Hey - guess what I got ?

[KateWooten]

...on trial ...a real live Fhoenix ! Can't wait to go home and try it :D

[No_Angel]

oo, yay:D
youll love it, mines so comfy, tho i need an extra seatsaver for my delicate bum, i use a hm western seatsaver as it gives a bit more twist as my hip likes to pop out.

[KateWooten]

do you think I can get by with 'any old' dressage girth for now ? Nobody locally stocks the professional's choice one that they recommend - I can get hold of a Wintec, or Soft Touch from Petsmart, but I'll have to send off for the Professional's Choice.

[No_Angel]

i use a wintec and a throwogood with mine, had no problems with slipping or anything at all

[Bay Mare]

Hey, lucky you :) I'm sure that you'll love it.

Most girths are fine, I've got a cheapy synthetic one with elastic both ends and it's fine. I want to get a pro choice one but will have to wait till I've got a job :(

[KateWooten]

Well, lots to think about with the new saddle trial. It's quite difficult to be pragmatic and practical in my assessment of it .. but I'll try : I put it on joePony and rode in it for 20 minutes but then it looked like rain so we had to dash for home. At first, I think I must have had it on too far back. I couldn't ride his trot at all ! I got off and moved it forward an inch and everything fell into place. It's very comfortable.

This morning I lunged Rosie for 20 minutes, then stripped her of her lunging kit and put the saddle on her, and took a couple of pics. The rear panels don't conform to the shape of her back when it is first put on, and then I forgot to look at them when I got off again. She rode in it fine. She's having quite a lot of trouble at the moment, with anything faster than a walk, and also with her 'bad attitude'. No doubt the two are linked. She needs to see a chiro and a body worker asap to begin sorting her out. I need to get her old ill-fitting saddle off her back forever, but even so, I'm not expecting a miracle cure for her.

I put it on Summer, the big wide roly-poly QH mare, and we played at the passenger game trotting for 20 minutes at a time. What fun. I think I'm learning to ride again.

Hmm... that was my best attempt at being pragmatic and sensible ... wasn't up to much as a critique was it ! I don't like that I can't run the stirrups up out of the way like I'm used to ... Aaaarrrgghhh - ok, I give in, I can't do practical criticism ...... I'm just feeling overwhelmed with happiness and joy. It's so bizarre.... it's just a saddle after all .. it's just a saddle that settles into its place and disappears ... it's just a secure safe place for me to be on my pony, I can feel his every step, he moves forward, light and happy ... Summer stops pulling and bracing. Heck - you know what - Summer and I were trotting round the paddock, reins draped on her neck...you're supposed to do the passenger exercise in a safe arena with no obstacles but we don't have one ... so we were trotting around leaving it up to her to avoid the ditch, the jump, the cavaletti, the spare pony (joe)... At one point she put in a fast ducking turn towards the gate, and trotted towards a 2ft jump. Rather than dodge it, she simply jumped over it. I don't jump ! Well, we do now. Like it wasn't even there. This is the bracy mare who will grab the bit and haul your arms off at every opportunity and can't be stopped from a flat out gallop after a jump. Trot trot trot, up and over, trot trot trot - never broke rhythm.

Maybe I can be more constructive about the saddle when I've come down off the high ?? (do ya think ? )

Obviously I'm talking to nix about what I'll need for the final order .. who can tell me about the suberpanel and if I need that version ? I don't have any horse to fit that is skinny, high-withered, atrophied or anything.

Kate

[Giveitago]

Fhoenix on trial too, order pending this week.

Suberpad is fab, sits in all the right places, lovely and comfy for me too on my wither high TBx although I will be riding again in the proloite model on Thursday before a final decision. Hackedoff uses a suberpad with her two 'rounder' models and it works fine.

Just to note, I find the pro choice girth an absolute dream, doesnt move a mm, I think I'll have to buy one with the saddle as I cant find another supplier.

Kate, I agree with not being able to roll the stirrups up- bit of a pain, but have been crossing them over the saddle after dismounting for safety reasons.

Happy horsing around!

[Santi]

I'm loving the Fhoenix too but my horse doesn't like the pro choice girth, he prefers my cheap one - typical!

If anyone wants to buy a 28" black girth, used 3 times, PM me!
:)

[Bay Mare]

Kate - get dressage leathers and take them off, that's what I do now, it's no biggy and they're SO easy to put back on :)

I'm glad that you're liking the Fhoenix. I'm waiting for the Portuguese to come out (and the funds to buy one ... I did have the money but have had to use it to cover my unemployment :( ).

[Giveitago]

Kate,

How are you getting on? Have you decided on the prolite or the suberpad yet?

I noticed your post on EE and I have the same predicament! My loan saddle goes back on Thursday. The rep is bringing the prolite back for me to try before we make a decision but I am leaning toward the prolite saddle and buying the extra suberpad. I'll see how it goes.

Also, the bates dressage leathers are on equestrianclearance.com for £32.

[KateWooten]

I still can't decide on the prolite v suberpad - I don't think I can trail the suberpad over here so I have to go on other people's opinions I think. I'm having trouble getting in touch with nix - I think I heard that she's not real well at the moment - she's been a great help so far though.

I love the prolite so much - but would I love the suber panel even more ?

I agree, the stirrup thing isn't much of an issue at all - I just have my stirrups taped up with the buckle at the bottom and they slip on and off real easily. BUT I know in the height of the summer here, I tend to be struggling to get all the equipment organised and onto the horse in reasonable time anyway, so any one more thing that adds to the process is a pain. (just that I have max 2 hours to get 3 horses exercised and any training I want to do with them, because of the dreadful humidity and super-bugs !!)

[Giveitago]

I think nix said she was out of the office this week from tuesday for a few days.

[KateWooten]

Finally got DH down to the lower paddock with the camera ... here's joePony in the trial Fhoenix... we're going to trot around the 'arena' and then do a 20m circle around the cameraman ... ( on joePony who has taken 3 months to persuade to canter without getting stressed and bucking !!) ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=123FA2Gos9M

[Giveitago]

Kate

Great video clip.

Ordered the 17" Fhoenix prolite today. Yep, this time it seemed just perfect, didnt need shims just the backsaver pad, very comfy and stable with excellent seat/horse communication.

It will also be used for my 14.2 dales mare and 10 year old daughter, hence the smaller seat to accommodate one shorter back and one smaller bottom..

The prolite seemed to mould much better to his back and withers with no slipping, felt glued to my horse. In the end I found the suberpad a bit bulky. The prolite panels come out very easily if I need to do that but we think it will be fine for my flat backed mare too.

Roll on delivery!

[KateWooten]

Right ! Good, I think you've made up my mind for me ... almost !

I'm decided upon ... dressage-style Fhoenix, black, prolite panels.

Now, I have only tried the 17 inch, and it feels fine ... bear in mind, I haven't much to compare it with because I'm really feeling like I'm only just learning to ride. I'm 5ft 2, and not particularly 'big' at 120 lbs ... but all the bigness that I have, is sunk to my bum ie. short with a wide bottom :( (not the glamourous type then ...) Do you think I should stick with the 17 inch ? If I post a few pics with me on the saddle, can you all tell if it fits me well, not too small ?

[Giveitago]

Being fair, the 17.5 fitted me well too- and I'm a little larger than you in the rear.

I would stay with the 17"- you seem to fit it, why get a bigger one?

I ordered the extra D ring, shims, knee rolls-just in case.