Has anyone ever had trouble with stirrup bars on an english saddle? Mine is a Collegiate AP and the stirrup bars are so tight against the saddle it is very very difficult to take my leathers on and off. It is also difficult to adjust my stirrups when in the saddle. This is when it is both on and off of a horse. My leathers are HDR with the nylon backs.

Safety hazard for sure :-\

Things are winding down here in Aiken. My trainer left last week with 10 horses so now I only have my 2 to take care of and can feel the fitness leaving my body already! I head home on monday and am determined to continue being fit, even if I have to go to the gym to replicate all of the work I do when in Aiken. I don't think I lost much weight here, but I felt so solid and fit schooling cross country yesterday that all the jumps seemed small! Don't want to lose that feeling!

Unfortunately, very few videos or pics. I mostly post on FB. If you'd like to friend me, look for Paree Day

Instagram is the way to go :-)
Have a dressage show this weekend...going to take a new horse that my trainer brought home from Aiken. Haven't ridden him much so going to do an Intro test for now. Trainer is going to do a jump round on him. Excited - I think I like him! Will see how he behaves off farm before I decide though

@showjumper congrats on the new horses!

@jcraig10 How did your tests go?

Did a clinic this weekend..... went well considering I haven't really done anything in the last month over fences with this guy..... I even hit the dirt, off both horses, so I am not moving very fast yet.....

Have been trying to ride Thor around our acreage but he has been difficult with head tossing, some minor bucking and (what I hate the most -JIIGGING

Thor is getting better. Definitely spring time behaviour but seemed worse this year so had teeth floated, saddle fit checked, masseuse came out plus trying the DORN method - first appt was today - lots of head tossing then yawning with licking and chewing. So something going on but will wait before I make a judgement on effectiveness. My dieting has been up and down. So much stuff going on here w a lot of stress. "Good" for a few days then I trip. Spent the last couple of stressful days w my mom and pretty much ate everything in site. Back on track today. Just heading out for some Thor time then having a lite lunch. Back w my mom in a couple of days so please send strength. Her sister passed away and I know my instinct will be to inhale calories. I have a hard time sticking to moderate eating but at least now if I stumble I come round to healthy eating pretty fast. Before it might be weeks or months before I got a handle on it again. Anyway to anyone reading wish me luck

@SharonAnderegg strength to your mum and condolences for you loss.

Knowing you fall down but trying to get back up is more then half the battle. Keep going forward.

Had an AMAZING ride yesterday. We were out for over two hours. Did some stuff in the paddock first, leg yields, transitions, etc then hubby and I went out for about an hour. Thor was amazing. Came back and Tom decided to pony our third horse, Shiloh, which he had never done before. This is Thors main buddy so he was very interested in her and where she was at all times but still listened. Tom then decided saddle Shiloh up and take her for a ride. Things got interesting as he trotted off at speed and Thor started to take off as well. I made him walk as Shiloh got smaller and smaller in the distance. He was not happy but he listened and walked even with the bugs. We finally caught up (at my choice of pace) and had a great ride together. Love that horse.