Magic tack: Times Square dressage

It takes a while to get to the meat of the matter, here -- the browband -- but if the effect is truly what you see in this video, are these browbands AWESOME???

New BTB bumper sticker, courtesy Build-A-Sign

Thanks to Build-A-Sign for providing me with these great bumper stickers! Interested? Leave a comment describing your favorite "funny sign" or bumper sticker, or leave a comment with your suggestion for a BTB bumper sticker...

Hennig Sofa: Honey, I'm HOME

What the Hennig feels like...

What the Hennig looks like...

In the course of looking for a new saddle, I tested products of the very nicest saddle makers. One of the better/finer manufacturers is Hennig. Have you heard of it? I had read about them on the Chronicle listserv, but had never seen one. One of the amusing things about Hennig is that they are well known for their Hennig Sofa.

Um. That's not an actual sofa. It's the name of a saddle.


Having sat in three Hennigs, I can tell you it doesn't matter what they're called -- they are ALL sofas, and there was never a more perfect brand identity.  Hennig is...

• Comfortable à la sinking into a Lazyboy
• Butter-soft
• Enormous
• Substantive
• High Quality

 More than ANYTHING, you can feel the value and workmanship of this saddle.

The Good
 As a rider, I felt balanced and secure. Riley responded well, in part (I suspect) because the saddle gave me stability. This saddle envelopes you in comfort.  If I had a back problem, or discomfort, or a disability of any kind when riding, I would look at a Hennig. There are many options, but I focused on the ones with exposed thigh blocks and a straight flap.

The Less Good
Really, the worst thing about them is the cost! All that workmanship doesn't come cheap. New, these saddles cost up to 6K; used they are at least 3-4K.  I'm known for impulsive spending, but couldn't quite take the plunge. Why? As much as I loved the saddle for its strengths, I'm doubtful about how I'd feel about riding in it long term. Would it help me be a better rider? I am not sure.  All that comfort, padding, and solid construction comes at a price -- it separates you from the horse. Riding in it,  I was not quite as tuned in, and I kept thinking, How can Ri feel my seatbones? Also, it's heavy.

Don't get me wrong. If Bob bought me one, or I won one, or if I could even get one for a discount, I'd be doin' the happy dance for hours. I mean, look at that GORGEOUS leather!!! Part of me still covets the saddle pictured above, which is now available at fineusedsaddles.com.  Someone should snap it up.

Hennigs feel like home. I loved riding in it. But in the end, I'm not sure it would be as effective in it as I might in a saddle that was less, er, substantive.

Singing "horse"

This clip is like something from a Coen brothers movie. It made me laugh at 5:50am, hope it has the same effect on y'all. I wanna know more about this scene...

Can you spot the lameness?

 I found this online -- the quiz with no answer -- anyone care to watch, read the description, and hazard a guess at what the lameness is? So unfair that the answer is not provided in a way I can understand it fully (see http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs008/1101911302549/archive/1102508064133.html)

Out with the old

In with the new Black Country Vinici: Now on Order!

After three reflockings, my Beloved County Perfection still does not fit Riley. I put it on Ebay, thinking it would take a long time to sell a brown saddle. I had two offers in a few days, and truly I was not ready to sell--so I put the offers on hold and raised the price $500 -- that's $500 more than I paid for it. A few days later I got an offer. I took it.

This has NEVER happened to me. My last two saddles were sent to a consignment shop, and they were for sale for almost a year before they were sold. I had literally forgotten I owned my Eden when it finally sold. 

I think brown saddles are making a comeback and I just did not price it right initially. Well, I'm sad to lose my saddle, but I will only need to add a few hundred dollars from savings to get my new saddle.

The BC Vinici has a wider "warmblood-friendly" tree, serge panels, and  a monoflap. I thought long and hard about getting a brown saddle, but Trumbull Mountain's awesome "trial" policy for its saddles does not apply to custom orders. I needed to be practical. Boo.

Oh well, Whatever the color, I'm psyched about this saddle!

