Still no saddle... *sigh*

We are, after more than three months, still without a saddle. There are not very many options for us out there (al least not many I know about) plus the fitter of my choosing, though a good one, itsn't the fastest.

I did manage to try the Harry Dabbs saddles I wanted to see on Crispin. Unfortunately, they were no fit. Both, the Extra and the Meridian were wide enough for Crispin but they both had way too much longitudinal bend for him too. So, back to square one... *sigh*

The Harry Dabbs "Extra" Platinum 17,5 /MW:

 

And the Harry Dabby "Meridian" Elegant, 17,5 /W:

The fitter has one more saddle in mind that might be a fit for Crispin, unfortunately, it has to be build first (he sold the trial saddle in august and hasn't come around to build another one).

In the meantime, I'm still riding bareback which is getting old fast! Crispin is a very good boy about it but we are not progressing in any way, he needs to be ridden more foreward than what riding without a saddle is allowing me to do. Again,

*sigh*

And here we go again. We need a new Saddle, oh my!

The day finally came, Crispin outgrew his Sommer. No real surprise there but I've dreaded the day. The Chiro was here about 6 weeks ago. I already knew that the fit of the saddle wasn't that great anymore and when she pointed out pressure points at the stirrup bars, I decided it was time to move on. I haven't used the saddle since.

I had a fitter out that specializes in Harry Dabbs, as I wanted to see the Harry Dabbs extra CC Dressage on Crispin. He didn't bring that one but will be back with a couple mores saddles soon. So far Harry Dabbs could be a posibility.  I also had my fitter out but there isn't anything he can do for us anymore. All Sommer saddles are as wide as Crispin's or more narrow in the tree.

*insert weeks of waiting and Crispin getting first, kicked in the right leg, then in the left, then lost a shoe, then taking off both shoes for the winter*

Well, I started this post a while ago and am back in saddle fitting hell. At this point I have been without a saddle for over two months (about 10 weeks, I think) and there is NO solution in sight. I have not tried the Harry Dabbs Extra yet nor the Bucks Manufactum (the other brand the Harry Dabbs fitter carries) because that fitter is impossible to get out due to a busy schedule. He did, however, offer to let me take the Harry Dabbs and try in by myself. I have not done that yet, because there was always something going on with Crispin that would have made it difficult to assess a saddle.

I also tried to get in touch with Harry Dabbs directly but they happily suggested that I get in touch with the fitter with the busy schedule. Great, thanks. *sigh*

So, for what it's worth. I got myself a flexi ruler and took measurements and pictures of the back in question:

Ode to the 8 year old

I do not know what's wrong with me, but I really need to post more ;-)

Crispin is doing SO well! I've been thinking this a lot lately. Don't get me wrong, there has never been a single day that I regretted getting this horse and over all he's always been a good boy. He's never been a very difficult or problematic horse anyway, sure he has his little issues and quirks but never, ever did he do anything that really scared me or made me think "wow, I really need help".

But this year, as an eight year old he really, really matured. We are progressing at a much faster rate now, and I think he's been nothing but fun this year. All ongoing issues are getting better and better, he's straighter now, much more forward, the canter work has been comming along nicely (well, at least before I had to ride bareback) and he is a lot less fussy when he's getting tired or overwhelmed.

I'm also pretty bad at taking pictures lately but I finally managed to get at least some confo shots from eight year old Crispin:

Having fun or "mental health days"

I'm sorry for being so neglective of the blog lately. (I haven't even taken any birthday pics this year!) Everything with Crispin is going well. We are progressing slowly but surely.

As a proof of life, here are two short clips from us just having fun. One (fuzzy one) of us cantering on the track the BO mowed into one field (I had to hold the camera in one hand while navigating Crispin with the other).

The other one of us just hacking through the woods. On both you'll see what it looks like sitting on Crispin

The Birthday present I gave to myself

Another reason why I didn't blog as much as I should/could, I had a pretty big, scary, round birthday comming on and on a saturday too and decided, that I needed to be far away from home for that. So, what better thing to do than treating myself to a dream vacation to (and on) my birthday. Organizing and actually taking that trip took up a bit of my free time.

I went horseback riding in Wales! (On Welsh Cobs of course). It was simply wonderful!

First I went to Cardiff for two nights:

The Bed and Breakfast:

Being a bit of a nerd (and a newhovian) I just had to go to the "Doctor Who Expirience", take a trip on the TARDIS (sorry for the sideway pix, no idea why blogger sometimes does that...)

and then help The Doctor fight off Cybermen and Daleks

The expo was nicely done and a lot of fun. I also booked the walking tour to some of the places where episodes of  Doctor Who and of  course Torchwood where shot.

 
After that I had some Cream Tea at Mrs. Pettigrew's Team Room

Then the real fun began. On saturday I went up into the Black Mountains to a farm where I would be spending the week exploring the mountains on trusty, homebred Welsh Cobs.

There where hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of these around:

For the first three days I got paired up with Julias

Who carried me around safely up and down steep mountain trails and rocky roads

The weather was lovely all week long and we had some spectacular views from the mountain tops

After three days Julias deserved a break and I got to ride another lovely pony called Ebony who was just as lovely to ride as Julias. Forward, responsive and amazingly sure-footed!

We even met some feral ponies on the welsh mountains

I had the most wonderful time, and enjoyed the Welsh mountains with their rough beauty very much.

This is how we do it: Trick Training

I decided to do a round of "this-is-how-we-doit-post". A series of postings of my day-to-day work with Crispin. Longing, long lining, trick training riding and lessons.

Let me start out with a series of videos of the trick training (Zirkuslektionen) we've been doing. Crispin loves doing that stuff. Some things he picked up very quickly, some took (and will take some more) time and training.

I have been working with a trainer (Manuela) on the stuff that seems to be more difficult for Crispin. She's been very helpful, mostly by showing me how to brake things down into smaller steps and making it easier for Crispin to understand and do what I'm asking.

I think he has had the most issues with tricks that involve movements that are difficult for him under saddle as well. Mostly things that involve lifting and opening his front end/shoulders like the spanish walk for example.

Let me start by posting some videos of the good stuff:

Yielding to and away from me.

"Dancing" (both directions).

I'm still working on getting him off the lead, but he has the tendency to turn whenever I do so. He just loves that trick too much...

Backing up.

And now to the bad stuff and some work in progress.

The leg lifts and the plie are tricks that are supposed to help with bowing (Kompliment) which would be the final goal for now.

The problem with the fetching is just timing on my part. He will pick up most everything I ask him to but not hold on to it long enough for me to take it from him (and to make sure that handing the stuff over to me is the main point of the trick) but that's just details.

I do Zirkuslektionen mostly after longing Crispin (as part of the cool down) or on a day off.

Five Years!

Actually, It's been five years with Crispin a few weeks ago (end of september). But
I have been very neglectful with the blog and I haven't even realized it! So much has been going on. All good, nothing too spectacular. I will have to revisit most of that some other time. For now, just some fun pix. Good times.