New Saddles New Friends

              ...I enjoyed sitting in these saddles (future saddle-?) next to you friend ! My new friend EVENSONG PAINT HORSES, MOUNTAINTRAILMUSIC blog writer~


A short time ago, I met up with  this Blogger friend that was in the area. She thought to contact me to meet up at the First ever "Horse Expo", at Washington's Clark Co Fairgrounds.
 It was a mere 35 minute drive for me , across the Oregon boarder and into Washington. It took Laurie 4 hours. She came for a conference/class-
I forget which, but she and I met at the EXPO. She wondered WHERE she could find me and me, being used to our own "Oregon HORSE EXPO" and how vast a space it covers and  large the vending area's are...I thought well, "I KNOW WHY I AM GOING, and WHERE I'LL SPEND MOST MY TIME"....The "ANSUR" saddlery site!!! So ,I knew That was the spot to tell her to go to!


You see, I have come to a decision.  My saddle woes hopefully  have come to an end, and the desire for answers about my horse's behaviours(most) I  believe reside in correct saddle fit. Making my mare pain free and hopefully, soothing her back into a willing attitude.
I have researched so many saddles and the $  for the really nice ones, is too steep for me usually. But, I am determined  to SAVE-SAVE-SAVE-for one that could be fit for the both of us. The Hans Schleese "Saddle Fit 4 Life". It can be adjusted when needed, if  the mare's changes and will fit me too.

 I can't seem to fit her and she has reacted and gotten pressure marks from the choices I've made -for 5 years. We have tried 5 Saddles in 5 years! It all ends the same...her acting out and refusing to work. And on the trail..she is so uncomfortable with the downhills and slippery surfaces. The saddle always hit her shoulders and rested too close to her spine as well, as her body undulated  and traversed the countryside with me.

 After watching the "SADDLE FIT 4 life"Videos, on You Tube- yea...all 9 of them- over and over. I got a handle on many other facts to  true saddle fitting. They even have videos of different horses and how the pain manifests itself-in  behaviours and body stances, while being ridden.
The fact that the horses keep allowing the painful saddles to be put on them, over and over is amazing!! 
 But, they really DON'T..and if you are paying attention to the main ways they speak to us, they have been telling (many) of us so many stories about how they truly feel of all we ask of them with something that does NOT  feel good-at all- and can hinder the natural movement they have. I know now that I have  and have seen horses labeled as being bad and or spooky and many other things..that simply could not perform or focus, due to pain they were enduring.

                below    - WA mare last summer, In a Leather "NURTURAL"bitless and treefree "CASHEL SOFTSADDLE"-after I determined  her latest saddle was killing her back and shoulders. White hairs and soreness plus a whole lotta attitude going on!
She also had become super girthy due to what I determined(thanks Hans Schleese) to the wrong girth placement on the Dressage saddle I was using.

My relationship to the horse, any horse and just not my own, is one of true awe. I have never felt they were a means to my ends and when I got ahead of remembering that..I have always been WRONG.
I live to serve them~instead of the other way around. That's is my take on the true pleasure and blessing it is, to be an equine loving  partner.

So, all that being said, most of you know I have been riding on a bareback saddle or pad since last August. I have loved it, but have a desire to continue traditional riding too-with a real saddle- and one that really feels good to the mare. I need some stirrups again!
I have turned to asking questions of other horse owners, spent time reading up on others answers to the same questions. I have learned so very much from other wonderful riders and writers of equine blogs , as well.
I so appreciate the wealth of knowledge there is to be gleaned here. I have changed my mind and out look  and also been prompted to slow down and relax, appreciate simple times around the country and the horse Being a  horse owner and to pursue loving and learning about her .... so much more about me too, than I ever imagined!

One Blogger and friend I have always admired is "EQUINEMINE". I met her years ago, while we boarded together. SHE IS the reason I blog...as she started to blog after buying her dream horse MADDY. I had never heard of a blog, before her.
 Her Journey to- where she is NOW with Maddy-  the trusting, respectful and ever growing relationship-ONCE wasn't so good or safe and she really persevered!
My respect for her-immence~

Back then, we set out for great rides and learning about our horsey loves. She helped me to develop safe patterns for trailering, as I had been able to use  my siter's 3 horse /slant  for a year-while I had her mare.
We've come along way since then, and now we board together again too!

