The past few weeks I have been suffering from a head cold, serious business for someone with MS.  Last Wednesday, since I had not ridden in twelve days, I dragged myself out to Debbie’s stable though I was still weak and unsteady on my legs.  I wanted to ride more in my new treeless saddle!  By the time Mick was brought in, groomed, and tacked up I was wondering if it was a good idea but since he was all ready, the sun was shining, and because we had to evaluate how I had…

First, as an introduction, I want to relate my ideas on riding in treeless saddles.  Several decades ago, stuck riding in just a few pastures and facing a long, hot, boring summer, I decided to ride bareback all summer.  Luckily for my horse I had read “Stable Management and Exercise” by M. Horace Hayes.  On page 342 he writes “A groom should not…

Today I got to ride a horse I’ve never been up on before in my life.  Finally, a different horse!

Magic is a teenaged Tennessee Walking Horse mare, black (really brown) with a star on her face.  Still furry with her winter coat she looks sort of thin and rangy.  She stood peacefully for grooming and then I got to see if the saddle I picked fit at all.  I spent around two hours this weekend cleaning, larding and putting stirrups on my old…