Easy Keeper?

After years of having thoroughbreds, I decided my next horse would be an “easy keeper”.  In fact when I first asked about Moose my first questions were not “What is his training?” or “Does he have a show record?”…they were more like “How much does he eat? Does he wear shoes?”

And, as promised he eats air and toddles around happily barefoot in a pasture.

So an easy keeper? Right?

WRONG

First was saddle fit (let us not go there-I am still annoyed). Then there was his girth…

Tried and rejected:

1. Leather

2. Leather with fleece

3. Synthetic with fleece

4. Padded leather with elastic one end

5. Padded leather elastic both ends

6. Padded leather no elastic

7. All elastic al… la tixerant

8. Anatomic (leather)

9. Anatomic (synthetic)

10. Wintec

11. Bates girth with CAIR

12. String

13. Mohair

Finally, the Wintec Elastic girth with Cair. A girth deemed acceptable. He now has both dressage and jump versions :/

Then there was his bridle. Flash, crank, figured eight, drop nosebands with combinations of padding, poll pads or ear cut-aways. On and on…add in bit combinations…with keepers or without, d-ring, eggbut, full cheek. To end up (finally) with a Micklem and myler comfort snaffle.

We have also done the dance with saddles pads, wraps and shipping boots.

It seems the challenge this year will be his winter blanket and halter (Dear Mr. Micklem –please make a halter as my horse is wearing a dogcollar. Love Amy and Moose aka the easy keeper).

With the money spent on rejected equipment, I probably could have purchase and maintained a going-prelim-thoroughbred.

But, that horse wouldn’t be this horse…

So C'est la Vie.

Saddle Fitting Saga- my tale of woe FINALLY ENDS

One of the most popular posts on this blog is “I need to vent. Now, either people are attracted to negativity and want to hear a good rant or horse people share a common issue- saddle fitting sucks.
Throughout the 2.5 years I have owned Moose we have battled the saddle demon- never really finding the illusive “one” (or “two” –I’m an eventer and need a dressage and jump).
We have tried:

Saddle fit horse. Not Moose.

• Thornhill
• Prestige
• Baines
• Devoucoux
• Bates
• Wintec
• Stubben

to name a few.

Incessant googling led me to a new product line –Kent & Masters. I read their spiel. I watched their video. I liked how easily adjustable they seemed.

Features:

• Wool flocked (with flocking slots!)
• Adjustable gullet
• Moveable billets

Perhaps with all of these features they could be made to fit a Moose?

I email Trumbull Mountain tack for a trial.

First up the Kent & Masters S Series Jump.
 
It fit well statically.

But moved around during the ride :(
…ahh but remember the adjustable billets?

http://www.kentandmasters.co.uk/Changeable_girth_straps.html

I re-watched the fitting video and moved the billet configuration rearward. Success! It fits! It does not move! And I LOVE it! If you want a comparison, the balance feels just like the older Albion XC saddle.

Kent & Masters give us wings!

Next was the Fairfax Monoflap Dressage. Very pretty. I petted it.

Ooh it seems to fit Mooses.

 Humpf it does not fit Amys

Fat Ass

I tried to make it work. I really did. But it seems I need an 18.5 (which they do not make) to avoid fighting the blocks. So…NEXT!

We then try the Kent & Masters dressage model. I asked for the same gullet I had in the s-series jump saddle (medium-wide)…but it was too narrow (Moose definitely let me know). The very helpful Nancy from Trumbull immediately mailed the wide gullet. After having a Bates I was dreading putting that thing in…but it was actually easy! Wow! An adjustable gullet saddle you can adjust without cursing, crying and finally begging the gods for that last centimeter of space!

But it moved when I rode and I was not comfortable 100%...but with adjustable billets (I changed them to the ‘point’ configuration’ and velcro knee blocks (took them off) the saddle stayed in place and I was comfortable.

Don't be jealous. I have TWO saddles that fit! (neener-neener).

They also come at a good price point (~$1500).  And if you buy from Trumbull you get free shipping and $85 towards the first flocking adjustment (WINNING!). I have to plug them -Nancy was a huge help looking at 100,000,001 photos (does this fit? is it in the right place? isn't my pony cute!?) and answering just as many emails.

Off to ride!