I have long held the view
that General Purpose Saddles (GP Saddles), have been and still are,
one of the most counter productive pieces of equipment available to
the Horse Industry and yet, is so widely used
Like so much of the training
habits and equipment, this too has been handed down via tradition
and from the British Horse Society, though Pony Club and probably
goes a long way to explaining why it is that so many People have so
many problems with their Horse Riding and Training. For the GP
Saddle is completely counter productive to learning to ride and for
the training of Horses. Before I go on, have a look at this great
Video that I found on Youtube and my Thanks to the Lady for sharing
it.
Now go to this great Website
which agrees with my work on 'listening to Horses' and read the
views of this Vet, with special attention to Saddle Fit and
Rider Position causing so much pain to Horses.
http://youtu.be/jd2NqTPmjDU
My reasons for not liking
the GP Saddle are as follows:
That anyone learning to
Ride in one can never gain an 'independent seat' and their own
balance
They restrict and
inhibit the movement of Horses
They promote the Legs
of Riders out the front and send the Weight and impact to the
back of Horses
They cause Riders to
swing off the Mouths of Horses to find balance, thus ruining
those Mouths and terrorizing them in the process.
Riders' in GP Saddles,
generally frustrate the Hell out of Horses
They cause Training
problems in Horses.
and they may just be
one of the reasons why European Riders are so far ahead of the
British. Dressage Saddles!!
In short, they are a
disaster for Rider and for Horses everywhere.
So Kids, if you or your
Mum's read this, ditch the GP and go retrain yourself for you will
be riding incorrectly, your muscles will need to be changed and so
will those of your Horse for as they have been compensating for your
Riding all this time, their Muscles have also changed to the
detriment of correct. Thus taking away the full ability to perform.
Now for some Photos from England, of People with Horse Problems that
have written to me.
First the Grey Horse that
went around bolted several times whilst shouting to the Owner. Note
the Legs and Hands on the left and then the new Dressage Saddle on
the Right. (Note the Position and Hands and the relief of the Horse)
In Britain, this is what the
GP Saddle Causes to Riders but of course I represent the Horses
here.
Remember, for a Horse to be
able to work properly, you need to be 'balanced' on a Horse. To be
balanced on a Horse, your position needs to be "Heel,Hip,Shoulder"
This is what a GP Saddle does to you.
So throw them
in the Bin and buy a Dressage Saddle Folks.
