Something A Little Different!

A while back, I mean a long while back, my sister and I talked about getting an english saddle so we could ride english if we wanted too. My trainer/good friend just happened to have an extra english saddle around, that she said she would sell us. She brought it over, with a couple saddle pads, bridle, girth, everything! Now I haven't ridden english in 19 years, yes, 19 years! Seriously! When I did ride english, it was just for fun. I never showed english, although I wish I would have. So please don't laugh at me when you see the pictures. Remember, 19 years!!

I longed Brandy first. Brandy has never worn an english saddle, so I knew it would feel different on her back. I really don't think she liked it. She does buck when I longe her with the western saddle on, but this time her bucks were different. She wasn't liking it! Plus every time she bucked, and she can buck, the saddle slipped forward on her. Brandy doesn't have much wither and she has a very narrow topline. I am sure this didn't help matters. The saddle seemed to fit her pretty good, but what do I know about english saddle fitting? Remember, 19 years!



Here is one of her many bucks. I could tell that her bucking style was different. I am sure glad I longed her!



Here the saddle slipped forward. Maybe one of my english readers can help me out. I don't want to sound like an idiot here, but I am not very knowledgeable when it comes to english. I can post, jump with my silly form, and that is probably about it. I do read magazines and books on english riding. But I feel like a total horse beginner and out of my element!



During longing, I had to adjust the saddle back to it's proper position.



I think my horse thinks she is part bloodhound. Or maybe she is checking out all the weeds in the arena, yeah, I know, I need to weed the arena! It's on my list.



I think Brandy finally got all the bucks out. Next step, getting on. I don't have a mounting block. I know I need to get one. I will be putting that on my honey to-do list, pronto. I am sure we have plenty of logs, that he can make me a nice large stump, to use for a mounting block. My sister had to give me a leg up. I am glad Brandy is only 14.3 HH. I have no idea how I use to be able to jump on my horse's bareback when I was younger. I can't do it now. I guess I lost my jumping skills.



Since I knew Brandy was not comfortable with a strange saddle on her back, I had a feeling she would be uncomfortable with a rider on top of that strange saddle. Yep, she did not like it. She fought me, she would not give to the bit, she was wringing her tail, she wouldn't listen to me at all! I just walked her around, hoping she'd eventually relax. We walked, and walked, and walked. We worked on some bending exercises, which she is very good at, but that day, not so good. We continued walking. I could feel her starting to relax, she wasn't fighting the bit so much, her tail wringing was slowing down. We continued to walk.



We kept walking until she got used to the feel of the saddle and finally relaxed. I think I had the stirrups adjusted too short. In some of the pictures of me riding, I look like a dork with my long legs. I did not post them here.



How do cowboy boots look in irons? Of course you can see my way too long legs, in jeans that look way too short. They are not. They actually seemed to ride up more riding english, than western!



We can't afford to buy the saddle now. But my trainer doesn't need it and she knows it's in a safe place, so here it stays, for now. I'd love to ride english more. I should probably take some lessons sometime, when I get a job. But for now, it was fun to try something different, after 19 years!