Cob Jockey

I have to admit, this feels like a weird post to write.  I'm crowdsourcing lead rope recommendations.

I have had two lead ropes break in the past few months.  One died a traumatic death when Connor was spooked by gunfire or cannons or artillery fire or something when my trainer was bringing him in for dinner.  I don't know the whole story, but I found it in pieces in the field, so yeah, it's dead. 

Definitely have no idea what you're talking about, lady

And then recently my backup lead rope, the thumb piece broke off somehow.  And that's the second lead rope that's happened to me on!  Clearly, I'm buying inferior lead ropes.  Anyway, I'm tired of having to wedge my fingernail into the clip to get it off my halter, so it's time to go shopping.

Here are my only demands:
- It needs to tie tightly and well
- No slick lead ropes
- No flat leather lead ropes (I already own one)
- The longer the better, but not ridiculously long
- I really want this one to last because buying lead ropes is just a boring way to spend a dollar, so if you've had one that's lasted forever, I want to know about it.
- No chain
- No bull snaps, unless it has the tab on the side that makes it easy to get them on and off with gloves on

So tell me - what's your favorite and why?

A few years ago, I was at JenJ's house and she was so generously giving me a saddle and loading me up with saddle pads for it.

Remember that time my checked luggage was a cardboard box containing a saddle, and it rained?  Good thing it was a Wintec.

One of the pads in that box was quite old and clearly well-loved, but JenJ said it was too small to fit any of her current horses.

Turns out it's actually hard to find photos of my schooling saddle pads that aren't blurry Pixio stills.  This was during our saddle fitting festival. PC: my mom

It was a black Classic Equine Dressage pad, Cob sized.  I absolutely fell in love with this pad.  First of all, it was the first pad I'd ever seen that actually fit Connor.  Most Dressage pads designed for Warmbloods, well...

Big fat nope

But the Classic Equine pad also had features I liked in addition to being the perfect size.  It fit the contours of Connor's back perfectly.  It has a square back corner - not a round corner, not a swallowtail, just square.


And it had a velcro girth strap, so I could just open it to put the billets through it rather than wrestling them through the strap under the flap.  Minor, I know, but I like to drive little annoyances out of my life any way I can.




But the problem?  THEY DON'T MAKE THEM ANYMORE.  In fact, they haven't made them for a while now from what I can tell.  That's started a lifelong obsession with finding them, used, anywhere I can, and paying whatever necessary to get them.  Especially since the black one has slowly started to wear in irreparable ways after I used it constantly for years.



I nabbed this beige one new with tags off of a Facebook group.  It's horse-sized so slightly bigger than the black one, but still fits him so much better than the horse-sized pads of today.



Then last week I found a used white one for sale on eBay as part of a 2 pad lot with a Baker baby pad I will never use.


The binding is coming off in places and someone wrote a bunch of stuff in sharpie on the spine, and they were asking a ridiculously high price for two used pads, but again, this is my life's quest at this point, so none of those details mattered to me, haha.


I probably wouldn't be nearly as obsessed with this if it wasn't nearly impossible to find pads that truly look good on him.  The modern warmblood pad is too big, and pony pads are too small, and no one makes hony-sized pads.  The way I see it, I found something that works, they don't make it anymore, and I am on a mission to buy as many as I can.

So that brings us to my ask:  If any of you come across a Classic Equine Dressage pad for sale, please either let me know or buy it for me and I'll pay you back.  I will pay you a finder's fee!  Any color, any size, any condition, any price.  Thanks in advance!

I've struggled with Connor's bridle fit for a long time.  He's definitely cob in some places, but in others he's full, and in the browband he's borderline O/S (not the only Cob I know that's like that, either!).  I haven't had a bridle yet that I really felt good about the fit, especially behind the ears.

This one is horse crown, horse throatlatch, horse browband, cob cheeks and cob noseband. PC: Lisa Brezina

The other thing is, we still haven't totally figured out his violent headshaking right before he goes on the bit, after our warmup.  It seems to be partially caused by his hair touching his ears because a bonnet or braiding helps, but it never totally goes away.  One time, between 5 and 15 seconds, he'll do it almost every ride.

(We did, however, figure out the tongue getting over the bit issue that has plagued us for years off and on.  Turns out it was mainly a result of the tension in my thighs.  He hasn't gotten his tongue over the bit since I rode Mr. P earlier this year.  Go figure, learning to ride fixes everything. #duh  This horse is a saint.)

