Trekker for schooling

[No_Angel]

Last weekend my mom schooled her HW cob in my Trekker saddle, she did really well and managed a really nice canter and got her diagonals right (her weak points!), before this session she hated riding in the Trekker in the school.
Today we schooled again and she didnt do so well :( I had to keep telling her she was on the wrong diagonal as she just didnt notice, canter transition was awful, alot of shuffling, and then he only cantered about 2 strides before he dropped back into trot. I made her do it without stirrups a couple of times (canter transition) but she collapsed onto her hands when he came back to trot, dispite me shouting sit up! :p

Now im wondering if the good schooling session was just a one off, the other times shes ridden in the school with the Trekker it has been similar to today.
Do you think the Trekker is pretty useless to school in? I haven't properly schooled in it but it doesn't feel quite right.
I know my mom wants to get her schooling better as she is very nervous of cantering on the flat, even tho she has got alot better! Would it be worth me nagging some more until she gives in and gets an ansur or similar?
Tasha

[Drummers mum]

Hi Tasha

I school in my Trekker as its the only saddle I have. The trouble is that it is very unforgiving and if I am not balanced or behind the movement, Drummer feels it more than in a treed saddle. I am fine in walk and trot but had real problems with canter transitions and keeping the canter. In my lesson the instructor told me to go on my knees to free his back and this has worked really well, to the point that in only 2 weeks I am getting canter every time I ask and am even starting to sit into it! :D

[michelle c]

drummers mum, i find i have that problem with sitting the canter with my trekker! the thing is my pony isnt fit enough to keep cantering so i cant practice much!!!! :mad:

just had to say: I ORDERED MY EQUITEX HIGH WITHER NUMNAH, can't wait till it comes :D

[Drummers mum]

You will love it!! Mine is great!

I have been getting Drummer fitter and now we are at the stage where canter is helping with fitness so I can practice! I am even managing to psh him on and keep the canter going which is a real achievement for us!! :D

Sorry to highjack Tasha! :o

[No_Angel]

Thanks for the reply! :D
The thing is, she is getting really disheartened about her riding. After she had done 3 transitions into canter without her stirrups she did it again with stirrups and was fine, looked really good.
Murphy isnt the easiest yo keep cantering, even I have sturggled with this, the is the reason we havent entered a dressage competition yet, I cant do a 20 metre circle on him without flapping! :o
I think im going to be brave and let her have a few more goes in my Ansur and she if she gets the transition then.

As my mom isnt a very balanced rider (plus she doesn't rid very much, just weekends), I wonder if she needs a bit more security in the saddle. I know the pommel and cantle hold your seat in place, but im worried incase she doesn't want to contiue riding. Its taken me about 2 years to get her to this level, and ive schooled her horse for her, and we want to do fun rides and shows this year and I want her to feel safe as she is a very nervous rider.

[Drummers mum]

Perhaps the Ansur is a good idea. If it helps then it will help your mums confidence. She sounds like a very competent rider though?

My mum and dad have just moved near to me (from 100miles away!) and mum has had a couple of goes on Drummer, she loves the saddle because it is comfy and secure but as she hasn't ridden for about 8 years she is finding it hard to trot which isn't helped by the pommel. I am secretly trying to get her more into riding again so that she can come out with me! :p

[No_Angel]

Thats why I want her to keep riding, so I have someone to go out with me! :D
Shes not particuly competant, I know thats awful to say :o She rode as a child on one of the ponies the school owned and basically taught herself with the exception of about 2 lessons. She rode my old pony a bit and then got murphy witht the intention of riding out with me and my sister on our ponies, but my sister lost interest :rolleyes:
ive given here lessons for a while as shes too embaressed to get lessons, but when her riding is up a bit we are going to get lessons together, as Maddie is at the work level my moms riding is at :p
The only problem is that my Konklusion is a differnet shape to the dressage one (the one we would be getting if we got one) and so would give her different supprt. Would riding in a dressage saddle help or make it harder for a very nervous rider to improve their riding? As it is soo differnt from the GP she usully rides in.

[Drummers mum]

I'm not sure about that. I've never ridden in a dressage saddle! Is the seat slightly deeper though because I know a deeper seat makes me happier!

[No_Angel]

I got told when I was at college that my position was perfect in a dressage saddle and good when in a Gp saddle. Dressage saddle have a deeper seat, longer leg position and tend to hold you in place, which I dont like. I hate being kept in one place, I feel really restricted.
I actually have a dressage saddle at home in my spare room/tack room, but it doesn't fit Murphy so well as its a wintec :rolleyes: I wonder if I could use a riser on the back whether mom could ride in that for 10 mins to see what she thinks.

Do you find that the underlay of the saddle, under the pommel pulls on Drummers withers? Mom says that on Murphy it is soo tight she thinks it going to break :eek:

[Drummers mum]

Yes, thats my only gripe with the saddle. It has been better since I got the Equitex pad and I also bought a prolite front riser/wither thing but I worry about the edge of that causing a ridge so have stopped using it.

I don't think it pushed as hard as your mum says though. I can put my fingers under mine and it kind of pushes down and releases with ever step. There is no weight on that area and Drummer doesn't seem to worry about it, although I still do! :rolleyes:

[No_Angel]

Hi, haven;t been on for a few days, just been on the holiday from hell with my bf.
Took Murphys fly sheet off and hes got white hairs just behind his wither where the pommel of the Trekker would go, so its either stuff the pommel (slides even more like this) or get him a new saddle.