tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005422562901601859.post2760897481468568492..comments2023-05-18T04:06:32.186-04:00Comments on Calm, Forward, Straight: In the Arena # 110 - Afternoon Delight...Calm, Forward, Straighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08360276614916635500noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005422562901601859.post-84994515571448711902012-03-31T10:00:39.731-04:002012-03-31T10:00:39.731-04:00Aww he's so cute! I'm so happy you found ...Aww he's so cute! I'm so happy you found the right saddle. It can be a really difficult journey. Now go have fun with Val!!!Achieve1dreamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15401246064499148344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005422562901601859.post-16065205582658389282012-03-11T04:19:06.338-04:002012-03-11T04:19:06.338-04:00LOVE your high-tech shim. Any new updates?LOVE your high-tech shim. Any new updates?Funderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06358687366401205336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005422562901601859.post-6918959445724741342012-03-10T07:37:30.855-05:002012-03-10T07:37:30.855-05:00I second Billie's comments. You did just what...I second Billie's comments. You did just what you needed to do to make Val comfortable. When I got an expensive Supracor pad for Silk, lots of people thought I was crazy to spend the money, but it was so worth it. Val looks very pleased and relaxed. Congratulations and enjoy the comfy rides!Victoria Cummingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17267314663679137147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005422562901601859.post-39095432760686058612012-03-08T15:16:04.494-05:002012-03-08T15:16:04.494-05:00Val look super adorable of course..no clue as I...Val look super adorable of course..no clue as I'm still fumbling around with ours as well. We seem to both have the stoic boys that wont really tell us "this saddle sucks" so its up to us to dissect. Yea, Fun. ;)Kristen Eleni Shellenbargerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01458744919530540978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005422562901601859.post-86379587208002906902012-03-08T10:39:14.102-05:002012-03-08T10:39:14.102-05:00Honestly, I think Val would look good in anything....Honestly, I think Val would look good in anything. ;-) I love your towel shim idea. Gem's current summer saddle blanket doesn't have padding to stop the gullet of the saddle from pressing a little against his high withers. I have been unsuccessful in finding a summer weight blanket that would have sufficient padding without being heavy/hot. I think your towel shimmy will solve the problem!! Thanks!Wolfiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04743943656869294788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005422562901601859.post-21265763340500927772012-03-07T19:33:21.745-05:002012-03-07T19:33:21.745-05:00Val-
The saddle fitter pad will feature in an up-...Val-<br /><br />The saddle fitter pad will feature in an up-coming post. :)Calm, Forward, Straighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08360276614916635500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005422562901601859.post-68803986536687098572012-03-07T19:12:26.835-05:002012-03-07T19:12:26.835-05:00Val looks very happy and you sound happy. That pre...Val looks very happy and you sound happy. That pretty much says it all. Good rides to you and your boy in the future. The saddle looks good.Grey Horse Mattershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05837575441967937196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005422562901601859.post-32307109088596985692012-03-07T16:11:14.632-05:002012-03-07T16:11:14.632-05:00Yay! Happy days/happy rides to you and Val.Yay! Happy days/happy rides to you and Val.Terryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13944121836337072178noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005422562901601859.post-87379079464667414222012-03-07T15:52:50.407-05:002012-03-07T15:52:50.407-05:00Great work! I am curious about the saddle fitter ...Great work! I am curious about the saddle fitter pad. What's that?<br /><br />I think that saddles are one situation where you are absolutely allowed to blame the equipment. An ill-fitting saddle can make good riding nearly impossible and, of course, affect your horse in lots of unpleasant ways. Val is a gentleman and I am sure that he is ever so grateful that you went with you gut!Valhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005422562901601859.post-75464226512993281312012-03-07T12:46:21.378-05:002012-03-07T12:46:21.378-05:00I am so glad that you and Val are happy with your ...I am so glad that you and Val are happy with your new saddle. Onward and forward!smazourekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03029180368325070266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005422562901601859.post-17167387693333790942012-03-07T12:41:49.952-05:002012-03-07T12:41:49.952-05:00billie-
Thanks for the encouragement! I went out ...billie-<br /><br />Thanks for the encouragement! I went out on a limb, but it looks like it paid off. :)Calm, Forward, Straighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08360276614916635500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005422562901601859.post-87867209176859558152012-03-07T12:40:16.429-05:002012-03-07T12:40:16.429-05:00juliette-
No saddle fitter, but a saddle fitter p...juliette-<br /><br />No saddle fitter, but a saddle fitter <i>pad</i> - which costs about the same as a human saddle fitter come to think of it... <br /><br />I'm about six hours away from the nearest decent saddle fitter. It is totally amazing that I got the natural balance dentist to come out here. I begged, borrowed and stole to line up enough customers to make it worth her while. :)Calm, Forward, Straighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08360276614916635500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005422562901601859.post-5482413498958765822012-03-07T12:36:26.617-05:002012-03-07T12:36:26.617-05:00Shannon-
Thanks for noticing.
That comment mean...Shannon-<br /><br />Thanks for noticing. <br /><br />That comment means a lot, coming from you. :)Calm, Forward, Straighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08360276614916635500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005422562901601859.post-46157827999365579152012-03-07T09:35:03.216-05:002012-03-07T09:35:03.216-05:00Aside from the great ride, Val's comfort, and ...Aside from the great ride, Val's comfort, and a pretty new saddle, the most exciting thing is that you have learned to trust your own gut about things. <br /><br />I know when I came back to riding after many years away I felt compelled to dote on the information that was given to me by "experts" and "professionals" - some was sound, and at least as much was simply their own opinion which maybe worked for some horses and some riders but was certainly not the gospel they made it out to be.<br /><br />I have to remind myself that riding and dressage are not rocket science. And when we ride, we have a warm, breathing, sentient partner who can and will give us constant feedback on what we're doing and whether it is working or not. <br /><br />Add in our own bodies and we have lots to guide us. <br /><br />You've figured out so much for yourself and for Val - I hope you celebrate how huge a leap forward that is!!billiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18187141867284800597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005422562901601859.post-21295545086806347462012-03-07T06:23:57.789-05:002012-03-07T06:23:57.789-05:00It looks good to me - hope your saddle fitter AND ...It looks good to me - hope your saddle fitter AND Val agree!juliettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17488138405040629084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005422562901601859.post-6182359409148285072012-03-06T21:36:10.825-05:002012-03-06T21:36:10.825-05:00Glad to hear you're loving your new saddle!
A...Glad to hear you're loving your new saddle!<br /><br />And, following up from the last comment, Yes! I do see more muscling in Val's neck! He is just beginning to develop that nice topline muscle that we look for in dressage training. It begins at the withers, then slowly expands up as the horse completes his training. I see that muscle starting in Val, and I know you're on the right track!A Work In Progresshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14076863943914879567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005422562901601859.post-25933896398184800922012-03-06T21:23:59.268-05:002012-03-06T21:23:59.268-05:00His saddle looks great!His saddle looks great!Emmihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03449719746034488461noreply@blogger.com