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| Rocking the navy bonnet |
Ok, while the photo contest judges are deliberating, I'm going to do a real, actual Cuna update:
He's been great. Seriously.
On Tuesday, we bit the bullet and just used dirty tack instead of getting my stuff out. Oh, and by "dirty tack" I do mean Steph's CWD 2G and an Antares bridle. God I love fancy barns.
I stayed balanced, he had a great rhythm going, and other than the one time where I saw a close distance literally a stride away, then did nothing while he took a long spot and got left way behind, it was great. He was great.
The trouble with riding in the fancy saddle is this: it makes me want one. I know fancy saddles aren't for plebes such as myself. I know that.I also know that I have to fight my saddle for my position and it was just so refreshing to actually sit in a saddle that let me be in the right place. My leg was stable and I was comfortable. Plus there's the magic 2G tree thing, and if any of you haven't cantered around in these babies, OMG YOU MUST TRY IT.
Or not. Too spendy for me, ever.
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| I think he could be an Antares guy |
We'll see. I borrowed his old owner's dressage saddle Wednesday and we did some good ol' fashion dressaging. My sitting trot is coming right along and he's starting to move laterally a little. We're leaving lengthenings alone for now. He likes them WAAAAAY too much. Like, every time we go down the long side, he'll offer them. Gotta love his enthusiasm.
Today we jumped in my saddle. It was ok, but I just didn't feel as solid as Tuesday. I think I'm going to do some research and see if I can't find something that would work better for us. I'm not worried about owning a dressage saddle, but I would like my jump saddle to not hurt me. I would also like it to be affordable and grippy and havana brown and maybe come with matching brown tall boots. Is that really so much to ask for?
Note: we jumped 4 2'6" jumps Tuesday and 8 2'3" jumps today. It's not like I'm pounding him into the ground here.
Also note: Tomorrow is hock injections day!! I'm hoping for more cute pictures at the vet. :D
A girl in my barn just got a new CWD. It isn't the same model but it is lovely. I still adore my saddle and prefer my wool flocking for Hue but I have to admit I love the leather on the CWD's and the Antares are drool worthy too. Hope that you can find an option that works better for you as well as Cuna! :)
ReplyDeleteSo jealous that you get to use fancy tack, even if its just borrowing :) So love Antares and CWD, I wish I could afford to make all my tack name brand!
ReplyDeleteWe call Pongo's lengthening his "POWER trot"...once you ask for POWER trot, you can never go back, LOL! The CWDs are great! They sponsor my trainer so we have a few floating around our farm as well!
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the wonderful world of saddle hunting. Be prepared, for its a long and arduous road to the perfect saddle that fits both you and your pony... Believe me, I know.
ReplyDeleteTry to find a Thornhill 24k from the early to mid 2000s. One of the dark brown models. I have the same confirmation as you, and only fancy saddles fit me. Except for my trainer's Thornhill 24k from 2005. They go for about $600. Best saddle ever.
ReplyDeleteGood to know! That's a lot closer to my price range than a CWD will ever be.
DeleteI get to spend most of my rides in my friends Amerigo... I've already told her if she ever sells that thing it comes to me. Even if she breaks the tree in it and is going to throw it away.
ReplyDeleteI am now spoiled however. Not to mention our university's saddles are mostly Stubbens, with one Pessoa, one Jaguar, on the cheaper end are a bunch of brand new collegiates... Make my $40 Bates I got off eBay look like a piece of junk (which it, admittedly, is).
Oh boy saddle time, while a pain in the butt it can be fun! I've got a s
ReplyDeleteStubben, and old Pessoa jump saddle for you to try (but not buy;) and a Schleese dressage saddle (with lots of withers room) you can also play in if you want. Also we can order in any of the Thornhill saddles for a demo for the price of shipping, their new leather quality is really nice for the under 1300$ price tag!
Next week. Saddle date.
DeleteUgh, been there, done that. We ended up with a less fancy but still perfect CWD.
