May 2024
I can't let this day go by without mentioning Easy turns 30 years old today. What a huge milestone for a horse! Knock on wood, he is doing well. I am not sure he appreciates babysitting Rip but he does have all the grass he can eat and shelter whenever he wants it. I am sure he would rather be with the mare but then he gets all heart broken when she leaves for a show or clinic.
Easy, aka my favorite is the reason I started Fit Right Saddle Solutions. We don't know what we don't know but as I learned about saddle fit and how it affected my heart horse, I knew that my mission in life was to help other horses with their saddles.
The picture above is one of the very first demonstrations I did at the Horse World Expo on saddle fitting. I was super nervous but with this horse at my side, I am always warm and fuzzy. This is why his picture is on the trailer. If you haven't heard the story. Here is the link Easy Does It.
Easy is of course the guest of honor at every saddle fitting class too. The next one will be May 18, 2024 at our farm in Crossville TN. There is still room for just a few more participants. We only take 10 people so that each person can get hands on. It is important to learn the anatomy of the saddle support area but even more important to actually feel good and bad saddles on the horses.
FMI and to register go to Basic Saddle Fit Class
Note we are scheduling appointments in June now. If you are a planning a trip to Big South Fork or you have another special trip or event coming up, please let me know as soon as possible.
In my travels I have noticed a lot of older riders having issues with fear. It is usually after a fall or accident of some sort. Riders that have been riding all their lives realize that their sense of balance is not what is used to be and well we don't bounce back like we used to. Sadly, I see a lot of riders letting go of their passion to ride but not this lady!
Pam Reband shared pieces of her story with me when I was fitting her saddle but it wasn't until I read her book, that I learned all she went through. Wow! What an inspiration she is. Her passion for riding and goal to participate in endurance is overwhelming. Although some may say that she is putting her own health at risk, she always put the welfare of the horse first. I wish more shared her beliefs regarding training and conditioning. I love the little jokes she throws in and the worldly advice.
The book is an easy read giving thanks to her friend Scot MacGregor, her Husband and the riding ladies that helped her get back to competing and her appreciation and love for her horses. I highly recommend her book to anyone that has a love for riding but especially those that have let fear keep them out of the saddle.
As always, thank you for reading the enewsletter and especially for sharing it with your friends helping horses is what it is all about. Have a great spring riding season and if you have a heart horse like Easy, please go give him a hug for me today.
TTYS & God Bless!
Terry Peiper, Fit Right Saddle Solutions