Am now in the market for a new saddle and wanted to get something that will last forever. It is hard here in Slovakia to find a saddle fitter, in fact, the only company who does this here (that I found) is Prestige Saddles. I had not heard of these before and was pretty leery. I read alot of reviews online with most raving but 2 bad reviews. The bad reviews were worrisome as they concerned the longevity of these saddles; they said that they do not last well, the leather degrades and ends up looking like a cheap saddle. But everywhere else I have read only good, almost delirious, reviews as to comfort, position etc.
So I was cruising the web looking for saddles when I realized that I was being silly. The Prestige (hate the name!) saddle will be fit specifically to my horse AND to me! This is not something that I can get by buying an off the rack Stubben for example, and the price is about the same (more or less).
So I am going for it! The saddle fitter comes to the stables tomorrow with an array of test saddles and he will fit Sementa and then leave several saddles so I can ride in them at length.
Has anyone any experience with these saddles? My trainer is a high showjumper so will be focused more on that style but I am not planning to do high jumps, and, in fact, hate showing. I really like to train and to ride in nature. I also love jumping, but not super high. There are so many models of Prestige saddles that I want to get what will work for me. So if anyone has advice, please share it!!
http://prestigeitaly.net/elenco.php?cat=1
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Monday, February 7, 2011
Sheepskin Numnahs
They are a miracle! I picked up a Christ Horsedream half-lined general purpose saddle pad today at Equito in Bratislava. It was 114 euro. I have read all the reviews of sheepskin pads on the Hunters forums (COTH and Horse and Hound) and had read about the benefits. But no-one can prepare you for the shock of pulling a saddle and numnah from a sweaty horse and seeing......nothing. not dampness, just cool, perfectly dry, hair. not even hot. not even warm. We were AMAZED. Natural materials, as I always say, are best.
I will say, however, that this bare channel on some pads is weird to me. It is obvious hat the bare spot will touch the horses back when the saddle is compressed with your weight. We tested it today and we couldn't get a finger in between Sementa's back and the saddle. I got the numnah without the so-called "spine relief" channel. It is said to promote air flow and to keep weight off the spine so I was very tempted. But it seemed obvious that the bare spot, and three brands I saw had seams running along that channel, where a length of twill imprinted with the company name was sewn, would grind along the horse's spine during riding. I had wanted a LeMieux numnah, after reading forums, but the Christ brand was the only one I found without this bare spot. Mattes had it also. Does anyone else have expereince with these channels?
I will say, however, that this bare channel on some pads is weird to me. It is obvious hat the bare spot will touch the horses back when the saddle is compressed with your weight. We tested it today and we couldn't get a finger in between Sementa's back and the saddle. I got the numnah without the so-called "spine relief" channel. It is said to promote air flow and to keep weight off the spine so I was very tempted. But it seemed obvious that the bare spot, and three brands I saw had seams running along that channel, where a length of twill imprinted with the company name was sewn, would grind along the horse's spine during riding. I had wanted a LeMieux numnah, after reading forums, but the Christ brand was the only one I found without this bare spot. Mattes had it also. Does anyone else have expereince with these channels?
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Trail ride to Branc Castle!
What a gorgeous ride today! It was much warmer, about 6 C, as opposed to -7 like last Sunday. All of the snow has melted, making the fields and paths absolute muddy messes. Didn't stop us from riding out today though! It was only 3 of us, Martina, Barbora and me. These are 2 very lovely Slovak girls; I am so jealous of them because they ride without helmets and their beautiful hair flows behind them as they ride. sigh. I am too paranoid not to wear a helmet and my hair is short anyway lol.
I was riding Bojti, instead of the usual Hory today so was a little nervous about that as well as the footing. It was VERY slippery in places but our sure-footed mounts kept us off the ground today : )
We had some lovely gallops across the fields, a short road hack where we almost were unable to pass a HUGE all -white barking dog behind a fence. The dog even started jumping up so high by the gate that it looked like it was levitating! very cute dog though.