Exuberance: I love this horse

 This is a horse I stumbled across on Youtube -- a freely available public video, I did not ask the owner if I could post it -- so please refrain from any criticism you might have, out of courtesy. Just enjoy this lovely boy -- his jumping is so exuberant!

Ri and Harv: How're they doin?

I've not kept you all totally up to date on Ri -- he is probably more or less okay, but after a long stretch of almost daily riding we're having an issue. He has been very resistant, though not exactly lame, going one direction. It feels like tightness/resistance/sucking back, but it had been worsening as time passed.  People watching us didn't really detect "lameness" but agreed he seemed a whole lot unhappier going one direction. He has been awful about saddling, and it FEELS like his back, and a massage therapist found soreness where the stirrup bars rest - hence the saddle search. I gave Ri a week off, and here is my little informal "wellness check" in the pasture -- basically just looking to see if he looks hitchy or resistant to moving forward. No, the footage isn't great, and he's wearing a blanket, but there are one or two stretches of trot here. We're treated to a Harv check too -- he looks pretty good, no?

Still crabby part II

This just went on and on. I ended up throwing them hay to get them to stop, and then someone told me that hay in the fields s is frowned upon. How on earth are these halters going to last?

Halter tag with halter tags: My bored boys

I got some lovely halter tags for Christmas -- Each went on my boys' nicest halters, but I was inspired to buy a third for Ri's turnout halter that includes my name and phone on th eback. Because his turnout halter has silver buckles, I looked all over for silver tags -- ended up with titanium. Bob thought it was overkill, but looking at this video I'm thinking it was a good call. I'm wondering if there is such a thing as a titanium blanket...

Awesome Concert Alert: A group you gotta see

Red Molly at Sellersville Theater in Sellersville, PA was my valentine present last night. I was tired and cranky Saturday -- sold my saddle and shipped it for twice what I thought it would cost. A double whammy of loss.

I didn't want to go, I wanted to stay home and watch old movies. But for the millionth time in my life music spirited me away to a new and wonderful place. Bob was thrilled because Red Molly performed with his own favorite Philly-based group, Beaucoup Blue.

So here is Beaucoup Blue too, a studio session.

Dressage horses and cutting horses: Amazing

Grand Prix dressage awes me, but so does this. These horses are part border collie and smart-smart-smart. I love the look in their eye and their agility. Like dressage at its best, these animals would rather be doing this than anything else, I think. Notice how many of them are mares, and check out the blue roan!!!!

Harvey memory: Harv takes a stroll

Harv at Saddle Valley (note white fencing)

I have been pondering the question, "what are your favorite moments with your horse?" There have been many, for both Riley and Harv, but of course Harv has about ten years over Ri, and there are more memories. Here is one of them...

We used to board at a lovely old farm that was a renovated a Saddlebred operation. Acres of white fenced-pastures surrounded the barn and riders often walked their horses along the fenceline.  On this day, I was on such a  walk with a friend. She had two horses--I was riding her mare,  and she was on her tall bay gelding.  It was late afternoon, toward dusk, and the sun was setting through the trees.
 
The late afternoon sun was making long shadows, and it hard to really see--but we both made out that there was a horse walking around in a pasture (or so we thought). We remarked that it was an unusual   time of day for a horse to be turned out in a pasture, alone. As we turned toward the barn and came closer to the horse, I realized that the horse was not in the pasture at all, but strolling outside the fenceline as we were.  We turned onto the same path as the horse, and as we came nearer my heart skipped.

You've probably guessed by now, it was Harvey.  He did not waiver  as we approached, but kept ambling along. His expression was mild and pleasant. While he seemed to acknowledge our presence (did he just nod his head?), we weren't interfering with the enjoyment of his late afternoon walk. If I had not dismounted I'm sure he would have continued past us. 

I walked over and grabbed Harv's forelock, while my friend took my horse's reins (she ponied him back). Even with his walk cut short, Harv's spirits were not dampened -- in fact he seemed enormously pleased with himself. When we returned to the barn, I pieced together what happened. One of the barn workers was a bit of a drinker -- too many DUIs to drive, but a hard worker and usually reliable. Except today, he had left Harv's stall ajar after watering him. Harv must have decided it was a nice day for a walk.

