Ok seriously why are you doing this to me?!?! Misery really does love company. That horse is CUTE! And yours is a hunk!
This stinks! Curse you!
[QUOTE=spacytracy;6070878]
This stinks! Curse you![/QUOTE]
I couldn’t resist. Seriously. The one I liked was listed three down from the top, and the pony was like five down. I just HAD to share. Besides, he has the cutest little face. And FEATHERS!! 
Ok, all. I’m not denying my h/j heritage but I ordered a dressage saddle yesterday- an older Crosby. Its really pretty and its BROWN. I love brown dressage saddles. Hopefully it will fit pony and help me get my balance a little better. I am having a hard time staying balanced and secure in my CC saddles.
Can’t wait to get it/try it on!
Uh-oh, spacytracy…the saddle collecting begins! It starts with just a dressage saddle, then there’s that jumping saddle with just a little more depth in the seat, then there’s a western saddle…you know, for trail rides and the occasional guest…
Ask me how I know this.
I peaked with 6 saddles and one rideable horse 
I’m currently up to…
2 CC saddles
1 western saddle
1 leadline saddle
1 western leadline saddle
I’m becoming a hoarder. I want to sell the one (the county I just got) but I keep thinking “what if I need it for the next horse”.
Its a sickness
I’ve already decided the next practical saddle I buy (not even owning a horse) will be an adjustable tree saddle. And right now, I’m leaning towards/have heard good things about the M. Toulouse saddles with the Genesis tree. You can adjust it by bit by bit, instead of just changing out gullet plates.
I like this one:
http://intecperformancegear.com/M.-Toulouse-Denisse-Double-Leather-with-Genesis-System-Brand--CPath--pid-5800GENLF5.html
Anyway … I figure since I may be leasing, or at least continuing my lessons on so many different horses, it might be a good investment. So I keep telling myself. Y’know.
I love this thread. I rode hunters, starting at age 5, and stopped before my freshman year of college for…well, college. Worked on campaigns, got involved in politics, met future husband, moved out to DC, got married and finally decided that enough was enough. I needed the horses back! Though in fairness, I feel like they never really left.
But it is such a different experience to ride as an adult, than as a young person. I’ll be 30 next year, but there is a huge difference.
I found a great Eventing barn out in VA, where I’m leasing a wonderful schoolmaster, who is teaching me how to do the jumpers again, with some great dressage work as well. In just six weeks I feel stronger and more brave than I did in our first lesson, where trotting over small verticals felt like a huge accomplishment!
Two things- first, how do y’all balance the horses with real life? My husband is a resident, and is on call 1-2 days per week, so actually we still see each other often enough during the week that I don’t feel like I’m neglecting him. But I still live in the District, and my barn is an hour away. In traffic at night coming from the Hill, it can take me 1.5 hours at least. I’m dedicated so I’m making it work, but it’s tough with time constraints like work. I wish I could ride every day.
Also, I feel like the brave/I’ll jump anything on anyone 16 year old that I once was is long gone. I still get a little anxious those first few jumps in my lessons. I was reading through this thread and think someone said that as adults, we tend to over-analyze our riding, as opposed to just doing it. So true and so well-said!
We have our first combined test in March and I can’t wait. My Mom (also an adult rerider) is coming out for it!
Welcome! For me personally, its a delicate balance. Im sure at times my hubby feels a bit neglected. However, its also important that he have “his” time too, and he does, so for the most part, I don’t feel guilty.
What helps me is remembering that marriage comes with all kinds of sacrifices and riding is one of them. If I was single I’d probably ride every day.
[QUOTE=Opus1;6073596]
I’ve already decided the next practical saddle I buy (not even owning a horse) will be an adjustable tree saddle. And right now, I’m leaning towards/have heard good things about the M. Toulouse saddles with the Genesis tree. You can adjust it by bit by bit, instead of just changing out gullet plates.
