equinerider26

I have needed a new helmet for a few weeks (the one I've had since I first started riding is simply too small now).

So I went in and bought an IRH Elite (http://www.doversaddlery.com/irh-elite-riding-helm... I decided that I didn't like the look. It's modeled after the Speed Airs, which I hate. So I took it back and exchanged it for a GPA Titium (http://www.doversaddlery.com/the-gpa-titium-riding... Now I've started worrying that I've spent too much money unnecessarily on something supposedly going out of style. I know that style is not the deciding factor in riding, but I don't want to look like a late copy-catter. I really liked the IRH ATH (http://www.doversaddlery.com/international-ath-rid... So I'm worried about 2 things if I decide to change helmets again: 1) going in a second time to return a helmet within a few days (i'm naturally shy and easily embarrassed) and 2) I don't think that my tack shop still has the ATH, so I'd have to try on a different IRH and then not buy it and hope buying one online would work.

So am I being completely irrational? Is the GPA really worth the price (I love the look)? What have your experiences been with the two helmets?

Sorry this is so long! Thanks!

I have ridden for 7 years now, and have weaned myself off of looking down for canter leads (I ride English H/J, by the way). But now I've noticed that every time I pick up the canter, I glance down (not moving my head, just my eyes) to double check if I'm right. I wanted to know if anyone else became "addicted" to glancing and how they overcame it. I know my leads- a quick look and I'm all set, but I don't want to/refuse to look anymore. I want to be able to feel the leads. I just can't seem to do it, especially down the long side (when not in a tight circle). It doesn't help that I have a horse who often doesn't pick up the correct lead, so I have to make sure I correct him quickly.

Any suggestions?

I've been thinking about what discipline I should ride for quite some time. I've ridden H/J (mostly hunters, though) at my barn because that's their specialty. I've been somewhat bored an almost feel like I've been backtracking lately. I decided that I should try dressage in college. I always thought I'd excell in dressage/hunters because I'm a perfectionist & I like the controlled aspect.

But today at my riding camp we did a mini 3-day event (XC, dressage, stadium) & I was floored about how much I loved showjumping! There's show much adrenaline involved! And the horse I'm leasing this summer is terrible with his left lead, & doesn't ever do flying changes. But today, we were doing a sharp turn in a jumpoff & he did a flying change from his right to left leads. Plus, he's pretty laid back about life, but got really into the speed aspect of the course. (no room)

What exactly is the McClay? I am doing a "mini-McClay" in my riding camp tomorrow. No one is referring to it as anything other than the McClay and I haven't haven't had any luck googling it. Thanks!

Ok. I have quite a few questions about field boots- I just ordered my first pair- Ariat Heritage Zip-Up Field Boots (I don't show much, I just needed a pair for a few shows over this and next summer).

1. How do you break yours in? As I understand, I just need to wear them everwhere for a few days, do chores in them, stretch in them, etc.

2. Do you need to use boot oil/polish to soften them and break them in? What brand do you recommend (for breaking in or regular cleaning/care)?

3. Are those Zocks worth the price or can you just wear those short pantyhose type things (I think they're called stockings)?

4. Is a tall boot bag/case worth the price? If you don't have one, what do you use to protect your boots?

Any other recommendations or comments are welcome. Thanks so much!

I'm going to lease a horse for the summer, which means that I will be able ride on my own 3 days a week in addition to my weekly group lessons. I've been riding for 7 years total, and am well versed in how to actually ride. My problem is that I have always ridden in lessons with an instructor guiding me so I don't know how to figure out what to work on when I'm riding by myself. At my barn, unless you are riding in a lesson, you are only allowed to ride on the flat. So what are your suggestions for deciding on what to work on when you ride without an instructor?

Some info that may or may not help- the horse is a righty all the way- leans to the right, always picks up his right lead, etc., so I do know that I need to do lots of work to the left. And also, he's not very in shape, so would lots of cardio and/or hill work be beneficial?

Thanks a bunch!

I've been riding for seven years, and have never had a problem asking for the canter. But now I am riding more difficult horses and my instructor is making me do a harder work. Now she keeps saying "think the left/right lead." My problem is that I have no clue what she means. I think she wants me to shift my weight, etc, but I'm not sure.

So could you run me through the steps to ask for canter again? It used to be easy- kiss & kick and the schoolmasters would pick up the right lead on their own- but now I'm riding horses that insist that you do everything properly or they'll just pick up the wrong lead.

Okay, so I'm sure that this question has been beaten to death, but I thought I'd give people another chance to recount their tales.

Here's mine: Yesterday I was in a barn show, not a big to-do. I knew the course, but I was so focused on getting each jump right I started my courtesy circle and realized that I had not done the last THREE jumps! (In my defense, the fifth and eighth fence were the same single in the same direction.) My thought process was literally "Good, I'm done. Wait- I haven't done the line the other direction. I should probably do that." So I finished the circle, did the line and single and did my courtesy circle. After the placing, the judge talks to each of us to tell us what we did well and what we could improve. She kindly let me know that I had trotted my last fence. I wasn't sure, but I had blocked out the course right after I rode it. I wen't home and looked at the video of my ride. I did trot it. Oops!

So here's the deal:

When my hair is wet, it gets all wavy/curly and I LOVE it. But when it dries, it gets slightly wavy in some areas and sometimes gets little kinks, but the rest of it is just natural-looking (not straightened, but straight-er than the rest).

Is there some hair product that I can use to keep my hair the way it looks when it's wet after it dries? Anyone ever heard of this or had hair like this?

So I've seen it everywhere, but it's never been explained. What exactly is HYPP? I think it's something genetic, but I don't get it.

And what are nettles? I asked my instructor about some bumps on my horse's legs today and she said that they were nettles. She said that they're, like, just itchy bumps horses can get in the summer. She told me to rinse her legs and pick them off. Are they dangerous or contagious? Or are they just a condition that appears ocassionaly?

Experienced horsepeople only. Please and Thanks!