Bentaiga’s Beautiful Tack

  
Just a short post today about some truly beautiful tack. Take a look at this saddle, as you can see a lot of work has gone into it’s creation but I think it’s safe to say the work paid off, this is probably the fanciest saddle I’ve ever seen.

  
And take a look at this double bridle, it too is very fancy even the bit is crafted with beautiful designs on it, and personally I rather like the horse head bust the bridle is displayed on too.

Very small photo I know but I think you can probably get an idea of how nice these stirrup irons are too.

If you liked the tack you saw here why not check it out and lots of other beautiful tack here at the Bentaiga website.

My Newish Dressage Saddle

Hello everyone I am back for now, I have been reading your posts so sorry to hear about the bad news some of you have had and happy to hear the good.


Now on with the post, I have just recently agreed to the purchase of this Thorowgood dressage saddle from my riding instructor. They are selling it with a saddle cover, girth, stirrup leathers, stirrup irons, and a pair of roller spurs.

I like this dressage saddle because it is a lot comfier than my old saddle and it puts me in a better position, I also find it a lot easier to get my legs around the horse, my old saddle makes it very hard to get close to the horse.

The saddle is regrettably synthetic but at least that means it is easier to clean, I guess I’ll just have to wait for a Bates Innova Dressage Saddle, but for now I am happy with this saddle.

And finally before I go, hello to my new followers and thanks for following hope you enjoy my blog.

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.

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.

Finally Clean

I have finally got my saddle all cleaned up, shame it show’s up all the other damage a lot more, last time I cleaned my saddle I had quite a lot of difficulty getting some parts clean , but this time it has been no problem with Chesfield’s Multipurpose. The amount I go on about these products anyone would think they were sponsoring me, but no they aren’t I just really like the products.

Anyway back to the saddle, it’s now nice and clean with a healthy dose of saddle soap to keep it soft and supple, next I plan on getting my bridle clean and then shortly after I will give my saddle another clean, I think it’s probably best if I keep on top of my tack cleaning this time, easier said than done for some.

New Tack Old Tack

I have now got my saddle back. It is a bit of a tatty old thing as you can see in the photo, you can also probable see it is VERY dirty! But I am still happy to have it back, I have been doing a lot of cantering, because I was not doing so much when I was riding bareback, and I think its got to be my favourite pace on Niko, I prefer trot on Madeline, but anyway I am getting off track or should I say off tack.

So here is the next piece of tack, this is a great new bridle, it has a padded nose band, and a padded brow band, so hopefully it will be more comfortable than Niko’s old bridle, well even if it isn’t he can’t have his old bridle back, because it met a sad end, at the hooves of Madeline.

At least my favourite reins were not destroyed with the other tack, and here they are my favourite plaited reins, they are great and not as big as lots of other reins, so are very easy to use. Plus I really like the way they look, they are a bit tatty on the inside, but they were very cheap, so I am very happy with them, and they have served me well so far.

Thank you all very much for all of your comments on my last post,

Sherri, let’s hope Bold Hawk sees it the same way, I would like him too enjoy his time with us, after all a happy horse is a well behaved horse.

Abby, I love quotes and here is one for Spotty and Bold Hawk, “You don’t throw a whole life away just ‘cause he’s banged up a little”, ( Chris Cooper ) from the movie Seabiscuit, I think this is right just because Spotty has arthritis and Bold Hawk dishes, doesn’t mean they can’t be great.

Allhorsestuff, thanks for telling me about the blog I took a look at it, and I am now following it, it’s a very interesting blog and has some lovely horses, so thanks again.

Connie, yep let’s hope, but even if he doesn’t have much talent at least we can get him looking good, with a nice shine and hopefully build up his confidence a bit while he is with us.