New 'Saddlery' book by Elwyn Hartley Edwards ....

[Bay Mare]

has a couple of pages about TREELESS SADDLES :D

In a paragraph entitled 'Full Circle' he goes a bit into the history of saddles and also talks about the 'new' treeless saddles. He's even included a picture of the Fhoenix which is, of course, part treed. And he even alludes to the Ansur lawsuit even though he doesn't mention them by name.

Could treeless saddles be becoming mainstream? This is certainly a big step forwards :D


It's an excellent book and certainly well worth keeping on the bookshelf :D

[Skib]

I got that too Bay mare - the new edition. I saw it in the shop on Monday. He does seem quite well disposed to the treeless saddle, perhaps because of its long pedigree and use by historical horsemen.

At first sight I am a bit disappointed.
I want to understand bits and bitting? And eml had mentioned his book. But he expects one already to know so much vocabulary.

I dont understand exactly what happens differently with a fixed ring, nor whether the new bit that Mark Rashid suggested to give added stabilty for some riders and horses, is simply a fixed ring bit by another name or not?
The rocking S snaffle? I've got computere problems but I will try to find and post a link.

As for the new tack, though it is included, it seemed he was pretty dismissive of it as an American intrusion largley in the areas of bitting and control halters - "the horse whisperers and the slick gurus of 'natural horsemanship', and 'as might be expected, is skilfully promoted and vigourously marketed.' So that may be (only a thought not necessarily true) his publishers had asked him to go to the trouble of updating his book and including it?

May be it is like the book on conformation, excellent once you know a bit. But it took a theory lesson from my RI before I could get into it. Unless I can get to understand it, this book is going to be a weight on my mind.

[Skib]

Here is the snaffle from America.
http://www.rockinsqh.com/bitconst.htm

Would he class this as just another UK fixed ring do you think?

[Mossy]

It looks to me as though it has it's roots in a driving bit.......

[Daffy Dilly]

Here is the snaffle from America.
http://www.rockinsqh.com/bitconst.htm

Would he class this as just another UK fixed ring do you think?

I would say it were a hanging cheek, although I don't understand the purpose of the two rings for the reins? I assume the sticky out one is for the reins, and the other is to keep the bit positioned in the mouth.