My Wish List

As spring slowly begins to draw near...well, at least the promise of spring, I begin to get more excited about riding. I suppose being in the saddle two weeks ago, after over a month off, helped!
Even though times are a bit tough and we are all cutting back in our own ways, I think it is important to continue to spend a little, too. Somebody told me that if nobody spends, it only hurts the economy more. We've got to support our horse industry and our local businesses, or they won't be there when we need them and things get better! I have decided that I'm not going to panic and stop spending. Rather, I'm going to spend less and save more. So I'll still be doing my share to contribute to the economy.

That being said, I will still have a wish list of items! Doesn't every horse owner? In terms of tack and equipment, I was inspired by the Buck Brannaman clinic I attended this past fall. Paint Girl ordered herself a new bridle, a treat for meeting a goal she set for herself. I forgot to take a picture of it (Pony Girl forgetting to take a picture is usually unheard of!)

If you have the November issue of Western Horseman magazine, you can see the bridle on page 154. It is the complete bridle set by Brighton Saddlery. She ordered it to use on Fritzy, their black and white Paint mare. Goodness, it will look really spiffy on her! By the way, Paint Girl was really happy with the customer service at Brighton and was thrilled that they put the whole bridle, reins, bit, and mecate, together before they sent it to her!

I covet a pair of the Buck Brannaman parachute cord mecate reins from their Houlihan Horse Gear site (these are the same ones on the Brighton Saddlery bridle as well.) I want to get a pair of mecate reins. Horsehair ones would be ideal, but are out of my price range right now. These parachute cord reins have a great weight and feel to them. I have my color picked out, which are not the green ones pictured below. I would prefer the brown/tan/black.

However, I realize that even more than the mecate, what I really need is a pair of reins to use with my shank bit. On the trail, I prefer to ride one-handed and neck rein. While in California last year, I got a new headstall and reins. It is hard to find a headstall that matches the mahogany brown tones in my Circle Y saddle, but the one I got was a good fit and I liked the rawhide diamond trim.

However, I found that the matching leather reins stained my gloves, jeans, or chinks (that hasn't actually happened yet because I make a point of not when wearing my butter colored chinks when using these reins.) I am not sure why this is happening, I even used them a while in hopes that the "newness" would wear off. As a result, I have ended up using the snaffle bit and yacht rope reins more regularly. This is also fine because when I ride in the arena, I am working flexing and giving to the bit with My Boy, which is better with the two-handed snaffle.

While at a tack shop over the holidays, I noticed pairs of romal reins for a pretty good deal. These are not the fancy, $600 a pop rawhide variety, but they were rustic, heavy, and thick. I am thinking that I am going to take my headstall up to the store and match a pair of the reins to them. This seems to be a good solution for finding reins for trail riding. I always knot my split reins anyways, as I tend to have rein-dropping fumble fingers, so it makes sense to get a pair of romals.

Something else on my wish list is a fleece cooler. This is one piece of horse wear I do not have yet. My mom used one on her gelding last month after a heavy workout, and it was amazing how well it soaked up moisture and dried him out.

Here is My Boy a couple of years ago, back in the first month I leased him. He was boarded at a stable so we had an indoor arena so he was worked more often and harder, often requiring a hose down and a cool-out!

I really like the Valley Vet Supply catalog and have good luck with their Brookside brand name items, like My Boy's winter turnout blanket, which is on it's second year and holding strong! They have a double-sided fleece cooler for a reasonable price of $49.95. I'd get the hunter with tan trim to match everything else I have for my horse. Isn't it funny how we horse people get into our "colors?"

Now on to the items I don't really need, but just W*I*S*H I could get. The if I win the lottery kind of wish list!

I really want another pair of chinks. No, I have hardly worn out the pair I have! Don't laugh, but I have considered ordering a pair of these hair-on-hide chinks from National Ropers Supply. I said don't laugh because they are youth chinks. I am not sure they would fit me, but I am thinking the size large might, just maybe. Goodness, it might be prudent to call and get some measurements first? It would be worth a shot since they have such fun details , are only $119, and would show less dirt than my butter elk chinks. I really just want a second pair so I'm making that up. I'm not afraid of a little dirt. The hide color will vary, the catalog says. Who knows what I'd get! If they were black and white cowhide, I'd have to give them to Paint Girl. Then she'd match her horse!

Boots. Here comes trouble. I have a darn tootin' decent boot collection for a cowgirl just two years back into riding. I have boots to get me through a variety of cowgirl events, for fashion and horse-riding function. But one always has to have a pair of dream boots on the horizon, right? Here is a pair I've been eyeing for over a year! See, a whole year! I have restraint!

I don't know anything about the boot brand Corral, but I love the details, such as the cut-out crosses, and the python toe. I found these on Rod's.com and luckily, they haven't sold out in my size yet! My restraint might be going out the window.... I do have a birthday coming up, beloved family members!

I would also love to have a pair of Lucchese boots. As I mentioned in my last post, my friend got her first pair in Vegas a few years ago and said when she tried them on, she understood what everyone was talkin' about. Here are two styles I found on Cavenders.com that I like. Even though I like square toe boots for riding, I like the classic pointy toe for wearing with jeans. They are simple and traditionally classic!

Goodness, why I can't just have something as simple and affordable as this $3.95 leather curb strap on my wish list, I'll never know!