Anna Vieburg is a EE instructor who I have known for years as I do the bodywork on her horse Merlin. Anyway got the older style Feonix off ebay (the one where you need a smart panel) and asked her to come over all the way to Rossendale to check its correct as it is years since I have ridden correctly in an english saddle as done western for so long. Got it on correct and braved the snow and biting winds (as on top of a moor) and walked about.
Have been struggling with Lucy as she was started by my western instructor, who has done an amazing job, but has seemed to be unhappy in her mouth. I thought it was a treed saddle causing it as I just dont do treed saddles as they cause me too much pain in my back and hip with I think the concussion for them. When ridden in my Westeraire she was begining to settle nicley but have only been able to ride her twice since she came home end Nov last year due to the horrid weather. We did (I think) nearly an hour in walk and Lucy was loving it. I also asked Anna to check my position as I have had quite a few nasty injuries which mean at times when I ride I lose feeling from the waist down and I wanted to make sure I was sat ok. A few corrections where (in my words so I can remember them) 1) stop tipping my coffee cups over - riding with piano hands) 2) not to push weight into heels but have a heavy feel in my knee - which resulted in me feeling much more secure as I still have confidence issues as it can be quite painful to ride at times and when I lose the feelin gform the waist down sometimes I struggle alittle with my balance. As I hit my 40 mins pain barrier my back started to tighten up and hip started to throb so stretched it out and got it right then stopped on a super note. (Can only ever do 10 mins in a treed saddle)
Lucy has been started western, but I feel doing a bit of classical flavour will help her confidence, in the same way western falvour can help an english horse.
Then got my Grey fell pony out (Lorel) who adores western and so wants to be a reining pony. I asked Anna to be eyes on ground as I *think* we are getting Travers? We just say 1/4s in. As I have been struggling to feel it with a numb bum and legs lol. Lorel had other ideas and wanted to lope not jog but listened to me so let her off lol.
I then got Anna to get onboard and have a play with her. Bless, she asked quietly for jog and off Lorel went onto Lope, Anna was grinning ear to ear. Had her doing rollbacks, sidepass, turn on haunches/forehand, SHoulder in, 1/4's in. A fun session. We then where so cold we stopped and sorted ponies out and had a brew.
So I now have an english saddle and western saddle so I can do both flavours of riding if I chose to. My heart is still with western but I can play at stressage over winter to keep them ticking over now.
Really reccomend Anna for lessons for people in the North West England.
Sorry no pics, Mum refused to come out in the blizzard and winds to take them lol