Falcons cruised the fields as we galloped uphill towards the castle. Branc is in ruins but has a good surrounding wall and some very moody towers and partial rooms left. Here's a link with a cool satellite map and some pics and history. If you scan out the map, look for Bukovec, which is where we started, its a little south-east of the castle. It was a little over a 2 hour round trip.
http://en.tixik.com/branc-castle-2355195.htm
The forest was so lovely in the late afternoon light. We saw lots of deer tracks and boar wallows along the way. Birds were trilling high in the bare trees as our horses navigated the slippery slushy paths.
We took a few pictures but I am waiting for them to be emailed. so: update soon!
We actually rode straight into the ruins, which perch high above the surrounding village, forest and fields, on its own rocky rise. We could see for miles across the countryside over the crumbling rock walls and we felt very medieval on entering the courtyards on horseback.
I worked on sitting the canter/gallop instead of my usual half seat. It worked pretty well on the way there but on the return I was tired and my position fell apart somewhat.ALos worked on keeping my hands quiet and maintaining contact.
Barbora asked when we were in sight of the farm if we would like a last trot/gallop. By this she means flat out gallop, I was fooled at first but no longer haha! Well, she took off and Martina and I followed. I heard screams from behind me and was about to look when the first of several onslaughts of flying mud hit me in the face! The field was half snow and half very wet mud which was flinging like missles of filth off the hooves of Barbora's and my horses! So hilarious! We were totally covered in muck when we finally slowed. Barbora said " I DID ask first" with a suspicious looking smile. A smile on a clean mud-free face. hmmmmm. The twinkle in her eyes made us laugh but she hasn't admitted that she did it on purpose hahahahaha! what a glorious day!
I was riding Bojti, instead of the usual Hory today so was a little nervous about that as well as the footing. It was VERY slippery in places but our sure-footed mounts kept us off the ground today : )
We had some lovely gallops across the fields, a short road hack where we almost were unable to pass a HUGE all -white barking dog behind a fence. The dog even started jumping up so high by the gate that it looked like it was levitating! very cute dog though.
Falcons cruised the fields as we galloped uphill towards the castle. Branc is in ruins but has a good surrounding wall and some very moody towers and partial rooms left. Here's a link with a cool satellite map and some pics and history. If you scan out the map, look for Bukovec, which is where we started, its a little south-east of the castle. It was a little over a 2 hour round trip.
http://en.tixik.com/branc-castle-2355195.htm
The forest was so lovely in the late afternoon light. We saw lots of deer tracks and boar wallows along the way. Birds were trilling high in the bare trees as our horses navigated the slippery slushy paths.
We took a few pictures but I am waiting for them to be emailed. so: update soon!
We actually rode straight into the ruins, which perch high above the surrounding village, forest and fields, on its own rocky rise. We could see for miles across the countryside over the crumbling rock walls and we felt very medieval on entering the courtyards on horseback.
I worked on sitting the canter/gallop instead of my usual half seat. It worked pretty well on the way there but on the return I was tired and my position fell apart somewhat.ALos worked on keeping my hands quiet and maintaining contact.
Barbora asked when we were in sight of the farm if we would like a last trot/gallop. By this she means flat out gallop, I was fooled at first but no longer haha! Well, she took off and Martina and I followed. I heard screams from behind me and was about to look when the first of several onslaughts of flying mud hit me in the face! The field was half snow and half very wet mud which was flinging like missles of filth off the hooves of Barbora's and my horses! So hilarious! We were totally covered in muck when we finally slowed. Barbora said " I DID ask first" with a suspicious looking smile. A smile on a clean mud-free face. hmmmmm. The twinkle in her eyes made us laugh but she hasn't admitted that she did it on purpose hahahahaha! what a glorious day!
Saturday, February 5, 2011
So far away....
Well, got up at 7:30 so I could meet my trainer at the barn in Dolany at 10. She was leaving for a horseshow at 11 so I wanted to be on time.....its an hours drive over the mountain to get there, a very pretty drive, through some forests and nice villages. Sadly, she called me when I was halfway there and said she had to leave at 10:30 so I just turned around. No ride on Sweet Sementa today : (.