ReplyDeleteOoof, I rode in a Devecoux Biarritz a few times and OMG it was like my leg had *finally* found its long-lost home. I felt so secure I wanted to cry. It's not a saddle I'll ever own, partly because it's $$$$$ and partly because they're foam instead of wool-flocked, but I lust after a saddle that puts me in such a good position. It is HEAVEN!
ReplyDeleteIf you have discovered that your saddle is compromising your position and security, you have no choice but to look for a different model. There is just no point to taking lessons and trying to improve your position when it is the tack you are fighting. I do no jump much, but I had this problem with dressage saddles for years. Most are made for people with much longer legs than mine and a narrow twist causing me pain. I cannot believe how long I suffered waiting for it to get better. Best wishes for an affordable, well-fitting saddle. I know that it is not an easy journey.
ReplyDeleteIt might be worth stalking the Middleburg Tack Exchange website (I know they're on the other side of the country, but). They have an incredible amount of used saddles in really great shape and I think they will even let you take some on trial. If you found something you both really liked and wanted to search for it second hand, they would be a really good resource. Often they have more than what's listed and you can call them and tell them what you're looking for and they'll be on the hunt for you:)
ReplyDeleteI'm very curious about the Duett Presto. Although Duett specializes in saddles for wide horses, it seems like you get a very nice saddle for the price. I just found a 17.5 medium tree Presto on Bits and Barter for $500. I wish I had the cash right now...
ReplyDeleteI too dream of buying a new saddle. Except right now I have a trashy cheap saddle and would be content with a normal priced saddle, which in my books is pretty fancy. Oh to win the lottery
ReplyDeleteIs this your Ainsley that isn't working out? I found it isn't great for showjumping, it really is more for x-c and shorter stirrups.
ReplyDeleteSo, uh, are you selling your Ainsley? What size is it again?
Cuna goes in a Harmon & Scott Jimmy Wofford xc saddle. Love the quality, love the seat, but the stirrup bars aren't quite working for me. It does fit Cuna reasonably well.
Delete;) Ainsley might be available, only because I'm convinced that Cuna will never fill out a wide tree. It's an 18" seat.
I loved my Ainsley, it had the suede knee rolls, though. I regret selling it. If you think you'll have a broader horse again down the road, you may want to hold on to it.
DeleteIf you're selling... keep us all posted ;-)
Oh gosh, I REFUSE to ride in my trainer's CWDs if I can help it for exactly that reason. I don't want my butt to get used to a nice saddle. :)
ReplyDeleteI have a Frank Baines and love it... short legs over here too :)
ReplyDeleteI have long thigh bones and normal to short calves, so finding a saddle was a major pain. After trying a lot of options and resulted in my knee poking out the front, I ended up with a Barnsby Whittaker. It was designed for a man with long legs, so it ended up working and I find that I can easily lengthen or shorten a couple of holes and make it work really well for both stadium and xc. They aren't cheap saddles, but you can find them used and in a good condition under $1,000.
ReplyDeleteHow are the stirrup bars not working for you? Lumpy under the thigh?
ReplyDeleteOn my blog some time back your comment helped me take the plunge into saddle shopping, so now I must return the favor. Keep on the hunt for the right saddle (at the right price) because it really does factor into your position and it sucks to be fighting against your saddle all the time!
I absolutely love my Albion K2 juming saddle. I mean love. I have the medium narrow with wither gussets that fits Steady beautifully. Wool flocking, small knee and calf blocks that don't interfere at all, forward flaps and I to have the same issue though I have long legs my thigh is sooo much longer than my calf and need a lot of room from ass to knee to fit in any saddle. I believe mine is a 17 1/2". The only thing it does have is a bit of a deeper seat than a show jumping saddle might have because I believe it is technically an event saddle. But talk about a secure jumping position! I swear that saddle is half the reason I am fearless jumping anything. Good luck on your search and I would agree that if it doesn't fit you then it is time to move on.
ReplyDelete