Stirrups

Who would think that something so simple as stirrups can have so much ellect on the way we ride and the horse's comfort and correctness. Give this video a watch:

Side note: I was taught that "heels down" didn't mean actually shoving your heels down but rather lengthening your leg by pushing down from the thigh, which has the same effect as recommended in this video.

After watching it, I googled angled stirrups and there are a lot of them out there. Here is a link to a blog post about checking the level of your foot: https://murdochmethod.com/level-your-stirrups-for-a-solid-foundation/

So my question to you is, do you ride with the angled stirrups and has it improved your equitation and your horse's performance? I an going to try shimming my stirrups to see how it works for me before I go and buy a pair. Also, if you do ride them, what brand do you use and is one brand better than another? Here is what I found on google images, the variety is overwhelming!

He has arrived

Here is Booncat with his new family! Note that one of the children is in charge of the leadrope, that says a lot about the gentleness of this colt!

Here is what they said: "He is perfect. He has such an amazing personality. We are thrilled. He loaded and hauled like a champ."

They also promised to send updates on him which I will share with you.

Saddle trial and Booncat leaves

I am trying out a Billy Cook trail saddle on Gussie (model 1777). It seems to fit her well so far, but I don't find it very comfortable for me. The seat is fully padded and has enough rise that the padding pushes against me enough to cause chafing (*ahem*, ladies will know what I mean!).
 I went for a short ride with the lady who owns the saddle.

She was riding her 23 year old Morgan gelding.

I plan to ride it a few more times before I decide if it is "the one".

I tried it with my SPH saddle pad

Either the bars are too steep at the rear of the saddle, or it's just the leather that will end up flexing and laying flatter.

It was a lovely day to ride. The grass is still green despite the week of sub zero temperatures we had a couple of weeks ago. 

 I like to pause at this spot near the river to enjoy the bright green of the moss.

We wound our way through brush and trees watching for wildlife as there was a lot of deer sign as you will see in this video:

But other than the antler rubs and a lot of tracks, we didn't see anything.  We made our way back  and just enjoyed the peaceful beauty of the day.

That's our driveway, and the neighbour's house. Gussie is listening to the calls from Belle and Drifter, who had spotted her.

So the saddle did ok, it didn't move or slide back and seemed not to have any pressure points that I could find.  I'm just not sold on buying a factory saddle after all these years of riding custom built saddles! If I could afford it, I would have my cousin (first cousin, once removed!) Shane Pittman make me a saddle. He custom builds his own trees after careful measurements of the horse's back and boy he does nice work. Here are some photos of his work.

His starting price is 4 grand though and I don't think I can swing that! It's so tough for me to look at those saddles and then settle for a Billy Cook..... 

Meanwhile, back at the ranch....

Today, I loaded up Booncat and hauled him to the first stop on the way to his new owners. He will be there for a couple of days before heading to Alberta; the buyers are hauling a horse they started for the lady who will be meeting them halfway with Booncat. He loaded well and hauled well, only a bit of calling and a couple of times he stuck his li'l nose out the window slots. But when we put him in the big box stall he was like "what the heck!" Not a happy little Booncat! All by his little self! Hopefully she will put a horse next to him so he can have some company. I bet he will whinny himself hoarse though. 

Riding day 68 and 69

My apologies....

I have had to turn on comment moderation as I am being hit with spam comments. I check my blog every day so your comments should get published the same day. Thanks for your understanding!

Well that was quick

I made the decision to put Booncat up for sale a few days ago.

 I was hoping that Shayla would be able to take him but things changed for her and it wasn't going to happen. So I advertised him on Northern Horse .com, an Alberta website that has worked well for me in the past.

My ad: https://www.northernhorse.com/classifieds/AdDetails_Horse.asp?ID=24205

2 days later, he is sold!

 He will be going to a home in Duchess Alberta. The folks seem really nice, a couple with 3 children who train performance horses. He calf ropes, she barrel races and they think Booncat will be a nice versatile horse for them and have plans to show him. And I will be able to keep in touch through Facebook.

They will be coming for him next week. I had his feet done today, so he is ready to go. He will be company for another weanling they have for this winter. I'm happy that they are really excited to get him!

Saddle fit and sorting

This wonderful fall weather continues, this is the nicest first half of November I've seen in a while.

