Norval,
I agree with you 100% on having fun. I just wasn’t sure how it pertained to her problem. But in any case, yes, you have to have fun or it’s no longer a hobby. 
Thanks for posting the pic of Strider. He’s gorgeous. I wish you lived closer to me, we could have some nice rides! 
I tell you what I don’t enjoy riding a horse that doesn’t fill up my leg and your current horse sounds like that sort. I’m short and roundish, it’s not like I need much- but these little narrow critters - ugh- there’s nothing to balance with, or much to sit on. Add a treeless to that, forget about it. Wreck city. I tend to sit pretty well, no chair seat, no pushing on the stirrups- but lacking an actual HORSE to straddle vs a wide board, I’m not happy…
I’d be finding a treed saddle that captures yon sliver of a beastie, so I can enjoy the ride.
[QUOTE=Auventera Two;3114388]
Norval,
I haven’t read all the posts…
It’s interesting in that Horse & Rider (maybe Western Horseman) just did an article on different saddle fits - IRT what fits the horse AND, what fits the rider.
When I was shopping for saddle for my daughter to ride western pleasure (head over hip over heel equitation)… I was suprized to find that a certain shape “seat” was needed to get the hhh position.
Certain saddles will have you tipping forward; others will allow you to lean back and push your legs/feet forward. So - in addition to what fits your HORSE, you need one that fits you. Even endurance and western saddles have a “twist” to them. Certain saddles are just wicked to ride in for certain body types - they can force short thin women to sit on their bottoms more, which forces their legs out in front. I’m short but I also have a long upper leg - which requires a longer (not LARGER) seat. I also prefer a narrow twist so that my hips don’t ache.
there are MANY many saddles available to shop from. Be sure to try many.
Norval,
I think you should move out of the arctic circle! I sure don’t want to go any farther north. :lol: My riding buddies are pretty much fair weather riders. I have one buddy who rides all winter with me but she’s pretty busy and can only get out a couple times a month usually. I would be out there 3 or 4 times a week if I could. And I like really long rides. Not just an hour here or there, but several hours at a time.
[QUOTE=Auventera Two;3115414]
Norval,
Just a thought since I ride and breed 1/2 Arabs.
Are you REALLY sure she’s narrow? Or is she wide/flat on top, with a small body?
That second, for me, is the toughest combination to ride. Hips have to be SUPER open, but then there’s nothing there from mid-thigh down. Unlike the ‘pear shaped’ wide horse who can be the equine version of a couch.
My stallion is little. But takes custom wide trees (a Duett 40 is not quite wide enough) I rode him treeless in a Fhoenix for a couple of years and he was blissfully happy. Finally he bulked up again–beginning 3rd level dressage work–and it was just TOO much for my hips and the suckingsaddlesearch began again. When he first came my balance on him was ATROCIOUS. I could not ride him bareback for the life of me, even at a walk. And I was riding 4-5 horses a day, 4x/week… all shapes and sizes… it was the combo of his extravagant movement, shape and size. He is still not an easy shape to ride, but with strength and sit behind… and almost 10 years of work at it, he is now at least ‘secure’ feeling. The wrong saddle on him though, and I still feel like I’ve never been on a horse before… I think other shapes you can get away with things more.
If the horse is quite narrow, padding the UPPER thighs (think the big thigh blocks on dressage saddles as high up as it can go) can help make you feel more secure. If the horse is wide/flat on top, it’s all about opening the hips. And when you are nervous or excited (as in your CTR) you tend to tighten… opening the hips takes tremendous time and effort, the tendons involved are some of the biggest and strongest in the body. Retraining them is a lifelong task. The right shape and placement of thigh blocks can help. (they can be added, or velcro can be added fairly inexpensively) the exact placement is going to vary by individual, but higher is usually better for stability and opening the hips.
It’s definetly the horse…
I rode another one of my horses, another 1/2 arab and he is huge at 16hh and wide. I rode in the same saddle and didn’t experience the looseness or lack of balance on him. I felt great and confident on him.
It is not a training issue- both horses are bewtween 8-10 yr and have had 5-7 years of professional show training. They are broke to pieces.
I am pretty sure it is the narrow width of the horse (mare) and the flat wide saddle. How can I be a better rider or do I just need another saddle for her- even though this one fits?
Should I take dressage lessons? I sold all my dressage tack with my last warmblood horse so I don’t have anything but my Torsion.
I feel right at home on my Arab, like my butt was just made for her back. But still, she’s wiry, quick, and agile. She can literally twist her back in half and leave the saddle just sitting out there with no support. When she gets “ornery” she will snake her head around to my knee and the saddle slides right over the side. I have to be on constant alert to keep her head FACING THE FRONT. Her spine is so flexible. My stock horse couldn’t get her nose around to my knee if you broke her neck in 3 places.
I feel really unstable on the arabr when she’s goofing off. I rode her in the aussie saddle the other night and felt ok. I do prefer “more horse” to fill up my legs but at the same time the really wide ones hurt my hips now.
I have taken low level dressage lessons. I did not use dressage tack per se. I used my western saddle with a snaffle bit (a pinchless Dr. Bristol).
It helped me and my horse.
At a minimum, sign up for a lesson or two, with your tack and the horse for an evaluation by a trainer. They may be able to spot what can be corrected and offer some tips.
You can also take lessons on a lesson horse with barn tack. I did that for years. You can trailer in your own horse periodically and use their tack for your lesson. Sometimes it costs a little more, but it would still be cheaper than purchasing dressage tack.
What a minute - what am I saying?? Yes, yes, you NEED new tack! Absolutely. Get out that credit card and go shopping girlfriend!
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