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Thread Four: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1332664/posts |
Posted on 12/30/2004 7:01:16 PM PST by HairOfTheDog
Free Republic has a lot of horse people that have found each other on other threads…. And since we all like to talk horses, how about a thread where it is not off-topic, but is THE topic?
This is a horse chat thread where we share ideas, ask for input from other horsemen, and talk about our riding and horse-keeping. We have a lot of different kinds of riders and horses, and a lot to share. In the previous threads we have had a great time talking through lessons, training, horse lamenesses, illnesses and pregnancies... and always sharing pictures and stories.
I always have a link to this thread on my profile page, so if you have something to say and can't find the thread in latest posts… look for it there and wake the thread up!
I also have a ping list for horse threads that are of interest, and Becky pings everyone most mornings. Let Becky (Paynoattentionmanbehindthecurtain) and/or me know if you would like to be on the ping list. As FreeRepublic is a political site, our politics and other issues will probably blend in…. There are many issues for horsemen that touch politics… land use, animal rights/abuse cases that make the news…. Legislation that might affect horse owners.
So... like the previous threads, this is intended as fun place to come and share stories, pictures, questions and chit-chat, unguided and unmoderated and that we come together here as friends. There are lots of ways of doing things and we all have our quirks, tricks and specialties that are neat to learn about.
I don't think new moms are ever judged on how they look right after birth :~D
It's really quite muddy and miserable here with all the warm rain. ;~D Least it's cleaner when it's cold.
Well jobs are waiting so I need to go and get on. Have fun everyone! Try not to get sunburnt!
Sharn
Actually, I do enjoy english riding and I have a custom made all purpose saddle. I'm not going the custom route again, too expensive and it takes too darn long. It is an excellent saddle, though, a "Black Country" saddle and they have a neat website. I've never ridden in a dressage saddle but I like trying new stuff.
Oh - well that's cool. I like deep seat dressage saddles because the really encourage a proper seat. For my own, I use an all purpose with the stirrups on the long side for trail.
Do you have a favorite brand? I really know nothing about dressage saddles and don't know what the proper seat is for dressage. Give me some helpful hints...
I don't have a favorite quality brand. I've never had one of the really expensive saddles or bought one new. I had a used Stubben that I loved, but it didn't fit Bay well and I traded it for the Wintec I have now. I've also had one of the supposedly cheap Argentine saddles, and it also held up pretty well for my use.
I know you said you wanted to buy a quality used one... Passier, Crosby, Stubben, are all good brands. However, I can't go without recommending a new Wintec synthetic. They aren't more expensive than a lightly used leather saddle (I paid ~$400). I really like mine, it's really light, has a really soft seat and soft panels underneath, and they have interchangeable gullets to fit the wither of your horse. It's still relatively new, but holding up really well.
The thing to most look for in a used English saddle (besides a broken tree) is that the padding panels on the underside are still soft. You should be able to depress it with your fingers. Over time, they get stiffer and stiffer. Some of the cheaper saddles start out pretty stiff, the Wintec ones are particularly soft. Older saddles can be repadded, it's about a $100 repair job. If you go to a saddle shop, poke and feel a few of them.
The proper seat is just very upright on your seat bones rather than your butt, long comfortable leg position with weight and shock absorption in the stirrups.
I've seen lots of used Stubbens and I knew it was a good brand but it's always good to hear about them from someone who has actually used one. I'm not finding many used Wintecs and the new ones I've seen were $1000.
I have a kid size Pessoa that I'm not using anymore, I was going to try to find someone interested in a trade. The same saddle new at Dover is $800. People are crazy to spend that much on a kid saddle that the kid is going to grow out of. I bought mine new but I paid $500 or so for it about 6 years ago.
As for the features noted in the more expensive ones, beyond the deep seat on that Isabelle at the top (which looks pretty comfy) the other features like moveable exchangeable knee rolls, you may not miss.
Oh my, now I'm getting confused. I'll have to go to a tack shop and look at them and see what's what.
While I'm sitting here I'm watching a tv show called Pet Star. It's kind of like a stupid pet tricks thing with celebrity judges (actually, "has-been celebrity") and that dork Mackenzie Phillips low-balled a cowboy riding a huge Brahma bull. The bull was bowing, crawling on his knees, laying all the way down, etc, and it was amazing. She gave him a "4" out of "10". She must have no idea how hard it would be to teach a bull to do all that stuff.
Well, I am confused too, because after all the hullabaloo about the CAIR padding system, I don't know whether mine has that or not. I bought it at the tack shop where they only had the model I bought, so it wasn't in my thinking and I don't know. I know it's nice and cushy ;~D
I have seen that show before, and I have seen them lowball horse tricks before too. They don't have a clue what goes into getting a horse or a bull to perform in that environment. Any dog that truly understands healing can dance, and they always get a 10.
er... ~heeling~.
A "healing" dog, would be a good trick ;~D
Checking out for awhile...
we are rearranging furniture, and I am about to take the computer apart.
See ya when we are back all organized!
Hi everyone, household chores take a back seat....I just went out to give the horses some more feed and checked on Sugar. Her bag looks huge and she has some "waxing" on it. Any idea of a time frame now? James has of course left for work! LOL. (Misty never had the waxing, she just dripped milk b4 delivering the following early morning).
By the way, it has only reached 58 here...........sun is out and warming though! Still time!
I can't imagine teaching a bull anything, let alone bowing and laying down. Those judges are idiots.
Speaking of "healing" dogs, I saw on the news that they are using dogs to detect bladder cancer. The dogs can smell it.
By the way, I love Freedom Rider stuff! They have a bareback pad that I'd love to have, the supracor one, but it's over $300. I ride most of the time with bareback pads and that supracor pad is the cadillac of pads.
I'd say any minute now!
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