Get yourself a horse that can do both (or one that can't do either but dresses the part).
I can't ride in this saddle at the moment, because one of the billets is broken, but it fits Ava well. I will fix it at some point, but for now it's a great desensitization saddle.
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| Ava has gotten really good at grazing with a lead rope. When she steps on it she backs away from pressure. Apparently she doesn't mind ropes on her face either. |
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| Notice how relaxed she is in the arena! |
Avalon has been much more relaxed in the arena. Partially because it is summer and she mellows out in the summer, but I think that taking time to slow down and connect helps as well. I set up a couple of ground poles to encourage her to lower her head and pick up her feet.
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| I love to see her trotting with a lowered, relaxed head. |
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| Spicing up the circling game with barrels |
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| Trot poles to build awareness and topline. |
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| Avoiding the trot poles |
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| An artsy phone taken by accident. It shows the complicated reality of lunging while taking photos. |
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| Sweaty girl |
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| Mostly even sweat marks. |
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| A weird sweatless spot in between the saddle and the girth. |
I'm hoping to get some ground driving in soon with the long lines and western saddle.
I don't know much about saddle fitting. I tend to build up with pads and blankets because their backs are constantly changing. I prefer a western saddle, but all my horses prefer english. I do think english saddles are superior in many ways--for horse comfort--and for rider safety.
ReplyDeleteI am most familiar with english saddles, since I took dressage and jumping lessons growing up. However, I took a reining class last semester in college, so now I'm pretty comfortable in both.
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