My Mayhew Lissadell came in! It fits us PERFECTLY. It is night and day compared to the Elan. I don't feel in any way unbalanced or precariously perched. It needs some work, more than I expected from the photos/description. I used it Saturday for a show and was tightening the offside billets when the front one snapped off in my hand! Completely dry-rotted. Thankfully we were standing still. I patched it up and rode the class anyway. Rode it again yesterday, using the remaining two offside billets (and praying) and the rear billet on the nearside ripped! Emailed the seller and getting a partial refund for repairs. It will NOT be sent back, MINE.
As for the show, it was the GQ's first time out. He did very well, coming in third in Hunter Under Saddle, and though he participated in and tried his best to do Horsemanship, he was beaten by the more experienced horses. He did so well though! No spooking, he tried as hard as he could to do what he thought was being asked. He was just so ADD, looking around like a llama. But he maintained a calm attitude the whole time, just very interested in his surroundings.
The SRF had a poor showing in the Open Gaited class, deciding in the lineup that she would rather scream and holler and bounce around because the GQ was nearby than to stand quietly. Sigh. We came in fourth. The Slow Gaited class (think gaited WP) was better, we came in third. She also had an excellent round of speed events, running just over 10 seconds on speed, 32.something on poles (first time EVER), and a 23.something on barrels, for the third time in her life. Can't complain. We came in third in speed. Little gaited horse can run!
The show was very laid back and relaxed, and the prizes were HORSE FEED!! 2 sacks for first, one for second and third, and a prize out of the supply box (contained electrolytes, show sheen, fly spray, etc) or a feed bucket for fourth and fifth! We came home with 3 bags of $15 plus dollar a bag feed and a small container of electrolytes. Not too shabby. Sorry for the lack of pics, we both forgot our cameras!!
And now, some gratuitous tacky tack for you...
Yes, denim.
LMAO if your looking for UUUUGLY saddles Halason certainly does take the cheap fugly cake.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the placings!
ReplyDeleteYay about getting your saddle! To be honest, you are probably best replacing your billets anyways. Unless I know the owner before me replaced them in "modern times", then I always get new ones put on. It's just not worth the risk.
ReplyDeleteI find my Lissadell comfy but can't justify getting it restored at this moment in time as my Whippy fits Hattie and I need to buy hay!!
This winter I plan to get my billets replaced on my 20-odd year old County that I bought this spring.
ReplyDeleteDamn, Hilason = Hilarious! As in, hilariously tacky. Not quite as bad as Ligers & Tigons, or whatever it's called, but close.
Glad you had fun at the show.
ReplyDeleteThat is surely a blue saddle. Yep, it is blue.
So sorry to hear your saddle needs repair work... New billets are not cheap since you need to drop the panels to do it.
ReplyDeleteWhen The Side Saddlery gets in a saddle that needs the billets done, I always have our saddler replace the balance strap & check the seat webbing at the same time! Might as well when the panels are already off!
Isn't there a difference between a cheap knock off like the Elan and an old name saddle made when the saddlers really understood what was needed? I cherish my Bartley - a lesser known old name saddler, but it fits like it was built for me.
Linda
Oh PLEASE be careful. I was riding a young horse in a small round pen when one billet came unsewn and the other broke. It was the worst riding accident I have ever had. ER doc said it was a miracle I did not break my hip...and even though it was not broken - I was totally unable to walk for 3 days.
ReplyDelete