AYLESBURY LODGE

Today started out like any other.. early..

I'll get into some important info in a sec.. but here's a good stable update for you all (god knows its been a while).

Archie Moses

Well, Archie is still on spell. Enjoying a nice long break (ok and the occasional ride down through the Gawler river, quarry and home again ~ aka "The River Run") after a hectic season last year in readiness for the next show season. Today he was out shaperoned by Polar Express who (ridden by Jon) proved just how quiet he was with a nice loose reined lope along the side of the road on his way home. Archie, who has become very lazy in his holidays, elso enjoyed a good canter, which his rider (unfortunately not be, but stable hand/agistor Gayle) couldn't stop raving about once she came back..  Quote "Best canter I have ever ridden to!". Needless to say, I was chuffed, Archie was stuffed and a friend of mine who had popped in for a visit (owner of STB Mare BeeGee) couldn't wait to get her leg over him. LOL So she had a little ride, donning Gayle's wellies and having a little trot. His expressive movement is nothing short of impressive and Cassie was yet another he made his mark on as she too couldn't wipe the smile of her face..

The Socks

You know its winter when someone takes off her boots and exposes these sox - (Yes Gayle, I warned you I'd put it on here) ~ yep, toe sox.. maybe you had to be there, but I thought they looked hysterical and couldn't help but take a photo.

Polar Express

Went for his last ride today at the Lodge, or what turned out to be, when he was sold this evening to Four Oaks Farm at Littlehampton for trail riding. And what a lucky devil he is going there! And they have a great farrier too!  He leaves for Littlehampton on sunday. There will be few sad to see him go, Mr Pushbutton, walk trot canter, loose rein.. ok bugger it, so Mr Perfect will be enjoying greener pastures surrounded by some of the nicest people in the Equine Industry and we wish them well together.

Pugsley The Pony

Everyone's favourite pint sized trotter is back on track and will return to the track at Globe Derby tonight after having a brief spell. Fingers crossed he does well.

Diesel Jack

Made a brief return to the stable before finding a home with a lovely lady who lives on the other side of the river to The Lodge. She adores him and I am assured of some pics very soon. Broken to saddle, he has proven to a real star and turns heads whereever he goes. Many people are saying he looks like a warmblood  I didn't see it, so pretty keen to see thos pics Toni!.. LOL. Seriously as a foal, he was the most gangly (dare I say ~ Ugly) looking thing ever. Nothing like his brother who had showie looks from day one and still does. But his new mum rides him on the roads and all sorts, says he has a great trot and canter which is nothing short of impressive as he always preferred to pace, so go figure and everyone loves him!.. Shows you just can't pick 'em sometimes!  

Schnaps Of Aylesbury

In what can be described as nothing short of impressive, her brief show stint ensured she made quite an impact ~ not only with showies ~ but also on the leaderboard. Despite this, she will be reluctantly offered for sale to a show home. With a new horse coming (showjumper), Archie and 2 ponies to contend with, plus two daughters, I am kidding myself if I think I'll have time to devote to a youngster who LOVES being the centre of attention... She too is enjoying a holiday at present and keeping two ol' broodies company.. Tip Top Look (in foal to Archie Moses ~ with the intent of racing the foal) and Our Maximum Risk (mother of Jake Brake and Diesel Jack).

The Showjumper

In a freakish amount of luck, we are also the new owners of a showjumper who is currently experiencing some problems with some "head tossing". Now he of course, won't be jumping whilst this is going on, but with some time, and working out the cause, the root of the problem and fixing it, I may have secured myself a nice Chestnut (albeit TB) Jumper. Will fill you in about him later..

The Baby

For those who didn't already know I spent the entire show season pregnant and with the show season winding up to a close this sunday (Sunnybrae being the last for the season I am aware of), baby no. 2 is only weeks away from being born. Exact date is still to be confirmed, but is expected approx May 26th. Thus the reason I wasn't riding the Arch Myster (Archie Moses) today or in the show ring for that matter.

I am happy to report we are expecting another girl.. who has been named Eva (pronounced Ava) Louise. Its amazing how much the last few weeks take it out of a person in pregnancy and to say I am counting down the weeks now, would be an understatement. So yep, Archie and I share the same motivational levels at the moment for anything work related, non existant..  

Not to be outdone by her sister Elsi (now 16 months old), Eva already has a pony ready and waiting, compliments of Poniewood Stud.. naturally. And bit of trivia.. her pony is actually the niece of Elsi's Pony.. Mr Poniewood Paris.. Both of whom will be in the show ring next season (time and God willing).

Elsi-Mae

My first born is turning into quite the equestrianne. She already mixes the horse's feeds, tends to her own pony (Poniewood Paris) of a morning and lets him out into his paddock of a day. Leads him about the farm of a night time and back into his stable for his night feed, scrapes down horses after a hose down and rides.. Yes, rides. If you think you can saddle a horse and not put her on board, you'd be grosely misinformed. Saddle or Harness, both are greated by her with the same enthusiasm and both recieve the same effort of tanty if she doesn't get to do it herself... yep, she holds reins too. Scary stuff. Thus the reason when Sally @ Poniewood told me about a pony for Eva, it was really a no brainer. Elsi and Eva would need their own ponies.. Period. So much for waiting until the kids were.

IMPORTANT NOTICE - STATUS SADDLES

A rather interesting ahh ride, (if you could call it that) by one of our agisters and her horse has prompted me to pop this on this site. Over a preiod of time, her otherwise well mannered horse has become nothing short of a bronk. Today resulting in nothing short of a ride which would put even a trained bonc to shame, amazingly the rider managed to stay on, only to be cow kicked at an attempt to get off. Fortunately for her, the horse missed.

Luckily, we were out and about, and managed to get a look over the horse before the fate of this horse was to be determined, as indeed, considered now dangerous, it wasn't awefully bright.

The saddle used was a Status. Complete with a thick western saddle pad, all from the outset looked to fit well. It sat well on the horse and didn't appear to pinch him anywhere.. then we took the blasted thing off.

Just behind the wither on both sides of the saddle, there were rub marks, the hair was corse and whilst their were no obvious signs of pain when pressure was applied, the "patches" indicated that indeed, something was indeed gravely wrong with this saddle.

Problem: Saddle

This is not the first time we have seen back problems (or indeed dramatic personality changes) in otherwise quiet riding horses due to these blasted things. There are many a cheap saddle on the market and I encourage people to THINK about the long term. Save the money and buy a quality saddle. Or at least, if you have to go cheaper (for whatever reason) then spend the little extra money to have a qualified saddle fitter come and fit it to your horse.

Whilst we appreciate that some people have had no problems with their Status saddles and even find them comfortable (YUK) I have lost count now as to the amount of horses headed to the knackery or indeed plagued with problems subjected to these things.

So many issues I have been contacted about, on assessment have been due to cheap saddles (or incorrectly fitted expensive ones too for that matter ~ although not as many as these as the cheaper alternative) being put on horses backs.

Please ~ do yourself and your horse a favour and save and wait a few more weeks to get that better saddle. You'll certainly not regret it.