Photo of my oldest friend

[skygazer]

No, it's not as pathetic as it seems. I have people in my life I've known longer but none of them have been so constantly a part of my life as my saddle has been.

I've been riding in that saddle for over 33 years now. It belonged to my riding instructor when I first started working at her place in '74 and it quickly became my favorite. The most comfortable saddle I've ever sat. She sold it to me two years later.

It was old when I got it. A master saddler once looked at it and judging by the style, he told me it was built in the 30's or 40's. Good make, though and well cared for.

It's been trail riding and showing and three-day-eventing and fox hunting for 3 decades now. It's been on dozens of horses (and, amazingly, fit every one) and every photo I've posted here of me on a horse (there's been a few) features that saddle.

It's pretty worn now and I can't use it because of that. I'm in the process of trying to find someone to refurbish it, something that will no doubt cost more than the thing is worth. Except to me. It's priceless to me.

Just felt like saying that.

[seemunkee]

1. Functionally beautiful

I know nothing of saddles or horses but that saddle looks as paired down to the essentials as you can get. Elegant in its simplicity

[skygazer]

3. It really is

There are a lot of saddles out there with a lot more padding and support. Nothing wrong with them, either - I had a lovely western saddle that was beautiful. Of course, it weighed about 40 pounds.

With this saddle, there is me and there is the horse and there's not much coming between us. I can feel every quiver of skin.

There is nothing like being in harmony with a beautiful creature. :hi:

[ThomCat]

2. I have never ridden a horse.

And given my physical limitations, I never will. It's something I always wanted to do.

I hope the horses are good friends of your too. :)

[skygazer]

4. It's one of the joys of my life

I've been riding since I was a little kid and my best memories involve me and a horse and the infinite freedom that comes with that. I was fortunate to grow up in a place and time where horse ownership wasn't restricted to those with money - all my friends had a horse or pony in the back yard.

And yes, some of my best friends have been horses. :)

[Parche]

5. Quit Horsing Around

That is awesome!!! :hi:


Mr Ed relates..........

[CottonBear]

6. It's a beautiful saddle. I can tell it has been lovingly cared for by you.

Is it a close contact saddle? I have an old saddle that has a broken tree and rotted billet straps. I use it as a decoration in my home. It hangs on the stair rail at the bottom of the stairs. My new saddle is a Wintec which I love. It fits the horses great (changeable gullets) but I really miss my beautiful leather saddle that I traded in to buy the Wintec. *sigh*

I'm about to go out and feed my horse (and 21 others!) :)

Thanks for posting the picture. I can almost smell the leather as I sit here in my office! There's nothing better than the smell of saddle leather and the smell of a horse! I have the urge to bury my nose in Cotton's mane and give her a big hug when I get to the farm! I think I will!

Have a great weekend with your horses! :)

CB and Cotton :hi:

[skygazer]

9. It is a close contact saddle

There is just the hint of a knee roll and nothing behind. I like that - I like to be able to feel my horse moving beneath me without all the cushioning and security of a more stuffed saddle. It was what drew me to it initially - I rode bareback a lot as a kid and really enjoyed that feeling. And it taught me to use my legs and balance instead of relying on my saddle.

I don't have a horse right now - I actually haven't ridden at all for about 2 years. I have a friend who has a couple of horse I could ride but they're very green and very wild and while that doesn't really faze me much, riding them is more a training exercise than it is a pleasurable one. So I get out my saddle and sniff the leather and try to draw out some long-gone horse sweat. :)

A gallery of my saddle and I on various horses -

In 1977, my little Morgan Amigo -



1994, my saddlebred Jon at his first hunt (edit, Jon and I are on the left) -



1996, my very tall Morgan hunter Josh at a show -



No photo with the saddle but this was my last horse, Stormy, a little Arab I had in 2000. Had to find a home for him when I took a spill and broke my back. :(

[CottonBear]

10. Beautiful pictures of lovely horses! So sorry to hear about your back.

:hug:

Horses are good for one's soul!

I'm training my horse Cotton now. I hope to back her this fall. Hopefully, she'll be good and sensible. She's my first and probably only ever horse. I do love her so. Her sire is my sig pic.

:hi: Have a great weekend!

CB

[billyskank]

7. The cost is irrelevant.

The fact that you could buy another one for less... isn't a factor. I totally understand that.

:hug:

[Arugula Latte]

8. Simple saddles are best. I learned that lesson.

When I rode Western, I had a wonderful lightweight saddle. For some reason I sold it and bought one of those fancy, heavy monstrosities instead. Ugh.

Later on I rode English and enjoyed the minimalist saddles much more.