Robinsons

[FellRider]

I went to Robinsons new store in Ashton in Makerfield yesterday! When I got there the girl on the door asked for my invitation. I said I didn't have one but I'd travelled all the way from Stoke so she let me in!! It deserves at least half a day so you can look at everything. I can definitely feel another visit coming on. I bought Tommy a new saddle one of those Thorowgood endurance ones. I haven't tried it on yet but if it doesn't fit I can change it. I have been trying to get a saddle to fit him and me because being an adult I need a 17'' saddle but him being a pony he needs a smallish one. The one I ride in now is too long and rests over his kidneys a bit. This endurance one looks quite short so I hope it will be OK. I then just had to have some jods, funky purple and black and then I tried on some boots but couldn't find any to fit me! I have a wide leg and have trouble with long boots and even the wide ones didn't fit. After they had got out loads, they found an extra wide which was a little bit too big. I have decided to leave them for the minute. This is the women who although only being a size 10/11 has to go to Evans for her Boots!. Anyway its well worth a visit. My OH was really patient and even bought me a horsey top for Xmas, I am working on him slowly and eventually I hope he will learn to ride as well!!

[tubby]

Ooh I bet you need a second mortgage now. Didn't realise that Evan's sold boots but must confess to shopping for clothes there.Long boots are a real no go area for me as everyone says that the ones with best fitting for wide calves are the £300 variety. Did actually try some on , or at least try to try some on, but I've got a high instep & the nice zippy ones wouldn't go over my heel. Ended up with joddy boots & gaitors for competition. The endurance saddle you have bought is supposed to be designed with Arabs in mind so therefore should be the correct length for your boy . Actually if you had to take it back you could spend more time in robbo's :D:D:D

[FellRider]

Hi everybody out there. Tubby, I have seen some long boots in our local saddlery which have a rugged sort of bottom bit and a stretchy sort of top bit. I don't think they would be smart enough for a show but for general riding they are great. I think I might treat myself! I think they might be by Mountain Rider but not sure. I didn't mean that Evans had riding boots but my message looks like it I know. I bought some of those fashion boots with high heels from there but I had tried on hundreds of pairs in all the usual high street stores and couldn't get in any of them! I've got a good pair of legs eh what. My young son said his friends were laughing at him because he had fat legs(they are just like mine - not fat just solid). He plays rugby and I told him that the last thing a man would want for playing rugby is thin legs!! My other half who has thin legs confirmed this so now he is happy!

Anyway I tried on the saddle and it fitted width wise but it seems very bulky to me. It is a synthetic saddle and doesn't seem as streamlined as the leather ones. I will see what my instructer thinks.

Tommy has been really good today. We actually went out on our own and he went forward all the way! He was a bit slow but this is a definite improvement. I've had him about 7 weeks now. I hope he starts to trust me that I will always bring him home!!

[tubby]

You know even when I was very slim I was only just in normal leg width boots , but now aaaaaaah!:):) Your instructer should be able to say about your saddle , mine did seem bulky at first but synthetics do settle down more quickly. Also if this saddle is a wider fitting that would make it feel bulky , don't know if the endurence has a low pommel , mine is the cob & do seem to remember it felt odd at first. Glad your boy is settling , it does seem to take a while for them to trust at first ,but well worth it in the long run, good luck . :):):)

[Janette]

I think the boot manufacturers could be had up under trades descriptions, in their boot widths. I was talking to a lady who owns a saddlery, and she said that the majority of people buy wide fitting. Well doesn't that mean that the majority of people are Average fitting? Speaking as one who wears XXL gaiters fron saddlecraft!!!!!!

[tubby]

Yes the boots do seem to be rather narrow for a lot of people & , bearing in mind that our calves are bound to be muscly due to riding it does seem shortsighted that the average they make is too narrow for a lot of people.