All change
Tetley’s new panels were delivered at 8.45 this morning – that’s crack of dawn for me! I was concerned because they do not look the same as the panels on the one I bought second hand, but Lorna reassured me that the airbag was the same but the construction had been improved and one seam has been left out by better shaping of the leather. As well as that she had made the gullet wider still than on the second hand one and it fits Tetley beautifully. I only rode him in it for a few minutes as I wanted him to have today off, but he seems really happy with it. His back is still a little stiff on the right and I am going to get a physio to look at him if it stays like it much longer.
After spending a long time fiddling around changing “his” saddle into “her” saddle and vice versa, I rode Tia in the second hand one. The gullet was much wider than the other that I have been using and she seemed very happy with it indeed. She produced some lovely walk. But it seems as though we can only have either good walk or good trot in a session and not both! On the trot transitions she was chucking her head back in my face and trying to make me eat her ears!! I tried pushing her out but all it did was make her run. In the end I took a firm hold and pushed her firmly up and into my hands, expecting her to fight me. But she gave pretty quickly and we got some decent trot on each rein with the same trick.
She was fine, by the way. No runny nose, no cough. What on earth was that about then???? Whatever, I'm glad it's gone away.
I was really pleased with Lorna’s reaction to my second hand buy. She says that I have picked up an absolute bargain. Since she sells the new ones, she had no reason to say that, quite the reverse, so I’m really pleased. Now I have a great combination of the two saddles and six gullet plates, and I’m likely to be able to fit practically anything that I buy in future.
I rang about one today but it has feather, which normally goes with a type of brain that I don’t want. And it’s very cheap, but six people have been to see it already and not bought it – so clearly it isn’t quite what it’s advertised as! I don’t know what’s wrong with it, but Penrith is several hours drive away and too far to go and just take a look.
C.
Tetley sound in the school for 10 minutes.
posted by cptrayes @ 11:33 PM
7 comments
7 Comments:
There's a book by Jack Meagher called "Beating Muscle Injuries in Horses" (I hope) that shows in good detail with instructions, muscle massage therapy techniques.
I was thinking it might be something for you to look into for both Tetley and Tia. If some of these training quirks are related to soreness, you can overcome many on your own without waiting for a therapist.
Structural issues are another matter, of course, but it's worth a shot.
Shelia, if you read this...the claim is that kids who ride horses do stay out of trouble! *G*
Back to that walk/trot Tia thingie. Putting her together was a good idea. The trick is to ride the walk connected and then transition up to the trot in the same connecting. Sometimes that might take more hand than you'd like to use. I agree with Clair that the walk is a *b* Not only does it lack the impulsion to be easily fixed, but it also isn't a very exciting gait to concentrate on.
And I know how you event riders are with your dressage....*very big wide grin*
I like your info here.Azteca
///There's a book by Jack Meagher called "Beating Muscle Injuries in Horses" (I hope) that shows in good detail with instructions, muscle massage therapy techniques.///
Caroline, in case your memory is as bad as mine (unlikely!) that's the book I've got that you had a look at. I can always bring it with me next time I come up. There's also a one day course on at Reaseheath 'Introduction to horse massage' which I'm getting details for, £50 which is what it was costing me for a visit from the physiotherapist.
As far as Tia goes, I don't know much about muscles but her shoulders seemed incredibly tight when I had a prod around comparing other horses to Saff. It's always made a HUGE difference to Saff having her shoulders worked on.
Sheila that's great - I hope that you really enjoy riding "our" way. One day when I have time I'd like to try western, which I assume is what you've done up to now?
Yup, seen the book thanks Jean and I use one bit on Tetley already.
I certainly echo your thoughts too - girls who are into ponies don't turn into teenage mothers! I always advisemy friends who are mothers of girls to get them into horses if they can afford it :-)
Yup, Tia is very tied up in her shoulders but mostly it comes from her back. I can free both with good training exercises. But she'll never feel as free as Saff from the floor - she is already muscle bound from her early training.
Now Jean, you want me to get EXCITED about a 20 metre circle compared with 4 foot hedge :-) ??
C
"Not only does it lack the impulsion to be easily fixed, but it also isn't a very exciting gait to concentrate on. "
well put jean, and so many people don't even think of trying to work on the walk, which, when you look at the co-efficient for a decent one, is odd.
I used to do a lot of writing for dressage (eventing & the real thing) and you hardly saw a decent one ...people work on everything else
And you want ME to get excited over a 4 foot hedge when I can enjoy life and limb perfecting a 20m circle? *G*
I used to love eventing! My first horse was a jumping machine and we were a solid team. Then one trip, after we moved up a class, we ran into a badly designed trakaner. The ditch had no definable ground line and neither one of us had any idea how to jump the darn thing.
We did not get hurt and back then, were allowed to finish the rest of the course after our three X Country refusals. At that point I realized I did not have the mentality nor the courage to tackle the more challenging fences. I evented a few more lower level courses after that and gave my soul to the dressage ring.
Eventing takes nerve, talent, and a certain crazed indifference to sanity for the sake of the utter thrill (practically unmatched) of galloping and leaping over all kinds of exciting barriers. *G*
By the way, Lockie Richards who was a world class eventer from New Zealand and I used to joke a bit about it. As he grew older, he too retired to the dressage ring. He used to claim he'd gotten his sanity back. *lol*
Great site lots of usefull infomation here.
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