Saint Connor PC: My momma

At Pony Cup, one of the mobile tack units let me try a full sized PS of Sweden  (Flying Change Revolution) on him.  I have always liked the idea of them but have never been able to pull the price trigger.  I had a bonus coming though, and I planned on being responsible with most of it but a few hundred dollars could surely go to a bridle, couldn't it?

Thank goodness Katlyn was there to help me fit it to him, she has one too.  I had no idea what I was doing (AND I would have totally lost that stupid crank keeper if it wasn't for her!)

It fit fabulously behind the ears, but the cheeks were too long (they're on the top hole here) and the noseband is so big it looks comically ridiculous.

Does this noseband make my face look dumb?

Katlyn's hand, lol

Yeah, no, just no.

That gave me a good idea of what sizes I needed (full size crown, full browband, cob cheeks, cob noseband), but it turns out PS of Sweden's tack store policy is dumb, so I couldn't order it from the tack shop that so graciously let me try it on him.  I would have had to buy it from the tack shop, mail it back to Sweden with the tags still on it, let them swap out the parts I needed a different size in, then mail it back to me.

Or I could just order it the way I needed it from PS of Sweden's website directly and save like two weeks of turnaround time. (plus there was a 15% off sale the day I decided to buy so...sold)

I felt so bad not being able to buy it from the tack shop, so I did buy a few other things from them.  #supportsmallbusinesses

But, now we have this:


I'm so grateful that tack shop let me try the full on him, because if they hadn't, he would have ended up with that ridiculous horse-sized noseband or a too-tight cob sized crown.

I honestly feel like he may even be a candidate for an O/S crown, but this is pretty decent.

The cob noseband is SUCH a massive improvement over the horse.  And he's on the top hole in it - he really could have gone pony there.


And as for the headshaking, my sample size is still too small to draw any real conclusions, but he's only given one half-hearted head shake since we started riding in it so...it's looking good so far.

When I got my new saddle, I agreed to let the girl I shared the Devoucoux with have the leathers that were on it, so I needed new ones.

Pictured: NOT Gary Mundy leathers

There were super long and not my favorite, so I let her keep them for free.

After briefly looking at the prices of leathers at SmartPak and RW, I quickly decided that I was finally going to pull the trigger on some Gary Mundy leathers.

Gary Mundy is a gentleman that lives very close to me in southern Indiana who has developed almost a cult following among English equestrians.  Just search for Gary Mundy on the COTH forums and you'll see what I mean.  Everything he does is custom made, his quality and workmanship are incredible, and you'll end up paying half of what you'd pay for leathers from a tack shop (and the tack shop leathers won't last as long as GM leathers, I guarantee it after getting mine).

He doesn't have an online shop, and like I said, everything is custom, so the ordering process goes like this:

1. Email him and tell him you're interested in stirrup leathers.
2. Receive form
3. Send back filled out form with the size of your current stirrup leathers measured from stirrup bar to the top of the iron, and the options you want (color, stamps, initials, etc).
4. He emails you a total price plus shipping.
5. Go to PayPal and send him that amount.
6. Wait.

From the time I paid to the time I received them, it took around 3 weeks, which I find totally reasonable for custom work.  If you need leathers TOMORROW, you don't want these.  Everything being custom, and him being as popular as he is, it's not going to be here via next day air.

But.

It's so worth it.


I ended up getting his "Dressage leathers", which he started doing after Dressage customers were complaining that their traditional leathers stretched a lot (compared to his H/J riders, who report some stretching with traditional leathers, but not as much).  These have a leather loop that goes over the stirrup bar, and then a Conway buckle down by your ankle:

Leather loop

Conway buckle

Initially I wasn't sure if I would like them, but I was open minded about it.  GM does know what he's doing after all.  But now, I love them.  If you had asked me before if having the buckle under my thigh bothered me on my Dressage saddle, I would have said no.

Shown with Conway buckle covers customized with my initials and a stamp (I got a slightly different stamp on each one so I could tell them apart and remember to rotate them easier).  Some Conway buckle leather makers charge extra for this cover, but not GM.

But now that the buckle isn't there anymore, I REALLY notice how close to the horse I feel.  The missing extra bulk under my thigh is noticeable and welcome.  I don't think it would bug me on my jump saddle, but it matters a lot more than I thought it would in my Dressage saddle.


For everyone who asks if these leathers are going to rub your saddle, no way.  The finish on these are incredible, and they were initially stiff but started to supple just from rolling them around in my hands.  He makes a point to make leathers that will LAST.