         We  met up recently at the "ANSUR" saddlery vendor site, at Expo as well

She, being so much younger than I is  still developing her talents and career, spending much time and effort researching out her methods and means. I get to glean from her !
She has recently replaced all video's for a SADDLE CO. called "ANSUR". ]
Being a videographer, she has made some pretty cool acquaintances.

While I have come to a conclusion that a treeless saddle would be a way to start for the mare and me. I am still saving for the other "Traditional" English made saddle from
 "Saddle fit 4 Life".
 The Action Rider tack model "FREEFORM" DKR-cutback

This was going  to be my next saddle. The Freeform saddle  Co. has put a lot of reasearch and effort to identify the main reasons some treeless saddles fail for folks...specially those like me, that have grown up on a traditional tree'd saddle with a narrower twist. I know what close contact is and like to FEEL the horse. Unlike most  TREELESS that have a wide, flat seat which can make it difficult to be over your legs with no natural gravity, balance area. The FREEFORM have seat sizes and also, have settings for the stirrup placement and girthing options= according to your horses, indiviual natural girth channel.
 Typically, mares  flare  behind a  definate, forward channel. Mine does, and if the girth is placed back too far...it hurts her.  So I was SET AND READY to pick up a saddle this Mo. at our big OREGON Horse Expo to DEMO.

But....

 I payed attention to the prompting to look into the"ANSUR" as well. Though it was just about as spendy as  the Used saddle I was saving for!

 THAT- almost stopped me, right there!

 Carole, the maker of ANSUR, and me....she is a TRUE INSPIRATION to me.
Her REASON for creating the ANSUR saddle made me cry when I read it.

So, I set out to research the ANSUR.

I literally read all, watched all videos on the site, linked to all the links and reviews. Went to links of trainers and watched all they did. I looked at the saddle I thought I wanted and read, linked, and studied the reviews. THEN, I went another step further..I read about all the saddles at the site.

 It took me over a month to digest all I was seeing and reading.

 The things I read...they could have been written by me, about Washashe mare, and her behaviour and attitude, while being ridden in any one of the previous saddles we had.

I was sort of numb.

I could barely think about all the times, we were in a clinics and the mare would shut down. One time,

with a high end judge and respected trainer from California. She actually told me that the "BOLTING" behaviour my mare did, three times in a row when asked to canter that day. She said- "I had taught her to do that!". Um...I'm sorry, You just  helped me to do it then", I thought after... as I had cantered

many times before and NEVER had a bolting maneuver from the mare. In fact, the first clinic we rode for her in 2 mo earlier..she LOVED Washashe...coo'd over her, told me she could do  tremendous Dressage and I was thrilled!
I also did tons of trail riding inbetween that clinic and the last one, probably building up the muscles and making THAT saddle even tighhter!

I now wonder  STRONLY, about that saddle...

I only used that saddle(below)for lessons and clinics. A deep seated Dressage saddle that weighted in at nearly 25 lbs. It was made by Hans Biglazjer in the 70's. My sister loaned it to me. My lessons  on the mare had become scary, as she became angry and  refused to trot, and  wanted to buck sometimes..at canter.

I would have these little nudgings though, even back then..."Don't use the saddle"...so I would use my  "Cashel SOFTSADDLE". It is  simply 9 lbs. of layers of closed cell foam. It came with Western Stirrups that I could ONLY USE  in the flat arena. I tried the saddle on the trail once, with stirrups...ooouu, bad idea! The mare slipped in the mud and as my weight hit whatever stirrup side it was- the WHOLE SADDLE SLID over to that side!!! I stepped off and Wa was so good to not react to that blame saddle hanging off  of her! I simply undid the girth that day, placed the softsaddle back-on top- and took off the stirrups! I hid them in the woods and picked them up on the way back!

