In the new Wintec. It's a different ride than the Trekker. Ashke was very free in the shoulder and very forward. I had a hard time getting him to slow down. He was even walking on a loose rein with his head down. He seemed much more willing to work with his back and even gave me a couple of good canters.
I think the Wintec will work until the Alta Escuela gets here. I may just keep it for showing. It's not a bad saddle for $400. After our ride, Ashke was a little sore, but not any more than he was when I put the saddle on him. I need to start using the sore no more products to help him get right.
He did use his back a lot during our ride and he's basically had three weeks off with limited to no work, so over all I was very proud of him. She was able to get him to do shoulder in and a half pass correctly (I'm still learning) and he was very relaxed at the canter.
So, now to the good stuff:
Yay! for an interim saddle that will work! I didn't realize you were close to the Parker, CO Dover store -- I work for corporate so if you end up having any issues, let me know and I'm happy to help :)
ReplyDeleteYeah, I am about 45 minutes to an hour away. The woman who helped me was really nice and knowledgeable. And, even better, the saddle seems to be working well and fits his withers nicely. I did have to change the gullet to a wide, but that was pretty simple.
DeleteHe looks like he's moving nicely in that saddle.
ReplyDeleteI've been meaning to comment since you first posted! He's moving beautifully! So relaxed in his movement; you can definitely see the difference, especially at the canter. Everything looks so much more effortless for him.
ReplyDeleteI did want to note though that even if I had not been able to see Cassandra in this video or known it was her beforehand, you can tell it's not you that's riding him because of his expression! He always looks so, SO happy when it's you riding him.
It's funny you say that, because watching Cassandra ride him (there have only been four people on his back: me, T for a walk around pony ride, N briefly and Cassandra) I can see him trying but it's more of a mechanical response. With me, he does it because he loves me and wants to please me. When I stop an exercise and relax the reins and tell him what a good boy he is, especially when we are trying to learn something new, he always gives this big heaving sigh of relief and relaxation. It's so funny. I can hear him think, "oh good, I thought that's what she wanted."
DeleteWe are getting closer with each ride, each grooming session and each time I see him.