>>>> It's not a point of believing what any one person says. Don't don't >>>> automatically buy into what Judy or Karen or Kaaren or Mic or Thor or >>>> Ragnar or Gudrun or Sally or Martha or Pat or any clinician or trainer >>>> or judge says; don't take for granted that the absolute truth is spoken >>>> by any one person.
Boy, that's the truth... and it doesn't just apply to saddles. Other people may be experts in their area, but it's still up to us to be experts on our own horses. I love Sally Swift's Centered Riding books, particularly the first one - I think it's brilliant. I loved the C/R clinic I took at the Icelandic Horse Farm with Sue Falkner-March - Sue was just the best. But, that said, and as much as I respect those two, the worst saddle I've ever seen "approved" for use with a particular horse was "approved" by a certified Centered Riding instructor. That was the saddle I've submitted pictures of a few times, the one that our hauler, Terry, dubbed the "greyhound saddle," since that was the only species he could imagine it fitting. I don't personally know that C/R clinician, but the few exchanges I had with her left me...well, underwhelmed. I'm glad she wasn't my first experience with that program. Ironically, the mare it was sold with, approved by the trainer, was sold at a discount price because she was nervous and bolting. Gee...wonder why. Her back had noticeable muscle atrophy. The C/R trainer told me that the mare "needed" a dropped noseband...you know, "for confidence." Yeah, maybe I need a new pair of shoes...you know - for confidence... Sigh. (We used to hear the old "dropped nosebands for confidence" line on these lists a lot, but I'd never heard that pre-Icelandic's - another reason not to stay insulated from the world.) If I remember correctly, the bolting mare had been in training with that C/R instructor for many months. Last I heard, the mare was better - maybe her owner will speak up. I really like the Parelli program in many ways, but I wish they had continued their saddle relationship with Carol Brett of Balance Saddles. I think Carol is brilliant, but I think her translation as interpreted by the Parellis, is not nearly so impressive. And, if someone tells you their horse "loves" their saddles, keep listening to everything else the person says. Does that person go on to talk about the horse bucking or bolting...or balking? (Sina becomes a pacey balker when her saddle isn't comfortable, and God bless her for letting me know.) OR...does the person ask questions about getting "a bit that will stop the horse"? These symptoms might not be saddle-related...but as long as they are present, I certainly wouldn't believe the saddle is right for the horse until the root cause of the questionable behavior is addressed and corrected. Karen Thomas [EMAIL PROTECTED]
