Post conference activities

Chris Thompson · Post conference activities

Following Lavinia Mitchel's presentation at the conference I asked her to come and look at Brego's saddle. As I suspected it was restricting his shoulders (He has filled out since he had it)

We then put one of her saddles on him and it was like chalk and cheese, he just strode out, once he worked out the saddle was not pinching him.

Gemma Jumped him in it and he looked and went great. To cut a long story short he now has a new LM saddle Cool

My excuse is that he needs it for the stallion grading he is entered in with the SPSS.

Nic

Well done, Chris, and wonderful to hear that Brego likes his new saddle - photos, please Cool

Lavinia was one of the highlights of the conference, for me, and I am sure we will be asking her for more saddle clinics in future... Shocked

N

Chris Thompson

Ok I will get some photos next time I am up there.

It is black leather with dark brown deerskin seat and trim. I think Tessa fell in love with it!! I don't think we will mention the cost - suffice to tto say it was not one of the standard range

Roobarbs Mum

I'm not the only one then Wink

I've had a re-think about my saddle for my endurance mare (I'm the one with the awkward shaped mare and the treeless saddle Embarassed

).

I've still gone down the treeless route but bought a saddle built on an injection moulded foam base which is a loads better shape for Angel and is really comfortable for me too. Just got to sort out shimming the front slightly so it doesn't tip me forwards and then we'll be sorted for next year.

I'm going to give it a try on Roobarb as it's quite flexible and see how we go.

It really is a revelation when you find a saddle that fits your horse and you see for the first time just what they've been missing out on. I cried when my "stuffy" cob (who I'd had for years) suddenly opened out into this amazing extended trot out in the woods the first time I rode him in a Free'n'Easy Embarassed

Lucy

brucea

Got to sort out saddles too...

Roobarbs Mum

What sort's have you tried, just out of interest?

The shimming for this FreeMax only appears to be just a very small amount (compared to what I was having to pad out with in the western-type treeless she's been wearing) and is mainly to stop the saddle from bumping on the rise of the wither from the back ( if you can picture what I mean).

Lucy

Sorry Chris, didn't mean to hijack your thread - your new saddle sounds lovely and I hope you'll & Brego will have many happy hours with it Smile

Chris Thompson

Roobarbs Mum

Well good luck with the gradings, although by the sounds of it he'll walk it Wink

Lucy

Chris Thompson

Thanks Lucy:

brucea

I tried a StartTrek saddle, and two different black leather ones - I can't remember the names! (one was very bulky around the horse and was uncomfortable to sit in)

Link is challenging to fit - high sharp withers, narrow behind then a broad muscular back. I am not sure I can find a good saddle fitter up here with a decent range to try, who is really keyed into treeless saddles.

How do you find the Continental Flextree Western saddle Chris?

Roobarbs Mum

Brucea - that sounds a very similar shape to Angel, except for the muscular back bit, she's got slightly prominent spinal processes so has to have a channel.

I've bought a FreeMax - only £360 from Ebay with numnah, stirrup leathers and girth thrown-in. This is the same deal/saddle I've gone for.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/New-Freemax...35655df7&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

So far, this seems to be the best fitting one we've found and seems to be very good at pressure dispersal from the stirrup bars if the Port Lewis Pad is any indication.

Lucy

Chris Thompson

Brucea:

The continental is very comfortable and fits Brego well. It was professionally fitted to him by David Lloyd.

Spanish Mustangs are notoriously difficult to fit as they have narrow deep chests and broad rumps (bottom like a cook and all that).

The LM saddle also fits him welland does not impede his shoulders.

I also havea timberline western saddle that I am planning ot sell, this is similar to a ReactorPanel saddle and is meant to fit most horses.

Chris

brucea

Can you send a pictire of the saddle on Brego Chris?

The FreeMax looks suspiciosly like the one I trued (it was all black so maybe an earlier version) - it seemed to be just a bit huge and thick and I felt very far from the horse on it.

lazeearabians

Lavinia's talk/demo was really fascinating and what a lovely woman. A little depressing though as it only served to confirm my opinion that most qualified saddle fitters don't really know what they're doing, which makes getting a treed saddle that fits properly a bit of a lottery unless you have Lavinia on hand.

Your new saddle sounds lovely Chris - we chatted briefly at the conference where I was admiring your lovely boy (that sounds a bit wrong now I've typed it but of course I mean Brego!)

