The Legal Equestrian

Ecogold: A full review & endorsement

So, every once in a while, we switch equine products. As some of you guys may know, I have been a huge Ogilvy fan for quite some time. In fact, my review of their half pad is what launched me into blogosphere popularity. However, I’ve come to try other half pads since then, namely Ecogold, and I have found them to be a better fit for my horse and myself.

Is Ogilvy a bad pad? No, not at all. It is honestly a personal preference, and as you know, many people say you can either like one or the other. Lately, I’ve been finding myself using Ecogold more and Ogilvy less.

To recap, even though I’ve done many reviews on Ecogold, their pads are:

  • Made of high-resilience foam
  • Non-slip
  • Some are vented, such as the Jumper Flip Half Pad , which also comes in a variety of colors and can be reversed for showing purposes if you don’t want a color look
  • Hypoallergenic
  • 100 percent breathable (super important for hot climates)
  • Washable (makes life easy)
  • Shock absorbent (good for your horse and you)
  • Move impact laterally on the horse’s back to minimize stress (amazing for your horse)
  • Some come with a CoolFit technology to further reduce sweating and heat (it really works)!
  • Comes for a variety of disciplines (this is always a good thing)

I currently own three half pads and two regular pads: the Stabilizer Half Pad, the Jumper Flip Half Pad, the Hunter Half Pad (this seems to be no longer available, but the Stabilizer Half Pad can double as a hunter half pad), and the Hunter CoolFit Pad.

I mainly show in the Hunter CoolFit Pad. It is perfectly contoured and accented with fleece for that classic, traditional look. I school in the Stabilizer or the Jumper Flip. My trainer has also become partial to the Hunter Flip as well.

Additionally, I own a regular saddle pad which boasts all the qualities of the half pads.

I adore the quality of the pads. Additionally, my Jumper Flip Half Pad; heck, all of my pads from Ecogold NEVER seem to get dirty, which is quite a feat considering they are around dirty animals all day.

Additionally, their customer service is amazing. I’ve never once had a problem contacting anyone from Ecogold, and they even offer saddle pads with custom logos!

My horses love these pads, and although they don’t fit every horse I own, they’re pretty damn reliable and easy to use on any horse. I also notice a difference in my own physique when riding (no back pain!), which is a huge plus. I’ve noticed a difference in my horse’s willingness to work under saddle, get round, and overall comfort.

Again, each pad is a personal preference, and I know many people who swear by Ogilvy, EquiFit, or even Invictus. My personal preference? Ecogold.

Check them out on the web here or on their social media!

ps. Their products are endorsed by the likes of Brittni Raflowitz, McLain Ward, Scott Stewart (whom my trainer worked and rode for, for many years), Boyd Martin, Karen O’Connor, and Doug Payne. You can see their whole Pro Team here.

pps. I am in no way endorsed by or sponsored by Ecogold. This is a 100 percent bias free review based on my own experiences and opinions.

What to do when you can’t ride due to an injury

Photo Credit: RateMyHorsePro

I haven’t ridden in approximately 2 months (or is it 3? I’m really not even sure at this point) due to a neck injury and my concussion still healing. I’ve been bored, depressed, upset, anxious, and everything in between. In fact, I had a dream last night that when I returned to riding, I had completely forgotten how to ride!

Not being able to ride, after riding 2 – 3 and sometimes more times a week has taken a toll on me, and I am dying to get back in the saddle. The question is, when you physically can’t ride.. what can you do to quench that horse thirst?

I’ve put together a small list of things that you can try, depending on your injury. They might not replace riding, but at least you’ll get some horse time in.

Spend time with your horse. This can be anything from grooming, to lunging, to bathing, to anything in between – on the ground. Spending time with your horse on the ground will actually help you greatly once you get back in the saddle. You’ll bond with your horse, and you’ll get to know your horse’s quirks even more.

Read horse-related books. Some of my favorites include, Hunter Seat Equitation and Unrelenting by George Morris. There are also a ton of other horse books out there. Just search “horse” or “equine” books on Amazon.

Go to the barn and watching lessons or training rides done by your trainer. This is a great way to learn, even if you are unable to get in the saddle yourself and learn what your trainer has to teach you. Watching professionals ride and school is always a good idea, and watching lessons may give you some insight into some of your own bad habits or show you a new way of doing things you may not have thought of.

