Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
Having a week off between Winter's cold and Summer's heat is a true blessing. Not only did I ride both boys nearly every day, but I was also able to catch up on some barn chores. You already know that I cleaned the tack room; here are two other chores that needed doing. Buying and stacking my pine pellets for the summer was one chore that I had saved for Spring Break. The next job I tackled was cleaning my endurance saddle. I find it sad that I truly can't remember the last time I rode in it. It has surely been more than a year. I didn't think to take a before picture as the saddle was simply dusty. After cleaning and conditioning it though, I remembered what a pretty saddle it actually is and wished that I had a before picture to show you. This saddle is designed for the rider that desires a balanced equitation seat. It is built on their famous endurance tree with their unique suspended ground seat. Padded with Tucker's Gel-Cush™ Padding, it comes with English Stirrup leathers, Trail Glide™ stirrups and English billet rigging. Also features the Equi-Balanced Tree, 1/2" Wool Felt lined skirts & beautiful master craftsmanship. It features English-styled strategically positioned knee rolls with padded flaps. I have enjoyed this saddle immensely and don't feel ready to part with it. If you are interested in the Tucker Equitation, they're having a great sale on this saddle. It normally retails for around $2100, but it's on sale for $1445 at Tucker Saddle Sales with $7.99 shipping. Quite a deal if you're in the market. Horse Saddle Shop put together this helpful video. While our tack room is quite nice, it is not dust free nor climate controlled. I decided to bring the saddle home along with the leathers, stirrups, girth, pad, seat cover, and cantle bag. We have a windowless utility room at home that stays a pretty dust free. The saddle will certainly weather better there than in the tack room. If I think I want to use it, I can always schlepp it back out to the barn, but I don't think that is going to happen anytime soon ...
I know it's a shame to let such a nice quality saddle sit unused, especially when I know several people who would very much like to have it. It took me a lot of soul searching before I was willing to part with my other Tucker saddle. I liked that saddle a lot, but I couldn't see two saddles sitting around gathering dust. I am not interested in doing any long trail rides right now, but who know what I'll be doing in the next few years? Good pieces of tack are worth holding onto. For those of you with extra saddles sitting around, how long do you let them sit before passing them on to a new owner? I can't keep anything of value sitting around a long time, because I usually need the funds to get from selling it for something else. I do have my western saddle hanging out, because it has sentimental value and even though it doesn't fit Simon I can't part with it quite yet.
Karen
4/3/2013 10:55:22 am
I don't hang on to much either because everything collects dust! Apparently saddles are sentimental to others as well. :0) I had an old cutback flat saddle (for saddle seat) for many years before I felt ready to part with it. I took it out once a year to clean and oil it. Finally last year I was ready, and ended up giving it to a friend instead of selling it. I'm glad to know that it is being used by someone still enjoying the sport.
Karen
4/10/2013 11:03:27 pm
I don't feel so bad holding on to this one - thanks! Comments are closed.
|
About the Writer and RiderI am a lifelong rider.
I began endurance riding in 1996 where I ultimately completed five, one-day 100 mile races, the 200-mile Death Valley Encounter, and numerous other 50, 65, and 75 mile races. I began showing dressage in 2010. Welcome to my dressage journey. About Speedy GSpeedy went from endurance horse to dressage horse. After helping me earn a USDF Bronze medal in the summer of 2020, he is now semi-retired. Speedy is a 2004, 15'1 hand, purebred Arabian gelding. His Arabian Horse Registry name is G Ima Starr FA.
About IzzyIzzy was started as a four-year old and then spent the next 18 months in pasture growing up. I bought him as a six-year old, and together, we are showing at the lower levels. He is a 2008, 16'3 hand warmblood gelding. His Rheinland Pfalz-saar International (RPSI) name is Imperioso.
National Rider AwardsState Rider Awards
State Horse Awards
Working Towards:
CDS Sapphire Rider Award Third Level: 63.514% Third Level: 62.105% Fourth Level: Fourth Level: 2023 Show Season
Show Rating (***) CDS/USDF/USEF (*) CDS (s) Schooling (c) Clinic (r) Ride-a-Test Clinic 2023 Show Schedule
TBD 2023 Completed … Pending 2023 Qualifying Scores
Regional Adult Amateur Competition (RAAC) Qualifying Training Level 3 Scores/2 Judges/60%: Score 1: Score 2: Score 3: Archives
|