A look at some of the most horrible examples of horse equipment on the market today.
Please remember, this blog is simply MY opinions. Everyone has some and like armpits, some stink! It is all subjective anyway. I am not telling anyone what to use at all. I am just making observations and stating my own likes and dislikes. If you do not agree, fine, you are entitled. THERE IS NO ONE RIGHT WAY.
Please, read and enjoy and try not to be ugly to others. Everyone has a right to their opinions.
Monday, May 11, 2009
What will they think of next?
A reader sent me this. All I can think is, "Dang, what next? Silver plates on English tack?" Then I ran across the second saddle. I give up, there is nothing sacred, what is the world coming to?
The second one isn't that bad. At least it doesn't have any where near as much silver as a typical western show saddle wood. As for the first one, that is just wrong on so many different levels. The coloring, the tooling, the fact that the knee roll looks like a part of a vinyl couch...
The first saddle almost looks ... foreign? Like a South American polo number... it doesn't look right for a lot of jumping.... and has about as much padding as a pair of flip flops.
As for the second..... OMFG.
The tackiness of AQHA "Hunter" Under Saddle *snort* knows no bounds!!!
LOL....I LOVE it.....I've had silver on my english saddle since 1995.....LOL.....
The leather keeper was torn, so I replaced them with silver bars. I also replaced every screw I could with a nice small-ish silver concho. But I never thought of a belt tip on the leathers.....Hhhhhmmmmmmm.......
I think the bottom one is very elegant, but I'd take the top one, too........
The first one looks like its for gaited horses, except the flap is alittle forward. Its not bad for around the barn (atleast its not pink), but I would rather be shot then go anywhere with it. As for the second one I see that it has all the silver to show all choices. I would not bulk at one little accent, like the "bling" browbands in dressage.
If the first one had better colors (like same tone brown all around or something) and less cheesy knee rolls, I kinda like the tooling.. Same with the second one...I think the silver on front screws could be smaller and the back plate I would take the smaller plate, but the silver accents are kinda nice :) Sure, it is not "traditional", but most english stuff is so BORING (and I am not a western rider either, LOL)...most western stuff is TOO bright/colorful, but I'd like a meet in the middle thing like the second saddle or with a little bit of tooling...
I think that's an awesome idea! I think the first one is kind of weird looking, but tooling on an english saddle? Why not? It's not going to fly in the show ring, that's for sure, but for someone who rides English and doesn't show (is there anyone out there fitting that description?) this would be fun.
Ironically, I ride western and not a single on of my saddles has any sliver on it.
The first one - yuck. The second one... I like it. I could do with out the silver bit on the keeper but I like the end of the leather finished with silver. The nailhead is too big. All my English saddles have brass name plates on the backside of the cantle. If a polished silver one had been available way back when I would have considered it.
I actually like the second one but that first one just looks cheap.
My english saddle is plain black with a brass nem plate and brass irons. But I have a black bridle with fancy brass accents on it. I don't show, so I use what ever I like.
Sadly I know someone who would buy the second saddle in a heartbeat, then set about adding more bling everwhere she could.
Showmom you ask?
Why, yes, yes she is.
Did anyone else notice the WHITE stitching on that saddle too? And just how long is that expected to stay like that?
The tooled monster- I have scars on my legs from the flaps of my saddle and others rubbing it raw. No, I was not wearing the 'right' boots. Tooling too? NO THANKS! I don't need any other scars or raw spots anywhere else on my legs.
First saddle: The Artist Formerly Known As Prince had an insane moment when he decided to learn to ride and had this custom made? In 1980-something?
Second saddle: admit I like the leather color choices, looks nice to me. Would depend on the horse. White stitching, with C&J: 2 minutes max. Silver...words fail me.
ohhhhhhhh i like that second one. maybe not the silver concho up there on the pommel, but i love the monogrammed keeper. very classy looking and polished.
:raises hand: I ride english but don't show :) So that is why I actually like both saddles (if the first one had better color/quality)...They have actually given me some ideas, LOL...maybe add silver to my black dressage saddle...hmmmmm :)
GOOD LORD, these are horrible. I think they're the worst you've featured, scaequestrian. If I wanted tooling and bling, I'd buy a Western saddle!
"The first one looks like its for gaited horses, except the flap is alittle forward."
HUH?? I own gaited horses, and I have been around a lot of gaited horse shows and people, and I don't think anyone I know would be caught dead with a saddle like that. Even the Peruvian folks, who have very elaborate tooling on their saddles. A gaited horse can wear any saddle as long as it fits the horse. I ride mine in a Wintec 500 Dressage saddle with the CAIR system and changable gullet. It has fit every single gaited horse I've put it on because it's adjustable.
Although I love my conservative black dressage saddle (and all black leather tack), I would actually use the second saddle if that was the only saddle that fit my horse. The silver is well done and the leather looks decent. Its probably a very nice saddle, and some AQHA people are probably drooling at the prospect of it.
I like the second one and I don't like the orange but I love the tooling on #one! no reason at all why english saddles shouldn't be tooled , I like stuff that is detailed and richly but tastefully ornamented for to long,English tack has been to plain
Have to admit, I actually like both of those :P Or would, if the leather was good quality. However, I'm about as likely to be showing English as I am to start a new hobby of sky diving. It'd be a fun change for games events, too. :)
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The second one isn't that bad. At least it doesn't have any where near as much silver as a typical western show saddle wood. As for the first one, that is just wrong on so many different levels. The coloring, the tooling, the fact that the knee roll looks like a part of a vinyl couch...