Saddle fitting is a nightmare - I'm currently in a treeless as I've struggled with treed saddles all year on my hard to fit gelding. I think a treeless saddle is preferable to a badly fitting treed saddle but as I do endurance I am worried about using treeless over longer distances - specifically pressure points from the stirrup/stirrup bars. That said treeless saddles are used extensively for endurance in the USA, successfully too, and there are a few being used at the longer distances in this country at international standard... again very successfully. Not really sure where to go for competing next year as I've tried every sort of bloomin treed saddle though I'm tempted with a Bob Marshall - treed at the front and the rear but not in between and a MacKinder which has a flexi tree.

Chris Thompson

brucea

WOW - THE MANE!!!

Do you buy the conditioner in barrels Chris?!!

I've been finding the horn on the Starttrek very uncomfortable and not completely sure that I want something the same - but the StartTrek is a shorter saddle and I need the full 18.5" size. Thanks Chris - food for thought there.

Roobarbs Mum

Layzeearabians - where abouts in the country are you based?

I was riding my mare in a Bob Marshall rip-off made by Hilason (same design & construction with cheaper materials). It's quite wide and I was trying to pad up the hollows (like Lavinia suggested for remedial fitting) but was finding that I was using that much there was very little heat loss and Angel sweated excessively. Also the pads where flattening over time and it was still ending up sitting on her withers after a few hours.

I'm near Nottingham, if you were nearby and wanted to try my saddle you are welcome to as the Bob Marshall's are very hard to come by in this country and are now getting very expensive to import.

Lucy

Chris Thompson

lazeearabians

Roobarbs Mum

In that case you can buy your own Very Happy

Lucy

lazeearabians

Charming

Roobarbs Mum

If you're signed up here then you can read the info I was going to post you about hoof balance. Wink

Now stop messing about on here and send me that report Laughing

Got to go and look for sick bags and hip flasks ready for stressage lesson tomorrow Laughing

Lucy

Chris Thompson

brucea

That looks nice Chris.

I got an Ideal specially tailored for me with a low pommel, narrow twist and a deeper seat - it's a dream to ride in, but isn't fitting the lad very well now so needs to be replaced. Your new saddle looks the closest to it I've seen.

We blokes need a slightly different saddle shape to trh gals - we need a narrower twist and a low pommel. Smile

Chris Thompson

I can confirm that it is Bruce.

I don't know if Lavinia goes as far north as Aberdeen but it is worth asking her.

The saddles are something else - the difference in Bregos stride was instant, even I could see it.

Gemma, who is his "jockey" is 5'1" and I am 5'10" and the saddle workss for both of us. The pads are attached by velcro so we change them to suit.

Julie

After listening to Lavinia I'm also considering saddle fit. I'll have to save up for an expensive saddle, so in the meantime I've bought a Wintec Isabel and put a wider gullet plate in it. I also bought a flexi-curve and traced his back shape so I can monitor any changes.

I've also been telling everyone about Hans' thermography. That found its way to another pupil of my trainer whos horse isn't right. She thinks the vet might be barking up the wrong tree, so she has booked Jo (the thermography lady who was at the conference). I'm going to go and watch, I hope she can find something that helps.

Sez

Chris Thompson

I've found a problem with Brego's new saddle - all the girls at the yard love it and they all want to ride him in it. Laughing

Don't think there is a cure for this Cool

Chris Thompson

OK here is the saddle in action with the correct numnah and new bridle, as will be used at the grading.

The girl riding him is Bonnie, his reserve rider, as Gemma, the nominated rider has gone down with suspected Swine flu Sad

You might say Bonnie is plan B

Just hoping that it does not sweep through the yard.

brucea

Don't worry about it Chris - I had it way back in February when I came back home from Texas - wasn't actually much worse than a dose of ordinary flu except that the doctors went a bit nuts. Lasted about 5 days.

I like the new tail though, I think I'll keep it...oink! Razz

Nic

Chris, you must be thrilled, he looks absolutely stunning Cool

Best of luck with the grading and let us know what happens!

N

Chris Thompson

Of course I will - I am not sure how he will do, but keep your fingers crossed for him and please send good vibes his way on Sunday week.

Tessa has started riding him since he got the new saddle

And Bonnie has got a nice canter out of him

On day soon I may get a turn!!

He has come a long way from being a Wyoming ranch horse