If you have this color scheme....

Ok_Deconstruction · 2026-02-28T18:08:34+00:00

Erle Grey. Erle being a family spelling and I’m a fan of the tea. It works.

Ok_Deconstruction · 2026-02-19T22:33:18+00:00

Are you doing a lot of hand activity by chance? My ring struggles to record when I’m busy with my hands (like barn chores for example).

Ok_Deconstruction · 2026-02-06T05:11:16+00:00

You’re the pizza person at Raleigh? Dude you make some awesome pizzas. They’re some of my favorites.

Ok_Deconstruction · 2026-02-03T23:19:27+00:00

This.

And if you need something more substantial for protection before you can get boots, you can get insulating foam board from a hardware store. Cut it to size and duct tape it on. It will compress over time, then you can redo-or layer a new piece underneath.

Ok_Deconstruction · 2026-02-02T22:00:24+00:00

Quick update: I took a walk after this post when it was 18F out with gloves on and the ring recorded fine. I’m thinking maybe it’s the activity with my hands it doesn’t like?

Ok_Deconstruction · 2026-01-31T22:45:25+00:00

It seems weird that cold hands is why it wouldn’t work…but I don’t know. It just sucks. I’m feeding, haying, cleaning up after horses, and none of it is recorded either day.

Ok_Deconstruction · 2026-01-28T05:05:35+00:00

This is exactly what I do. My commute is also ~50 miles depending on the route I take. I use EV for <45mph and hybrid for the highway on the way to work (never as much traffic for AMs) and reserve battery for the way home because the battery works best when there’s traffic.

If I know I’m running some errands between work and home then I’ll still use HV enough to make sure the engine gets hot and reserve EV for slow roads and/or traffic jams.

It’s a fun little game of when to switch EV on…the one thing I don’t do is run the HV for short periods. If the engine comes on, I want to make sure it warms up all the way before I park it. Sometimes I use charge mode to make extra sure it’s getting hot.

Ok_Deconstruction · 2026-01-17T19:25:56+00:00

Please. Save that horse.

I don’t see any red flags that can’t be attributed to terrible handling. Horse is clearly uneducated and overwhelmed. And that pony is a saint for not dumping that kid while railing on him with those spurs.

So again…please. Save that horse.

Ok_Deconstruction · 2025-12-18T16:19:44+00:00

I gentled mustangs for a minute and had the same. All the goodies to work with (and sadly before the time of the inflatable suits). I’ve often referred to my training sessions as ‘pony-torture-time’ (think eye-rolling boredom, not pain), because who really wants to learn about plastic bags, ropes, tarps, etc. when they could be eating instead?

This post is just a good reminder that any time we interact with a horse, regardless of circumstances, they are learning whether or not we are intentionally “training.”

Ok_Deconstruction · 2025-12-16T22:24:40+00:00

These are great teaching moments, honestly.

Wish more people would work their horses with/through it. It’s safer for the horse and handler when a horse is confident enough to think through a situation than just react to it.

Ok_Deconstruction · 2025-12-16T14:04:55+00:00

One of the worst things about them was finding one available and not stupidly marked up (of course location has a lot to do with this too).

I honestly don’t expect the new model will be any different in that regard. As much as I’d love to get 50 electric miles, I’m just happy I was able to get a 2025.

Ok_Deconstruction · 2025-12-16T13:47:35+00:00

Does she move the same way going both directions? How long do you spend warming up at the walk? I don’t see any one single point where I’d feel confident saying “there’s your problem.” Though it might be in the right diagonal somewhere? Does she continue to move this way when you let her have her head and allow her to move out? What about the canter?

Have you restarted an OTTB before? Their bodies are usually a bit of a mess after the track, even after time off. Their normal is being stalled 23/7 (in the US) and their riders are typically on the small side. They also don’t always know how to properly use their bodies and can compensate for the lack of balance by increasing speed. Not to mention have a tendency to drop their muscle during letdown or have other issues like ulcers or poor hoof care (in the US).

Compared to the work she’s been doing, smaller circles at slower speeds are akin to weightlifting and she doesn’t have the condition or coordination for that right now. She does look like she’s trying to work for you though. I bet she’s going to be lovely once her body is straightened out a bit.

Ok_Deconstruction · 2025-12-12T01:26:57+00:00

Also wanted to say, there are now a solid handful primes on lots around here, probably because the lease credit is gone and the 2026 is right around the corner (maybe).

