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Wentworth Hunter Pace - June 6, 2021

After Margaret and I had such a fun time at the fall hunter pace, we opted to go again this spring! This time, while I rode Rejoice again, Margaret rode her horse Jester and had a friend ride Ladyhawke. All Kennebec Morgans!! Jester and Rejoice have the same dam and Jester and Lady share the same sire. Unfortunately instead of a lovely late spring day, we had one of the first intensely hot and humid days of the year. It was definitely a bummer, but the ride was mostly in the shade of the woods and we had a great time!  most of the fences were 3' coops but we found a small log and this hay to jump haha Until we didn't. 😑 We brought along a third friend who rode Margaret's older mare, Ladyhawke. She's a good rider but hasn't known Ladyhawke for very long and didn't realize how much of a cranky boss mare she could be at times. She kicked Jester right in the front leg just about halfway through the ride, and while the cut itself ended up not being a big deal in the

Another new adventure!

My goals with Dreamy last year in 2012 were to try team penning (CHECK!) and fox hunting (CHECK!).  I still want to play around with both of those disciplines this year and in the future.  

But I have also wanted to try sidesaddle for a long time.  I bought a cheap $100 sidesaddle on a whim at a used tack sale that was HUGE on her.  It was literally wide enough for a draft horse.  Sold it on eBay and made a little profit.  :-)

Then I found a no name Elan lookalike on eBay this past winter.  Elans are sort of the entry saddle for the sidesaddle discipline.  It actually fit Dreamy quite well, but it was incredibly uncomfortable   Sold that on Facebook just a month ago and made a little profit.  :-)

I religiously check eBay and Facebook and all the sidesaddle websites, just to see what might come up.  The nice brands - Owen, Mayhew, Whippy, Champion & Wilton, Martin & Martin - are super expensive.  I figured I would never find something appropriate in my price range that was actually usable.

Lo and behold, a decent Owen in my size came up on eBay recently!  Owen sidesaddles are like the Rolls Royce of sidesaddles.  In the end, I got it for a steal and could easily resell it for over double what I paid for it!  I just wish I knew more about the provenance.  That sort of stuff really interests me.  Oh well!

It is not perfect, and some of the repairs need to be redone in my personal opinion, but it has a sound tree and it is super comfortable!  It fits Dreamy like it was made for her!!!  And I love it!!!  It came with the original stirrup leather and breakaway iron, which is very cool.  It also came with a balancing strap and overgirth, even though the seller told me it did not.  (To be fair, she was selling it for a friend and maybe did not know what I meant when I asked.)  I just used my regular hunt girth for now, but eventually would like to find a true sidesaddle three fold girth.


Small tear that will need to be fixed.

A small tear on the left side of the offside flap that was crudely repaired.  I will have it fixed. 
This is a patch on the seat.  I wish it was a nicer repair! 


This shows the serial number: 10986
Love this!!  
First ride!!

Comments

  1. So cool! Dreamy is so diverse in her skill set.

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  2. My stb is impossible to sit for the trot. I wish I had the luxury of sitting it like that!

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  3. Way to go! The biggest challenge with sidesaddle is finding a saddle that fits- the repairs can always be done. Enjoy! Also concider joining the American Sidesaddle Association and do a parade with us!

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