Watch videos of riders you look up to, or even yourself. When you’re sidelined from riding, you may feel as though you are losing your riding skills. While this is true, in part, your muscles may weaken – watching videos of yourself riding will help remind you of the progress you were making when you were riding, and it can give you hope that you will get back to that place. Watching videos of your favorite riders is another way of learning. There are tons of riders out there that have a lot to teach, even if you aren’t riding directly with them.

Offer to do barn work for your barn or another barn. Of course, this is only if you can, and another thing to remember is that if you are an Amateur, be careful what work you are doing and whether you are receiving remuneration for it as this could launch you into the professional world when you can’t even ride. Doing barn work, anywhere, is another good way to bond with horses and get that horse fix you’re looking for, even though you can’t be in the saddle.

Attend shows your barn is attending and help out where you can. This is another good way of getting your horsey fix. Watching your barn’s other riders go around is, again, another good way of learning. You’ll be on the sidelines listening to your trainer’s commentary, and you can take notes for when you get back into the show ring (if you show). You’ll also probably find inspiration in the success of your fellow riders. Finally, helping out where and when you can will help you feel useful and also improve your bond with the horses at your barn as well as your barn management skills – something always good to have as we should be horseman, not just riders.

The most important thing to remember is that injuries take time to heal. Don’t push yourself, and only do what you are able to do. You don’t want to prolong your time out of the saddle because you exacerbated your injury, no matter how badly you want to be riding right now. Horses will always be there; your health won’t be.

Saying goodbye and gaining a forever friend: A story and perspective about losing your first horse

Submitted by Grace O’Brien.

—

Photo Courtesy of Grace O'Brien.

Photo Courtesy of Grace O’Brien.

I still remember the day I first saw him. The grass was green, and the air was warm one day after school when I was around eleven years old. I remember walking up to the tiny, three stall barn where I first started taking lessons and seeing a chestnut horse hanging his head over the stall door with a big white blaze on his face that made him resemble a cow from far away. I had no idea at the time that this new horse with the big white blaze would be my first horse, the horse that would carry me through countless schooling shows, Pony Club ratings, and sunny trail rides through the stream at the riding center. The horse that would be my forever friend, the horse with which I spent my after-school evenings galloping along grassy straightaways. The horse that would bring me many tears and lessons, the horse that was there the day my father passed away. The horse I would only have for eight years, the horse that I would sadly lose.

I was out to breakfast when I got the phone call from Becky, my trainer at the barn I had brought my horse to be a part of the lesson program when I was finishing up college. I had brought Cruiser to college with me my freshman year, but when sophomore year came, we decided to keep him at home so I could focus more on school. I had known Becky and her barn for years while I was riding with my first trainer, and I loved having Cruiser at her barn and knowing that despite his grumpy old man personality, he was doing surprisingly well with the kids and was a popular choice among the lesson horses.

“Cruiser has some diarrhea and he is up at the hospital in Madison, but it seems like everything is under control. Call me when you can.”

Becky sounded calm and collected as always, but I knew that something wasn’t quite right. I sat across from my boyfriend, who had accompanied me to breakfast, shocked and trying to rack my brain about horse diarrhea from what I had learned in my Pony Club days. Okay, so as long as he is pooping, that was good. He doesn’t have colic or anything. He will be fine.

Still, I felt uneasy as we left the restaurant. I called Becky, who said Cruiser was doing okay and that she would let me know more information as soon as she had it. Things may have sounded okay, but I knew the fact that Cruiser was at the clinic all the way up in Madison was a huge deal. I then called my mom, who seemed to be racking her brain as to what was going on with Cruiser as well.

“It could be just the flu,” she reasoned. “I looked up symptoms with diarrhea, and the flu popped up. He could just have a bug.”

Just a bug… just a bug. I felt uneasy, but knew that Cruiser would most likely be fine and tried to do some things that would take my mind off of the news that I had just heard: walk into Bath & Body Works and smell all of the pretty lotions. Go for a drive. Talk to some friends. Cruiser would be okay. After all, he survived severe colic before, was completely fine the time at college where he escaped his stall and ate all of the hay in the middle of the night, made it through a torn shoulder muscle, and continued to work through a nerve issue that caused stiffness in his legs.

I tried to keep myself busy by going through the motions of my second to last semester of college. My mom called me one afternoon, not out of the blue as we were continuing to talk about Cruiser throughout the week. She asked how a test that day had gone, and when I explained to her how well it went, she broke the news that would leave my heart crushed and myself gasping for breath atop my tiny lofted bed in my sorority house.

