Cliffy and saddle fit, not really related, I suppose

["Kelly Hansen" <khansen@fabgear.com>]

Hi everyone,

For those of you weary of the Toddler discussion, but who might like to
answer my saddle fit question, you could scroll down to the bottom... :-)

At the risk of being a me too, I thought I'd throw in another opinion from a
former child rider's perspective.  On one hand, I'm thrilled that little
Cliffy is able to follow his bliss, and have such a great family
experience--and I'm sure is parents were well aware of the risks and did
their best to minimize any potential danger, but on the other hand, I'm a
bit concerned.  Besides doubting that any 3 yo could handle a spook (gad, I
barely can now, full grown!), shake, or stumble, parents need to realize
that even one fall, even if it causes only minor concussion, can affect
their child in later life.

I was a trainers kid, and pretty much grew up at the barn.  In an otherwise
tumultuous childhood, the barn was my respite, and all of my good memories
involve one of my horsie activities.  I wouldn't trade my horse childhood
and very early riding (stuck on a horse pretty much before I could walk,
actively showing at 5, really remeber controlling my pony out of tantrums
and hard patches at 6), but in retrospect, perhaps my mother shouldn't have
taken the risks with me that she did.  Not that this is a pile on the
parents thing, but I do think they were terribly irresponsible, IMOHO,  with
my young life.

Lets see, the injury count (and I'm not counting the time my mom was thrown
from her horse onto railroad tracks when she ws pregnant with me.)

First hospitalization at 3 (maybe it was two, can't remember) with a severe
concussion, knocked into the barn wall by a horse
between 3 and 6 several falls, kicks and bites that were memorable, but not
hospitalized for
Second hospitalization at 6, fall from my pony.  Concussion and broken arm.
6-15 several more falls, which I now believe were hard enough to cause
concussion, but as I was a "tough kid,"  I was expected to (and expected
myself) to "shake them off"
15 third hospitalization for fall. Split the actual ball of the shoulder
joint right down the middle.  Another severe concussion.

Let me tell you, I was actually proud of all of these falls, as I felt it
marked me as good rider who could deal with challenging horses.  Stupid,
stupid!  Ah, if I only knew now....

Most of these falls occured before the advent of proper head gear, and I
can't remember having a helmet that wasn't just a hunt cap before the age of
14.  Yes, like a dummy, I didn't think I looked cool with my helmet as a 15
yo, so I didn't have it on when I fell the last time.

After each of the falls and injuries, I was quite eager to get back on and
ride it out.  After years of not being able to have a horse for school/work
responsibilities, I am now the happy keeper of a sweet arabian.  I'm hoping
that we will make a good LD or endurance team.

I'd love to say that I'm none the worse for wear, but sadly, all those head
injuries had a cumulative effect.  My neurologist has said another head
injury might be big trouble for me--and is not thrilled that I ride.  I
often wonder if my learing disablities and spacial judgement trouble (makes
it hard to drive, and very hard to walk down long hallways with out bumping
around like a pin ball :-D!) might be connected with all of these injuries,
or if I was born with the LD.  Hard to tell.  

To be fair, as an old adolescent/adult, I've had three more concussions that
are not horse related.  One from a car accident and two from falls on ice
(both times pulled over by my wanna-be sled dogs).

I remeber watching a video of Buck Davidson (son of the famous eventer Bruce
Davidson) at the age of 5 or 6 galloping alongside his dad on his little
pony, taking pint-size eventing jumps that were set up next to the biggie
jumps that his dad was schooling.  Buck is now one of the top competitors in
the country, and I'm sure he's quite happy with his early start!

To sum up--horses were the best part of my growing up, and are one of the
best parts of my adult life, but I do wish that folks would have been more
careful with my noggin.  You only get one of those, and yes, those
concussions, research has shown that the effects never quite totally go
away.

Now, for the saddle fit.  I am re-starting my 7 yo arabian gelding (I
adopted him from rescue, he was severly abused at the hands of a trainer, so
the whole riding thing scares the bejesus out of him, but he's settling down
nicely).  I work him in hand (on trail, arena, over small jumps--we walk and
run everywhere) and he has been wearing his saddle, a Wintec Isabell
dressage model. His back is absolutely dry when I take the saddle off, but
his sides (covered by the flaps) are damp.  When I push down on the cantle,
the saddle stays put, but when I push down on the pommel the saddle cantle
flips upward.  Not ideal, I know--but would a gel pad do until he builds up
his shoulder muscles?  Also, hes got an extra wide gullet in there, would
sticking in a wide gullet (its the interchangeable Wintec metal dealie) be
better?

Thanks, 
Kelly

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