Written in Hoofprints - Equestrian's diary

       When I was younger I was a fat kid. Not the chubby cute kind but the kind other kids laughed at, and didn't talk to, and even threw sand in their face. I had a tall heavy frame accentuated by my grandmother's love of spoiling me with candy and chocolate. I liked food. I liked food a lot.         It wasn't until 6th grade that my body image took a toll on me. I was in middle school and I wanted nice clothes and maybe even a boyfriend. So I did the only thing I could. I stopped eating, I had my parents drive me to the gym most days, I even took diet pills. I went from a Size 16 to a size 8; from 210 lbs to 147 lbs. in less then a year. The kids in school loved looking at me. Those who I haven't seen in a while congratulated me on my new appearance and my fashionable clothes.         But they didn't know that I was always hungry. They didn't know I would crack and binge eat then force myself to throw it up in the toilet. To them my suffering was  me getti

1. Horses are Expensive          If you love horses you know that riding is one of the most expensive sports out there. Even if you don't have your own tack the apparel itself will put a dent in your wallet. Riding shoes start somewhere around $100 and go upwards from there. Good pants will start at $50. Then you have to buy a helmet, gloves. Some people buy half chaps and other accessories.           Eventually you will want to have a saddle that fits you complete with pads, girth, etc this will cost you upwards of $1000.           The cost of Riding lessons varies by state. In New Jersey I've seen it cost $45 per 30 min but I also have seen it cost $75. It all depends on where you ride, the experience of the instructor, and the quality of the lesson horses.          If you own a horse you know that buying the horse is not the problem. You can buy a good horse for $2000-7000. It is a one time expense that seems large but is minuscule compared with the $400-1000 a month you

Review - HDR Carmel Jumping Saddle Seller Description:  Nicely suited for those who prefer a deeper, padded seat, the HDR Carmel Jumping Saddle pleases foxhunters and eventers alike. The generous, forward flap has a grippy molded knee pad and a rear block to help keep your leg secure and in the proper position. In rich, dark Havana covered leather with contrast stitching for added style. Foam panels.              I bought this saddle on statelinetack.com after a long long search. I am 5'11 and long from hip to knee so finding a saddle that didn't make my thigh go over the flap has proven to be extremely difficult. This HDR features a forward flap perfect for tall riders or jumpers. There are also thigh and knee blocks that are very prominent. Despite of their size the blocks are actually very comfortable as the whole saddle seems to be padded. At first glance I could tell that the saddle is a rich Havana chocolate color with white contrast stitching. This is a truly

Book Review  I have not yet been disappointed by a Liane Moriarty book. For those of you that have not heard of her, she is an Australian author that has made a huge breakthrough in the United States with her many compelling pieces.          This particular novel (like some of her other books) is written from the point of view of many female characters in the story. Through those accounts the reader is able to piece a complete picture of what the book is about. The story begins with one of the main characters Cecilia finding a mysterious envelope from her husband who is away on a business trip, a letter to be opened only after his death. She calls him and he asks her not to open the envelope as he is embarrassed by what he has written to her. Cecilia puts the envelope away and on the story goes with the other characters.          In a different part of Australia Tess finds out that her husband too has a secret. He has fallen in love with her best friend and thus her marriage