This was not a big moment in any way, but I remember the moment of recognition -- that's my horse! -- and the wonder I felt at seeing Harv (who panics when he's alone) so comfortable in his solitary walk.  It's funny how they can surprise us....

Reckless: No more chestnut mare jokes

So this little mare was a Korean War hero, injured in the line of duty and apparently a faithful servant and hero of the war. You can look at her eye and see her soul, always a sign of a special horse...

Anky has a little "crazy horse lady" in her (yeah!!!)

I love this video of Anky talking about her old partner Bonfire. This horse is 29 years old and RETIRED, but when the ground is frozen Anky lunges him before turning him out,  because she's afraid he'll  break a leg. My kinda girl...

I have everyone thinking about saddles

I came home Sunday and checked messages on our phone. Bob tends to leave "notes to self" on our answering machine. It's kind of an annoying habit when you're expecting an actual message, wading through all of his wisdom tidbits -- but this one tickled me. Poor Bob has heard my endless tales of woe about saddles, and here is his inspired idea. This is why he is my valentine today:

I must tell Bob that such things exist. Do they work? Are they worth the money?

You can't get blood from an orange, but Chobani makes a great yogurt!

It. Is. Awesome. Try it with slivered almonds.

Heather Blitz and Paragon, World Masters

I could not find a good quality video of Heather and Paragon -- and then suddenly here we have one! Not a perfect test, but I like the way his neck has acquired more of that "falling down" quality...

Personally I'd rather see him go a little hollow...

I first thought this was a dressage horse -- as it happens it's a jumper. I don't recall ever seeing a jumper in a double bridle, but draw reins seem to be in every jumping horse's tack box. In this case, the discipline doesn't matter. I'm no rollkur fanatic, but when I see horses put into a frame where there is no escape, they get a look in their eye -- a combination of grim determination and "nobody home." This horse has it. As I said in my facebook post, I hope he is treated like a king the other 23 hours of the day.

Saddle update: Looking for salvation

Robert Powell in  Jesus of Nazareth. Best. Jesus. EVER.

The barn I board at has a great saddle fitter named M------.  I've used him, he is excellent! Funny, experienced, competent, reasonably priced to boot, what more can you ask?

But it is funny how people like that become larger than life. Our confidence in him is such that it almost deserves to be mocked (just a little).  M------ felt my County should fit just fine, and probably it should, but it does not. Riley's pinned ears are  the proof. When I lamented that  M----- was mistaken, a  boarder joked with me.  "Shhh! He's almost like Jesus around here." 

Out of desperation more than anything, I'm going for a second opinion on my saddle, and also one I have on trial. I'm a little embarrassed about telling people -- partly because of the money I'm spending, and partly because I'm using another fitter and not the Saddle Savior.  The second fitter is coming out at 7pm Thursday, and I'm kind of relieved I don't have to explain the visit to anyone.

I want to hear that my County is fixable, and that my BC trial saddle is a good fit. I like options. But I guess praying is out of the question.

Treeless Part IV: It's not about ME, but...

 This really is a post about my treeless experience. Bear with me...

Back in Harv's and My Salad Days
Many years ago, when Harv was a mere pup of 11 years and I was... well.. younger...  I was transitioning from hunter/jumper to dressage. I'd dumped my 15-year-old  close contact saddle for a used Charles de Kunffy.  I'd ridden in the hunt seat saddle in high school and for several years when I bought Harv. I had ridden in the dressage saddle for maybe 3-4 months and was still acclimating to it.

Then a friend  invited me to a fun show in Lancaster at Bridge Acres -- a hunter/jumper show. I lept at the chance for a friendly competition, and pulled out my hunt seat saddle with no hesitation.

Show day arrives
On the show grounds I signed up for two flat classes and a small, low course -- adult equitation I think. About 1/2 hour before the flat class I tacked up and got on.

WHOOPS. 
My legs were shaking as I posted. Where was my knee roll? Why do I feel like a jockey?????  I could barely trot. The thought of jumping left me weak with fear. Well, the day went all right, but the point is, I lost my hunt seat feel. The saddle that had been so comfy for years now left me insecure and wobbly. Your body gets used to a certain position, feel, and muscle memory.

