I Tried To Convert

In a summer like spring grooming frenzy yesterday, I kept running into these little beauties..they are all over the place and I could hardly pick anything up or ...as you see, brush my mare's tail even ,without spotting one in there too!

I just kept relocating them to the wind's will, flinging them away.

What the hay you doing back there???!

Last week I was taping a new trail discovery, and remembering Mellanie(click here) because she had crossed a small "river like" pond a few weeks ago-VERY INTREPID!. When I viewed my video...all I heard, instead of the footfalls of the mare, was very loud SQUEAKING!!!! OH!!!

My poor little 44 year old saddle needs some lovin!
I have resolved to send my little favorite saddle back to it's maker! Hans Biglajzer lives in Bend, Oregon. He did all my D ring additions, knee rolls , extra panel leathers last year...he just forgot to Re flock it! I know his daughter helps him now with the work..he must be 90 or 100 by now! Bless his talented heart!

I can't fathom riding in a straight tree saddle for the trails, so I must use my "Cashel Soft Saddle".

I tried to convert my glorified bareback pad to English girth rigging yesterday. It came with the standard latigo 3 years ago when I bought it.

I dislike girthing my mare on the one side only, with the Soft saddle being treeless...it tends to slant the way you pull. I can't use the stirrups to get on either, for the same reason...it has to be a taller block/tree stump or log so I may jump...good for desensitizing, I Found. She now stands quite well with me heaving myself on!

My girth , a 48', was much too long! The mare has lost some weight since the move, but the converter leathers are more like a dressage fitting where they hang on this "Soft Saddle".
Drat it all...I got it all taken apart for the second time in two days and the new girth, a 44 incher I just got ,was even too long! ARRRG!!! Taking that back today and getting a 40, I think!

I also changed out the silly plastic western stirrups, for my new Endurance stirrups!! Yea...was very nice....though I had to return to the barn several times over to punch one -more -hole in the leathers(I am now dedicating to that saddle) because they too were far too long! It is difficult enough to keep over my leg in a bareback pad..without the stirrups being too long. I have a cliping attachment on the front of the saddle...just in case I really want to ride without stirrups, I flip them up/clip/ and away we go. I like having the stirrups though...my back can't take the long rides we do solely ON HER BACK, I must be able to go into two point or post sometimes!

I also met someone yesterday, while riding, that will encourage our eventing future...more on that later!

Have fun in the spring weather, if it has descended upon your town!