I cancelled my plans to show Winnie this weekend as our right lead canter departs are better, but still not show worthy. She need to get the correct lead and come on the bit and into a frame, not just race around with her back hollowed and her neck stuck out.

Her saddle is definetly pinching her withers. I’m taking wither tracings this weekend and then sending it out to be widened and to have the flocking checked. I think her resistance is more about my skill as a rider than any horsey issue. Still, trying to get her to listen if she’s uncomfortable is just swimming upstream. Even if it doesn’t help her performance, an extra wide gullet plate will be better for her back. 8 months ago

I’m planning on taking Winnie to the next local schooling show, which is on the 23rd, and showing T-1 and T-2. I’ll be bring Ferra as well for my trainer to put some first level show mileage on her.

Winnie’s right lead canter depart really needs to be rock solid before we go. I know I’m a big part of that problem! Also, I haven’t been riding the tests much at all. I’m going to start riding her Friday, Saturday, and Sunday for the next couple weekends as we certainly need the prep time.

If we can get some scores at 65% or higher, I’ll start learning the first level tests.

Winnie is also going to do one second level test with my trainer at the show. I’ll need to make sure she’s fit enough for three tests in one day. 8 months ago

Winnie was still sticking her tongue out when being lunged despite the thinner french link. I’m going to give it a few more trys before ordering another expensive bit. Fortunately, Dressage Extensions and Bit of Britain both have Herm Springer trial bit programs. The RS Dynamic is the first on my list if the french link doesn’t work out.

Kitt at Trumbull Saddlery looked at the new, correct wither tracings for Winnie and still thinks she needs either a hoop tree or possibly the Passier with Freedom Panels. I have the later on trial and it still looks like it’s either down pressing to hard by the sides of her withers, or maybe not hard enough. The saddle pad stain is much lighter in the front then the back. Since the gussets aren’t deep enough it might be the later. before I blow $3250 on a new saddle I’m going to have a saddle fitter out to look at it. If nothing else, the flaps on the used non freedom panel Optimum I have are too long. Whatever option I go with, it’s going to be pricey. 23 months ago

I’m going to try and extend the trial period on my saddle from SmartPak long enough to ride in it once or twice more. Plus, I emailed a local saddle fitter about ref locking the used saddle I bought a month or so ago. Man, I really need to sell some of my older saddles so I can afford one that actually fits. The local consignment shop is supposed to take the remaining two next week. I hope all the stuff I have over there actually sells. 23 months ago

Well, I was wrong about Winnie’s mouth. She has a regular sized tongue, low palate, normal sized lips, and her mouth is rather short. I switched her to a French link to give her some palate relief. She’s still sticking the tip of her tongue straight out, but I think she’s not doing it as often. I’ll give her a few more rides and see how she does.

A correctly fitting saddle still eludes us. I rode in a trial Passier Optimum with freedom panels, but she was still slightly dry under the stirrup bars. However, she hadn’t sweated that heavily, so that may mean nothing. 23 months ago

I’ve missed so many lesson with my instructor, I’ve lost track as to how many weeks it’s been. The local vets have advised everyone to stay home until the EHV-1 outbreak is over. I’ve been using the time to evaluate tack fit and make improvements. Unfortunately, I need to actually ride in the saddle I have on trial to know if it really works. All I’ve done so far is walk around the back yard with it, so I’ll have to see if SmartPak will extend my trial, again. However, I did send a new, correct wither tracing to Trumbull Tack, so hopeful their saddle fitter, Kitt, can tell me if Winnie really does need a hoop tree and if so what size.

The new girth I bought off eBay for Winnie is 4 1/2 inches shorter than described, The seller was really ugly when I asked to send it back. Now I’m out $90 and I’ll have to sell a pony sized uber expensive specialty girth. Oh joy. Plus I need to sell the absurdly short 22” girth my trainer recommended. The girth buckles are supposed to come up to about 2” below the saddle flap. This one doesn’t even clear her elbows.

I also found out, via Dr. Clayton’s bit trials that the bit should be just 1/4” (about a pinky finger) larger than the horses mouth. Winnie’s loose ring is about right, but maybe slightly too tight. Between that and the roller, I may have to drop some big bucks on a new bit. The RS Dynamics are nice, but I need to talk to my vet about Winnie’s tongue, pallet, lip, and mouth size. To me it looks like she has a large tongue, low pallet, and average lips. I’m not sure if her mouth is normal sized or short. Everyone seems to offer advice online, but it’s hard to quantify anything without a reference point. I can’t seem to find any actual pictures or measurements to judge mouth size by. Just that a tongue that bulges out between the gaps of the teeth is large. If that’s right, them Winniw and Penelepe have large tongues and Ferra’s normal sized. All of their pallets look pretty flat, but how much arch is normal. I’m sure my vet has seen enough mouths to tell me. 1 year ago