Saddle Seeks Horse Top 10 Posts from 2016

Most of us equestrians are goal oriented and reflective. Before we get too far into 2017, I wanted to glance back to see what posts received the most traffic and in theory were most helpful to my fellow horse (and dog) lovers. One of my goals for 2017 is to try to focus on topics that you, my wonderful blog readers, want to know more about.

1. How to Fix a Broken Riding Boot Zipper

This post which was also number one in 2015 shows that riders and the general public have a big problem with zippers getting stuck. The post contains a few tips which can fix a broken zipper, but honestly, I learned this past year that because of the arena grit and general dust we horse lovers are constantly exposed to, there’s a high likelihood that we’ll need to replace boot zippers every year or so. I had to have new zippers put in my boots which broke beyond repair at the one and only horse show I went to last spring.

2. Open Letter to the Fitbit CEO from an Equestrian

This post really took off (thanks Facebook) and still gets readers involved with ongoing views. I learned last week that a fellow rider called Fitbit and they told her to just set her horseback riding setting as bike riding. Ug! Maybe this is the year Fitbit will help us equestrians out.

3. Fitbit for Horseback Riding: Fun Facts and Features

Do you notice a theme developing? In this post I show how to use the Fitbit horseback riding feature so you can track steps, calories, miles, and overall riding intensity.

4. When Good Horses Go Ballistic

This was a hard post to write. It was a way to emotionally process a very out of character outburst by my horse where his hooves went flying and I was inches away from being caught in the crossfire between him and a horse I had no idea he was angry at.

5. 3 Reasons Riding Horses is Good for Your Brain

Even when I’m at my day job (I’m a middle school history teacher), I’m thinking about horses. At a professional development last fall a brain researcher delivered a Ted Talk-ish lecture about how our students’ brains work. I was struck with how his info was applicable to horses and riding! And that’s how this post was born.

6. 7 Horse Books for Summer Reading

Have you read the George Morris autobiography yet? How about The Perfect Horse? I love to read (although these days it’s mostly through Audible on my commute). But summer is a better time for me to read and I shared some of my top picks in this post.

7. When Good Horses Go Ballistic Part 2: Lessons Learned in Hindsight

The whole double-barreled kicking incident traumatized me and I kept mulling it over and trying to figure out what the deal was. So I had to write more about Knight’s scary outburst. My thoughts were shaped by readers’ comments and the Facebook comments on this one too.

8. 5 Fitness Trackers for Horseback Riding

I realized Fitbit was not the sole fitness tracker that could be used for riding purposes and began researching different ones such as the Alta and Lumo Lift and wrote a round up post (yee haw!). Hubby uses a Lumo lift to try to help him have a tall, elegant dance posture and he thinks it really works. I need to borrow his and blog about it. (Things to look forward to in 2017).

9. How I Got My Doberman to Stop Barking

My first Doberman was the quietest dog. My second Doberman Missie is lovely, but a barky barker. I had nice neighbors tell me nicely that she would bark all day while we were at work and so the quest began to try to find an anti-bark collar. I hate them (the collar, not the nice neighbors), but I finally found one that keeps her quiet, which keeps the neighborhood peace. I wrote about the collar in this post. Thank you Dogtra!

10. How to Wrap a Hoof Like a Vet

I am not good at wrapping hooves and thankfully Knight hasn’t needed me to do so since this incident a couple of years ago. However I did get pictures which you can see here of how my vet easily wraps a hoof with duct tape. She made it look so easy.

If you made it to the end of this top ten list, you have my respect and appreciation. Thanks for being part of this journey with Knight and me. I hope you’re off to a smashing good 2017 and have gotten lots of rides.

P.S. There are a few affiliate links throughout this post. All it means is if you click through and like the books or fitness trackers and buy them on Amazon, at no cost to you I will get a small (very small) commission. The proceeds of which will undoubtedly go to buying carrots. Thank you!!!

Your Turn (Please Comment): If you’re a blogger, what were some of your top viewed posts of 2016 (feel free to leave the links in the comments section). If you’re not a blogger, what other blogs, equestrian or non-equestrian did you enjoy in 2016?

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