Prepping for Show Season

The days are getting longer, the horses are shedding and I am starting to pencil shows in on my calendar.... horse show season is coming right up! Prepping for horse show season is never an easy task and is one that can be overwhelming at times but I enjoy it nonetheless. It means another year of showing the most beautiful animals on earth with my extended horse show family and doing what I love. Here is my list (in no particular order) to help me prep for another great year of showing.

·         Wash your fake tales,

·         Clean your tack

·         Oil your tack

·         Iron and prepare show clothes and make sure they still fit

·         Clean the horse trailer

·         Wash sheets and sleazy’s and make sure they fit the horses and do not need repairs

·         Make sure you have all your health papers ready for the first show and horse is up to date on shots, worming, Coggins

·         Renew association memberships and review any rule changes

·         Make sure your grooming and bathing products are no longer outdated and possibly invest in some new ones including my favorite, EquiFUSE

·         Pack ringside bag with all the necessities

·         Clip the horses and start washing stains out of the white ones

·         Trim mane and tail and pull the mane if needed

·         If you've bought new tack or new horse make sure everything fits correctly and safely

·         If you have a young horse make sure that they are accepting and quiet in the new show tack, chaps and fake tails

·         If they've never been hauled also make sure that they load and stand on the trailer quietly and unload safely

·          Make sure they're accepting of whatever you choose to ship them in including shipping boots, shipping halters, soft ride boots or standing wraps

·         Get in one last Farrier appointment

·         Possibly consider injections a chiropractor or a glucosamine joint shot

·         Make sure you know what you're taking as water bucket, hay, grain, supplements, etc. Smartpaks are a great option for show season hauling and my supplement provider of choice

·         If you're anything like me you'll tend to over pack so make sure that you're not taking a lot of unnecessary things but also be prepared for surprises

·         Make a horse  first-aid kit so that you have options if an accident occurs

·         Also make sure that you have other necessities if an accident does occur including automobile and trailer repair items

·         Stock up on the little things like electrical tape, zip ties and duct tape in large supply

There you go! My list of things to remember when prepping for a new show season. 

Any things you would add? What helps you get ready for a new show season?

What Like it's Hard?

Yep, started with another Legally Blonde quote because I can. The reality is, it is really really hard, Elle. This has seriously got to be one of the most stressful times in my life. Between planning the wedding of my dreams on a tight budget, trying to correlate my law school attendance with my fiance's potential job area, finishing out my senior semester with 18 credit hours, working 25 hours a week at T.J. Maxx as a coordinator, trying to keep my house clean and feed myself, getting along with my three wonderful yet occasionally annoying roommates and still finding some time to go out to the barn and see my horses and spend some time with my fiance and family I literally want to yank my hair out of my head. 

It goes even beyond that: I am scared of growing up and the possibility that law school won't be what I have always dreamed about, I am getting married, I am no longer going to be able to count on my parents to hold my hand through things, I'm going to have to live with a boy, I never again get to go home for the summer and have my laundry done and meals cooked for me... adulting is hard. But they say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger and I am going to conquer this stressful time. My motto right now: "Toss your hair in a messy bun, drink some coffee, put on some T-Swift and handle it."

Want to know how I am getting it all done and still getting some sleep?? Well, I'll tell you but my organizational and stress relief tips might not work for everyone.

I Think I'll Go to Law School Today

Yes, I did start this post out with a Legally Blonde quote. Hail to the great Elle Woods, every young, blonde aspiring lawyer's unrealistic role model in hot pink. But in reality, very few aspiring lawyers decide to go to Law School in Elle Woods fashion and follow their ex-boyfriend to Harvard after scoring a 170 on the LSAT and getting a 4.0 GPA in Fashion. Most of us have been planning this for years; maybe even since we were kids. I personally have wanted to be a lawyer since I was a very little girl. I love to argue, I love to read and write and I am fascinated by all things legal. It was a natural progression to finish high school and head off to work on a Pre-Law degree for undergraduate college. It was then that I truly realized what it takes to get into Law School and become a Lawyer and boy was it a shocker. It most certainly was not as easy as Elle made it seem. I am graduating this spring, getting married this summer and I will start Law School in the fall. I have been accepted to every school I applied to thus far with a scholarship and even received two full-ride scholarships. So with no further ado, here is what tips I have for preparing yourself to get into Law School throughout your undergraduate years.

Saving Money While Studying in London

Tips to Save Money While Studying in london

·         Make a budget before you ever leave the USA. Know how much money you have to spend and make allotments. $__ for food, $__ for souvenirs and so on. Knowing how much you can spend and on what you can spend it will help with the urge to impulse buy while overseas. Also, go online and budget (translated into US dollars) how much all the activities you want to do cost. This way you can have a list of everything you want to do, how much it costs and then a cutoff point where you run out of money; below that cutoff point I put the things I would like to do if I can scrimp and save or if another activity doesn’t work out. I suggest filling out this budget in an app of some sort so you can update as you spend money and keep tabs on it. You know you will always have your phone and therefore also your budget.

Below was my budget before going to London

And My budget I kept while in London (mostly accurate but I certainly missed a few things)

·         Pay for as much as you can ahead of time. I bought all of my day trips before I ever left the USA. This way they were booked and paid for before I left and I could adjust my budget to relate this. I knew exactly how much they would cost and that helped me to know how much I could spend on other things. Also, when I was in London, I wasn’t worrying about the $150 day trip I was paying for because it was already done so I could enjoy it without the stress of money while there.