Smooth sides of the leathers shown.

I would say though that these Conway buckle leathers aren't for everyone.  For one thing, adjusting them is a PITA.  If you are the only one riding in your saddle on a regular basis, this shouldn't be a concern.  They're tough to adjust but not impossible.  But if you share your saddle, or your trainer rides in your saddle and has to adjust them, you should go with a traditional leather.  You're definitely not going to be adjusting these sitting on the horse.



The other thing I wish I'd known before ordering is that while he put 10 holes on the leathers, the last (first) hole was the one that was made to the measurement of my old leathers that I sent him.  I'd have preferred to have that hole a few holes higher, so that if my leg ever improves (HAHAHA) I have the option of adjusting my current leathers longer.  As it is, if these don't stretch, I might eventually have to get a new pair.  But, I wouldn't mind having a spare pair of GM leathers, so that's not the end of the world.

Anyone else own or planning on buying some Gary Mundy leathers?

This is a long, circular story about blogging, girths, and why I completely failed at sizing them for Connor.

A long time ago, I had a..20"? 22"? Total Saddle Fit Dressage girth:


Which was fine, but I thought it was a little big.  It came up higher than I thought it should on Connor's sides.

And the World's Longest Billets on the Thorowgood I owned back then stuck out by a solid 6".

So I sold it to get something shorter and ended up with an 18" Total Saddle Fit StretchTec Shoulder Relief Girth:


Which I was moderately happy with, even if cleaning it drove me CRAZY.  You just cannot keep hair and dirt from getting in between the Velcro "halves".  It was always dirty.

Then a few weeks ago, when Connor's summer coat was coming in, I noticed white patches forming where the two "halves" of the girth must have rubbed Connor, with the velcro in between them.  I had no idea this was even happening, there were no rubs or damage to his winter coat, but we'd had that girth for months, so it had been a while, poor pony.

White spot by girth visible in this "Hey is my horse downhill?" photo I probably sent JenJ.  The white spot has since faded, so I caught it in time before it completely killed the pigmentation and became an acquired leukoderma.

I was immediately very mad at this "gimmicky" girth that hurt my horse, and was so irrationally frustrated with anatomic girths in general, I bought a contoured Lettia Click girth as an impulse buy and sold the TSF.  And came this close to writing a post about how terribly designed the TSF StretchTec girth was.  But I'm glad I didn't...

Lettia Click Girth shown.  I loved the Click mechanism.

In the process of my remote saddle fitting experience with Ann of Equestrian Imports, she pointed out that the straight Lettia girth was all up in Connor's business behind his elbow, which was pulling the saddle forward of where it should be.  She told me to move the saddle back and put a hands width of space between his elbow and the girth, which I did, but...


Both saddle and girth would always slide forward to the original location very shortly into my rides.

Ann suggested a Total Saddle Fit girth (of course she did) but in 24".  When I protested and said that must be too big, she said "Absolutely not, if it's any shorter the contours will be in the wrong places and rub him."

Immediately, I thought "Oh.  My God.  I am an idiot.  THAT'S why the StretchTec girth rubbed Connor.  It wasn't the girth's fault at all.  And I'm really glad I didn't write that scathing blog post now."

So, because Ann sells them, and because I knew some karma just came full circle, I ended up with another classic TSF girth.  This time in a 24" size.  And the saddle and girth both stayed where I put them, where Ann recommended them, through the entire ride:

Taken after a ride.

Compare to the Lettia girth photos above.  So much more freedom behind the elbow for him

There are a few takeaways here:
- Sizing anatomic girths properly REALLY matters.  And the length of the girth and whether it keeps your saddle on the horse is only one small part of that sizing.

- It's important to do your due diligence before blasting a product on this very public platform.  I am so glad I didn't write what was on my mind when I thought bad design was the reason for Connor's rubs.  We don't owe anything to the manufacturers, and should feel free to state our opinions, but man, my opinion would have been dead wrong.  And the internet is forever.

- Connor definitely needs an anatomic girth.  No question.

- I could have saved myself a lot of buying and selling if I had just thought a little more critically about how the girths fit him.


And with that...we are REALLY done shopping for saddles and girths now!

I've been casually tossing around the idea of trying a flash on Connor for a while.  I've never liked them, but the little dude has shown a serious preference for the Micklem being one hole tighter than usual lately.

I do love the look of a Micklem on his head though.

