Blogger Yard Sale- or Trade!!

I'm listing a few things for sale or trade.  I don't want to fuss with eBay and they aren't vintage so I can't do my Etsy shop. I need to clear out some things that I haven't been using.

Here is a list. I will take better, more detailed photos if you are interested or have more questions- feel free to email me at ranchgirldiaries@Gmail.com.  I take PayPal and ship within 24-48 hrs from time of payment.

Lovely braided rawhide headstall with Chestnut leather, red trim and black horsehair detail on browband. Chicago screw at bit. Adjusts both sides, had throatlatch. (No bit or reins.)  $25 postage included. Does not have a noseband, my mare is wearing a halter under it in the above photo.

Rebecca Ray black leather wrist cuff with brass snaffle bit. This does not fit my petite wrist. I had an additional hole put in by a professional saddlemaker but it is still too bulky for my small bony wrist which is a bummer because I LOVE it and it retails for $78!! 1.5" wide and 9" long.   ★★sold★★

I have never worn it. It comes in the RR bag it came in.  $30 postage included.  Here

 is a link to the cuff on the website. They have some really cute equestrian themed items if you want to browse!

http://rebecca-ray-designs.myshopify.com/collections/jewelry/products/bit-cuff-brass

Tooled Leather cell phone holder with bling crystal berry concho and crystal rivet detail. Velcro closure and metal swivel hook on back for attaching to belt. Nice Chestnut and brown distressed leather color. Fits an I- Phone, BlackBerry etc. but not a bigger Samsung Galaxy (which why I'm not using it. ) $10 including postage.

Basically new Ariat boots,  worn out of house maybe two times because I'm a 6.5 and these are a 6 and they just are toooooo small but si stinkin fun! Groovy tatoo style print on shaft, Brown leather toe and heel with sharp looking barb wire red stitching. 

$40 including postage.

Hair on hide bronc halter. I bought this at an auction but it does not fit my mare's big mustang head! Never used, just tried it on her. It is a average/full horse size. Black nylon with adjustable nose band and snap at throat.  Nose band is a tawny cream brindle (?) Cowhide with 3 black and silver start conchos, nose band is backed in black suede. It is stiff but will loosen and shape to horse's nose.  $25 postage included. 

Crystal lucky Horseshoe soldered necklace. I bought this last year from one of my favorite Etsy vendors but now that I have an 8 month old baby who grabs my necklaces I don't wear it. 1" box with Horseshoe charm. Pink cloverleaf wax seal stamped medallion. On a 20" silver tone bead ball chain and tired with a silver ribbon. $15 postage included. Very unique! Sorry about the sideways photo loading from my phone which is always a challenge!

Back cinch horsehair "fly swatter." I bought this at a Parelli event and tried it on my geldings cinch and he freaked out and I never used it again. Comes with metal piece for attaching to dee ring on cinch. About 13" long.  $15 postage included. 

Crystal bling belt. Crystal rivets down center, silver studs on either side. Nice average/dark brown color faux leather with real leather lining. Silver tone engraved buckle. Like new. Size xs-s (30") $15 including postage.

Okay that is it for now!! Remember that these prices include shipping. 

I am open to some trades too! Here is my wish list for second hand items I'd like to find for my upcoming lessons:

Black dressage bridle with reins

Quilted schooling dressage saddle pads

Used breeches- maybe sz 26 or 28

Black Suede, or washable faux suede, ribbed half chaps size xs

Be sure to email me with any questions.

♥♥Ranch Girl♥♥

Second Chance Ranch

The Ranch gets a lot of horses given to it as a sort of " retirement" or second chance at a new life. I can't tell you how many ex-show horses have come here and tried to become trail horses.  Some were older and had minor lameness issues that prevented them from being competitive anymore.  Two whose owners really wanted them to work out were both warmbloods that had been jumping horses, but neither of them could handle the lifestyle change of living in a pasture with a large herd of horses. They were just too use to living solitary and being stalled.  One gelding settled into trail horse mode nicely, but couldn't handle the seperation anxiety of the herd or stand very calmly tied for saddling which the guests do themselves. After a trial period, they went back to their previous owners to find new homes. We try, but sometimes it's just not a good fit.

Two horses that worked out and are worth their weight in gold were an Andalusian gelding and an older OTTB. The Andalusian quickly became Ranch Boy's mom's favorite riding horse (she doesn't ride often) and top dog within the herd. As a former dressage mount and just a big powerful horse up front he has a lot of forward motion and super fun to canter!

The OTTB arrived last spring. In his younger years he had won something like $200,000 racing on the track then went on to do eventing. He has a fancy show name but quickly earned the nickname "Bean"- short for "string bean" because he's so tall and lanky. Here are some photos from his early show days.

Here he is now as a ranch horse with Ranch Boy's 8 yr. old daughter in the stirrups getting ready for a group trail ride.  She canters him all around the arena, too!

And guess who is riding him below? Yep, Ranch Boy Jr.! It was his first time ever sitting on a horse. I always thought it'd be My Boy that he'd ride first, but it happened that a chance for him to sit on Bean with his sissy arose, so he did. He is yet to actually sit on a horse in motion, so he really hasn't ridden.

Bean's former owner has come back to visit and give him carrots.  I'm sure it pleases her to know that he gets to live a laid back retirement lifestyle that puts smiles on kid's faces.  It's hard to imagine that this once energetic, competitive race and show horse is now a kid babysitter!

RANCH GIRL

Cleanliness and Jealousy

The other day I handed Ranch Boy Jr. to daddy and snagged an hour or so of pony grooming time. I decided to do My Boy first.

Not a great selfie of us~ he looks like some kind of cousin of the camel animal here!

Miss Lunatic Luna would have nothing of it! I tried to just groom my Boy in the pasture (haltered and on the lead rope) and she kept getting into our space. I shooed her away with the lead rope. I don't feel safe grooming a horse with another one nosing around and being pesky. Part of the problem was me- I'd had cookies for them when I caught My Boy so in her defense I'm pretttttyyyy sure she was just looking for more.

Shooing her did not work, and she ran off bucking a few times only to come back. I finally just led My Boy outside the pasture. You can see here how dirty she was to begin with?

Well, like a teenager, she continued her jealousy fit and galloped and bucked around the pasture, ending up warm and sweaty. Then to rub it in (literally) she rolled on both sides, in the wettest poopiest mud she could find. There was no way she was going to dry and get groomed by me today. At least the sun was out and I knew she'd dry okay before it cooled off.

The next day was overcast and getting chilly, which was another reason I wanted to get their coats clean- so their fuzzy fur could stand up and keep them warm!

Luna was very happy to be caught and stood like a statue while I groomed her. I almost needed safety goggles. The mud was so caked into the fur it was like cement (looked like it, too!)

I didn't have a wire curry with me but I used a wide mane and tail brush that I had which worked well to loosen the mud.

Peek-a-boo!

My Boy is really a charmer!

After Luna got her beauty spa day, I tried to scoop up some rotten apples that had fallen from under the tree

Gives a new meaning to the term "apple picker", eh?

It felt good to accomplish something with my horses, even just getting them cleaned up a bit. I know the snow is on its way and horse time will be even more limited, so a mild few days like we've had is the perfect chance to horse around!

Ranch Girl