Product Review: Kerrits Full Seat Breeches

Product claim: "Breathe Tight features a full-seat tight that utilizes their new, exclusive GripStretch suede panels through the seat and inner leg that continue to wrap around the knee for added stability and joint support. Durabreathe, the core fabric of the Kerrits Breathe Tight, originally constructed for mountaineering, is thermo-regulating, lightweight, snag resistant and extremely durable. It provides compression that has both anti-fatigue and slimming effects. Four-way stretch guarantees a perfect fit that moves with you. This tight has a side pocket that won't allow its contents to interfere with your ride, while being easily accessible while in the saddle."

Review: I purchased a black pair from Charlotte's Saddlery for $99.

Pros: The breeches are lightweight and breathe-able, and the fabric is comfortable and stays relatively clean. I like the separate panels for the full seat. The cell phone side pocket is a definite plus.

Cons: The medium rise front is a bit low for my taste as it sits just below the navel. The fit is good overall but they'd feel better to me if they sat a little higher on my long waist.

Bottom line: The waist rise is a bit low, though not as low as some truly low rise breeches. The fabric is comfortable and durable and stays looking clean. For the full seat comfort and the bonus cell phone pocket located in just the right place for both convenience and not getting in the way of your riding, I recommend these breeches.

Outstanding

Here's the night mare turnout group in their paddock last night (no pun intended, honest):

Bailey, how can I take your picture when you insist on sitting in my lap?

Ahh, pastoral bliss; well most of the time:

Twelve to fourteen hours of freedom a day does a girl good:

Rolex Cross Country Updates and Previous Footage

The 2010 Rolex Three Day Event is currently taking place in Lexington, Kentucky. My photographer friend Angela is there following the action. You can get highlights on her blog The Traveler Unaware. Here's some footage (thanks, Ceil!) from last year's event:

Cross Country Equestrian Competition 2009 from Luis Martins on Vimeo.

Sometimes, She Really Tries

I love this series of photos of Karen Brown riding medium trot:

Uphill tendency?

It's true, when Delphi's bad: she's horrid, but when she's good: she's VERY VERY good. Bless her little heart.

Pieces of Second and Third Level

An issue we're dealing with right now: Test Anxiety. No, not me, Delphi. During her session with Karen Brown this week, I called a test for Karen and we discovered that Delphi tenses and loses her focus during an "official" dressage test, completely falling apart and going against the hand. The solution? If one is riding a horse that is less than courageous and tends toward tension, said rider should be extra courageous herself and remain confident and relaxed. To achieve this Karen suggested talking or even singing to Delphi while I school, which would help keep me relaxed as well. Of course one must keep the core engaged, the shoulders wide and back and the pecs and lats (armpit muscles or "elbows down") engaged, even while "relaxed." Another very helpful exercise to control the shoulders and haunches and keep the horse straight is to ride into each corner in shoulder in, halt, then ride out of the corner.
The video shows movements required at Second and Third levels. The uphill tendency comes and goes but that is to be expected at this point; there ARE moments of uphill tendency shown, of which I'm proud. Now, if we can just work on staying confident and relaxed....we shall advance.

Uses for the iPhone

Last week I got an iPhone. A practical use I've discovered is as a personal dressage test caller. Using the voice memos application that came with the phone, I recorded the test movements while watching video of Delphi and me riding the respective tests. Tests I didn't have video footage of Delphi (the third level tests) I simply called them to video footage of the respective tests on YouTube. You can then save them as "2nd Level Test 1" and so forth for call back. I set mine up to press "play" while I'm sitting on Delphi at X, then my voice begins calling the test movements from there.
Another good application I recommend is the "Paw Card." One can manage everything from your pets vaccination schedule, identification and rabies numbers, medication lists, to emergency contacts and veterinarians. It even allows you to enter horse data under "other" pets category. The application is free.
One can get news feed from the equine industry from the free application "Hallway Feeds." It allows one to see general headlines about horses or narrow the feed to whichever discipline one is interested in, such as "Dressage" or "USDF."
If anyone has other animal related uses for the iPhone, please share them in the comments.