Kind of like... The treeless saddle experience
I had been warned that the treeless saddles put you in a chair seat. . I'd been warned that the seats were hard, and that there is no twist. I didn't find any of that to be problematic for me. I felt VERY balanced in the saddle. My left fell nicely down and I was right over Ri's center of gravity. The seat was not hard, although for a petite size it felt a tad roomy. The saddle did not feel that different from other saddles in the crotch and thigh area. It was comfortable to sit in.

However...
I felt closer to bareback than I do in a treed saddle. And when you're fifty, that's an insecure feeling. When I was riding, I did not struggle for my balance--but this saddle made me very aware of the little adjustments I was making. There were no blocks to hold me together (although I could have added them--the owner brought them).

At the Hank Hutson clinic, Hank told me that I should feel as if I was riding a ball of energy, that I was sitting on top of the energy ball as it rolled foward. When he said that I thought of surfing a wave. Well, that's how I felt in the Ansur Excel. I was more aware of Riley's energy, and how my body contributed to or detracted from his movement. I also felt like if he misbehaved I would be more vulnerable.

Some saddles I know just won't work. This saddle? I felt like I needed more time in it. It's a very different feel -- not bad, and in fact it did some nice things for my leg and abdomen (you can BET I used my abs). I want to sit in one again, and try it for awhile. I guess that's the bottom line.

Riley reviews treeless: Part III

"When we're done trying on saddles do I get a treat?  (not treeless here)"

Riley finally got me to understand that the current saddle I'm using is not workin' for him any more. How'd he make me aware?

• Tight back, flat movement
• Tense jaw
• Reluctance to go foward
• Reluctance to go straight
• Crabby behavior when saddling

Four saddle fittings did little to change this.

 Ansur to the rescue?
So, one bright Saturday afternoon, my friend with the Ansur treeless came out. It was all very low key, and we started with the County.  I rode, she watched, and I commented on how "typical" this ride felt. It was typical, most notably in that Ri was pokey and wiggly.

Fifteen minutes later: we put on the Ansur. It's brown (thumbs up) and does look like a dressage saddle. It is not new, but appeared to be in good condition, with very nice leather and construction. I put my stirrups on the saddle and lengthened them a few holes -- for some reason they felt short.

I walked around. Two things -- two differences I noted -- were evident immediately. His neck stretched down, as if he was testing the waters. As we moved, he felt looser and suppler.  His stride got longer as we walked. Even in the saddle, I could sense his curiosity: "Hey, this is different! What's this?" His ears were pricked forward; in my other saddle, he had seemed bored. We walked a bit more.

I picked up a trot. He was willing, and as we made our first wide turn I felt something I had not felt in a while -- loft. He was stretching into the bit and swinging his back. The saddle owner, and another boarder were watching. After 2-3 minutes my boarder friend said, "he seems to be going better in this saddle." The Ansur saddle owner, wisely refraining from comment,  said "use your outside rein more as you come around corners." I kept riding, changing directions, doing transitions, assessing Riley's mood and way of going. I looked to the Ansur owner, and asked her opinion. She said, "Ride a bit more in this saddle, get comfortable, and we'll try your saddle again."

I tried to think about what other factors could be causing the change.  Was he just warming up? Were we reading too much into his behavior? I did a little leg yield, and felt his trot amplify nicely. We cantered a little, which I had not done in the County. Pokey but unremarkable. I wasn't pushing very hard. I walked around and checked the gullet clearance. Two fingers at the pommel. Was that enough?

"Let's try the County again." 
Saddle change. Back in the County, I attached my stirrups but could barely reach them with my toes! I shortened them up. "What's that about?" I asked. We surmised that the Ansur had conformed more closely to Ri's back, letting his sizable girth take up my leg more.

I rode around in the County. The trot was flat again.  Ri felt tighter. I rode a bit more, and the the Ansur saddle owner said, "Do you want to try the Excel again?" To be honest, I felt sad -- for myself, for Riley, for the time in a saddle that likely didn't fit him. I was ready to stop, so I didn't try it again. We had an honest conversation about the Ansur versus my saddle.

