Cob Jockey

Goodbye, ugly saddle.

I've been doing some spring cleaning lately and selling stuff I no longer use, horse stuff included.  I tend to not keep any spare equipment that I'm not using on-hand (it almost feels like blasphemy in the horse world saying that!) so I don't really have a lot to sell in the first place.  Also, I promise this isn't related to the fact that we found out our hot water heater is cracked and needs replacing and we also had to have our sewer line worked on, but it certainly has motivated me...

The tale of the saddle in such bad shape (superficially speaking) I hid it from my trainer for two years has finally ended.  Knowing Connor didn't like it even though it appeared to fit made me decide to get rid of it.  It was only on Craigslist for 10 hours before it sold to a young woman wanting it for her 4Hers. I hope it goes to good use and some 4Hers learn to ride well in it.  Sitting in the thing feels like wearing a seatbelt, at least they'll feel safe!  It's time for me to move on to more sport-appropriate tack, which is why I'm also selling my Western saddle:

It's no show saddle, but it's the comfiest thing I've ever sat in for trail riding and general use.  I really love it, and I kept it thinking I'd trail ride in it, but every time I trail ride I find myself reaching for my English saddles first, so it's going on Craigslist as well unless anyone here is interested.

I am also listing the following on Craigslist tonight unless you guys are interested:

- Size 6 Mountain Horse paddock boots, top of one of them was chewed on by a delinquent foster Husky, but they are still in fine working condition, I just prefer my new insulated tall boots, free
- Red Jolly Ball, never used, gift from my non-horsey mother-in-law, make offer? (We all know horses don't actually play with these things, right? I don't expect anyone to buy it.)
- 5 1/4" copper-mouthed D ring snaffle, single jointed, $5
- 5 1/2" thin eggbutt snaffle, single jointed $5
- 5 1/2" Partrade (Metalab) Kimberwicke snaffle with curb chain, single jointed $10

Photos available if requested!

I've been inwardly debating whether my Beval still fits Connor or not, but after seeing some telling sweat patterns lately and seeing the conformation shots I took yesterday, I realized that I needed to stop being in denial about it: the Beval no longer fits him.  Today, in an attempt to see if the saddle was part of his canter problem and in an attempt to put me in something that is actually meant for sitting, I pulled out the saddle I'm so ashamed of, nobody knows I own it: my A/P Collegiate I bought used in high school.

It's in embarrassing condition.  Structurally sound, but ugly, I've kept it around as my "I'm probably going to foxhunt someday" saddle, or my "I don't want to put my good saddle on a green horse" saddle.  I haven't ridden in it in probably four or five years, and wasn't sure what to expect fit-wise when I put it on him.

To my surprise, other than clearly needing a small back riser, it fit extremely well, much much better than the Beval.  I couldn't have asked for a much better fit, and I'm picky about fit.  The true test, though, came when I schooled in it in the arena.  Besides being a little weirded out by having something touch the back of my tailbone when I sat in the saddle, I loved it for flatwork. The mini-knee rolls and deep seat put me exactly where I needed to be in order to sit the canter and work on myself. 

See?  Back riser is necessary.

Happier sweat patterns, without big dry circles.

The best part, though?  At all three gaits, I felt him really trying to lift his back and move out for the first time in a while.  It didn't feel forced or contrived.  The best evidence of this is that he actually put his head down and lifted his back at the canter for the first time today, and he did it multiple times.  Part of it was that I felt secure enough in my position to ask properly, but part of it has to be that he's feeling better with those pressure points gone.

So what's the plan?  Since this is an A/P and I am primarily flatting right now anyway, it will do for now.  That means the Dressage saddle search is suspended indefinitely.  I am probably going to have to sell the Beval and use the proceeds to get a new jump saddle.  Hanging on to it in case he loses condition, or in case I someday own something that needs a MW tree again, is just not smart.

Look, foam!  Told you we were working hard!