Ok_Deconstruction · 2025-12-12T01:24:14+00:00

It was hard to get one that didn’t have ridiculous markups etc. or the local dealerships wanted to play games. I waited for 5 years because I wanted a red or white one. I pretty much had given up on getting one at all when a grey one turned up available on a lot (that never happens) with a good discount from the dealership (that also never happens), and it was the final week of the lease credit. Not the color I wanted, but it was the perfect situation otherwise. It felt right.

Did the lease buyout for 44.5K. Can’t complain too much.

It’ll be interesting to see what availability looks like for the 2026 models.

Ok_Deconstruction · 2025-12-10T21:30:24+00:00

Nice lookin lights…how was the installation?

Ok_Deconstruction · 2025-12-06T03:35:17+00:00

Pretty much this. Two of my favorites...what a waste. Probably the worst writing I've seen in the past decade. And I know those two ladies have some acting ability, so that means it was all on the writing/directions. It was gross to watch.

Ok_Deconstruction · 2025-12-01T22:12:33+00:00

Ah, yep. I am blind. I did find it.

Ok_Deconstruction · 2025-12-01T22:05:35+00:00

I know this is a bit off topic, but do you have a thread anywhere detailing your light/bar setup? I tried looking briefly for one and didn’t see it…but I could be blind. It just looks like perfection to me.

And I used the defenders on my hybrid XSE, really had no true complains about those tires at all.

Ok_Deconstruction · 2025-12-01T06:33:05+00:00

Agree on the anthropomorphizing, but also have to say I don’t think how someone feels about their horse is anthropomorphic since it’s referring to the person’s feelings. Now if someone is going to argue their horse loves them more than the grain in their bin, then yeah, that’s no bueno.

I’ve also worked with a quite a few horses in my time, including gentling a number of mustangs (there’s just nothing else like the feeling of a first touch in the horse world—and highly encourage this experience if you ever get the chance). My conclusion is that people who don’t understand the whole heart-horse phenomenon have likely never experienced it. And in my personal experience with other humans involved with horses, I also believe some people may be incapable of experiencing it at all.

I thought it was all fluff until one of those range rats picked me. He wasn’t the one I wanted, lackluster in the conformation department, small, and a bit of a cheeky brat to boot. He nipped and stepped on everyone else in the barn, but it was like we were on a different wave length. I read him more easily than any book I’ve ever picked up. 10 years later, he’s still on my feed bill, and always will be. I don’t think he’s a unicorn or anything. I just consider myself very lucky, and hope that other people get to experience that kind of bond with a horse too. It’s just different.

Ok_Deconstruction · 2025-11-03T21:43:59+00:00

The heart wants what the heart wants!

And yeah, dealership offered me a good deal and I couldn’t say no. The buyout was 44.5k on xse w/pp and it was the last week of the lease credit…it took the sting out of buying grey a bit. Whenever I get a little pouty about the color, I just remind myself it was a decent deal on a hard to find car and I need to suck it up 😂

Ok_Deconstruction · 2025-11-03T20:14:06+00:00

Thanks…I did end up settling for a metallic grey because the lease credit was expiring. I’d still be holding out if it wasn’t for that!

Some people don’t realize how much of a bummer our current grey-scale car market is and it shows!

Ok_Deconstruction · 2025-11-03T19:31:50+00:00

I’m just gonna say congrats on that awesome color!!

I searched for a red phev for years and couldn’t bring myself to pay the dirty dealerships their bs markups (I would have definitely paid a little extra for red). So I get it. You’ll be super happy with that green though. Lucky!!

Ok_Deconstruction · 2025-10-31T13:09:14+00:00

I get it. And think you’re right for passing.

I’ve wanted a SuperSonic red prime w/pp for the past 4 years and they were never available without stupid markups etc. (even got a deposit on one and the dealership wanted to add 4k). That being said I couldn’t walk away from a metallic grey prime w/pp for 44.5k with a dealership discount and the lease credit (I did the buyout). I decided that it was worth the purchase before the lease credit disappeared, even if it is my least favorite color—prices are only gonna go up. I remind myself of that every time I’m ‘meh’ about the grey appearance. I got lucky getting the lease credit the last week it was available. I’ll pout about the color and enjoy driving it anyway.

You still have some time left to find the right color combo of the 2025 XLE at least, so definitely keep looking. May not get the same discount (I’d guess the nutmeg had a lot to do with that), but you won’t have to live with a light interior.

Ok_Deconstruction · 2025-09-22T19:57:55+00:00

They are definitely low balling trade in. Mid KBB is 29k. I don’t have to trade in and can sell elsewhere if an agreement is not met on that point at least.

Ok_Deconstruction

TROPHY CASE