I’ll carry you home tonight

It's the end of a long, winding show season.

While I enjoy showing, and competing, I'm not too unhappy to bid adieu to 2012. It was a growth year, and the spurts, while necessary, were painful at times.

But things were surprising at this last show, the pony really put solid efforts in despite my pilot errors (errr.... left from right) and a number of people came out and made lovely comments on the work and the development since July.

I was really mentally prepared for this to be the last show, in fact in my head I pretty much ended the season three weeks ago after National Dressage Pony Cup and was in vacation land at Devon. I nearly forgot my show bag, I lost (and found) my credit cards, girth, drivers license and keys a few times, I didn't have everything in order, and I still had a stack of laundry in the car a mile high from September.

But we went on, not really knowing what to expect, and in the end I didn't get what I wanted, but got exactly what I needed. 

Around July, I thought I made a really good decision for the pony. Knock her down to the Jr's and let her ride out the rest of her competitive life in second level balance. I think Sinari caught wind of this and decided to pull a trump card, she really started to blossom in the work. 

When I sat down and started to chat about the lease situation for her, the attitude of everyone had changed as a whole. Apparently there was enough chatter in the air and the pony looked the part of an, albeit green, FEI horse to be considered truly as a contender for the I1 and potentially the I2. All parties at that point agreed that another year in the levels would only be beneficial to both of us and we tabled the discussion for the lease until that time. 

But the peanut gallery also had some nice things to mention about the training and development as well, which after so many years of just poking along it was a huge clap on the back and gold star for the work done over the years.

So, we've been invited to come and train in a few places. We're already looking at 2013 schedules and how to fit things in. Just thinking about 2013 makes me happier, but we really need the mental break. The ante has definitely been upped and the expectations have now been laid.

Because it's fall and we're at the end, I'm now catching up on all the professional appointments that I've neglected in the past few months.  Like dentists, saddle fitting and fall shots.

Saddle fitting was the start of the list (followed by fall shots for all). Sinari's is in production so, no news on that front, but new girl, Reba, has been turned in to an accidental saddle princess.

Normally the new horses aren't so picky right away- they usually ease their way into things. Not Reba. From the moment she stepped off the trailer she commands everyone's attention. If Sinari is Tina Turner, this is Aretha Franklin meets Steel Magnolias. 

We tried three or four Counties on her the other evening. Already a half size bigger than the pony, the new girl really expressed her opinion about ill fitting tack, namely sucking back, going inverted, and trying to do the dump n' run.

Not typical for this really sweet girl who's been working her tail off.

Finally, we resorted to the old stand-by: County Competitor. And low, in the proper tree width and seat size, anything is possible. 

This is the third horse I've ridden that saddle in, and it seems to suit a greener, unfit horse, while giving me the stability I really need for the in case of moments. But it will be hilarious if we end up again in a Perfection about two years down the pike.

I'm just happy to be home to concentrate on the next  few months and develop the herd.

Saddles For Sale

Like everything around here, my horses have changed... again.

Saddle fitting is art and science, but mostly it's a pain. While I'm happy that the changes are positive, with horses gaining topline and changing due to training and maturity, I'm not happy I'm back in the throw darts mode of finding something. Thankfully, I have a really good team of people for that in County Saddles (Sara Ivie let me count the ways...).

Surprisingly, Sincere's saddle is a Schleese. Or was. It statically fit him two months ago. But when we got into more serious work, he changed and doesn't fit now to the point where its teeing him off. So on the market it goes for something that will keep him and his back happy.

It's a four year old dark brown 17.5 wide Schleese JER with long billets. Exceptionally pretty and in great condition. I'm asking $700 obo.

It's pictured right.

Following in her younger counterpart's steps, Sinari, decided it was time for a change.

Sinari has become fit to the point where she dropped an entire tree size (despite being a few pounds too heavy) and what awesome County rep Sara Ivie and I thought would be the forever saddle turned out to be a temporary band aid. So we're on the search again and I've put her's on the market as well to help aid that search financially.

Sinari's saddle is a 17.5 inch extra wide black County Competitor. At five years old, it truly is a fantastic saddle, helping us develop and get to this place, and fits the majority of horses it's thrown on, in fact I've had horses throw fits because they don't want to go back to their old saddle. It was recently reflocked, and is regularly conditioned. I'm asking 1,800 obo.

Shameless self promotion; Saddle for Sale

Since the decision to go with County, I've decided to lighten my equipment inventory.

My 18-inch Duett Fidelio is for sale for $850.00.

The saddle is 36cm wide, smooth-grain black leather, regular flap with long billets, just recently reflocked and checked by a certified saddler and in excellent condition. It's been kept covered, cleaned and conditioned since I bought it.

This is a great saddle for a wider, more short-backed horses (halfingers, fjords, ect), the panels give plenty of stability and there is extra height on the pommel to give clearance. For rider who needs added security with a medium twist and larger knee rolls (almost thigh blocks).

I liked the way this saddle fit Sinari, but she's once again outgrown her equipment, and we're going on for a custom.

