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Thread Four: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1332664/posts



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The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread - Thread THREE!

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.


TOPICS: Hobbies; Pets/Animals
KEYWORDS: saddleclub
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To: Rose of Sharn

I don't think new moms are ever judged on how they look right after birth :~D


2,481 posted on 01/16/2005 7:41:50 AM PST by HairOfTheDog
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To: Beaker

It's really quite muddy and miserable here with all the warm rain. ;~D Least it's cleaner when it's cold.


2,482 posted on 01/16/2005 7:42:48 AM PST by HairOfTheDog
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To: HairOfTheDog; All

Well jobs are waiting so I need to go and get on. Have fun everyone! Try not to get sunburnt!
Sharn


2,483 posted on 01/16/2005 7:47:40 AM PST by Rose of Sharn (love everything you do and do everything you love : ))
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To: HairOfTheDog

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.


2,484 posted on 01/16/2005 7:48:10 AM PST by tuffydoodle
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To: tuffydoodle

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.


2,485 posted on 01/16/2005 7:55:52 AM PST by HairOfTheDog
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To: HairOfTheDog
Least it's cleaner when it's cold.
That's true.
2,486 posted on 01/16/2005 8:10:58 AM PST by Beaker (Obey gravity... It's the law.)
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To: Rose of Sharn
Hey thanks! I needed to cool down some!
Hahaha. :-)
2,487 posted on 01/16/2005 8:12:06 AM PST by Beaker (Obey gravity... It's the law.)
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To: HairOfTheDog

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...


2,488 posted on 01/16/2005 9:00:31 AM PST by tuffydoodle
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To: tuffydoodle

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.


2,489 posted on 01/16/2005 9:14:04 AM PST by HairOfTheDog
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To: tuffydoodle
what the proper seat is for dressage.

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.

2,490 posted on 01/16/2005 9:17:25 AM PST by HairOfTheDog
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To: HairOfTheDog

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.


2,491 posted on 01/16/2005 9:40:17 AM PST by tuffydoodle
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To: tuffydoodle
They have a few models.... A thousand sounded high, I saw one in our tack shop last week for $400, which I think is for the base model. (Freedom Rider Tack Shop - Wintec Synthetic Dressage Saddles) Looks like they have some varying models from a thousand down. It would depend on if you could sit in the lower end saddle at the bottom here and it was comfortable. There also seems to be a price break on the types of padding panels. $500 with CAIR panels, $400 without on their basic saddle. I don't know how ~cool~ the CAIR type is, but mine is traditional and quite soft. Of course, with cinch, leathers and stirrups, you'll have to add another hundred.

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.

2,492 posted on 01/16/2005 9:54:34 AM PST by HairOfTheDog
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To: HairOfTheDog

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.


2,493 posted on 01/16/2005 10:37:24 AM PST by tuffydoodle
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To: tuffydoodle

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.


2,494 posted on 01/16/2005 10:41:14 AM PST by HairOfTheDog
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To: tuffydoodle

er... ~heeling~.

A "healing" dog, would be a good trick ;~D


2,495 posted on 01/16/2005 10:41:49 AM PST by HairOfTheDog
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To: All

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!


2,496 posted on 01/16/2005 10:49:31 AM PST by HairOfTheDog
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To: All

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!


2,497 posted on 01/16/2005 11:11:08 AM PST by Rose of Sharn (love everything you do and do everything you love : ))
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To: HairOfTheDog

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.


2,498 posted on 01/16/2005 11:20:17 AM PST by tuffydoodle
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To: HairOfTheDog

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.


2,499 posted on 01/16/2005 11:22:35 AM PST by tuffydoodle
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To: Rose of Sharn

I'd say any minute now!


2,500 posted on 01/16/2005 11:30:53 AM PST by tuffydoodle
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