new harness or new saddle - should I concentrate on riding/driving with Rupert?

[Esther.D]

I was going to get a new saddle fitted for Rupert in the next couple of weeks....but I have been thinking about getting him a new driving harness instead (I am currently breaking him to drive) ...

I am in a bit of a dilemma at the moment....he needs a lot of work on his riding as he naps and also has very little in the way of schooling. Which was why I was going to get him a new saddle to school in as his current one is an australian stock saddle which is great for hacks but not much good for schooling in.

However Pablo is off at the moment with back problems and so I have no-one to hack out with (which is what Rupert was originally bought for)..

So I am wondering whether I would be better shelving the riding at the moment until Pablo is better and just concentrate on breaking him to drive and spend the money on a better harness for him (he needs a better one as he has a very cheap sythetic at the moment which was just acquired to see how he would be ok with a harness and accept pulling a tyre etc)..I unfortunately do not have the money for both....so it has to be saddle OR harness.

He also has a few ridden issues none of which seem to be transfering to his driven training eg, he does not nap on longreins, is much more responsive and generally goes much better than he does under saddle.

Oh and I don't suppose anyone knows of a decent quality second-hand webbing harness up for sale (I have tried the usual routes - carriage link etc) that would fit a 13.1hh New Forest? I am looking for Cottage Craft, Tedex, Plas Equestrian etc (or of course better but I doubt my budget will stretch that far)..obviously English Leather would be acceptable too but ditto about the budget! I am not interested in cheap foreign leather or the very cheap synthetics. I only have £200ish to spend tops....I am following up a couple of possibilities at the moment..one on Carriage Link and am also in contact with my local saddler who is also a driver

[chev]

Why do I get the feeling you already know what you want to do? :D

Drive him.... :D

[Miriam]

You know which way I'd go ;) DRIVE.


However already in touch with you about the harness so if you want to go ahead and buy the saddle you could always do that. I really don't mind ithe harness fits you could hang onto it .

[cvb]

Hi Esther

now I know you're using Parelli - so I'm wondering what "ridden" issues you have with Rupert that you feel having a specific (non-stock) saddle is going to help with ?

I agree with Chev that I think you already know the answer. I will lay you a bet that you can find ways to work on those "ridden" issues that do NOT require you to have a new/different saddle. And then there's always bareback.... ;)

The one "big" ridden issue I have at the moment is about Fi staying in front of the leg. If she's there, then we have more control so less chaos :D But this is something I can do in any of my saddles, or even without. Though working bareback does increase my risk of being dumped when she spooks so we don't do much of that yet :rolleyes: (But I stayed on when she spooked in the dressage saddle on Saturday :) - don't know how I did it, but I did !).

But you could work through L1 ridden tasks (or are you L2 now ?) with your stock saddle and see how that helps with the overall picture ?

[Esther.D]

I know..but I just wanted to see what you lot thought :D

Of course I want to drive, once a driver always a driver :D

But I was feeling like I should get his riding issues sorted out first, then I thought...why not just drive and then sort any that are left afterwards!

I am nervous now though, not of driving him I think Miriam can attest I am not a nervous driver...but I am nervous because it would be so fantastic if he did go ok and I could compete him, so now I have butterflies in my stomach :o In reality there is no reason why he shouldn't go perfectly well - he longreins in a textbook fashion and doesn't nap (or if he thinks about it I am able to deal with it):rolleyes:

[Esther.D]

cvb - sorry we crossposted:)

Well ummmm I am being naughty and straying from my Parelli which probably isn't helping :rolleyes: I had problems finishing L1 (haven't finished it yet...) as we had nowhere suitable for the ridden section (can't go beyind walk at home unless we hack out as the field is so rough he gets unbalanced and I get nervous) . But now if course we have access to an arena so I could do it.

I am in such a silly state at the moment, I am not feeling very confident (about life in general not horses in particular) and keeping wibbling from one thing to another. It says something for my state of mind that

a. I forgot now we have an arena I could go back onto my Parelli which would be fine in the stock saddle

b. I was even thinking of pushing on with the ridden schooling when it is so much more logical to work on his driving and go back to the riding when Pablo is riding..