For more information, and more photos drop me a line: tempichange@hotmail.com

I fly like paper

The week passed with some difficulty.

Tuesday was spring shots, and with six over two weeks, her neck is sore. Also on the medical side is the Power Pac, five days of Panacur. Thankfully, she's alright about worming.

To make matters worse Casanova down the way is singing his sweet song to a very in-heat Sinari in already hot weather.Resulting in a crampy, tired pony.

It's with this week we re-evaluated our time line for FEI.While our stretch goal is August, our practical goal is next spring, starting with the Snowbird, accumulating into the KDA show and letting off in the late summer and fall.

The reasonable goal this year is fourth and get our scores at third to confirm for the L program.

But in the same regard, there have been a few blessings as well.

I temporarily relieved the old saddle for a borrowed one, and I've talked to my County Saddles people into coming out and fitting her completely. I think I may have good terms.

The half pass and pirouettes are improving still but they need to become stronger, and a half halt needs to be established.

Secondly I put her back into the double. I didn't want to crutch on it, but I did want her to get back into it. I'm rusty as hell with two reins, and still prefer the snaffle.  She was much less stoppy, and much better about many things.

Finally, she's officially the big 1-1. Just turned 11 this past weekend.

The inside-outside connection.

I've been bad about updating lately. The nice weather, erratic schedule and good amounts of work hasn't allowed me to do much for writing.

Aside from the saddle issue, Sinari is doing well. She's dropped about twenty pounds and has begun to fit up into the the spring work.

We're almost six weeks in to the meat of the work and it's more or less about cleaning house at this point. She knows all the movements, it's just assuring them and strengthening them. Give it another six weeks and we should be rocking things out pretty well for FEI.

Recapping March's goals, we should be there soon:

The adjustable outline/ the accordion

Getting much better. Now systematically progressing utilizing stretch warm up in the front part of the week to a full ramped-up FEI outline by the end. 

Lateral work, specifically half pass. Needs more flow, and of course, the zig-zags.

Started breaking these down into baby steps again. First stabilizing the bend then adding in more generic lateral work. Got several good ones in the past week, but needs to be more comfortable in the gaits. 

Pirouettes

Smoother, but still too large, especially after the third step. Working haunches in regularly to narrow it down. Better at the walk than at the canter.

-Transitions out of the halt to canter. She gets jiggy (not that I mind, it will come in handy for piaffe), and becomes stoppy at the up transition (resists contact). I want her to become comfortable with the transition itself.

Haven't worked this in a while. So a bit sticky still.

Tempi Changes (at least green ones) and regular uphill, straight changes.

Score! She does tempi's too bad she's whip smart about them. 

If the weather will allow- conditioning.

Went out a few times, but nothing to blow out in. Now the ground is parched and hard. Can't really win.

April's Goals:

Pirouette work

Half pass

Half halts

More educated transitions through the gaits. 

Saddle that fits properly

School through PSG at least once.

Double bridle.

Rolex is in two weeks and the shopping is supposed to be fabulous. On the list is Back on Track, a Shadbelly, sitting in saddles and talking to my breeches peeps. Can't wait.

We'll work to work it out

I get to drive a lot around town.

My little red truck is my mobile office, I keep copies of the files I need, my giant, ever changing to-do list and stuff that is being trucked back and forth to the barns.

The nice part about a mobile office is the scenery, never gets dull especially in spring.

The never dull scenario is also applying itself to the riding end of life.

Sinari, while trying her heart out to accept the lateral work (which she's picking back up) is sore from a number of different things. I'm sure being in raging heat, and being subsequently teased by the colt next door doesn't help.

But the main culprit is the saddle (again). Even after the re-flock and riding in the sheepskin with shims to help out, she's still not feeling hot in the back. I had her adjusted yesterday and even the massage therapist said she was not feeling hot in the ribs, the back or the right side in general.

She left a list of instructions, stretches. Farrier came by and rebalanced her long over due hooves. Then we took a few days off. Lunged out today, she felt pretty good.

So, in about a year we've gone through this one. I guess the Christmas wish for the pony is coming true, I'm going to get a custom. I've contacted a few friends to give me an idea of price, estimate and payment schedules. I have my eye on one in particular, but we'll see.

All together now

$250 later, I have my saddle back with some nice flocking.  Again, it's worth every, single, cent.

It also meant that I had to give back the nice Custom Saddlery saddle to my coach. It was a good move too, because I was becoming way too attached. It is for sale for anyone who is interested.

We rode straight through this week, most of it was in the snaffle with one day in the double. Results that were beyond what I expected.

With most of the work concentrated on bending and riding as flexibly as possible, she achieved a better amount of thoroughness and shwung through the back.

The major lateral work was sticky, so I left it be until the end of the week.

By the third session, we were in real work.

We began schooling more transitions, more collection and definitive parts of tests. Such as the double half pass from three-two and the canter V pirouette from PSG.

Schooling in the double was more of a mental exercise on both our ends. Mentally, it was for me to be still and keep the curb light and for her- to not hit the curb and overly react to it.