I like this one:
http://intecperformancegear.com/M.-Toulouse-Denisse-Double-Leather-with-Genesis-System-Brand--CPath--pid-5800GENLF5.html
Anyway … I figure since I may be leasing, or at least continuing my lessons on so many different horses, it might be a good investment. So I keep telling myself. Y’know.[/QUOTE]
You probably are aware that Toulouse saddles aren’t generally well thought of on this forum. I will say, however, that for the money, I think they are great. Our BO has them for all her school horses. I would say most of them are at least 5 or 6 years old. They are heavily used and have held up well, and the lesson kids and college students who use them find them very comfortable.
I bought a Noelle for my daughter several years ago when we leased a TB who couldn’t use her old saddle (a Stubben). It fit him well and looked very nice for shows. She rode in it 3-4 times/week for about two years, and it still looks almost new.
I am glad Toulouse is making an adjustable tree now; that wasn’t an option when I bought my daughter’s.
Welcome WIExpat!
My husband used to fuss about the time I spent at the barn, but he has come around. I was very frank with him and said the horses are necessary for my well-being and my peace of mind. They are my therapy and do a lot to reduce the stress in my life. He sees that it is true, and he’s pretty supportive now (though he doesn’t really know how much it costs).:lol: He goes to our awards banquet with me every year and takes pictures though he hasn’t gone to a show with me yet. (He did go to one or two when DD was showing.)
[QUOTE=spacytracy;6073010]
I’m currently up to…
2 CC saddles
1 western saddle
1 leadline saddle
1 western leadline saddle
I’m becoming a hoarder. I want to sell the one (the county I just got) but I keep thinking “what if I need it for the next horse”.
Its a sickness[/QUOTE]
:lol::lol:I notice you did not include the new dressage saddle in the list!
Back in the day when I rode in a lot of horse trials, I coveted a dressage saddle but never had the money for one. I tend to save the saddles from the past. Right now we have
Stubben Rex my parents bought for my first pony when I was 8 (DD also used it)
2 Stubben Siegfrieds (one I bought used in 1979–the other was my sister’s and now belongs to DD–mine is my everyday saddle)
Toulouse Noelle (DD’s)
Welcome WIExpat! I don’t envy you with the DC traffic. I’ve only gone through it a few times, on my way from CT to VA for hunting. I hated it so much that I now take the “longer” route through PA so I can keep moving.
It is hard to find enough time for riding and balance it with time for your spouse. I’m VERY lucky. My husband is both supportive and self-sufficient. His hobbies are motorcycles and target shooting, so it works out pretty well for us. Most any day that the weather’s nice enough for riding, it’s also nice enough for motorcycles and/or shooting, so he stays happy and busy while I’m at the barn. I still have to be careful, though, to make sure he doesn’t feel ignored.
Spacytracy, I understand the urge to hang onto that County for “the next horse”. I sold an old Crosby Mark VII to pay vet bills, and I wish I’d hung onto it. I didn’t get a lot for it, and now I’d like to have a flat saddle to use for strengthening my legs and improving my seat.
Opus1, I have the Pessoa with the adjustable gullet plates. I love the saddle, it’s very comfortable and puts me in a great spot for my riding, which is probably 70% on the flat and 30% over small fences. I have changed the plate out twice. It came with a medium, I went to the narrow when my pony first came back to work after a long layoff, then recently returned to the medium. It’s not too hard to change the plate, although I have my husband help me; it’s easier with two people. You could not, however, change it back and forth regularly. For instance, if you were riding two horses each week, you couldn’t swap out the plates twice a week, I believe the fittings would wear out or loosen up. However, if you’re leasing a horse for some period of time and want to fit that horse, while still having the ability to change the fit for a future differnt horse, they’re great for taht.
I haven’t tried the Toulouse saddles. However, I will say that any discussion of saddles on this forum often invites many responses from riders who like very expensive saddles, like Antares and Butet. I’m sure they’re lovely, but they’re not in the budget for many of us, and there are many saddles of good quality that work just fine for less, IMHO.