ReplyDeleteThe first saddle almost looks ... foreign? Like a South American polo number... it doesn't look right for a lot of jumping.... and has about as much padding as a pair of flip flops.
ReplyDeleteAs for the second..... OMFG.
The tackiness of AQHA "Hunter" Under Saddle *snort* knows no bounds!!!
George Morris would throw up, then have a stroke.
LOL....I LOVE it.....I've had silver on my english saddle since 1995.....LOL.....
ReplyDeleteThe leather keeper was torn, so I replaced them with silver bars. I also replaced every screw I could with a nice small-ish silver concho. But I never thought of a belt tip on the leathers.....Hhhhhmmmmmmm.......
I think the bottom one is very elegant, but I'd take the top one, too........
Oh, and I've mentioned before... I've seen an orangish basketweave English saddle... it was also very STIFF.
ReplyDeleteThe first one looks like its for gaited horses, except the flap is alittle forward. Its not bad for around the barn (atleast its not pink), but I would rather be shot then go anywhere with it. As for the second one I see that it has all the silver to show all choices. I would not bulk at one little accent, like the "bling" browbands in dressage.
ReplyDeleteIf the first one had better colors (like same tone brown all around or something) and less cheesy knee rolls, I kinda like the tooling.. Same with the second one...I think the silver on front screws could be smaller and the back plate I would take the smaller plate, but the silver accents are kinda nice :) Sure, it is not "traditional", but most english stuff is so BORING (and I am not a western rider either, LOL)...most western stuff is TOO bright/colorful, but I'd like a meet in the middle thing like the second saddle or with a little bit of tooling...
ReplyDeleteI think that's an awesome idea! I think the first one is kind of weird looking, but tooling on an english saddle? Why not? It's not going to fly in the show ring, that's for sure, but for someone who rides English and doesn't show (is there anyone out there fitting that description?) this would be fun.
ReplyDeleteIronically, I ride western and not a single on of my saddles has any sliver on it.
The first one - yuck. The second one... I like it. I could do with out the silver bit on the keeper but I like the end of the leather finished with silver. The nailhead is too big. All my English saddles have brass name plates on the backside of the cantle. If a polished silver one had been available way back when I would have considered it.
ReplyDeleteFirst, purple ratcatchers. (are they even called that anymore?)
ReplyDeleteNow, THIS.
*weeps for the future*
; )
I figured Diane I would like them. :)
ReplyDeleteI actually like the second one but that first one just looks cheap.
My english saddle is plain black with a brass nem plate and brass irons. But I have a black bridle with fancy brass accents on it. I don't show, so I use what ever I like.
Sadly I know someone who would buy the second saddle in a heartbeat, then set about adding more bling everwhere she could.
ReplyDeleteShowmom you ask?
Why, yes, yes she is.
Did anyone else notice the WHITE stitching on that saddle too? And just how long is that expected to stay like that?
The tooled monster- I have scars on my legs from the flaps of my saddle and others rubbing it raw. No, I was not wearing the 'right' boots. Tooling too? NO THANKS! I don't need any other scars or raw spots anywhere else on my legs.
First saddle: The Artist Formerly Known As Prince had an insane moment when he decided to learn to ride and had this custom made? In 1980-something?
ReplyDeleteSecond saddle: admit I like the leather color choices, looks nice to me. Would depend on the horse. White stitching, with C&J: 2 minutes max. Silver...words fail me.
ohhhhhhhh i like that second one. maybe not the silver concho up there on the pommel, but i love the monogrammed keeper. very classy looking and polished.
ReplyDelete:raises hand: I ride english but don't show :) So that is why I actually like both saddles (if the first one had better color/quality)...They have actually given me some ideas, LOL...maybe add silver to my black dressage saddle...hmmmmm :)
ReplyDeleteGOOD LORD, these are horrible. I think they're the worst you've featured, scaequestrian. If I wanted tooling and bling, I'd buy a Western saddle!
ReplyDelete"The first one looks like its for gaited horses, except the flap is alittle forward."
HUH?? I own gaited horses, and I have been around a lot of gaited horse shows and people, and I don't think anyone I know would be caught dead with a saddle like that. Even the Peruvian folks, who have very elaborate tooling on their saddles. A gaited horse can wear any saddle as long as it fits the horse. I ride mine in a Wintec 500 Dressage saddle with the CAIR system and changable gullet. It has fit every single gaited horse I've put it on because it's adjustable.
Saddle #2: How Wenglish can you get!?!?!
ReplyDeleteAlthough I love my conservative black dressage saddle (and all black leather tack), I would actually use the second saddle if that was the only saddle that fit my horse. The silver is well done and the leather looks decent. Its probably a very nice saddle, and some AQHA people are probably drooling at the prospect of it.
ReplyDeleteThe first one? I'd ride bareback.
---katphoti- I meant the shape of the saddle not anything else, hence the mention of the forward flap.
ReplyDeleteWENGLISH!!! YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteLike I said... somewhere, George Morris weeps, though you cannot see it behind his ubercorrect aviator sunglasses...
ReplyDeleteI like the second one and I don't like the orange but I love the tooling on #one!
ReplyDeleteno reason at all why english saddles shouldn't be tooled ,
I like stuff that is detailed and richly but tastefully ornamented for to long,English tack has been to plain
Have to admit, I actually like both of those :P Or would, if the leather was good quality. However, I'm about as likely to be showing English as I am to start a new hobby of sky diving. It'd be a fun change for games events, too. :)
ReplyDelete