·         Think of everything in US dollars and download the translator app ASAP.  The conversion rates are always changing and you need to find out what it is as soon as possible and download a free app that will translate US dollars into UK pounds or Euro’s. When you begin to price out trips, activities, food, souvenirs, you can find out exactly what they will cost you in US dollars and this helps you to not overstretch your budget. Some of the girls I went with did not budget according to the exchange rate and halfway through our trip they were calling their parents for money.

·         Get a credit card with no foreign transaction fees. It adds up if you are charged a fee every time you use your card and carrying a wad of cash is not very safe. I got the Capital One Venture card and it worked great and I had no additional foreign transaction fees beyond the exchange rate difference. This is something to look into as soon as possible but I highly recommend it.

·         You do not really need an international phone plan. Everyone thinks they need international phone plans and to be able to text and call while there. I had no phone plan the whole time I was there, I simply used wifi. Wifi is EVERYWHERE over there so if you opt out of a phone plan, you can still communicate with people in the UK as well as those at home. If you truly want a plan, go for it but it is by no means a necessity and is a great place to save some $$.

·         Eat cheap. You’re not in London to eat like a king; your there to learn, research, travel and experience as much as you can. Eating cheap can save you a ton of money. I only ate “out” maybe 3-5 times throughout my whole London trip and yet I was never hungry. I packed PB & J sandwiches, a water bottle and chips when I knew I would be out all day. We stopped at the local Tesco grocery on the way home most days and picked up some simple pasta and sauce and a loaf and bread and had a lovely and filling dinner for a cheap cost. Breakfast was bagels and cereal. Buying groceries and eating in the apartment saved me a ton of money. I ended up spending about $100 less on food than I originally budgeted. The grocery over there is much cheaper than you might expect. When looking for cheap meals out and about, Pret-A-Manger is a great one. Also try the little grocery stores for a small sandwich and maybe a fruit cup.

·         Find the free activities. London has SO many free things to do. All the government-run museums are free, many of the outdoor attractions are free, the parks are gorgeous… so many great things to do with your time and not break the bank. Take a little extra time and find things to do that won’t cost you a thing. Along with the free activities, some activities are as low as 3-4 pounds. You can fill your time in cost effective ways if you just do a little research.

·         Keep track of souvenirs purchased already. Similar to my running budget of my spending while there, I kept a running list in the same app of what I had bought for different people and for myself. This way I did not overbuy for anyone nor for myself. I also did not miss anyone because I made a list before going of who I was bringing souvenirs for and just filled in as I purchased. 

Gaining a New Horses Trust

First off, since it is Veterans day, I want to thank all the veterans who served or are currently serving. This is the home of the free because of the brave and I am so thankful for those who serve this great country. Don't thank them just today, thank them everyday. 

Thank you to reader Abby Foley for this question. I hope this helps you out with your new girl!

-         -  So- I am use to having horses since they were foals. I recently bought a 3 year old. I saw your post about coming so far with your horse Charlie - him trusting you, etc. What are your suggestions on how to build that kind of relationship with a horse that is 3, not a baby?

Gaining a horses trust is very simple when you own them from birth. Buying an older horse that has already bonded with someone else and trying to recreate that bond can be difficult. I personally have always primarily shown horses bred, raised and trained by my family. However, with my dad’s training business, we have a lot of horses in and out that were not raised on our property and I have the opportunity to ride and occasionally show them. These are the horses I have to work at my relationship with.

When trying to gain a horses trust, I have found that just loving on them can go a long way. Hug their face, give them treats, and take them for a walk or grazing. They will come to associate you with pleasant things. They also feel comfortable with you. It is amazing how far just some quality time can take you in a relationship with your new horse.

Next tip, take hands on care of them. Go clean their stall. Go spend 30 minutes just grooming them. Get to know every little inch of their body and all their quirks. When you truly know your horse, it will deepen your bond. Find their itchy spot and make sure to itch them every day you see them… there is nothing they love more.

When it comes to training and working, I find that showmanship can really bond me with new horses. Something about moving in unison and having them learn to react off your body so harmoniously just really gets you together in rhythm. Even if your horse is bad at showmanship or it’s not their event, do a little bit. It certainly can’t hurt and you will be surprised how much rhythm it gives you as a pair.

As for riding, I suggest starting out slow and easy. Lots of walking, bending, just feeling them out. Teach them to trust your hands by being slow, soft and easy. They mostly need to learn to trust you so in the beginning, don’t give them a reason not to. Of course, don’t let them get away with bad habits but I always avoid picking fights in the beginning until we have a trust built up.

Horses are herd animals; they look for a leader and a place to belong. When they are show horses and being care for by people, you need to become their herd. They need to look to you for guidance and leadership. Building that bond of trust and love will help with this. Play with them, scratch them, take them for walks; All of this will help them to realize you are their herd.

I know these tips all seem super simple and self-explanatory but they work. Even the horses I raise go through this process; they still need to learn to trust and love you. Charlie is a great example; he was scared to death of everything. He had the biggest panic button. I spent so much time just loving on him (maybe why he is such a cuddle big now) and leading him around and treating him more like a puppy then a horse. I cleaned his stall myself and petted him in between pitchfork-fuls. I groomed him and brushed his mane and figured out he loved having his withers scratched. For him, it helped him to trust me; he realized I would never lead him into harm and my presence usually meant something pleasant. He will follow me almost anywhere now. He trusts me. All the time I spent in the beginning paid off now because as long as I reassure him, he will do always anything for me now. I haven’t stopped all this once I gained his trust; I keep it up. You have to constantly work at a relationship and a relationship with a horse is no different. I think Charlie truly believes I am the leader of his herd and one of his people…. Or he just thinks he is a human child… it could really go either way with him. But the key is that he trusts me and will follow me anywhere. That is a bond that is purely priceless to me.