Not sure about you, but whenever I walk into a tack store or booth at a trade show I gravitate right to the bridles, arguably the most crucial piece of riding equipment you own. Since the domestication of the horse,…
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Blog Archives
Protective Riding Vests: Which One is Right for Me?
Have you ever wondered if you should be wearing a protective riding vest, or stared at all the different types, styles, colors, and brands of protective vests and wondered how to choose the right one? As the store manager of…
Posted in Blogs
The Tall Boot Dilemma: Which is the Right Riding Boot for Me?
Remember when you were a little kid and you had to wear paddock boots and those crazy garter straps, and you dreamed about being old enough to wear elegant, shiny tall boots? Or maybe you were like me, and one…
Does Your Helmet Actually Fit?
Have you ever wondered if you are wearing the right size riding helmet, or stared at the size options for the helmet you’re about to order hoping you are picking the right one? In my years as a barn manager…
Posted in Blogs
Minimizing the Saddle Shopping Woes
Saddle shopping – to a novice it sounds like fun, but it puts fear into the hearts of all who have undertaken it before. Does it fit me? Does it fit my horse? Will my horse change shape? Does my…
Posted in Stories & Adventures
SmartPakversary
I recently celebrated a work milestone – 10 years working at SmartPak. It’s hard to believe it’s been a decade since I started. It feels like a lifetime and five minutes all at the same time. Life before SmartPak happened…
Posted in Stories & Adventures
A Working Vacation
My non-horsey friend: “Where are you going on vacation?” Me: “Florida – can’t wait!” My non-horsey friend: “Cool – beaches or amusement parks?” Me: “Neither – I’m headed to Ocala to help my trainer and ride horses!” My non-horsey friend:…
Posted in Stories & Adventures
#TBT – Growing Up in 4-H
Just down the road from where I grew up, there is a property knows as the Tolland Agricultural Center, or TAC as we called it. Consisting of a handful of buildings and a field in the back with two riding…
Posted in Stories & Adventures
From Co-op to Boarding Barn
Transitioning from a co-op barn where I took care of my own horse to a boarding facility was a necessity, but not one I was really looking forward to. I’m one of those barn rats who loves the barn work…
Posted in Blogs, Stories & Adventures
Things I’ve learned from my horse
I pulled my current horse, Tally, out of a field back in 2012. She was eight years old but had minimal training, and whatever limited human interaction she’d had to that point in her life didn’t enamor her to the…
Posted in Stories & Adventures
Dreams and Journeys
Florida has been a dream of mine for many years. Not the Mickey Mouse, roller-coaster Florida, but the green pastures, miles of fence-line, horses as far as the eye can see Florida. This year, due to the generosity of my…
Posted in Stories & Adventures
Taking on a project horse
I manage a small co-op barn at a private farm with four stalls and two other horse owners. Usually we have all four stalls filled, but recently we lost a horse to a bad leg injury. That empty stall has…
Posted in Stories & Adventures
Keeping your Veterinarian Happy
Several of my good friends happen to be veterinarians, and a lot of the anecdotes they’ve been sharing lately are about how their already long days get drawn out, sometimes crazily so, because of little details that their clients don’t…
Posted in Lists
2014 Take-aways
What a year! I look forward to learning new things each year, especially in my riding. This year has been one of the best ever, despite losing most of the show season due to a lameness issue. Looking back, I’ve…
Posted in Lists, Stories & Adventures
Highs and lows: Part 1
After our fantastic Training Level debut at GMHA Horse Trials in early June, I was extremely excited about our next event, Groton House Farm in Hamilton, MA. This is a historic event, hosting national and championship horse trials since the…
Posted in Stories & Adventures
