Hacking Outside for the First Time this Spring

Today was the first time I was able to hack out at the barn and it was GLORIOUS!! While the indoor is huge it's nice to get outside for some fresh air.

Panda has been a great confidence giver for me these last few weeks and I'm really enjoying focusing on having fun and relaxing at the barn. I'm really excited for the show season to start and I'm going to   a couple of schooling shows before it starts since I feel like I've been out of the loop for forever.

 I also got the chance to apply my Personally Preppy helmet monogram and I LOVE IT! I'm really happy I went with the 2.5" instead of the 2", I feel like its the perfect size.

Panda was looking for mints after our hack which resulted in some adorable/funny pictures of us, she can be so sweet.

Hope everyone else was able to get outside today and enjoy the fabulous weather. I'll be super happy if this continues and even gets warmer.

Follow me on instagram @rocky092 to check out more of my photographs and posts.

Special thanks to my hubby Nick for coming out to take these sweet pics of me and Panda.

Equestrian Holiday Gifts and Stocking Stuffers

1. Personally Preppy monograms

Example of the black gloss helmet monogram from the Personally Preppy website

They make vinyl monograms and heat transfers for just about anything and everything you can think of. From head (helmets) to toe (boots) they have tons of styles, colors, and sizes to choose from. In addition to monograms they also sell jewelry, accessories, and home goods. I'll be stocking up on the heat transfers for my breeches ($5.99 for 1" glitter monogram), a vinyl monogram for my helmet ($8.25 for 2" black glossy), and monograms for my horse boots ($12 for a 1" pair) just to get started. They also sell a Personally Preppy baseball hat that is adorable (on sale for $16). You can fill up on stocking stuffers through their website or order a gift card and let your giftee pick the monograms out themselves.

2. C4 Belts- $30-$34

My newest C4 belt color combo, mint and gold chrome

I am seriously addicted to C4 belts; I have 5 classic belts and just ordered my first skinny belt. You purchase the rubberized belt and buckle separately so you can mix and match allowing for hundreds of color possibilities. C4 also donates 10% of each purchase to selected charities on their website. The thing I love most is that the buckles are interchangeable within their styles so I can swap out any buckle and place it on the same size belt of a different color, almost doubling my belt inventory.  My classic stock includes hot pink/hot pink, lavender/lavender, grey belt/silver chrome buckle, orange belt/turquoise buckle, mint belt/gold chrome buckle. My skinny belt is black with a black chrome buckle for work. These make great gifts or stocking stuffers and come in little plastic boxes for easy wrapping and storage.

3. Riding Sport Uptown Breech ($80)

Riding Sport Uptown breech in charcoal

My new favorite schooling breech is the Riding Sport Uptown Breech from Dover Saddlery. They look and fit great, people always compliment me on them and are shocked that they are under $100. They hold up very well, are super comfortable, and are very flattering. They feature a modern euro seat and soft flexi-cuff leg openings so no more discomfort from hook and loop closures. They come in charcoal and black with silver brushed details.

4. Ogilvy Jump Baby Pad- Starting at $37

Demo of the Jump Baby Pad with charcoal binding and turquoise piping

I just purchased my Ogilvy baby pad after loving my half pad for an entire year. This baby pad is wayyy more substantial than a normal baby pad. It actually seems to be the thickness of a normal rectangle pad to me. I wanted my baby pad to coordinate with my half pad so I ordered a white body with charcoal piping then upgraded to turquoise piping ($7 for single piping), a diamond monogram on the left side in turquoise ($12), and the Ogilvy logo in turquoise and grey on the right side ($10). I really love how it came out and will probably end up using it as my show pad it's so nice. If you want the Ogilvy logo embroidered on your pad you have to email in your order and they contact you back for the details. The Ogilvy sales team made it so easy and was a breeze to order the pad this way and it came out exactly how I wanted it and arrived quickly. The pad is also anti-microbial, anti-fungal, has an ergonomic shape, and it dries quickly. What's better than that?!


5. Ariat Heritage Contour Zip Field Boot ($290)

Ariat Hertiage Field Boot, available in back or brown

I just got a pair of these a few weeks ago for schooling and I'm in love with them. The elastic panel ensures a snug fit without causing me to loose all feeling in my foot. Gone are the days of "if you can't feel your feet than they fit right" and having leg cramps since the blood flow is interrupted by yet-to-be broken in tall boots. The elastic panel that runs the length of the boot allows for a slimmer, more flattering ankle and the leather quality is better than the last model of the boot. There is also a dress boot version coming out this spring that I can't wait to see.

That's all for now, hope Santa brings everything you wish for!

Be sure to follow me on instagram @rocky092

Weekend Visit to Legacy Farm

I finally had some time to drive down to Philly one weekend to take a lesson and visit at Legacy Farm where I was taking horseback riding lessons in optometry school. They have amazing instruction there and high quality lesson horses. 

After my lesson I was able to hang around and take some pictures of Emily & Zander and Brianna & Bentley. Both pairs are very photogenic and it was hard to even take any bad pictures of them.

Emily always practices adjustability and responsiveness, Zander loves to gallop and we were all shocked at just how quickly he can move!

And here is his airborne!

Bentley is just gleaming in this picture, this shot is one of my favorites from today.

Thanks to Emily and Brianna for some great action shots of their lovely boys!

Equestrian Wishlist and Some Cute Horse Pictures

Weddings are expensive. There are a few equestrian things I've had my eye on for a while, but in reality won't be able to purchase until after my wedding/when I have a real job.

Tailored Sportsman has a ton of great colored breeches for schooling and I'm loving the fern green in the Trophy Hunter Front Zip. The fern green in person is actually a really nice shade of not-too-green green and less khaki than the picture shows. They can be found at SmartPak and other retailers starting at $179.95.

Another item that's slowly grown into one of my new obsessions is brown leather tall boots.

These are Ariat® Challenge Contour Square Toe Field Boot in cognac and can be found at SmartPak for $399.95. They have a full length elasticized panel on lateral side with elastic gusset on inside knee as well as a contoured ankle. With a fashionable sqaure toe, these are boots I'd love to have for schooling, especially now that fall is upon us.

I bought a Samshield Shadowmatt helmet two years ago on national helmet awareness day and I love it. Samshield also makes custom helmets with a ton of different options. Sticking with the brown theme, I customized a helmet, complete with name personalization on the chin strap. Totaling $2668 it is WAY out of my comfort zone to spend on a helmet, but with crocodile accents, a girl can dream.

Click here to customize your own on the mySamshield page

Going on with the custom theme, Equifit makes custom D-Teq open front and ankle boots. With fun leather patterns and a choice of colors, these boots sell for only a slightly higher price point than the Equitfit LUX boots that I already have. Do I really need a pair of new boots for a horse that I don't have? Nope, but I spent close to fifteen minutes designing a new pair.

The last item im going to talk about is one that I'm REALLY excited about purchasing once I find a horse. It's a custom monogrammed bridle. The first time I saw one was before I was even in high school, but the thought of owning one has stuck with me since. Bennett's Hunter (TM) offers monograms on their bridles at only $15 per letter, but that does not include the price of the bridle and reins. A little bit of a splurge, but properly cared for leather can last a lifetime.

Thanks for reading!

Be sure to follow me on instagram @rocky092 for more equestrian and horseback riding posts

Ocho

Galant

Ronnie

Tiger

Nick

Luther