Are you training her for distance trail riding? If not, I highly
recommend the discussion list Equine-L. If you post your question to
them, you will get delightfully bombarded with helpful advice about
basic training. Just include your e-mail address at the end of your
message. To subscribe, send e-mail to EQUINE-L@PSUVM.PSU.EDU
and in the body of the message, put SUBSCRIBE EQUINE-L
and that's all, I believe.
WELFARE VS. RIGHTS
>In a message dated 95-10-23 11:08:56 EDT, you write:
>>BTW, this board is monitored by animal welfare people!
>Ray,
>I am glad to know that the animal rights people are listening. The more
> they know about our sport the better off we all will be.
>Mike
I agree! There is, however, a big difference between welfare & rights.
(That's for another discussion list, however, and not appropo for here.)
No reason for anyone on this list to be paranoid, though. Au contraire, this
sport has the most health-conscious gurus of the horse world in it. Experts
in other equestrian disciplines are constantly referring to this one's
state-of-the-art way of conditioning the physical and mental well-being of
the horse as ideal. Anyone following the recent thread on loops in rides
can see that we care for our animals as ourselves much more than the
average backyard horse owner or yahoo.
SPORTS SADDLE
I've finally decided to keep it. The trial period is over. I still have my
radar out for a well-fitting lightweight/well made saddle with a tree,
however, because of the weight-distribution thing for long distance.
In the meantime, it's the most comfortable & secure bareback pad
I've ever had. I did make some modifications, however. The thinner
nylon stirrup "leathers" from my old fabric bareback pad totally eliminate
the bump under my knee, and my peacock safety stirrups give me a
bit of mental ease. If it's for a lightweight rider, and short distances, I
highly recommend it. I think it was too expensive for the sum of the
materials, though ($695). It is well-made, at least. Oh, and no, the
stirrup position is fixed. If you don't like where they hang on your
particular horse, I suppose you'd have to rig a different position or
send it back for custom work. I think the position is just fine.
Bridget brickson@sb.com