Well, It's a Look

Doesn't mean it's a good one, but it works for me! Just how dressed up does one need to be to get on the back of a horse? There was a time, when the riding pants came out, the high boots, the expensive gloves, the nice shirts and vests. Gosh it was a lot of work just to get all slobbery and hairy. I also want to mention high boots are very uncomfortable for walking, let alone walking home with either a horse that is lame in hand or without since I might have been abandoned ( Dandy, YOU know what I'm referring to here). The riding pants rarely have decent pockets and I have yet to figure out the sizing of any of the brands. Seriously, that 14 looks like an 8 or 10. Just about every piece of riding apparel is geared for slim, tall teenage girls and I am not joking here. It is. It is also very costly.

A pair of good riding pants will run in the $125.00-$200.00 range. Jackets and boots can go up into the $500.00-$750 area for show gear. In my opinion all that money can be more wisely spent on the important things, like a good comfortable saddle for your horse. That is the single area where folks shouldn't skimp. Pay for a professional fitting. Imagine carrying over a hundred pounds on your back in a saddle that pinches because it is too tight or rubs and chafes because it is too loose or too long? I can't think of anything worse and it's amazing to me the people who own horses and have no clue as to why their mount doesn't enjoy riding and they have never even thought to check how their saddle fits. So, lets set it straight, I don't show, I don't think at this point I could assemble an outfit acceptable for even a training show and I am a more comfortable rider for it. Sweat pants with good pockets work great,

Lands End has yoga pants that for all purposes are like riding pants with a boot cut ( at $20-$30/pair). I have good sturdy boots ( don't skimp on footwear, ever, it will make you miserable) with a heel for safety and will serve me walking if I ever have to hike back. I have warm shirts, loose jackets ( with good treat pockets), thick socks and a good bra or two just for riding.

So after throwing on my pieced together attire, I may look the slob, but I never have to give it another thought and can enjoy my time aboard unfettered. So it was yesterday when Gene decided he wanted some snaps of the fall ride.

I whined, "I look like Ma Kettle gone to pot!" He said "Who's Ma Kettle?". So it is you all get to see me in fashionable glory.

I had my hair up so the hot pink helmet was too tight for yesterdays ride.

Cooper is always at the height of fashion I might add, with his lovely dark bay coat and his big white spotty bottom for interest. The curls are just starting to appear on him. Hard to see and he sure isn't like Berber Carpet Imp!

We had a super ride.

I wasn't expecting to see much wildlife. The deer are scant at this time and who could blame them with the opening of rifle season this past weekend! But low and behold, when you least expect it, you get a delightful surprise. Coop and I have a little known path that meanders up to the canal road. It requires a little more work for him hill wise, but the footing and scenery are better than just a gravel log road. So up and over the rim to the canal road and point west and there about 100 feet away is a lovely coyote having his morning drink at the canal. He is truly startled, Coop, once he has identified it as something known is interested. We watch while Wily J thinks about leaping the canal and then decides to run away from us down the road. So Coop you wanna catch him? And we are off on a delightful little fools errand, galloping down the road, knowing we won't even come close but it's fun anyway. We dropped back down to a walk and I spent the time tracking our quarry. He ran a good long while down the dirt road before veering off to woodier parts. I was happy to see him. I've heard them from time to time and seen tracks but I'm never sure if it's a big dog or not. This one looked healthy, well fed, coming into a beautiful winter coat and damn fast!

We spent two hours out putzing around, looking at the snow on the higher peaks around our home and noticing the quiet that is settling in with the coming winter.

The sun was warm, the shade quite cool and the breeze hinting that we should enjoy fall with as much abandon as we can muster because winter is growing restless to arrive.