saddlechariot revisited
Morning everyone! As this forum has gotten way off track of original topic, I was wanting to visit the saddlechariot again via my self-absorbed approachā¦just in an effort to join in with everyone elseās approach here. Apparently not one forum member whom has posted on this thread has ever used the saddlechariot. That is too bad really, and basically nullifies all arguments against it. I do appreciate that everyone took the time to post, however. I assume everyone has just had too much time on the end of a leadline learning FROM the horse today and so has taken a break to enter comments at this forum.
As I understand it, the saddlechariot is fit exclusively to the horse. The driver is but the by-product of the affair; there to enjoy. I would hope that the many people whom do own and use the saddlechariot for their horses would enter feedback here on this forum for the benefit of those readers whom had not previously known about the saddlechariot. It only seems fair that those with real experience in this area would submit testimony to counter some of the comments made by those who are relying only on their ordinary way of thinking about driving; but again, have no qualifications or experience. āPoor Poniesā? Do any of you really know your ponies?
Several of you have gone to great legnth to prove your qualifications as horsepeople and horse-gaget experts which in general, in any field, makes those of a less base and humbler nature, question your experience. Those whom rely soley (and gratingly speak loudly) on past accomplishments within any normal route would not be interested in anything innovative, enlightened, or FUNā¦so how do you see fit to judge something that is outside the scope of your comprehension?
I compare it to riding bareback with a rope. We ride the circut here and my young Preliminary jumper tends to get overly excited at the shows; this due primarily to the activity of lots of horses coming and going and being confined for so many hours when at home he is not. The older horses do not have this tendency to overreact and have learned to re-direct those energies toward performance. Anyway, the other week at High Prarie, had taken the Prelim horse out for a jaunt on the trails around there, complete with helmet, leather halter, and a leadrope and after awhile we were tearing along up and down the hills jumping the ditches (which is great combination of fun and fear without a saddle!), and in general, just letting loose. I had hopped off and my horse took a good roll and was just getting back up when along down the trail comes a horse and rider, complete with all tack (including running martingale) and a fully turned out rider. The horse is puffing and foaming and way above the bit jogging nervously and the rider has about 20 lbs. of pressure on that bit and mouth shutter. She rides past, to my horror (her horse was obviously a timebomb because of HER RIDING), looks me up and down, scoffs at my appearance there in shorts by my newly rolled horse, and she tries to purse her lips to smile that āIām better than youā smile, when her horse takes off, headtossing and then I really saw how high strung she wasā¦a total nervous wreck and totally out of control. Saw her horse go in the Adult Hunter hack class laterā¦big suprise that he did not pin.
The way I figure it, we are always out of control with the horse, whether we have a leg on each side or are sitting in a cart. The only way it REALLY works is to develop the kind of FEEl, TIMING, EMPATHY, and HONESTY that the horse willingly brings to the relationship. Humans, and āhorsepeopleā in general tend to bypass that in favor of ātrainingā and a whole lot of investment in gadgets, ie:bitting arrangements, saddles, carts, attire, so on. there is certainly the outward apperance of experience in such presentation, but does it really matter that much at the end of the day how much prize money, how many ribbons and trophies, or how much attention one has gained if oneās horse has a great distaste for one? Or perhaps the horse is somewhat agreeable to all the nonsense and simply has lack of trust for oneā¦is it all worth it to be able to call oneself āexperiencedā at the expense of the horseās wellbeingā¦mental wellbeing? How many of you whom commented (bashed) the IDEA of the saddlechariot can say your horse would willingly lay down his/her life for you? Who amongst you can say that you do not use underhanded approaches in training and practicing with your horses? How many of you can ride, lunge, drive without any gear at all? How many of you rely on gear to ride, lunge, drive? Who among you have become half horse?
Those among you whom have committed no sins should indeed cast the first stone. Unfortunately, you cast stones without reflection and without EXPERIENCE. You may have driven everyday of your life, started 500 colts, or win a class here and there but that does little to prove anything to the next horse in line. He cares not about your qualifications of experience and even less so about your gadgets and tack. He cares about himself and hopes to find in you a true and righteous leader and friend. He cares not for your attire or lack of; he cares about your way of being, inherent grace, maturity, and wisdom. People with wisdom, horsemen and not, generally do not bash other people and their ideas, ESPECIALLY IF IT BENEFITS THE HORSE.
Like the majority of true saints presently in the world, good horsemen are rarely in the limelight. Many tend to take a lower position and spend a great deal of time helping and learing WITH the horse. The majority of people using the saddlechariot are of that enlightened type. Their horses are generally barefoot, bitless, naturally kept, organically fed, long-lived, HAPPY horses that have brilliant connections with their humans. We need to ask these horses for their reviews of the saddlechariot via translation by their owners whom truly are FOR THE HORSE.
I am a greenie here and will likely not contribute nor waste time on these boards again. I think it would be better to be learning something from my horses rather than massaging my self-gratifying EGO on this forum anymore. Those of you whom prop yourselves up as masters are, in the true masters eyes, novicesā¦because you are blinded by the knots and fetters of your own personal existence and unwilling to reach beyond your own personal limits. At least one person on this forum has broken several rules of engagement as set forth by registration rules for this forum. As he is a more vetern member, surely he will be allowed to continue berating and slanderizing whatever and whomever he wishes. It is no different than the ātop-trainerā whom beats his horse in the warm-up ring then goes in for a 8 fault round. Nobody stops him because he canāt win anyway. Iād much prefer to be my trainer, warm-up in a bitless cavesson, talk to the horse, go in together and win that grand prix.
So again, thanks to everyone whom posted. Have had several great horsepeople tell me to try the saddlechariot for a couple of my horsesā¦now that I see the other camp, I will be ordering one. By the way, the wire horse sculpture is really an astoundingly complicated, intricate and awesome piece of artwork. If we all only spent that much time with REAL horsesā¦how much better in our hearts we all would be! Tally ho!
It would be interesting to hear what someone who has actually tried one thinks. Not thinking about buying one, maybe the next time I have an extra couple of thousand $$$$ to throw around.:winkgrin:
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Debbi had been āhelpingā me to weld carriages and other things since she was about 3! And learnt to weld properly when she was 13 or 14 when she helped me for real to build a garden ornament with a distinct carriage driving theme. She had the patience and did a heck of a lot of welding on this!