Schooling piaffe, we utilized the reinback to piaffe. The changes are her forte now, she's crack smart about changing, and threw in a small 'gimme' line of fours on her fresh day in addition to the regular changes. We also schooled reactions, the halt to immediate canter depart, the hi-ho silver routine, which helped immensely in piaffe/passage and medium work.

Pirouette work proved to be more tricky. The first two steps are brilliant, the third to fifth, however present issues. We utilized the 10 meter square exercise to help improve, but we're still about a yard too far from the line.

Shoulder-in and haunches in to the left is still very strong, however to the right, it's still a little hard, especially when I ask for a series of three's (three steps shoulder in, three steps straight, three steps of haunches in). Half pass she's once again getting too straight in the line I have to remember to hold back a few steps then release.

I'm most excited about her collection, Saturday we decided to a bit of back and forth from ultra collected canter immediately to medium/extended. She has it in her, just needs a more emphatic transitions. She gave five excellent transitions late into the session.These will only get better as we school them.

Overall, I'm extremely pleased and Sinari seems quite happy with herself.

On a side note, I'm considering breaking my New Year's vow of no showing. KDA is offering a few classes I feel would be up our alley. I'm also sponsoring said classes with cash incentive.

As much as I would like to complete out my bronze, the length of the counter canter required for second level is now way too much for her. Anyone have a pony that I could go second level on? ;-)

101 Things: Number 99: Fitting saddles

As an owner of a "special" fitting horse, I've become more educated over the years about saddles, bridles and fitting the pony's equipment in general. I've spent countless paycheques to fiddle with various aspects of her equipment and finding equipment that fits and works for the two of us.

It's worth every cent too. A well fitting piece of equipment makes our job that much easier. A bad fitting piece of equipment will make any ride a living hell. 

Well fitting saddle is a basic necessity in any sport. However, it seems to be paramount in dressage due to the purposeful, physical development of the equine athlete. The dressage horse changes at every stage of development, to help with that growth, the saddle must change with it.


There are also a plethora of saddles out there, in an infinite amount of seat, tree and flocking combinations to suit tastes and needs.

First the basics: a saddle should be functional.

It should fit the horse and you. It should allow you to keep your position without fighting for it, and allow no restriction in the horse when moving. It should be stable without being static, and should fit the horse while in motion.

Trilogy Saddles has an excellent guide here.

Work with a qualified saddler. Sit in as many saddles as you physically can. Ask your fellow boarders (and your coach!) about theirs, and see if you can't sit and tryout. Take notes on what you felt when you rode in them. Jot the features you liked, and the features you didn't like. Jot what your horse liked and didn't like and how he reacted. If you can have the ride taped.

Educate yourself on flocking. Know the type of wool that is being used, whether it is a long fiber (better quality, doesn't pill), or short fiber (bad, pills and creates pressure points). If there isn't wool, what is inside that saddle? Foam? Air? Aunt Mildred's wig? How does it effect the horse?

Finally, take care of the investment. Clean regularly, condition frequently. Reflock and check the integrity of the tree yearly (more often if you fall off, or the horse has crashed on it).

Snow day!

Playing approved hookey from work never felt so cold! Due to the saddle being in for the reflock, we've been grounded until that glorious piece of black leather makes an expensive reappearance. Until then I'm taking full advantage of the two inches that fell on us last night:

And we're back

The saddle arrived Friday in a plain large, brown box that was lined with foam.

It was already opened by the boy, who probably knew I would tear open the box like an over-exuberant kid on Christmas.

At first blush, it looked way too narrow and I went into panic mode, finding my original tracings, matching them up with my flex tool and comparing the width. I even had nightmares about it running too narrow and Sinari coming up lame from the bad tracings.

Such is the life of a person who has a continually developing, hard-to-fit pony.

After my paranoia was sated after 10 hours of sleep, I took it to the local saddler and had her check it out. Vetted clean for soundness.

Then came the moment of truth, fitting it. I was itching to do it all day Saturday, but I had a few very welcomed company and it was delayed till the very end, but well worth the wait. By the time I opened my truck door, the smell of leather was heavy and heaven.

I threw it over the pony, and let it sit, ran my hands over it, under it, it fit at that point. I girthed it up, no girthy-ness (one of the best signs ever).

And then I girthed it up today with all the fittings and just a clean square pad and rode.

The ride itself was uneventful, Sinari is out of shape (as am I), and it was warm. I was more or less to see her reaction to it under saddle.

While she wasn't exactly forward (the saddle took my leg off), she was super soft in the bridle and deeply engaged, especially on what I consider her weaker side- the left. Lateral work is nice. Ride lasted about twenty minutes with her huffing towards the end.

The only thing I can pick on with the saddle is that it feels like I'm sitting on top instead of into the horse. This could be flocking issues, or the way the seat is designed (the twist) and I might invest in a ThinLine pad to help with adjusting/development issues.

Otherwise, no slipping, no sitting weird, no truly hard sides and no leaning.

Overall, I'm sold.