What type of saddle do you use!

This came in the weekly parelli e-mail

When you lose your balance in the rising
trot it's usually because your stomach muscles are loose and your back
is tight. If you use the Pushing Position it will quickly remedy this:
Place both your hands at the base of your horse's neck and as you go
into a trot begin your rising trot like this. As you come down into the
saddle, tuck your tail under you and push with your hands. This will
exert your abdominal muscles and round your back, and as you come down
into the saddle the effect will be a bit like a massage on your horse's
back (vs trying to avoid landing in the saddle). I would only trot like
this until you can use only one hand and still feel balanced. Then make
your hands lighter and lighter until pretty soon you don't need them
unless you lose your balance. And then soon you can sit up and
everything is fine. It might take a few weeks to get there because you
have to build your core muscles and learn the feeling of stabi lity so
your upper body doesn't flail around.

May make some more sense.

Yes, I got this too. I enjoy reading the question and answer part of their newsletter. When I saw what this lady was asking about, I certainly sympathized with her. I found it rather encouraging that this 50-year-old lady only recently decided to get into horses...and she's doing great!! Well...except for the balance thing, but she sounds like she's having a great time with her horse.

What Linda said seems a lot like what others in here have said, about moving with the horse and tucking my bum under me, but she adds the hands on the neck thing too.

I haven't seen Fanny in a week, because of our busy schedules. The demands of life are sometimes just too much for my liking Some people thrive on being busy, while I like things simple. I keep reading about how important it is to be well rested, focused and on top of things when you are with your horse, but if I don't know if I'll ever be like that. I'm sure that's where most of my training issues stem from. Sorry to vent. Just feeling really frustrated these days.

I don't think it's important how you feel when you go to see your horse. What is important is that you leave it all behind when you are with her. I find this really hard to do - Dancing, Kitty and I went out today and I should have been concentrating on my time with them, but I kept drifting off into shopping lists and 'phone calls I have to make. Although I HAVE stopped making 'phone calls while riding after someone pointed out it's rude to your horse, just like ignoring a friend who is with you and 'phoning someone else!

I have to totally agree. Some days I feel like garbage or really tired when I go out to see the horses. It's all better when I call Indigo's name and she neighs and comes wandering over to the gate and practically jams her head into the halter, always happy to see me no matter what I feel like or look like that day.

I dont tend to ride if I am really distracted - or feeling a bit stiff because I find that if I cant give Trelawny all my attention I am better off just taking him out for a walk - he really enjoys the ground work interaction anyway and its gives me a chance to chill out too!

Whew, what a relief! I do find that when life gets stressful, just being with Fanny makes me feel so much better.

I finally got to see Fanny this afternoon. After eight days, she remembered me!! She is such a doll, I just love her to pieces.

By the way, my husband came with me to riding lessons today, and when he saw my instructor, he said, "Wow, he does look like Matt Damon!". I'll get a pic of him for you yet, but probably not till June, so you'll have to keep waiting.

Okay, okay, my DENTIST looks like George Clooney, but my dentist is better looking, so nyah, nyah (except I only get to see him once every six months...)

FlorayG wrote:Okay, okay, my DENTIST looks like George Clooney, but my dentist is better looking, so nyah, nyah (except I only get to see him once every six months...)

^^ haha you should check if he's single or not

I have a very beautiful Hilason treeless saddle. Its really comfortable. The leather is strong and durable. i went through 6 other types of saddles before i finally stumbled across Hilason saddles and fell inlove with them I couldnt believe how many variety of saddles they have and for such a low price. I only buy hilasons now.

I'd start eating more sweets Florayg

Hi Burt13 - welcome to the forum - pop onto the intro pages and tell us about yourself if you can

George Clooney, eh? I think I have a cavity

I've really been enjoying reading everyone's advice in here as well as in the other topics. There is such a wealth of knowledge in this group, I never grow weary of reading the posts!

Hi BUrt 13 you must be in the US. I nearly bought and imported a Hilason 2 years ago, then discovered the dollar exchange rate was so good at the time I could easily afford a Bob Marshall so I got one of those instead - yes both these are great saddles, much better fitting than any other treeless I've seen
the exchange rate was so good, the Bob Marshall was cheaper than a UK saddle would have been (or would have been, if I hadn't gone for all the showoff tooling)

I've got a Hilason pad and it's great. Same as you Florayg, I found even with the shipping to UK it was cheaper than anything I could get here.

They are doing 10% off now until 21st Dec if you spend more than $100. Also free shipping, but I imagine that's probably only in the US. Shame the exchange rate is so dire now

besides their pretty saddles, i love their jackets on their website! has anyone seen them? they are gorgeous. ever since i've discovered all the things they sell, i've gone crazy buying things from them just recently i both cow hide rugs from them

Boho, I was just rereading the posts on what pads people are using with their Barefoot saddles, and noticed that you are using the Hilason memory foam one. Are you still happy with it? What are your horse's withers like?

Fanny has no withers, so slippage is an issue...or can be an issue. I currently have a Grandeur physio pad, but the "attachment" for the inserts that is under the smooth pad is leaving a mark on her, where the edge 'cuts' into her. I don't think she's terribly comfortable with that. To me it's like having a bra with extra padding in the band, but a seam in there that digs into me.

I checked out the Hilason pads just now, and they do look interesting. I like that they breathe, and they are 'sticky' all over...with no seams in there! The air-filled ones are neat, but probably out of my price range. Do you suppose that a Hilason would give enough spinal clearance for my non-withered horse?

Cyndi, if you are having trouble with slippage and worried about spine clearance try using reinsman's tacky too padshttp://store.reinsman.com/products/pads . They are wonderful and offer great spine clearance. I always have a big dry patch all the way down my horses back from the airflow that goes there. I have harness pads made out of the same thing, only they are a different brand. Wonderful material.