“Cruiser has cancer,” my mom cried. “He almost didn’t make it through the night last night.”

When you get your first horse at such a young age, you think that they are invincible.

However, the sad thing is that we only get a short time with our wonderful creatures while on Earth. We have to enjoy all of the good times that we can. Cruiser was with me through so many stages of my life. We went through so much together. He was my buddy, my boy that never spooked at shows, loved cats, and was a small-but-mighty powerhouse that could jump a three-foot cross country fence one day and then go to a Morgan horse show the next. He wasn’t just my horse; he was a huge chunk of ME. He was my childhood, my passion, my dreams. Where would I be if it wasn’t for him?

Cruiser made it back to the barn, and I left school as soon as I could to go visit him. One look at him made me break down; he was all bony and looked nothing like himself. Diarrhea stains were all over the walls of the stall, indicating how severe it was. I was distraught; how could this be happening to my horse? I treated this visit like it would be the last: I sobbed into his mane, talked to him, told him how much I loved him, and took some pictures. I truly thought it would be my last time visiting him, but luckily he held on a few more weeks, and I was able to come and visit him again.

“It is okay to go,” I told him that visit. We were standing in the middle of the arena and I held onto both sides of his halter as tightly as I could while staring into his big brown eyes.

“I love you so much Cruiser, but if you are in pain, it is okay. It is okay to go.”

I remember the last time I saw him, looking at me from the outdoor paddock as my mom and I walked away. The last time I saw him is still so vivid to me, just as the very first time I saw him was.

Cruiser passed away on October 1, 2015. It has been seven months since then, but the emotions are still just as raw and real as they were the day I got the news. I am still riding at Becky’s barn and am actually gearing up to start showing a new horse for this upcoming season. His name is Tracker, and he has almost the exact same build as Cruiser did. I love riding just as much as I always have, but it still feels weird walking into the barn and knowing that my boy isn’t there. Cruiser was such a huge part of my life, and I still feel crushed that he had to leave so soon. I didn’t think he would leave me this early.

I’m sure there are readers out there who have the same story as mine. Losing your beloved horse (especially your first horse) is not easy. I have learned through this process that healing takes time – lots and lots of time. You may even need to give yourself a break from the barn for a bit to give yourself more time to heal. I was okay going to the barn at first, but when I went in the little barn where he stayed, I broke down. I find myself thinking about the very first barn I started riding at, the one Cruiser first came to. I miss the days of cantering around my first trainer’s big track, rolling down her grassy hill, and hearing the gravel crunch beneath the car tires when we showed up and left. There will be a lot of looking back, a lot of reflecting, and some tears: both happy and sad.

Every horse that comes into our life has something to teach us, and lately I find myself looking back at and savoring every last memory I had made with Cruiser in my mind. It was his time to go, and I will always be forever grateful for every last second I had with him and his big, fuzzy blaze that resembled a cow from far away.

—

Grace is fresh out of college and obsessed with all things coffee, beach, and horse related. She started riding when she was ten years old as a birthday present after much convincing (read: pleading) to her parents. She has been hooked ever since. She loves hunt seat equitation on the flat and going for trail rides. Her next goal is to compete in the Morgan Grand National Horse Show and then celebrate by drinking lots of coffee.

You can find her on Instagram.

How to handle negativity, hate, and bullying from other equestrians

One of the biggest themes I, and other equestrians, have noticed in this community is the propensity for equestrians to be negative and hateful towards each other. It can be about a horse, a riding or training style (Note: This does not include abusive techniques, which should be spoken up about), choice of apparel, financial status, or another opinion the equestrian may have. A lot of this negativity occurs on social media, but boarding and riding facilities have also been known to advertise that they are “drama free” because drama is so prevalent in the horse world in person as well.

Negativity is always present, no matter how much we try to advocate for positivity, love, and support towards each other. If you have experienced negativity and drama, you will most likely experience it again. If you are experiencing negativity, you will most likely continue to, or once it has ended, you will most likely experience it again.

So, if you have experienced it or are, what can you do to soften the blow and continue to live your equestrian life drama free?