I rode on Thursday evening and Semi is such a dream. I am a nervous rider, not very strong, nor skilled. But she is so well trained! She even did some beautiful leg yields....
It is hard for me as the indoor is pretty crowded and I am so nervous, I don't know Sementa yet and I am terrified she will run away with me in the jammed arena, chock full of high jumps, concrete walls with eye-gouging apparati on the ledges and fussy stallions. I still don't have my own tack so have to borrow and am too nervous to ride alone. When I can do that, all will be well, as I will go when the indoor is empty. Of course, then I will probs ruin my perfect horse with my shoddy technique......one day. One day I will get there.
I rode on Thursday evening and Semi is such a dream. I am a nervous rider, not very strong, nor skilled. But she is so well trained! She even did some beautiful leg yields....
It is hard for me as the indoor is pretty crowded and I am so nervous, I don't know Sementa yet and I am terrified she will run away with me in the jammed arena, chock full of high jumps, concrete walls with eye-gouging apparati on the ledges and fussy stallions. I still don't have my own tack so have to borrow and am too nervous to ride alone. When I can do that, all will be well, as I will go when the indoor is empty. Of course, then I will probs ruin my perfect horse with my shoddy technique......one day. One day I will get there.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Sementa's stylin' new halter and blanket : )
Thursday, February 3, 2011
New Horse, New Equipment!
I don't know about you, but I LOVE going to the tack store and buying stuff. Usually, I have no business buying anything and just wander to and fro, maybe getting a bag of treats here and a cheap pair of gloves there. so unsatisfying. But with a new horse, well! You know I did some damage yesterday at Kramer Pfedersport, a "Mega-store" just outside Vienna, Austria.
http://www.kraemer-pferdesport.de/Winter-Sale.htm?websale7=kraemer-pferdesport&ci=254111&ref=11_01_wsv/head&;ws_tp1=nl
I've been fairly intensive in searching for the best type of each item online. For instance, I am dying for a LeMieux GP half-lined merino wool numnah, having read lots of good reviews from fox hunting forums. Finding it a bit hard to actually get my hands on one....lots of UK shippers don't ship here and neither Dover nor Equestrian Collections carries them : (
http://www.derbyhouse.co.uk/Equestrian/Horse/Saddlery/Numnahs/Lemieux+GPJumping+Half+Lined+Numnah_450-0362.htm. This site wants 18 POUNDS for shipping! puh-lease.
Got a sweet set of Pessoa shipping boots that look like good quality,
the problem with Kramer tack is that much of their merchandise tends toward the more affordable, lower-end of the spectrum with quality to match. There is a much nicer tack store in Bratislava, Equito, but there was a big sale on a Kramer so there you go.....
http://www.equito.sk/
I ended up with a pretty cute blue argyle exercise sheet, a sheepskin padded halter,
jumping boots, shipping boots, tack box and brushes,
5 bags of treats : ), and a bit for around 200 euros....not too bad. Still need bridle, saddle, stirrups, leathers etc. I ordered the Dover comfort sheepskin girth, which btw, is on close-out for $99!!
http://www.doversaddlery.com/product.asp?pn=LD-021231
I am looking into those pivoting stirrups a la http://www.doversaddlery.com/herm-sprenger-original-system-4-f-stirrup-irons/p/X1-0747/cn/97/ I am not sure though as I can't see galloping up hill standing in these with much security. Maybe I'm wrong? I've heard great things though about relief from knee and back pain with this type of stirrup. Does anyone have experience with these out of the ring?
