Re: New To Endurance

["SUSAN SWOPE-ATTARDI" <NAGZARUS@prodigy.net>]

Say, Angie.... why the full cheek??  Genuinely curious!  I like riding in a
plain snaffle but have always used a "D" ring.

Susan Swope
SE Region
Kentucky
-----Original Message-----
From: Angela C. McGhee <rides2far@juno.com>
To: ridecamp@endurance.net <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Date: Saturday, November 14, 1998 11:49 PM
Subject: New To Endurance


>
>
>>natural
>>sea sponge fitted for endurance (again, from Running Bear) and go for
>
>Leigh, Leigh!  I'm so hurt. Haven't you listened to ANYTHING that I've
>told you?  Here you are recommending a cheaper saddle, but recommending
>an expensive sponge that the pros don't use?  >sigh<
>
>Now, what you want is a big hourglass shaped car wash sponge, and cotton
>STRING that comes in a bag from K Mart!  (ignore Lynda Corry's ranting
>about rope). Those natural sponges are great if you only plan to be a
>"River Dipper", but who wants to go through life with THAT stigma?
>
>If you're just going to try out some limited distance and not train 5
>days a week like SOME of us when we got started and went insane...  you
>won't have to go on the "great saddle hunt" just yet. Besides, your horse
>isn't the shape he's going to be in competition yet, so a custom fit
>would be wasted.
>
>The advantages of the "higher quality" equipment are often comfort to
>you,  and to the horse.  With my old non-endurance saddle, I had holes on
>the inside of each knee after 50 miles.  I tried to keep my old western
>for a spare and found that I couldn't stand to ride on it for 20 minutes
>any more, so I sold it.
>
> My gripe with the Big Horn is that the stirrups are too far forward, so
>you end up in a chair position and have a sore back from trying to lean
>forward to get your feet under you. Leather bridles get stiff pretty
>quickly if you're a compulsive sponger.  The leather breast collar won't
>last long under that sort of abuse either.
>
>My recommendations on tack are, buy a good quality used saddle.  They
>won't depreciate much at all...just don't let'em get stolen.  I got a
>practically new OF back in 1990 for $500.  I wouldn't take that for it
>today.
>
> I like Marilynn Horstmeyer's biothane bridle & running martingale...the
>Ortho-Flex neoprene crupper (Griffin's has a cheaper one that looks
>pretty good), Griffin's 8' nylon reins with regular buckels on the end,
>and a Toklat wool pad.
>
> I use a neoprene girth, but if you prefer the western type, Marilyn
>Horstmeyer has a very nice design.  It's got stainless steel buckels, and
>a felt liner that is attatched to the rest of the girth with a huge wide
>(would never turn loose) piece of velcro.  That way you can peel off the
>entire liner and throw it in the washer without having to put those huge
>buckels in.
>
>My breastcollar came from OF years ago when they were closing out their
>neoprene.  I've really liked it.  Watch out for breastcollars with a
>narrow band over the withers, and avoid letting the buckel be centered
>where it would rub.
>
>By the way, a 4 3/4" bit usually fits and Arab better than the standard
>5".  I like a full cheek snaffle, and put those little bit holders on to
>keep it in the right position.  There's a biothane dealer in Florida who
>makes them out of biothane.  You usually have to deal with leather.
>
>I buy my syringes from Teddy at Runningbear.  They're the only ones I can
>get the electrolytes to go through.  I usually chase Roger Rittenhouse
>down to get my electrolytes.  He sells them in small bags so I don't have
>to deal with a huge container turning to rock.
>
>Angie
>
>
>Angie McGhee & Kaboot
>Wildwood, GA
>Rides2far@juno.com
>Kabootnme@aol.com
>
>
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