65 replies to this topic

[VanAlma]

I always thought asymmetry could be worked on in hand with lunging etc. I have ridden horses bareback and noticed it in them AND in myself as we didn't have the saddle to compensate.
I try to incorporate lunge work both with and without side reins, as well as over low jumps, to encourage overall development without a rider's interference.
Saddle fitting is no picnic. I've got 3 saddles for varying horses. I just hope I don't need to buy YET another for my mom's mare. My dressage did not fit the bill.

[sheikh rissan]

Just a quick update about my boy and his WOW! Saddle.  It had started to move, just slightly, forward.  Had Louise, the saddle fitter from WOW! out, and straight away after watching him being lunged and ridden, then with the saddle off, she advised that he needed a bigger headplate.  My goodness, the difference in his shoulder movement!! If it was free-ish before, it's phenomenal now!  He had muscled up considerably in this saddle (and riding on the hills, I suppose) since August.

I am SO pleased with this saddle and the girthing system

[Nasheeta]

Lunge is ok but with in-hand work you walk directly next to the horse and just work with normal reins, not the long Vienna style long reins. an advantage is you are standing very close to your horse, lots of direct contact and also, it feels like normal riding, we walk and trot in-hand with my just normal pace and the horse can do a nice, slightly collected trot.

[Nasheeta]

hi sheikh, which WOW do you have?

more on in-hand work, this way you also work on the regular dressage excercises like leg yielding, shoulder-in, travers, half pass and even pirouette. the advanced trainers can do even piaffe, and high school like levade in-hand.

watch the videos at www.paardenbegrijpen.nl and http://academicartofriding.com/
to get an impressions, it is very cool to do with your horse!

[sheikh rissan]

Hi Nasheeta
It's a VSD with longer flaps and a point strap for the girth.  It's got the H-girthing system.
VERY nice saddle to ride in..  Really comfortable, and allows the horse to move well underneath you.  You feel every stride

Edited to say "that last sentence of mine really wasn't clear.. I meant, you can feel the movement of each leg... It's very nice.  There is no jarring whatsoever.. "

Julia

[Nasheeta]

Hello Julia,

what a dream! a second hand WOW is on my list, I do have the Flair Korrector filled with air too so I am already riding on clouds!
Brigitte