I had a great ride on Coin, the neighbor's Standardbred, today! The thing that made the difference - I rode in my own saddle. There is this trick in the mind, when you settle yourself into your own saddle, your brain assumes it's your own, familiar horse. I was instantly at home. I really enjoyed myself today.
I know the Wintec Endurance Pro with exchangeable gullet and Cair has a lot of bad reviews, but I've had good luck so far with this inexensive, fake, lightweight thing, over a Skito wool pad. (I think the Skito really has a lot to do with my success.)
They asked me how long it would take to measure Coin and I stopped grooming and ran over to grab the gauge and said, "Well, no time at all if it fits already." And luckily, it did! They both agreed with me that he's a blue, and sure enough, the blue was in my saddle. Whew! They kept saying how nicely it fit him, judging from wither clearance and such, and I was reminded of my last ride on Wiszi, the mare I dream of owning, when the owner/breeder said, "No way, get it off her." OK then.
I asked that we do the exact same loop as last time. It was no problem, except for the branches and I insisted that next time I make the trails "Traber Trails" with clippers. Why should I endlessly get whacked in the face, or duck, when I can cut them down? I think Coin would stand for it, he's pretty easy.
The only bad part was that he trips a lot and is very unsteady going downhill. Frau Koch said it's cuz he's used to the race track. I asked, and he's 13. I thought a lot about what he was doing, he was going very slowly downhills, almost not moving forward at all, and zigzagging back and forth - what Baasha used to do on Squak mountain to get down it. I didn't mention arthritis, but that was my experience with this behavior. The horse is going slow motion sparing his legs the pain. Or, I'm wrong and he's just very careful because he's naturally clumsy.
The other bad part was when we were tacking up and they offered me a beer, and I said, "Yes, I'd accept a beer, as long as it isn't Koelsch" (the beer from Cologne). They just froze and looked at each other. I'd just offended their beer of choice. Peinlich. I said, "I'm sorry!" and they said, "Well, we're not from Cologne so it's no big deal." and I said, "But I know it is a big deal, I'm sorry." They brought me a Pils and I drank some of it thankfully as we tacked up. My goodness Fettnaepfchen.
I love this horse's trot. It's lumbering and huge and when I told Frau Koch I loved it, she laughed and said "Did I get you right - you like it?" I said, "Yes, it's great! I can just sit here if I want." She said everyone complains about his trot, that it's like riding in a tractor. I said, "I guess I've ridden a lot worse trots before." (Thinking of Princess Buttercup (Centennial Princess) and the friends of mine who actually held their boobs while riding....but hey, I love that mare and she can do no wrong!) Coin has a slow motion huge trot. I love it.
I just need to cut branches down next time. So I can ride without the whacking and resulting inch-worm massacre.
Two weeks from now I'll do it.
P.S. If the pics don't give an idea how big he is, I guess you can look at my stirrup length to see how I was perched up there.
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8 comments:
He is a BIG boned boy!!! LOL
He has a very sweet face and a kind eye!
How wonderful that your saddle fit without having to change out the gullets. I also have a Wintec, but I only have the red gullet.
Could be be going slowly down the hill because he isn't tucking his rear under him? Could it be a fitness issue?
Yup, he's a Big Un!
He looks honest. I'd take him home if the commute wasn't so huge >g< And I'm glad your saddle fit him. You know I hate that saddle, but you love it and that's what is important. Too bad I sold my Wintec endurance, otherwise you might ride with me when you visit.
You, ahem, can STILL ride with me, you know. Hana is getting regular work now, and she loves going out!!! But you'll have to ride in the Specialized Saddle. >g<
So, clumsiness: how are his feet trimmed? Toes too long? Are his front shoes set back? If not, try that, and roll the toes a bit with a rasp. Sue B. had an arab mare (Ellie) that was royally bred and I *hated* to ride her because she tripped no matter what I did. Found out later that the horses in that bloodline are reknowned trippers...but some people love them anyhow!!??!! Made no sense to me.
Also, has Coin done any dressage, or has it been just racing and now trails? Some good dressage work + cavaletti (which I cannot spell) can really help with the body-awareness/tripping thing.
I'm so glad you had a good ride!!!!
He is a handsome boy for sure, and I'm so glad that you are getting to ride. That is an interesting theory about his sparing his legs because of arthritus - is there a way to check that?
Great that your saddle fit him so well, and that you are much more comfortable with him riding in it. Thank you for the photos and good luck trimming those branches.
Aarene, honest is the right word, you got it.
You know I cannot start offering tips at this point to these people I don't know yet. I wanted to, of course. I did ask if he can go barefoot, simply because Baasha used to trip until the day we took the shoes off. I don't know if that would help, but they said that he wears down too quickly to go barefoot. Beyond that I couldn't say, though I wanted to, "Have you had him x-rayed?" He's 2 weeks from a farrier visit and I hope they will discuss the horrible tripping. I trust they will because Kati did seem concerned about it, "He's never gone so slowly before down that hill!" she said. Aarene, it's hard to offer unasked for advice at this stage, my second visit. I know you just want him to go along trip-free so Thank You for that: )
Rddunappy, I love big boned horses so much!!!
Dreaming - I don't know. Both times I'd ridden him they said he'd been out regularly. Hm!
Kbryan, I sure hope it isn't arthritis but that was where my mind went from my experience. Thank you for the best wishes!
He's so very handsome.
I'm just so glad you are getting to ride!
He's so cute!! I love his face!
I'm glad you felt more comfortable in your saddle and had fun. The first ride is always a little nerve wracking. I'm glad the second was enjoyable.
About the tripping I would agree with everyone that it's either his shoes themselves or how he's trimmed/shod. The walking slow downhill could be (from my experience/I'm no expert) something as simple as lack of fitness and/or balance issue, unfamiliar saddle or it could be some sort of pain such as his feet, hocks, back, etc. No way to really know unless they are willing to have a vet look at him. However considering they said he's never walked down that hill so slow it could have just been the unfamiliar saddle or a lack of fitness. :D
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