Dear Santa...

Well, given that I would absolutely hate to break a long-held family tradition, I still haven't finished my holiday shopping. So, tomorrow, I will be running around the mall like a half-crazed (or possibly even completely-crazed) lunatic. Ya see, it's just not the holidays if you don't feel like punching someone in the face! :-D So, in order to lull myself into a state of "holiday cheer," I shall compose a short list of horsey items that I would like Santa to leave under the tree for me this year. (I figured it would look bratty if I just put "The entire contents of the Dover catalog.") I shall start with the ones that I have the highest probability of actually receiving...


1.) Activate Your Horse's Core book/DVD -- I have wanted this forever. Yes, please, I would very much like to activate Salem's core. Salem, however, probably would like his core to be activated, not by exercises, but peppermints.


2.) Horse Training In-Hand -- I feel that my knowledge of in-hand work is only marginally above "abysmal" and I am not happy about it. I would like to be enlightened and I would like to teach Salem more than turn-on-the-forehand and walk across a tarp. *grabby hands* Knowledge, please!


3.) Happy Mouth double-jointed boucher bit -- Right now, we're using a JP Korsteel oval mouth loose ring and, yes, it's a great bit. However, a loose ring does not offer much stability, and that is something that most greenies crave. I've had my eye on this boucher because it's gentle, double-jointed, and very stable in the horse's mouth (also, dressage peeps apparently ♥ bouchers, and I'm attempting to assimilate).


4.) Kim Laube Cowboy body clippers -- I have a set of Kim Laube 305 Speed Feed trimmers and I love them. Now, I need a set of Big Girl Clippers so that I don't have to keep borrowing (and breaking) Jennie's. Plus, once I actually get the clipping skills down, maybe I could do a little clipping on the side and make some extra cash (which I will then spend on more horse stuff, of course).

And now on to the items that I do not have a snowball's chance in hell of getting...


5.) Charles Owen AYR8 helmet -- My current helmet is a CO Hampton that is coming up on two years old. It's a great helmet, but (and this is a very big "but") it gives me an insanely hideous rash on my forehead, no matter what I do. I have been very tempted to stuff the bloody helmet into the trash can and just ride helmet-less...but I guess a rash is better than a traumatic brain injury. *sigh*


6.) Thinline Trifecta Cotton Ultra Half Pad w/sheepskin rolls -- These saddle pads are supposedly infused with magical powers that instantly make your horse rounder and softer, with a free-swinging back. The pad's powers even migrate all the way up to the rider and improve the rider's seat and even make it easier to sit the trot. Sold!

OK, as long as I'm dreaming...Santa, could you please bring me one of these:


..and this:


...and, hell, you might as well just complete the package and throw in this, as well:

Hey, it never hurts to ask! I have been a (mostly) very good girl this year. Ah, well...you know the saying, "if wishes were horses, even beggars would ride." Yup.

Hhhmmm, I wonder what Salem is hoping to get from Santa Claus this year. My guess is a real version of this:

So, what are you all hoping to find under the tree this year? Obviously, I'm guessing there are a lot of horse-y related items that you are just dying to own (you wouldn't be a horse person if you couldn't rattle off at least ten items without blinking!). What do you think you might actually get, and what are you wishing for that you know you won't get...but can't help to dream about?