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View Full Version : Heather I'm looking for some advise.


Jason Hambling
27th Oct 2000, 08:35 AM
Hello Heather,
my name is Jason Hambling, I live very close to Spruce Meadows, near Calgary Alberta Canada. I am wanting to achieve a level of oneness with horses that you speak about in your book. My heart is very full in all that I hear you speak about. My heart tells me these's methods are very pleasing and correct. I am very green in the saddle, by no means an expert, just a very passionate lover of horses.
My wife is an up and coming training we have 8 horses at the moment, mostly warmblood thoroughbreds. I have never taken up riding in spite of being a groom for many years. But finally I have been blessed with the desire to become a true rider{one that put's the horses best interest first
always}.
I am struggling with many questions, but thank God your book has given me a guage with which to measure.
All this said, the main reason I am contacting you is to ask where I might buy one of your dressage saddles? I am 6 foot 3 inches tall , and am about 150 pounds, I understand I need a long flap, and a twist that is wide. My wife has ridden for many years, and her saddles have a narrow twist which is very uncomfortable for me. I have tried many other saddles, and most are also very uncomfortable. The only saddle I have found that is comfortable, is the Bates Isabell{very expensive double grain leather approx $3300 Canadian-about $1900 US}. This saddle helps me to sit correctly and is comfortable. I understand you Heather are the major reason why this saddle is what it is today{as far as the sitting position}. After learning more about you through newrider, and reading your book I would like nothing better than to have the honor of owning and learning to move as one with the horse in one of your saddles. I am very serious about learning to move with the horse properly, and I would like nothing more than to have you start me off properly on your equisimulator. However at this time I annot come to your stable to train.
Questions 1. Do you have a suitable school saddle you would part with? 2.Do you know where I could get a new one? 3. Based on my size and shape should the saddle be custom made?
Thank you in advance for your time, I am hoping you can guide me towards the right saddle, but believe me I will understand if you are limited at this time. Any gift of advise would be welcomed. You have already helped me so much by writing your book. Bless you for sharing the best this life has given you. I've heard it said that, "If you don't stand for something you'll fall for anything"
Thank You for standing!
Sincerely, Jason Hambling.

Heather
28th Oct 2000, 08:43 AM
Thank you Jason, for your lovely post. It is when I receive letters like these that all of the struggle of going against the tide for so many years seems worth it.

Re: my saddle, they are only made to measure here in the UK ,and are the same price as the Wintec Isabelle leather version, which you are right, I had a large input into the design of, and for which I have never been paid or given any credit.

If you think the Isabelle is comfortable, you should sit on mine! The Isabelle is positively uncomfortable in comparison, as it hasn't the special 'Seatbone Saver' foam top with no seams at all that mine has.

However, it is not yet available on Canada. Chris Adderson, who is a well known Parelli natural horsemanship teacher was over here atb my place a couple of weeks ago, and went off clutching a GP version of my saddle to take back to Canada! So that is the only one over there at the momment.

None of my school saddles have the longer flaps, but my assistant trainer Mike Aylmore, is also 6' 3" with legs up to his armpits, and he rides perfectly conmfortably on all of my saddles. I do have a nearly brand new secondhand one that was made for a friend of mine but is too wide in the twist for her- she wants one made on our narrower twist tree now.

It hasn't the large knee rolls on it, which would probably suit you better, and would be a good fit on most warmbloods, being medium/wide. It is made from soft brown hide-looks gorgeous!

Email me privately if you are interested, for price etc. - heather@eclipse.co.uk.


All the best,



Heather