Since the Micklem chin strap isn't really designed for that, and my Micklem is starting to fall apart anyway, I started looking for a cheap flash bridle I could experiment with.  Enter a Smartpak sale + $25 in credit I've had sitting in my account for months, and I ended up with this:

FBR always happy to ridiculously model things for me.

The Plymouth Dressage Bridle by Smartpak.  Sure, I'd love something anatomic, but I'm also just a couple of months away from my truck being paid off, so....tradeoffs!  Did I expect the heavens to magically open up when I opened the bag?  No, it's a cheap freakin bridle, but then again...it's a cheap freakin bridle.  I only paid $35 for it.  If Connor decides he hates it, I'm not out a ton of money.


The first night I rode in it, Connor was just blah.  Woke up on the wrong side of the bed, not interested in playing your reindeer games, blah.  Complicated by the fact that I was riding in big bulky non-riding gloves, and I tried out the reins that came with the new bridle just to see what riding with actual Cob length reins feels like (they're terrible, 0/10 do not buy).

But then my trainer said she rode him across the street in the field yesterday, and he was awesome.  Really enjoyed himself and went really well after she got him going straight.  We'll see how he feels in my ride tonight.

Anyone else ride in this bridle?  Anyone moved from a Micklem back to a traditional bridle?

Time for an informal blog hop!  Stephanie of Hand Gallop asks, "What's your every day tack setup?"

I have spent the last few years slowly working toward my ideal setups on both the Dressage and jump side, (with some awkward moments in between, anyone remember the black reins on the brown bridle phase?) and I'm almost there on both!

For jump:

I know it's a show picture, but all of my tack pulls double duty.

1. CWD SE02 16.5" short/forward flap.  I'm sure everyone is tired of hearing how really really ridiculously life changing having a properly fitting saddle is, but one more time: life changing.

2. Ovation RCS Jumper Bridle (used)

3. Nunn Finer soft grip rubber reins (new)

4. Total Saddle Fit Wither Relief Girth, 42" (new)

5. Supracor half pad (used)

6. Compositi wide track stirrups (new)

7. For jump schools: Woof Wear front boots (used).  For XC schools: add Majyk Equipe XC hind boots (new)

8. I still haven't found a schooling pad I am in love with, but I go back and forth between a Toklat Tango and the Lettia Coolmax AP pad right now.

9. ETA: almost forgot, Nunn Finer 3 point hunt breastplate (used)


For Dressage:


1. Wintec Isabel 16.5" (used)

2. Micklem Competition bridle, small horse (used)

3. Nunn Finer soft grip rubber reins (used)

4. Total Saddle Fit Wither Relief girth, 20" (new)

5. JenJ's old Classic Equine Dressage pad with velcro girth loops which they sadly do not make anymore and I will probably use until it's a pile of shredded fabric on his back.  I only ride in something else when this one is in the wash.

Seriously, this pad.  I love it and I wish I could find more of them.

6. Majyk Equipe Dressage boots all around, because they're the best. #fangirlstatus #stillwaitingonsmallXCfrontsguys

My saddle is officially for sale, along with the other miscellaneous tack and apparel below.  It's listed for $799+ $50 shipping on eBay, but if one of you would like to buy it, I'd end the auction and give you free shipping!  Let me know if you think you might be interested.


Description: Gorgeous Toulouse Annice, 16.5" wide tree.  It has removable/repositionable velcro knee and thigh blocks. One owner, purchased new for $1000 in late 2013. Saddle has been wiped down after every ride and cleaned and conditioned regularly (Higher Standards Leather Care soap and Passier Lederbalsam only). 

There are no scratches or blemishes and hardly even any normal wear marks - this saddle looks new, but is beautifully broken in. Billets are in great condition. Comes with matching calfskin leathers, Toulouse dust cover with carrying strap and handle, and Fillis irons with metal pads (irons not shown).

Additional saddle photos:







Also for sale:
(Make offer on everything!)

1. Virtually indestructible 40" Crump leather girth.  Fit five-year-old Connor, but not eight-year-old Connor.  In great shape!

2. 5" single-jointed eggbutt snaffle bit

3. 5" single-jointed copper mouth D ring bit


4. 5 1/4" french link full cheek snaffle

5. 5 1/4" Metalab jointed Kimberwicke bit, new


6. Nunn Finer pony reins, 47" from bit to buckle  Sale Pending




7. Effingham field boots, size 6, new in box.

Husband's desk area is the Wild West of my house.  Sorry.

8. New-with-tags quilted Lettia baby pad with smiley face embroidery on both sides, black.  Has girth loops.

Stock photo, same color (navy with a subtle check)