I personally LOVE my M Toulouse Celine saddle, and so does my paint gelding.
Hi WIExpat! Like you, I quit riding when college became the priority. Then for me it was law school and slaving away as a junior associate that kept me away. I didn’t start back until I was 37. Believe me, the girl who would ride/jump anything is definitely gone! I was just starting to get some of my old confidence back, and then I took a fall and broke my collar bone. So, now I am working on building courage again. I get very pleased with myself when I manage an 18" vertical, and then I remember how pathetic my teenage-self would have thought that was!
Juggling riding with being a real-world adult (with an hour commute to the barn) sucks. I’d kill to be able to ride every day. But work is necessary to pay for the hay, etc. And it would not be fair to my husband for me to use all of my free time riding. Just do your best to make sure you are still doing stuff with your DH that he wants to do.
My husband is crazy busy too, so most of our quality time has always been on vacations. While it is hard for me to go out of town for a couple of weeks in summer, or travel three weekends in a row over the holidays (because it takes time away from the barn) I do it because that is when we have a lot of fun together. I also try to make sure I am home from the barn early enough on weekends to go to dinner with friends, etc.
Like Hinerella, my DH has his own hobbies that keep him occupied on nice days (running, biking and golfing). This has really helped.
I am really lucky that he is very supportive, and comes to almost all of my shows to be my “person.” He helps get me organized to get on, wipes boots before I enter the ring, has water waiting for me and Tajar between classes, etc. And he is the designated photographer. I don’t know what I’d do on show days without him!
spacytracy, et al – on the saddle thing – I am a total hoarder. I have a Stubben Scandica VSD that I love that I used for lessons when I first started riding again in 2008, a Passier I got in 2009 when I wanted a CC saddle (the Stubben is an AP), and then last year I had a County made that is perfect for me and my horse. Since I got the County I have not ridden in either the Stubben or the Passier, but I refuse to sell them. They are great saddles, and I’d never get what they are worth to me personally. DH rides in the Stubben on the rare occasions he rides the barn’s designated “husband horse” out in the pasture with us.
I also hoard other tack, saddle pads, and field boots (I have a field boot addiction). My husband finds this fascinating, because in every other aspect of my life, I am the opposite of a hoarder. For all other goods/clothes, etc., if I haven’t used it in 2 years, it gets donated to the Junior League thrift shop.
Tarheel, I’m totally like you 
I am constantly throwing away excess stuff in my “real life” but have a huge collection of horsey stuff. Dress boots, field boots (both black and brown), paddock boots (even though I always ride in tall boots). Somehow I’m always sure of the need for that extra bridle, just as I"m sure I don’t need that extra black turtleneck!
[QUOTE=Hinderella;6074486]
Tarheel, I’m totally like you I am constantly throwing away excess stuff in my “real life” but have a huge collection of horsey stuff. Dress boots, field boots (both black and brown), paddock boots (even though I always ride in tall boots). Somehow I’m always sure of the need for that extra bridle, just as I"m sure I don’t need that extra black turtleneck![/QUOTE]
HA – I have paddock boots too! Never ridden in them, but I have them! They did come in handy this past summer, when it was so hot. I wore them at shows until literally right before I had to get on, then I put on my tall boots.
Tarheel- am I to assume you went to UNC? Me too And also in Atlanta!
[QUOTE=PaintedHunter;6074526]
Tarheel- am I to assume you went to UNC? Me too And also in Atlanta![/QUOTE]
Cool – I was there in late 1980s/early 1990s for undergrad, and law school from 1997 - 2000. Do you ever make it to Hudson Grille on Peachtree to watch basketball games with the alumni club?
I sadly haven’t made it out to watch games in quite some time- I’ve been so busy the past few years (work, grad school, back into horses…) that I hardly ever made it out there. But would love to start going.
I graduated from undergrad there in 2001.
Send me a PM if you ever want to meet up for a game! Lots of UNC peeps in Atlanta to watch with, which makes it more fun!
