“I now own three Solution saddles between two horses. Two GPs; one set up for me as a Jumping
saddle and the other for mum as hacking saddle, as well as a SMART Dressage
saddle. We still have our horse Mickey and also a youngster, Solo, who has
never been ridden in anything other than a SMART saddle.
Mickey has taken a bit of a back seat for now
owing to a lack of time, although he still loves a bit of hedge hopping given
the opportunity! His new job is to look
after my mother and have some fun. Owing
to this, his SMART saddle has been invaluable as his weight can fluctuate quite
a lot over the season! They’re planning
on attending some training clinics and some Hunter Trials over the summer as
well.
As for Solo, he was three years old in the last photographs
I sent in and freshly backed, he’s now a six year old with a fabulous work
ethic. We’ve recently debuted at Novice
Dressage scoring 70% + at our first attempt this season, as well as jumping
several double clears Show Jumping this winter.
The plan for the upcoming season is to qualify for the BD
Summer Regionals at Novice. Start 1m
Show Jumping classes, have a run around Milton Keynes’ 3 day event in May and
possibly finish the season with a BE90.
I‘d like to thank everybody at Solution Saddles, for these
wonderful saddles that make it all possible. I know, Mickey at least, would not
be in ridden work without them! And in
particular to my Technical Advisor, who is always there if I need
any support!
Many Thanks,
Georgina
Georgina’s previous update from January 2012:
“I’ve
had my, 8 year old Gelding, Mickey, for nearly 5 years. Mickey has improved
more in this last year with his new saddle then he ever did over the previous
four.
Mickey’s
a native with a large rib cage, little wither and croup high; a perfect recipe
for a slipping saddle. He also has asymmetrical shoulders. We consulted a
recommended Master Saddler and bought a saddle for Mickey. The use of point
straps and a non-slip saddle pad were advised to hold the saddle in place but
after a couple of years and several saddlers, we still had a saddle that none
of us were convinced actually fitted him. Mickey was unhappy in himself,
fighting the contact, hollow in canter, rushing into jumps. We were by this
time also having on-going issues with back pain.
Exasperated,
during a particularly bad schooling session, I got off Mickey, took the saddle
off and got back on. Wow. My unhappy, uncomfortable, stuffy pony suddenly
moved. He lifted, settled, accepted the contact and for the first time in three
years he actually worked. His canter was uphill and soft, his trot stride
lengthened and his walk was swinging. We decided the problem was his saddle. So
we had yet another highly recommended saddler bring saddles to try on him. All
of the saddles “technically” fitted him, but with each he reverted back to his
uncomfortable, hollow and stuffy self.
I
was a member of Pony Club, and about six years previously, Anne Bondi, had
given a demonstration with Solution Saddles. The horse in the demonstration had
shown an improvement, but at the time I didn’t have a horse with a problem and
a treeless saddle didn’t cross my mind. Now faced with a horse that obviously
hated every treed saddle we had tried I had to open my mind. I needed a saddle
I could compete in so after some research into treeless saddles, we arranged a
Home Consultation Visit from Solution Saddles.
Mickey
moved off cautiously to begin with at the test ride, he must have been
expecting pain but it never came. There and then he showed us a walk so long
and so relaxed just like he did when I rode him bareback. The difference in his
attitude to work was quite astounding. He chose the Original Solution as his
saddle and I chose the GP style. I can alter the knee and thigh blocks
depending on the discipline I’m doing so I don’t need two saddles.
A year on, I’m finally getting
double clears Show Jumping, I have a pony that schools willingly and a pony
that will listen in open fields without rushing off with his back hollowed
and his head in the air. I’ve got a saddle that can be both straight
cut for dressage and forward cut for Jumping and galloping, with only a very
simple alteration of knee roll and thigh block position. I’ve been
hunting him this winter, we’ve not had a saddle slip, a sore back or a sore
bum (on my part). We’re jumping the big Leicestershire hedges with the best
of them.
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Georgina and Mickey
with the Readyfield Hunt 2012
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I’ve also made use of the saddle
fitting different shaped horses. We bought Solo, an unbacked three year old, this
summer. He’s a completely different shape to Mickey; a Welsh D x TB, with
narrow shoulders and higher withers. All I had to do was alter the pads. He
was started, and fully backed in my Solution GP saddle. He didn’t once
object.
We now have two Solution Saddles in
our tack room. He soon got his own Solution GP so my mum and I could ride out
together. We are aiming to do a couple of ridden showing classes towards the
end of next year in it.
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Georgina and Solo
on his second ride 2012
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The Solution Saddles Advisors I’ve
experienced are lovely people that understand horses and riders. I trust them
and they listened to me. I’ve recommended them and the saddles to many people
and they too love them.
Thank You Solution Saddles! I’m
sure my horse would not be where he is now without your wonderful saddle!”
Georgina
January 2012
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