removed his noseband and flatted him around without it. I was honestly baffled that he wasn't running around like a giraffe with his head and nose in the air: he was AWESOME!! I all had to do to get him to lower his head was widen my hands and give a little half halt. Bam! Head down! Seeing as how well the flatwork went, I decided to get him going over a (pretty tricky) little pole course. He put his head up a few times when I pulled on him, but it wasn't bad at all! We were doing rollbacks, flying changes, bounces, and lines with ease!

Today I left the noseband off again, purely to see if it was a real reaction I was getting and not just a one-time thing. Sure thing, I got on, widened my hands, half-halted, and there! His head was down. He went around the rest of the day perfectly. Of course he to be spooky since it was EXTREMELY windy, but other than that he did everything I asked of him, no problem!

I find it funny how one little piece of tack can make such a difference in a horse's way of going, especially when it's something like a noseband that you wouldn't really even consider taking off! Without his noseband his jaw is unclenched, he is salivating more, his back is not stiff. I found that he's actually more sensitive to my aids without the noseband than with it, so that's a plus too.

I'll probably, eventually get Cheeky a running martingale, just because he needs one for jumping  regardless of whether he has a noseband on or not. He's going so well right now, I can't wait to see what show season has in store for us. Very happy with my baby boy as always. <3

:~: Fashionable Yet Functional :~:

I don't think I know a single equestrian who doesn't or hasn't used polo wraps on their horses before, and you know we all have that desire to have matching tack for our horses, whether we want to admit it or not...

I personally am a fan of using polo wraps on the front legs and boots on the hinds for schooling. This means I have several pairs of wraps that I use a few times a week when I go out to school Cheeky -- some of which are custom designed and handmade my absolutely amazing sponsors, WhinneyWear!

Just a few of WhinneyWear's polos, standing wraps, pads, reins, spurs, halters and conchos.

Ever since WhinneyWear started up business back in 2008, they have been creating and cranking out absolutely amazing one of a kind polo wraps, saddle pads, fly masks, rhinestone stirrups/spurs, halters, etc. They currently have sold their products to all 50 states, as well as Norway, Australia, Singapore, Japan, New Zealand, United Kingdom and Canada. They really can make just about anything you want them to, and when it's finished they'll share your design with their over 11,000 followers! WhinneyWear will even create polos for that one piece of tack you just can never seen to match with anything! New to WhinneyWear are spring/summer dresses, bit guards, and embroidered polo wraps.

Feel free to check out their --> Facebook Page and/or Website <-- , and if you are interested in ordering some tack from them, shoot them an email explaining what you would like to have done. If you end up purchasing something, either on their website or through email, make sure you mention the code "Lyndsay2013". Entering this code will allow you a 10% off discount on your purchases. WhinneyWear really does "make you the envy of the barn!"

Cheeky's custom-made WhinneyWear "Lambo Wraps".

:~: Naked Pony! :~:

As spring starts to roll around, there's always that annoying issue of our horses shedding their furry winter coats... That is unless you have a nice pair of clippers! Considering the title of the post, I think you might see where this is going.

If you guessed "Cheeky got clipped" -- 5 Brownie points to you!!

After several months of being hounded by my trainer, barn owner, and riding friends I finally decided to do my first full-body clip on my horse. I would've never admitted it at the time, but I was EXTREMELY nervous, considering I am an absolute perfectionist. I really wanted to make a good impression, and of course make Cheeky look nice with this clip, but I realized that was going to be a challenge on my very first clip job.

Luckily for me, our amazing groom (who was/still is recovering from a dislocated elbow -- OUCH) was able to show me the basics on the body, legs, and back for a good 10-15 minutes. UNfortunately she had to leave me after that, so I was basically left to do my very first full-body clip without any help or supervision. Pretty much all I was thinking was "Greeaaaat, now I'm sure to screw up..."

I must've spent a total of 3.5 hours on his body. Then came the legs, and with that came another hour. About halfway through clipping his legs I could tell that Cheeky had just about had it, and was on that brink of tipping the "crazyberg." For those of you who actually have met or know Cheeky, you know he is what I like to call a "worrier." Worrier horses get extremely skittish in new or somewhat uncomfortable situations, OR when they feel they can't work though a situation that's been handed to them...

So, being the worrier that he is, as I started his hind legs, he decided he was going to tip that crazyberg and started picking up his legs every time I would move in with (or touch) the clippers to his legs. I tried several techniques -- holding his leg in the air, touching his leg while clipping, feeding him a few treats (to relax him), and finally holding the vibrating clippers to his fetlocks (to familiarize him with the feel of the clippers). They all helped in VERY small ways -- just enough for me to finish up the job and pack away the clippers. I wasn't even going to try and attempt his face judging by the way he was acting up. I thought I'd be best if I just put him away and then come back on Friday (yesterday) to do his mane.

By this time it was 6:45 PM, I was covered head to toe in horsehair, and I had a 45 minute drive back home through pitch black/soaking wet backroads. On top of all of this I still had a ton of homework AND a history test to study for. I guess you could say I was busy on Wednesday night... Good thing the clipping turned out okay!

I was able to make it out there yesterday around 1:30 to finish his face, and we got it all done!! Also got to hop on and work on the flat a bit and he was an absolute doll! My baby boy is really starting to turn into something special! I love him so much... <3 data-blogger-escaped-br="">
The moral of the story? DON'T do your first body clip on a school night when you have tons of homework. You WILL end up staying awake until midnight.