Week 24 - Too tall for the shelf

One of the pieces of learning we did when we were on the IH course was all about saddles and saddling. One the most shocking bits of learning is that the experience of some horses of the saddle is best likened to wearing shoes two sizes too small and on the wrong feet.

Reggie, the demo horse for the week, did a saddle demo by which I mean he wore it and bore it whilst HIS saddle (fitted in March) its composition and “its fit” were the subject of scrutiny. The saddle “didn’t survive” and I was recommended a remedial saddler who visited last week.

I listened to learned from the saddler and, as is always the case when faced by equestrian expertise that’s beyond me, kept it “buttoned” lest I am exposed for the newbie that I am. She said stuff I didn’t understand. I am used to that now and I have strategies. I stay shtum in the hope the requisite “wisdom” or “learning” will catch up with me in a minute, week, month or year!!

Amongst the crushing detail of the learning one of the things she advised me was to “watch for changed movement” in Reggie. The new saddle doesn’t constrict his withers or his shoulders. It has space for him to move. I know that because she told me, not because I know. She said he’d figure it out quickly and I would see a new side to him. I managed not to say “you over estimate me”.

Today the new saddle pad arrived and so we made our way out into the hills all suited and booted in new gear. I had pretty much forgotten to watch for anything new so overcome was I by the sensation of doing sideways splits as I endeavour to wrap my limbs round a saddle that I keep looking at and thinking “it’s chuffing huge”.

We were heading back to the Yard. Reggie was puffing like a steam train, chewing up the hills in trot with me repeatedly singing “slow him down with your bum and not your reins” (to the tune of “if you are happy and you know it clap your hands - should you feel the urge to try it). 

Anyway....... it was then I noticed it..... a new pendulous swing to his trot. The song changed to “my grandfathers clock was to tall for the shelf” which I sang at full volume and to a beat pace that sounded like “trance music”. I wasn’t singing for Reggie, although I am happy that he’s no longer in shoes two sizes too small and on the wrong feet. I was singing because “I felt the movement” and as I did yet another of those “spells” that experienced and talented equestrians speak was broken. 

So, for the record (and in the only -non equestrian - language I have). Reggie’s “movement” is a sort of side to side cat walk shimmy heavily speeded up, like a grandfather clock on stimulants. It goes nicely with a rendition of “my grandfathers clock” sung like you just woke up in the middle of a rave and have been paid to amuse the crowd, except there wasn’t one..... just me and the pendulum.