There is a cool saddle service at Equito, where for 2 months, for free, you can try different saddles and then once you pick they come out and fit it to your horse! They only offer this with Prestige Saddles, a brand with which I am not familiar. I have read some good reviews online though...so again, does anyone have any info on Prestige brand saddles? They have a composite tree which they mold to the shape of your horse....
http://www.kraemer-pferdesport.de/Winter-Sale.htm?websale7=kraemer-pferdesport&ci=254111&ref=11_01_wsv/head&;ws_tp1=nl
I've been fairly intensive in searching for the best type of each item online. For instance, I am dying for a LeMieux GP half-lined merino wool numnah, having read lots of good reviews from fox hunting forums. Finding it a bit hard to actually get my hands on one....lots of UK shippers don't ship here and neither Dover nor Equestrian Collections carries them : (
http://www.derbyhouse.co.uk/Equestrian/Horse/Saddlery/Numnahs/Lemieux+GPJumping+Half+Lined+Numnah_450-0362.htm. This site wants 18 POUNDS for shipping! puh-lease.
Got a sweet set of Pessoa shipping boots that look like good quality,
the problem with Kramer tack is that much of their merchandise tends toward the more affordable, lower-end of the spectrum with quality to match. There is a much nicer tack store in Bratislava, Equito, but there was a big sale on a Kramer so there you go.....
http://www.equito.sk/
I ended up with a pretty cute blue argyle exercise sheet, a sheepskin padded halter,
jumping boots, shipping boots, tack box and brushes,
5 bags of treats : ), and a bit for around 200 euros....not too bad. Still need bridle, saddle, stirrups, leathers etc. I ordered the Dover comfort sheepskin girth, which btw, is on close-out for $99!!
http://www.doversaddlery.com/product.asp?pn=LD-021231
I am looking into those pivoting stirrups a la http://www.doversaddlery.com/herm-sprenger-original-system-4-f-stirrup-irons/p/X1-0747/cn/97/ I am not sure though as I can't see galloping up hill standing in these with much security. Maybe I'm wrong? I've heard great things though about relief from knee and back pain with this type of stirrup. Does anyone have experience with these out of the ring?
There is a cool saddle service at Equito, where for 2 months, for free, you can try different saddles and then once you pick they come out and fit it to your horse! They only offer this with Prestige Saddles, a brand with which I am not familiar. I have read some good reviews online though...so again, does anyone have any info on Prestige brand saddles? They have a composite tree which they mold to the shape of your horse....
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Wild Winter Trail Ride
Starting out at the barn, the horses were antsy and I couldn't get Hory to stand still while I adjusted the stirrups. Of course, the leather was so cold and stiff and the holes had been punched so little pieces of leather were clogged in there...sigh...Hory helped by weaving fitfully and trying to break into the roped off mare's paddock.
The group started off and I quickly realized that my stirrups, though on the last hole, were WAY too long and I would be unable to ride properly. I tried to ignore it, being a little nervous about holding up the group but when we picked up the trot, it became obvious that it wasn't happening! Hory was trotting with BIG, bouncy steps to get through all the snow and the saddle was smacking me in the seat as I stood on tiptoes on the stirrups. nope.
Barbara, the leader, helpfully got off Fabia and came to roll the leathers around the stirrups while holding Fabia. Hory still wouldn't stay still, I couldn't control her, and she bashed into another mare who kicked out, hitting Barbora! Barbora, an extreme trooper and horse expert, shrugged it off.
Finally, we were off, across the first fields, a road crossing and then down into a small valley and into the woods! I love the woods at any time but in winter they are so beautiful! Deer ran past and we heard falcons crying above us.
We crossed an icy stream and a very dodgy looking small bridge. I think it may have even been a packing case thrown over the stream, I saw actual HOLES in it after I passed and was so glad Hory hadn't caught her leg in any! Europe! so different than the United States! hahaha!
Barbora's horse, Fabia, was very uncontrollable fro the get go....she'd barely walk and kept breaking into a canter and shying at everything. She had to have a lead over water several times. When we were exiting the forest, Fabia leaped up, all fours in the air and unleashed an unholy buck!! Barbora fell around her neck, clung on, and ended up sitting in front of the saddle! She calmly popped herself back in and we continued. We were all laughing in disbelief, knowing we would all have ended up eating snow on that one!
We had such FAST gallops up the hills and several unplanned runs through the forest itself, through narrow paths, surrounded by trees and high banks....as Barbora put it when we at last got back to the barn..." I'M ALIVE!"
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