This was why I have decided I needed to concentrate on one or the other and stop wibbling about the place trying one thing after another.

So the verdict is (currently :rolleyes: ) that

a. I need a slap :D

and b. I will work on his driving training and also push on to finish and video his Parelli L1 in the arena. As I have been doing it for over a year now :o

[Miriam]

I'm sure Steve could accomodate you with A if you asked him nicely ;)

As I was told about HDT "Just get out there and do it" ;)

[cvb]

I am in such a silly state at the moment, I am not feeling very confident (about life in general not horses in particular) and keeping wibbling from one thing to another.

tell me about it - I just feel like I'm drowning in syrup and however hard I try nothing seems to go right. I was reading an article recently (non-horsey) and the guy said "Nothing good happens by accident, you have to put the effort in."

Well thats fine, but is the opposite also true i.e. if you put the effort into the wrong things then bad things happen ??! Cos thats the way I start to feel, and then you drift into not doing stuff cos you can't face the bad things - but you still really want the good things to happen !! :eek:

But then newrider keeps me going :p and reminds me of all the good stuff. Being on here is a bit like a continual warm hug ;)

I've been "doing" parelli longer than you and also have not done my video. Got a real burst of energy to do it and then have had lousy weather ever since :rolleyes: Had a practise session a few weeks back as also have to talk my mother through doing the videoing. But didn't actually tape anything - MUST do some soon !!

So if you need someone to talk to, feel free to pm or email - maybe we can talk each other through finishing L1 :D and life, the universe and everything.

[Esther.D]

As I was told about HDT "Just get out there and do it"

Miriam - that isn't fair, throwing my own advice back at me :p :D

cvb - thanks....I might take you up on that offer:)

I agree about NR, I spend so much time on here when I am not feeling 100%....everyone is so helpful and supportive:)

[Jamey]

Originally posted by cvb
"Nothing good happens by accident, you have to put the effort in."

Oo, I don't know about that one. I wander through life and good stuff happens as much as bad stuff (if you put the bad stuff into perspective). It's just that to get a really good result (e.g competing consistently well at Dressage to a high standard) then obviously it takes hard work and a lot of effort.

Esther, you just need focus!!! You are focusing on too many things!!! :mad: :D Try focusing equally on four things you see in a room and you can't do it! Therefore, focus on the one thing that you really want to do with Rupert (driving) and it may help to solve some of the problems in your ridden work. If he becomes more independant by driving (out in front all on his own) he may be braver when ridden and stop napping. Does this make any sense?

[Esther.D]

Yep Jamey that makes perfect sense :) and you are right..it probably all will come together once his driving is established - I certainly think getting out and doing a hard days work for once in his life would do Rupert the world of good ;) :D

[Jamey]

Haha, watch out Rupert!! Mummy has some serious exercise regimes planned for you, I just know it!!!

[Esther.D]

Well I just realised the other day that it 2 years of owning Rupert I have never worked him hard enough to get up a sweat :eek:

How is Cossack doing? (you can pm me..)

[Jamey]

Esther - pm on it's way!

[JaniceH]

I think you have said before that you are a much more confident driver than rider. You have also said that Rupert is much more confident in longreins than being ridden. So that is two out of two for more confidence with the driving - so theres your answer!

I know that I am much more confident driving than riding (we'll leave the groundwork confidence issues out of this one!) so I know what I would go for any day!

There was an advert in the back of carriage driving magazine for a company making cottage craft type harness, but that was £360 which is probably too much. There was also another polyester webbing harness manufacturer but that was from £350. But PM me if you want the details on either of those.



Take care

xx

[Esther.D]

I have a possible harness (Cottage Craft) in the pipeline.......(thanks to SU). I have noted the Cottage Craft type ad in Carriage Driving though as they make spares for Cottage Craft harness too..might come in handy as Bobby's set is CC as well..

Yes Janice the more I think about the more I think we are destined to drive :)

[Miriam]

He he Rupet your life is now set ;) If you want borrow the harness let me know. I forgot to take the piccs. Was going to take some outside today but it is raining :mad: