The Instructor Meets Niko

Today I’ll be telling you about what’s been going on regarding my riding instructor, but the photos will be of my saddle, with and with out its saddle pad, because my follower allhorsestuff said it would be interesting too many, so none of the photos will be relevant to what I am telling you.

My instructor arrived as planned, first of all they wanted to see me ride Niko in walk trot and canter on both reins, and then jump in trot and canter, so with all that done they were ready to get on and give him a go.

I never really get to see Niko being ridden, so it was really nice to see, at first he was a little bit cheeky and did try to get out of working from behind but only for a little, and then he was good. He really does look stunning when he is on the bit and working nicely, but then he is my horse so I would say that.

I was surprised at how floaty he looked obviously not as floaty as some dressage horses but still a very pretty picture. My instructor really liked him, they said he was responsive and had a lovely mouth, they also said he was quite rusty, understandably with me on him for the past couple of years, but that he could be quite good in sometime.

I rode him after my instructor for a little and they told me more about trying to get him on the bit. Afterwards my instructor took me back to their yard, where I was able to see them getting Spike ready for a one day event that they were going to. I saw them jumping Spike and then bath him and plait him and what sort of products they use.

I got to join in with bathing Spike and I cleaned their dressage bridle while they did the other tack. My instructor also took a look at all of our other equines, and gave us advise on them, which was all very interesting.

So all in all it was a lot of fun, and I like to think I have learnt some useful things, plus this was the first time I have see my instructor ride, so I was happy to see their riding lived up to their qualifications.

And on a completely different subject KK if you are having difficulty finding the right sort of saddle pad you might want to take a look at this blog’s post which is about saddle pads.

Wintec Rear Riser Saddle Pad -Review

Now that I have had some more time to use the Wintec rear riser saddle pad I think it’s time to give it a review.

The Wintec pad fitted to Niko’s back well and was easy to fit, it was held in place nicely after I had put his saddle on and there was no slipping, it did show more than I had thought it would, it isn’t the nicest looking pad out there.

Niko before being ridden, not too impressed.

But when I mounted I was pleasantly surprised at how much comfier it was, I was a little higher than normal with pad under the saddle which was nice, as we got going I found the pad made everything a lot comfier and less bumpy but without restricting Niko’s movement.

The rear riser has two thicker pads at the back where the horse’s back is weaker, it helps to absorb shock and reduces pressure on the back, but that wasn’t why I got it as after all it’s Niko’s withers that have been being rubbed, so the question is did it work.

Niko after being ridden, quite impressed.

The Wintec rear riser saddle pad has indeed stopped any rubbing on Niko’s withers, this is a great saddle pad that has worked really well and is very comfy too. This saddle pad is ideal for use on horses with high withers or sway backs, and is also useful for horses with little to no top line while they are building it.

All in all very good pad I am happy to have it, and I am sure Niko is too.

All King Edwards Horses Can’t Make Big Fences

Today’s lesson went quite well or at least I think it did but you would have to ask my instructor to know if it really did go well, anyway I had fun. I have mostly been learning the basic stuff the sort of stuff I should have learnt at the riding school I went to but, now I know more about riding it turns out that my old riding instructor didn’t know the first thing about riding or if they did they must have just chosen to not teach it, anyway back to my lesson, I have been working on lots of things like my transitions and getting the horse to work from behind, I also used spurs today I was not exactly skilful with them but I hope that will come with time. All In all it was a lot of fun and I think I have learnt a thing or two, oh and my saddle pad has arrived to day so I will soon be able to try it out.

In other news September is just a few hours away so I thought I would share some of my favourite blogs with any of my viewers that care to take a look, these blogs are all great and are well worth taking a look at and following in the new month.

My Spotty Pony this is a great blog full of interesting posts with beautiful photographs of England and some of its most wonderful estates and lots more.

Little House in Paradise is a lovely blog full of good nice to read posts with some truly wonderful stories, read the one about bees.

All Horse Stuff this blog is a lot of fun and may even teach you a thing about riding it’s a great blog for someone interested in trail riding or just horse stuff.

Please check out these blogs they are all great reads and a lot of fun to follow with nice friendly owners that run their blogs very well. There are so many good blogs out there that obviously I can’t list them all but take a look on my side bar for more good blogs.

A Minor Set Back

I have had to stop riding Niko as recently his saddle has been rubbing him I tried him in a different more padded numnah but still no good, so I’ll be getting this funny little thing ugly I know but it is only going under the saddle anyway, it’s been designed for horses with high withers or a poor top line, Niko has both high withers and sadly a poor top line too due to my incompetence in the saddle I am unable to get him working from behind and so have a lot of difficulty building his top line, anyway I am hopeful this will do the trick and stop the rubbing as there is very little point in getting a new saddle know as I now he isn’t going to be staying this shape for long.

In other news I am having another lesson tomorrow so I am hopeful that all will go well, I will let you all know how it went in my next post.