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Comment by Eileen on May 29, 2009 at 9:29am

O.K. who is planning on a good trail ride this weekend.? Ont is supposed to be done with the rain for a while. It sounds like it will be perfect for riding. I can see the bug situation being a problem. But hey we can't have it all can we., I am staying home, but will probably ride out from here. This means mostly road riding, like I said nothing is perfect. lol

Comment by Eileen on May 29, 2009 at 9:27am

Although I do not ride in a Crates saddle a good friend of mine who rides all the time does have one and loves it. This lady has owned and rode in Ortho flex (did not like it all that well) and all other "talked up" saddles but she will not be talked out of riding anything else now.

Comment by Shirley on May 29, 2009 at 12:26am

I have two western saddles that were described as close contact. In both of these cases part of the leather that would be under the riders leg is cut out. It is shaped that way so there's better contact. My show saddle is either a Tex Tan or a Big Horn and my general riding saddle is a Crates. The Crates is an extremely comfortable saddle for rider and horse and has almost all if not all natural material in it. It has a special tree in it so it fits many different horse back shapes. I bought mine cause an acquaintance had one and then the sales pitch was convincing as far as the benefits built into the saddle and it just felt right after trying many many saddles and shopping a bunch. There was really no 'break in' time except for a little leather squeak which was fixed with a shake of baby powder between the leather layers. They are a very well respected brand when you get to talking to people about them. Anyone I've ever talked to that was familiar with the brand had only good things to say. There are stores that carry them but they are not as easily found as the common brands. In my area the lady that gives saddle fitting clinics at our big Expo shows sells many brands of saddles but she sells the Crates much more then the others and rides in Crates herself. Do a google search and check them out...I'm glad I did. But do your homework and try LOTS of saddles before you buy. It's a big investment & soooo important for a good ride for you and your horse.

Comment by Jenny Hiscox on May 28, 2009 at 6:32pm

You're right, until recently close contact was pretty much an English saddle thing. A few years ago a Canadian saddlery whose name escapes me at the moment came out with a team penning saddle that looked like a western saddle but was built on an English close contact tree. I love the close-contact thing, myself. The only reason I don't go bareback all the time is that my mare says it hurts her back (by popping her back up in what feels almost like a little buck after every jump, and lately even when starting to canter) so the closer to the horse I can get the better I like it.

Comment by Eileen on May 28, 2009 at 9:58am

Good thinking Cyndi, look it up on google, duh, why didnt I think of that lol
Good observation on your part regarding the suspension. Yes there is lots of air between the horses back and the saddle. This is good for air circulation and keeping the horses back cool on those long hot rides in mid summer. No there is not a lot of "close contact" with this saddle, but I did not have close contact with the western saddles that I used all of my life either. So I do not miss it. I think it is the English saddles that focus on the close contact thing. I may be wrong, wouldn't be the first time. I don't have any problem getting my message across to my horse though. Using my legs, arms, voice, reins, body posture and balance etc, I can get the horse to do what I want while out there on the trail.

Comment by Cyndi on May 28, 2009 at 9:10am

Hi Eileen.

I wanted to check out the Haggis saddle after you mentioned it, because I'd never heard of it before, so all I did was google "Haggis saddle" and one of the links it took me to was the place in Glencoe. The saddle is modeled after the old war saddles, aren't they? Very neat. I do have one question though. I am fairly new to the horse world and all the saddles and accessories that are available, and I frequently hear about having "close contact" with the horse. The Haggis saddle appears to be "suspended" off the horse (which, I'm assuming, makes it so comfy for long rides), so I'm just curious as to the actual closeness/contact between you and the horse. I'm not trying to be difficult, I am strictly asking out of curiosity :o)

Comment by Eileen on May 28, 2009 at 8:37am

Jenny, that website I gave you does not show the saddles anymore, I do have a picture somewhere, I tired last night to post a pic of my saddle on one of my horses...but all that came on the window was a bunch of letters, numbers and symbols...so I rubbed it out lol Maybe I can post a picture of the saddle on my page, I will see what I can do.

Comment by Barbara Chapel on May 28, 2009 at 7:56am

Thanks all. I was putting a top over my head this morning and heard a "POP" and my shoulder went back into place, and I have been to 3 Dr.s since the fall. I kept telling them something was wrong, they won't listen to the nurse.LOL now it's just sore but I have more range of motion. I have contacted a Dressage teacher near here and she is willing to take me on. I will not be leasing any horses for awhile till I feel 100%. No use spending money foolishly. This weekend there is a Dressage competition at the fair grounds, so I am going to that and introduce myself to the new coach. I haven't got back in the saddle yet, but I will soon, I am not scared,just sore. I realize that the hardest thing about horses is the ground.LOL

Comment by Cindy Jeffery on May 28, 2009 at 1:13am

I agree anytime we fall off or get bucked off we must get on as soon as possible or the fear will grow and linger for a long time. It grows like yeast in our psyche and sometimes we never get the courage to get back up again. Like Eileen says a very quiet horse, an experienced handler, instructor or coach and baby steps. Soon you'll be up and riding in no time.

Comment by Cindy Jeffery on May 28, 2009 at 12:49am

Barbara so sorry to hear of your fall!! My goodness girl we're not supposed to do that at this age. But....it does happen and unfortunately to you. To answer your question yes I was bucked off and landed on the ice and it felt like I would never walk again, I laid there on the ice gradually moving each part to make sure nothing was broken starting at my toes and fingers. That was 10 years ago, it took me about a week and some therapy (my own) to get moving again. But....I didn't see a doctor...I heal fairly quickly....but at 58 I have arthritis in those injury places, I think because I took things in my own hands. Didn't know about homeopathic remedies back then. This injury is what contributes to the weakness in my left hip causing me not to be able to mount without a mounting block, the muscle has atrophed so much. Consequently all my horses are taught to use a mounting block. But I continue in the industry by staying active and winter is especially challenging for me.

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