This  Softsaddle turned out to be an excellent tool to use for correct balance. It had no twist, or correct stirrup placement. It was big,  flat and bouncy! As I rode in it, I was behind the movement, and behind my leg. So...
 My sister had me "think"  of a " Kneeling position", as I sat  the off stride, while posting. It  lengthens your upper thigh and also forces your lower legs back again, under you. When I switched to the treeless softsaddle, the mare would think angry thoughts...but would not continue in following through!

(sorry for the arty grainy pic, can't find the original now)

SO NOW- UP TO SPEED!

Julie from my stable met me at the ANSUR site to lend me moral support, as I made my final decision about the saddle.

Carole, the Ansur saddle creator was so helpful  too as I described, and yes cried again over all my past (ignorant decision's) with my mare...still wondering if this could be an answer for us....?

She told me a story that JUST OCCURRED-
 A woman had called her really upset. She had made an apt with the vet to have her mare put down.  The mare had become violent while being ridden and now, also when being groomed...she would NOT allow the saddle near her and would Lunge out and strike at anyone that tried. She was at her wits end. (horse and woman!)
The woman heard and then read about Carole's story with her Dressage horse, Bronze. She called Carole- bought a saddle and did NOT put her mare down. She has not needed to!

Carole consoled me with a hug then, and told me that mares can be so much more demonstrative  than geldings.... and a TB mare is gonna SHOUT IT OUT!
She also took the time to give me some advise on starting over in the arena.

I am so very thankful to God for leading me to this very spot in time and very boarding facility too...everyone has accepted us and also been helpful to encourage us to keep going this direction, and to take it slow, listen to my mare and be wise with the next steps.

I DID IT!!!

I wrote out the largest check ever-for tack!

I then was able to enjoy the rest of the time with my friends.  Laurie from MOUNTAINTRAILMUSIC blog went to watch a demonstration with a TRAINER she had signed up to take clinic with  this coming summer. 

 EXTREME MOUNTAIN TRAIL course-with MARK BOLENDER.

Laurie is here looking on, as he and his really nice QH Chex, take the spot light in a small arena.

Then, we got to see  trainer-JULIE GOODNIGHT -spend some time with a PUSHY HORSE. She helped it's owner out by helping her with a "leadership Presence". Meaning, instead of allowing the horse to lead you and you becoming a bothersome nat, only worth swatting or stepping on....

...as seen here, as this Appy gelding leads his human around the arena...ignoring any attempt for it to be the other way around!

Julie soon determined, shockingly to the owners knowledge, that this Appy gelding was quite well trained and probably had been in some hallter classes...he was excellent at keeping his feet squared and his nose straight! He also pivoted on his haunches as JULIE stepped into his space, requiring it to become hers.

It was a nice session that now has me requiring my mare to not pass my lead hand anytime- as we walk to &  fro anywhere. Also, I have begun to require her to turn from me, as I step into her, instead of turning away from her and pulling the lead, for her to follow.

Nice reminders!

We then got to see MARK BOLENDER in the larger arena on his QH- Chex.

 This horse was so neat, following Mark's seat and leg, with this little neckstring on  only.

Chex did hs own demo- on calming oneself!

There was a small Trail course set up and Mark used this rather huge Draft horse, to show us a little of his tecnique.

It was a nice DEMO and also amazing...how DOES this horse see anything??!!

OKAY...Sure couldn't wait to run off to the stable and see the mare~

I had such wonderful news to share with her!

Could this be an  answer for our training issues & pain free trail riding?

The ANSUR will be ready for me in 2 1/2 months time.

MY "KONKLUSION"

By the way, the name came from a European client that ordered a saddle after she watched Carole and Bronze being scored in a Dressage test. She found out how Carole was able to ride Bronze so nicely in the higher levels. She said, "could this be the Answer?"-sounded like "ansur" in her European accent!  Hence the name was born!   I pray too..it is ours!!

Now, I have to raise just as much as I put down$$- in far less time!!

I'M SELLING EVERYTHING!!!