The Most Incredible Garden Shop in Virginia

Traveled east today towards Richmond to take Linus the Loaner back to his real owner.  A great by-product of our trip today was my first (and certainly not last) visit to the most incredible garden shop/nursery near Richmond.  I have never seen so much stuff under one roof.  You need a few hours to see this place near Short Pump, but I took some photos just to give you the flavor.  This place is mecca for gardeners:

You really need a map:

Great pot selection but believe Ivy Nursery near Charlottesville has them beat in this department.  The two stores are very different.

 I really liked this piece and had a place to put it but it was expensive:

 Great benches!

 Ivy anyone?

We made a few purchases and even had a nice man take it to our horse trailer!  At least we were easy to spot in the parking lot.  Had a fun day out with Molly and Linus is safe and sound back in his real barn!  We miss you already little boy!

Rosi Rides for the Roses

Everything seems to be coming up roses for New Jersey native Rosie Napravnik.  You may have seen her profiled last night on 60 Minutes.   While women on horses have proven they can conquer the world as American-born Beezie Madden did this past weekend in Europe winning the prestigious FEI World Cup (the gold standard in showing jumping), women have not fared as well in the competitive world of horse racing at least not at the Triple Crown level.  But Rosie Napravnik seems destined for greatness even at the young age of 25.  My hunch is that eventually this young lady is going to be quite the legend despite what some of the men may think!

(Wikipedia Photo)

Rosie is no novice, not by a long shot.  She finished ninth in the 2011 Derby and won the Kentucky Oaks last year, the Derby for the fillies.  She is on a roll too. In 2012 she bested the record for money earned in a single year by a female jockey, a record that had stood for 20 years.  She's been around horses her entire life, brought up in family that ran a stable, and her father is a farrier.  She and her sister, now a trainer on the track, mucked stalls to make ends meet.  Doesn't that sound familiar?

In 2006, her break-out year, she finished 31st in the national earnings title with 300 victories out of 1,465 mounts, earnings of $6,395,075 and was runner-up to Julien Leparoux for the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey that same year.

 (Facebook)

She just looks good on horse!  In 2012, she finished 8th on the national earnings list for jockeys.  In 2012, she had a great year riding the top two-year-old, Shanghai Bobby who was the American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt, wining the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, the Champagne Stakes and the Hopeful Stakes before being sidelined with injury.  

(Facebook)

While Rosie won't get the ride on Shanghai Bobby who likely would have been a favorite for the Derby, she'll certainly be in the mix with Mylute, the runner-up in the Louisiana Derby.  Needless to say, Rosi will be in the roses sooner or later, at least that's my prediction. You go girl!  We will be routing for you on Saturday!

Rosi on Mylute earlier this week at Churchill Downs

Saddle Anyone?

A previous post, earlier this month, looked at saddles, including my own.  So I thought it would not hurt to mention here that it is for sale in case anyone knows someone looking for a used French Saddle.  These are very popular and the most comfortable saddle I have ridden in.  I have two, am keeping one, but think this one is possibly pinching Alfie's back.  It seems to be sore also under the saddle and he has very wide hips, a wide back, much wider than normal.

This is a Butet, a French saddle.   Comes with cover but not the fittings.  16' but most likely a 16'5 (my size in most saddles).  They only made these in whole sizes when purchased new.  Deep seat, 1.0 flap, has knee blocks but they can be removed easily.  Regular size tree.  Very good condition, no repairs made or needed.  Is a 1997 model but since I have two saddles, this one was reserved mostly for horse shows so has been used little for its age.  The marks on the saddle above are oil which had not fully dried when I took this photo.  Email me with questions. Saddle is located in Virginia.  $2000 OBO.  Thanks for looking!

The Techno Touch Comes to Riding

I am loving the techno fabrics that have finally hit mainstream in the riding world.  Say good-by to those monogrammed collar cotton ratcatchers and wool riding coats.  Say hello to wash and wear, body-sculpting coats that hit Europe first.  I love the look but these won't hide that extra 30 pounds you gained last year, that's for certain.

These Animo jackets and shirts are great.

Even Essex Classics is moving in on this trend and making a washable, body hugging shirt that moves with you and hugs those new tight-fitting coats:

This is another Essex shirt also being worn by the hunter and jumper riders.  Washable too!

These coats are from Grand Prix.  You see these both in the hunter and jumper rings. I love these with the ultrasuede collars!

This one I believe is from Pikeur:

It's nice to see the sport evolving or the fashion evolving I should say.  These coats look great on and add to the overall "look" which may not make you ride better but at least you look good!

Take a Walk on the Wild Side

I love these zebra rugs from Jonathan Adler.  How creative might you be using these in a den, office or even a nursery.  Zebra patterns never get old as demonstrated by this "been around forever" fabric from Scali.  How many times have you seen this?  In Kate Spade's bathroom?  A famous restaurant or two?

 

I just love the stripes though.  You can do so much with them, change the colors, update your furniture but the stripes, just never get old......

These rugs add so much punch to a room don't you think?

Is there room for zebra stripes in your future?