Last post I mentioned that I may have found a temporary solution to my saddle fitting woes (other than riding bareback!). I have one of those thin neoprene pads that has a bit of extra padding where the bars of the saddle sit, so I put that under my Diamond Wool pad and went for a trail ride. Just down to the river, and looking at all the plants that have winterized themselves.

It seemed to work, the saddle didn't slip at all . The true test would be a longer and more active ride though.

So Saturday I went sorting again. 

5 hours later and after 7 runs the saddle stayed put and I think it may work for now.

Lots of standing around in between runs, so I rode down to the other end of the arena a few times and worked Gussie at the trot to keep her warmed up. The first 3 runs were practice runs and my partner and I did it perfectly, all 10 cattle in order and none of the trash got through the gate. Then it was time for the jackpot runs, I had a different partner, and the time allotted was 30 seconds shorter- and we trashed out every one of the 4 runs! Oh well, we had fun! Next one is December 14, and barring a super cold snap or major storm we'll be going again. Gussie really seems to enjoy it as much as I do.

I also found another trail riding partner, hopefully I'll get to go somewhere new soon.

Riding day 66 and 67

Wordless Wednesday

Come along now Booncat

I'm thankful that November is reasonably warm so far! Warm enough to get me in the saddle today. I rode Gussie down for the mail, it's about a mile each way. I was noticing all the bare trees and ditches full of leaves; all the colour is laying on the ground now. The berry bushes that have the white berries that we used to love to pop when we were kids are heavily laden; the elderberry trees have been stripped by local folks with only a few berries at the top for the birds, and the wild rosehips are a nice pop of colour.
Once we got back I decided that Gussie had a little more work to do, so it was time to pony Booncat around the yard.
Well, at least, that was the plan....

Apparently, Booncat has a bit of a stubborn streak! He wasn't about to move and though he be but little he be strong!

The trick was to make him circle by bringing Gussie around him; around and around and then line out.... rinse and repeat.... he'd come a little ways and then it was Nuh-uh again. 

Gussie is so good for this, When she feels that he stops and hits the end of the rope it locks my position in the saddle and she stops and waits to see what I want her to do next- circle, back up, or pull. She can pull him but I would rather he moved his feet willingly hence all the circling. He always does better if he thinks it was his idea!

After we were done he earned his li'l self some time standing tied at the hitching rail to think about things. He's actually standing tied really well now. 

He didn't fuss or pull, just stood there quietly mulling things over.

Once I get him ponying better- I think maybe 2 more sessions should do it- I will have some fun taking him through the bush and down to the river.

Oh- and I may have a solution to my saddle fit problem. I'll be checking it out with more rides this week before I post about it.

Riding day 65

November already....

It seems that winter hit early this year. Normally it's late November / early December before I have to start plugging in the water heaters for the horses, but it was the last week of October this year. No snow down here in the valley to speak of; we had a little blast on the 28th of October but it's mostly gone, but with the clear skies come the cold temperatures; -10 to -12 Celsius at night lately.
I have taken to blanketing Beamer at night to keep his old bones warm and I think he appreciates it.
I found something interesting in my essential oils book:

so I started using it on his knee mixed with sticky bud oil a couple of times a day. He seems to be moving better; combined with the Streamz bands and the camelina oil (2 oz. a day) I think I am doing all I can to make him comfortable as he can be with a big knotty knee.

Drifter is doing well, I work him a couple of times a week for about 20 to 30 minutes which is plenty for a long yearling.



I also took the longe line off and free longed him for the first time; he did hunt the gate but it was easy to persuade him to just go on as if I had the line on. A few more times of this and I'll put the reins on and get him to give to the bit from the ground in preparation for ground driving.

Booncat is also making progress; I have ponied him 3 times now and he is better every time; I should be able to take him out of the pen for a ponying session soon.

I did lead him around the yard and he thoroughly enjoyed it, interested in everything and not spooky or silly at all - so ponying around the property should go well. I had him stand tied yesterday as I picked up all his feet and used the hoof pick on them; not too bad; I'd give him a C+. I do that every day before I put him in the foaling pen for his special feed. I also started adding camelina oil to his feed.

The search for a new saddle for Gussie goes on. I tried adding extra padding in the hollows of her shoulders but all it did was make the saddle tippy and probably added extra pressure to the back of the bars.

Riding day 64