Ignore it. This is the hardest advice to give, but perhaps the most effective. Ignoring the negative things another equestrian has to say is the best method of dealing with negativity. Why? Because giving them attention for their negative words is only feeding them. A lot of times hatred comes out of the need for attention, and giving attention to that hatred and drama is only giving that equestrian what he or she wants. Ignore it. Don’t engage in it. You may be so tempted to respond, especially if what is being said is especially cruel or hateful; however, let them continue to hate on you without you responding. A few things will happen. First, they will make themselves look like jerks because they are being hateful while you are maintaining your composure and not responding. Two, you will look more mature and put together because you are not engaging in drama. Three, they eventually will stop because they are not receiving the attention they are craving.

Kill them with kindness. Another way to handle negativity is to be extra kind to the hater. Have you ever heard the phrase ‘kill ’em with kindness’? This could work here. If someone has something mean to say to you, compliment them. They may be so surprised they won’t know what to do and will stop hating on you.

Delete/block/report them. A mentor of mine, Gabby Bernstein, has a saying for when she receives hatred online: “Forgive and delete.” On social media, you can always remove a person from your friends’ list or followers. You can also mute them and block them. If the hate and drama gets especially frequent and hurtful, blocking, reporting, and removing that person from your followers list is probably the best way to go. Additionally, if the drama/hate is abusive or extremely out of line, you can report the person to the social media company.

Know they are coming from a place of insecurity. A lot of times when a person is hateful towards another, it’s because they are insecure or jealous themselves. They may deny this, but it has been proven through studies. I’ve also received anonymous comments where people have admitted they hated on me because they were jealous of me. Although this may not be complete consolation, especially if the hate is especially bad, know that the equestrian that is causing you drama is probably doing so because they are jealous of your specific situation, asset, horse, etc.

Be confident in yourself. Sometimes someone will harshly criticize your riding, training, horse, or even your trainer (this has happened to me). If you’re not being abusive towards your horse, and if your trainer has the credentials (and even if they don’t, but you are benefitting from them), be confident in your abilities and what you have. No one knows you but you and your trainer. Additionally, social media presences are often curated. We tend to post only certain things, so unless someone teaches us or sees us ride/work with our horse every day, they really have zero idea what goes on in our riding lives. Remember that.

Ask them to stop. If the bullying/drama/hate is especially bad, you can always ask the equestrian to stop bothering you. This may not always be effective, but it is worth a try. It’s also worth mentioning that if you are bullying someone, and you are asked to stop, and you continue to bully/hate on them, you can be charged with harassment. Is a legal charge really worth it? Hint: No.

Most importantly, be professional. Try not to engage in drama or negativity. Don’t bully other

Being unprofessional can stop you from receiving coveted sponsorships, catch rides, ambassadorships, and more. Photo is of McLain Ward, one of the most professional riders out there, & the late Saphire.

equestrians. While you may not be looking for sponsors or ambassadorships now, you might one day, and your social media activity can come back to haunt you. When I first started out, I  responded to every single piece of hate I got. I was confrontational. I was dramatic. It gave me a bad reputation. I have since revamped myself, and although I am still working on being less opinionated and confrontational, I have drastically improved which I think has helped people online like me more. Additionally, I moved to a barn that does not have drama associated with it, and if there is some minor drama, I do not engage at all. Professionalism is key in this sport, and you never know when you will be under a microscope for a sponsorship, ambassadorship, or something else where your conduct will be at play.

Ecogold CoolFit™ Saddle Pad: New and improved

Ecogold CoolFit™ Dressage Saddle Pad

Ecogold is known for making saddle pads and half pads that benefit both rider and horse. I own quite a few of Ecogold’s products and have done reviews on many of them. Recently, the company released a new and improved version of its CoolFit™ Saddle Pad. According to a press release, the company has

“integrated smart textiles in its CoolFit™ Saddle Pad to create an intelligent saddle pad. Smart textiles are materials that can sense and react to environmental conditions or or stimuli from mechanical, thermal, chemical, electric or magnetic sources. Thanks to the innovative smart textiles, the CoolFit™ saddle pad senses the sweat of the horse and reacts by reducing its temperature, providing a healthier and more comfortable ride.”

What does this mean? When your horse sweats, and that sweat comes into contact with the pad, the temperature of that sweat is reduced by 9 degrees Fahrenheit or 5 degrees Celsius.

It is available in two different dressage, cross country, and jumper styles, and four different hunter styles. It is also non-slip, ergonomically designed, and shock absorption to protect your horse’s back.

They all retail for $195.

For a video showing how this technology works, press play below.