Tuesday 15 June 2021

Small Delays: Part 1, Pony and Saddle Updates

Pony wise, I'm still messing with saddles. Sophie was ouchy over her back behind the saddle last week, so I'm done with that. I'm honestly grateful it lasted as long as it did, and with her changing shape so much this spring it was only a matter of time before enough was enough and I was shopping. A more organized person would have sorted things before it was an issue, but time keeps getting away from me (and is it just me or is the resale market insane? Both saddles I decided to sell sold same day!) so we went a week without a saddle.

"Are we doing anything yet?"

Her new-to-her dressage arrived yesterday, but it looks and measures on the narrower side than what I thought I was buying/it is stamped. It's also way older than I thought, but on trying it out, I absolutely love it for myself. Funny, since really I was just interested in finding something to fit her and get us by until she's finished filling out. 

Probably the first Amerigo dressage saddle ever made. I exaggerate, but according to the company rep it was manufactured in 1999 (not 2009, surprise!). It's also a monoflap, another (this time happy) surprise. Saddle shopping is fun, right?! I think what I really like for me is the knee roll is gradual and soft and the seat is shallow and open...supportive without that locked in feel most of the newer ones seem to have.

I am getting the specs so I have a starting point should this not be a long term solution. It does look to fit Sophie perfectly now, but she was grumpy in the up transitions. That may just be her (we were definitely having a mare day and on those days it's not uncommon for her to kick at my leg/be offended by me just existing up there) or it may be the saddle. We'll keep testing. Or maybe someone can send me a saddle fitter for an hour? If it's not right, it's got to be so close that a minor adjustment would do the trick, but S is dramatic and does not tolerate any margin of error. Fingers crossed we can organize a fitter this summer, travel sounds like it's going to be on the table again.

Vacations are not a good idea for Ms Sassy, when will I ever learn?

The other (close contact) saddle to try has of course been lost in the mail(?) somewhere for 3 weeks now and the company is non responsive. I'm getting worried, but I'm crossing fingers I get a parcel or update soon, it is coming from a legit company. Sorry Sophie, I am trying!

I have a clinic this weekend to attend and feel super ill prepared. If I don't have a saddle Sophie likes, I'll take Bridget, I guess. I hate going into a clinic with nothing specific to work on, but I'm hopeful I'll be able to run through a couple of dressage tests on her and get some feedback. She's been feeling great over little fences but her flatwork has got a bit stuck again where she wiggles around behind the contact and forward/straight are suffering a case of the noodles. I find it difficult, because from the ground she almost looks like she's moving out nicely and she's certainly very reactive off the leg - people I think look the the pony and are willing to accept she's just got an average way of going on those short pony legs.

Short legs = optimal ease for reaching grass to sustain round body.

In the saddle you can feel it's not really connected and she's not working consistently behind, so you're always working to keep her from diving off in all directions. Once I get a handle on it, I start getting comments on how fancy she suddenly is, but it's not...it's just her finally carrying herself in balance and IMO just what her working trot or canter should feel like. She's actually quite athletic under that cobby body, it's just she's smart and is totally willing to fake it rather than go to work :)

Anyway, lest you think I'm trying to get B tuned up to get out to the next big show, no, I'm not. She gets to stay semi retired. I just like her and find her to be an interesting puzzle. There is a dressage percent day coming up in August she'll likely go to, but her main role will be to support Sophie's first show experience.

"Say what?!"

 I am glad Sophie is so straightforward under saddle - despite the fraction of a percent of hours she has as compared to Bridget, she's naturally a lot more willing and capable, so she's starting right about where I was after a year of full training on Bridget. I am looking forward to getting a handle on the saddle situation and continuing to move forward with her. 

Part II: Property Updates, coming up next.

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11 comments

  1. You're reminding me I really need to put my wiiiiide Schleese on the market (since I sold the mare I bought it for and held onto it for Cinna and she's made it clear she HATES it 😂) but oh my god I don't want to deal with people or shipping lol. I'm excited to see what miss Sophie thinks of her first show! 😁

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    1. I was so lucky to sell mine locally! I hung on to them for months, though, before advertising, because like you I didn’t want to deal with it 😁

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  2. Sorry for your saddle woes but how cool is it that Sophie is in the same place as Bridget was after a year of full training? Nice job!

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    1. Probably more a reflection of how difficult and uncoordinated B was vs any great job I’ve done with Sophie ;) But in all seriousness, I’m pleased with her. She finds it easy, and is (normally) happy to get to work.

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  3. I hope you can figure out the saddle for Miss S. I wonder if the flocking in the old saddle just needs some replacing/ adjusting. things sound like they are going well.

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    1. I feel like maybe a slight adjustment in the front, if anything. What I wouldn’t give to have a fitter travel here!

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  4. saddle situations are really the worst.... i do *not* miss the days with having an a-typical horse build (hai Izzy!) for my preferred sport haha.... glad to hear B is doing more these days too!! guess i didn't realize she was actually formally retired tho, isn't she like 12?

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    1. I really need to buy a horse to fit my saddle :) Yes, she's just 12! Plan A had been to lease her out to one of my coach's eventing kids once I 'outgrew' her, then it became "she's talented, just do dressage with her", then her evolving boredom with dressage had me second guessing that. Finally (last year?), she started saying she was going to need maintenance to stay sound for it all, and I just decided to scale it back and let her decide what kind of workload she needs or wants. I'm not anti injecting her hocks and will do it when she says it's time with her current workload, but also I didn't see the point in keeping her going in harder work and putting lots of miles on those legs just for the sake of leasing her out to an eventing kid for a job she's kind of 'meh' about. B is a fantastic trail horse (a job she really enjoys) so we do a lot of that right now. I sneak in the odd schooling session, tiny jumps now and then but she's on a pretty light- moderate schedule, kind of a backyard pony.

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  5. Saddle shopping is the WORST. Gah, I'm sorry to hear that.
    I'm glad B is feeling better - she's so lucky to have a horse momma like you <3

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    1. Thank you, means a lot coming from you...you're one of the best horse mommas out there <3

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  6. Supply Chain Issues and the fear of inflation are WRECKING every resale market!

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