Saddle Fit and Buying Canadian

First of all I need to apologize to my regular reading audience for the somewhat irregularly appearing blogs for the last month; October is always the absolutely busiest month for Schleese and I have been home three (!) whole days this past month (and honestly, November is not looking much better...) I am presently in Germany working on my book with my publisher and learning about an exciting new measurement tool that is truly state-of-the-art when it comes to determining the 3-dimensional shape of the horse’s back. We are considering becoming the North American distributor for this, so stay tuned for further developments. It will truly revolutionize analyses of back shape and resulting saddle fit problems.

  I was kind of debating what to write about, when this email arrived today in my inbox. While it really hasn’t got much to do with saddle fit per se, it is a very apt message – especially for this time of year. So I would like to reprint it here – with certain relevant comments added!

Christmas 2011 -- Birth of a New Tradition

As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Canadians with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods -- merchandise that has been produced at the expense of Canadian labor. This year will be different. This year Canadians will give the gift of genuine concern for other Canadians. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift giving time, that nothing can be found that is produced by Canadians hands. Yes there is! (and companies like ours are a prime example! )

It's time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper? (think about something for the rider in your life or your equine friends...)

Everyone -- yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local Canadian hair salon or barber? (or a gift certificate from your local saddle fitter?)

Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement. (How about some riding lessons?)

Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, Canadian owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates. (So would local trainers and feed companies – maybe even your vet or other body worker!)

Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plonking down the green backs on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course. (or – riding lessons, stalls mucked out, horses groomed...lots of options in the equine world equally applicable!)

This is about supporting your home town Canadian with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open. OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes (and they make beautiful leather girths, bridles, stirrup leathers, belts...and equestrian jewellery!)

Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip. Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of lights, about fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip. (Your trainer, groom, massage therapist might also appreciate a little extra at Christmas).

Christmas is now about caring about us, encouraging Canadian small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other Canadians, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn't imagine.

THIS is the new, "Canadian Christmas tradition". Forward this to everyone on your mailing list -- post it to discussion groups -- throw up a post on Craigslist in the Rants and Raves section in your city -- send it to the editor of your local paper and radio stations, and TV news departments. This is a revolution of caring about each other, and isn't that what Christmas is about?

BUY CANADIAN - BE CANADIAN - The job you save might be your own (and just to extrapolate for our American friends – this goes for you too!)

Jochen Schleese, CMS, CSFT, CEE

www.saddlesforwomen.com