Conclusion? 
Well, I could feel an improvement, and two observers could see it. Riley, my big warmblood with a wither, liked the Excel on the first ride, and he went far better in the Ansur than in his too narrow County saddle. That is saying something. I'm impressed that a back sore horse could be so forgiving in a new saddle--but really I needed to compare a better-fitting saddle to the Ansur for a truly fair test.

But you know, that is only half the picture. How did I feel in the Ansur? Stay tuned...

Curious about treeless: Part II of the treeless journey

Older Ansur saddle

Years ago I read an article in Dressage Today (April or May 2002, p. 116) about treeless saddles -- actually it was in the Q and A column, and someone had posted a question about treeless saddles. J. Ashton Moore, Ansure saddle user, responded. I don't recall the exact words (read ultimagedressage.com post about it ) but it was a thoughtful, encouraging response.  I was intrigued, but at the time I was riding in a custom Amerigo. Harv, with his hock arthritis, was cold-backed at times, and I wondered if treeless might help him. Partly because I was tapped for cash, and partly because the Ansur saddles at the time (pictured left) were kind of unattractive,  I never went further.

Ansur Excel dressage saddle

 They've come a long way baby
Fast forward ten or so years, and Riley is now my main ride. In a year and a half, his back has changed significantly. He pissy and indignant about his too-narrow saddle. He is moving his legs but not his back; his jaw is tense; he balks.

According to one fitter, he is no longer a medium but a wide. Kiss my great brown saddle goodbye! As I resumed my search for the ultimate saddle, I began musing about treeless again--but in a vague sort of unmotivated way. Then I met someone who has an  Ansur Excel. They offered to let me try it.

The plan for a fair test
Whenever you try to compare two things -- like saddles -- goofy extraneous factors get in the way. You ride in one saddle on a certain day, then before you ride in the other the farrier shoes your horse; your horse gets kicked; your trainer tunes your horse up; the weather gets bad and there is no turnout. You can't do a fair test when life gets in the way. How to get around it? Here's what we did...

1. I rode in my County Perfection for 1/2 hour.
2. I rode in the Excel for 1/2 hour.
3. I rode in the County Perfection again.

 That was a good plan, and I came away with a distinct impression of the treeless saddles. Stay tuned...

Treeless is like braless: Part 1 of my treeless journey

Ansur Excel (used, for sale now)

For whatever reason, despite saddle fitters telling me the County Perfection is fine, Riley doesn't think it is fine.  It's been adjusted four times, by reputable fitters, but it is just too narrow for his growing robustness, esp. around his shoulders. He really is getting wide.

This last fitting attempt was the last straw, my beloved saddlee is now for sale. I need a new saddle, and my heart breaks. It's beautiful, it's brown, it's my dream saddle. Wanna buy it? ;-)

So last weekend I tried a treeless saddle. It was really an interesting experience -- I've never seen one up close, much less sat in one, but I got a chance to try the Ansur Excel.  Pictured right you see a used Excel that I've been looking at. Notice how dressage-y it looks!

The fitter wisely had me ride in my Perfection first, then the Excel, and then the Perfection again. Wanna hear how it went? Stay tuned...

My Saddle, up for review

Here it is, my beloved brown County Perfection. Looking at it now I seems a little close to the wither, but it looked right at the time. What do you think? Be honest!

Sugar, oh, honey honey:

Why can't they do commercials like this in the States???

For Compliment foal

Cute, cute cute.

Blog alert: Dressage Curmudgeon

I recommend this blog, dressagecurmudgeon, which is the kind of writing I would love to do if I was a tuned-in dressage hipster. The writer is more of an insider to the sport than I'll ever be, and she has a sharp wit and ain't afraid to use colorful language.

DC, I'm stealing your photo for the blog and hoping you won't mind since I'm using it to promo your blog, and besides, you are hardly a typical "walmart shorts-wearer." You look great (darnyou).

So go to DC's blog to find out about the drama of the shorts.  Do not drink while reading her shorts drama, as the liquid could spew through your nose.