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!

We're Back!

Moose and I are back in action (it is now officially after Annual Meeting).

While I had fun slaving away in California it is great to be back in the saddle literally and figuratively.

Despite the photographic evidence (Note: these are not real! Who would have guessed?!) I never saw the beach or Hollywood.

I DID go to the Peter Atkins Clinic at Champagne Run (sponsored by the HJU/ ECOGOLD Ammie Educational Grant).

Read the clinic recap on Horse Junkies United. Then go buy an ecogold pad and tell them Amy sent ya ;)

PS -submissions are open for the next grant. Go get it!

Doing Work! (just not the horsey kind)

The last few weeks I have been working like a boss...just not with Moose. It's for my J O B (i.e. the real world). I have been made to understand that "others" do not understand what is meant by "after the Annual Meeting" as in "Can we have that lesson sometime after Annual Meeting" or "I would love to come over but can we get together after Annual Meeting" or "would love to go to that show/ clinic/event but I cannot schedule anything until after Annual Meeting".

So what is this Annual Meeting I speak of? It is the 103rd AOCS Annual Meeting & Expo. Basically it's not quite as bad as being the organizer of Rolex....but a few steps above being an AEC Horse Trials organizer. Speaking of Rolex...the Annual Meeting conflicts EVERY YEAR.

I must love my job need a paycheck.

So not much to report Moosey wise. Still looking forward to the Peter Atkin's Clinic at Champagne Run in May (this happens "after Annual Meeting"). So if you are desperate for horsey writings check out a blog post I wrote for Horse Junkies United:

"Do You Remember Your First Rolex? I Will Never Forget Mine…"

Do you remember your first Rolex?
The first time you saw your heroes in action?
The first time you truly felt the thrill of cross-country at its finest?
The first time you maxed out your credit cards at a trade fair?
I remember my first time. It was definitely “a first” in many ways.

• My first time seeing an advanced horse trial

• My first time seeing a three star (or any “star”)

• My first experience with the long format

• My first time attending (a USCTA recognized) horse trial

• My first time as a groom

Did you catch that? Yes, my first Rolex was all of those things…. and I was going as a groom.

Read more here.

Catcha after Annual Meeting!

The Horse | Understanding Equine Sleep Deprivation

The Horse | Understanding Equine Sleep Deprivation

Dellaire and Ruckebusch, estimates that in a day horses fulfill approximately:

• Two hours of diffuse drowsiness (during which the horse stands with full weight on both front legs and one rear leg while the other rear leg is cocked, or "primed," to kick if necessary);
• Three hours of slow wave sleep (at which point the horse is either lying down in lateral  or sternal recumbency [lying flat on his side or lying on his chest, respectively]); and
• Less than one hour of paradoxical sleep (during which the horse is commonly positioned on the ground, but the body is upright with head tucked to a side--normally toward the stifle). This allows for better respiration than being on a side.

(Read more.)

I think Moose may have a sleep disorder. This basically says horses lay down to sleep fours hours a day. Huh? Moose gets more like 8-10. Maybe he needs it for his beauty sleep. He is really cute.

He even sleeps during class

Moose Tracks....HARDCORE Logo Contest!

As Moose Tracks is tackling  Rolex Beginner Novice this year he clearly needs his own logo (for his fans dontcha know).

The husband suggested a rip-off  spin-off of the Frank Turner Hardcore logo as pinto ponies are most definitely hardcore.

Husband Suggestion 1: "The Classic"

Get it ? Moose Tracks HardCore?

Husband Suggestion 2: "Whips and Chains"

My creation: "Yams"

(Yams would be the now favorite food of the Moose ...in fact it was all he would eat when sick last month)

Do they look like orange turds? hmmm

What say you?

Keep on Bloggin'

I started this blog as practice for work. I played with posting times, themes and keywords while developing a feel for the medium.

And today is the day. Our "work" blog has launched!

Without further adieu I give you the AOCS Blog....

http://www.lipidsfatsoilssurfactantsohmy.com
(Warning: this blog has nothing to do with horses. Nope, not a thing. But if you like oil chemistry it just might be for you!)


I had originally planned to delete this blog once I launched my one for work. But I have enjoyed it and I have enjoyed you. So for now, I will keep on bloggin' (despite the fact my husband asks, "do you really have to let the entire world know how insane you actually are?".

Why yes. Yes I do.

It may be a 'random number generator'....but we won suckas!

News of the day = Moose and I won the HJU Ammie Educational Grant!

It went something like this....I was reading Horse Junkies United last night when I saw a familiar face- Moosey! I suddenly realized our submission for the Ammie Educational Grant had won!

Then this happened 



Followed by me handing my husband the phone to read the post....followed by more dancing and screeching as I wanted my phone back to call people anyone and share the news. He wasn't giving the phone back so I paraded out to the pasture to let Moose know....he was apparently unimpressed with my dancing - he spooked and ran away.

Buzz. Kill.

Anyway, remember this post? The post I was lamenting my lack of funds to participate in the Peter Atkins clinic in Kentucky? Well thanks to HJU and the grant sponsor ecogold we are now going!

I still can't quite believe my good fortune! Thank you  Horse Junkies United (a great blog)! Thank you ecogold (they make awesome saddle pads -and do real research)!

Please support these folks -they give back while also providing a great informational service and products.

Shameless Promotion of our "Sponsors"
(teehee...I love saying that)

• Horse Junkies United Blog

• Horse Junkies United on Facebook

Follow or "like" them for daily news and funny stories. You will also see contest announcements and there will be another Ammie Educational grant soon! Go win it!

• Ecogold Website

• Ecogold on Facebook

• Ecogold blog

And my favorite ecogold blog post :

Amazing Results from Ecogold Saddle Pads in Pressure Scans!

 

( I have seriously coveted an ecogold pad for Moosey since reading this. One ecogold. One day.)