Cover up

I mentioned this before, but it bears repeating:  After spending so many hours on Kellye's Criollo saddle, I really, really did not want to cover all my hard work with a fleece pad.

The only way I could come to terms with the situation was to somehow create a pad worthy of the saddle.  Since I don't generally consider pads to be very interesting, this required a lot of thinking... and a lot of paper patterns!

Finally, I came up with a design that made me happy.  No mere square, it contained darts and seems that gave the pad its own saddle-like shape.

As good as it looked on the work desk, the real moment of truth came when I put it on the saddle, ran the strings though the slots, 

tied the pad into place, 

and cinched down the overgirth. 

You know, as much as I wanted that seat to show--this is pretty good, too!

(Re)joining the Arab nation

Ever since I announced that I was thinking of leasing an Arabian, I've had a lot of people go out of their way to sell me on the breed. I've heard stories of Arabian beauty, Arabian intelligence, and--most of all--Arabian loyalty. Everyone seems convinced that a little bit of Arabian exposure will turn me into a hard core Arabian lover.

Well, maybe.

It's going to be an uphill battle, though. Rev is not the first Arabian I've ever met. On the contrary, my entire riding life has been filled with Arabians.  

Jennifer and Zhrat al-Shara (Zee), 1994

Unlike most of my childhood friends, I never dreamed of owning an Arabian. I liked them because I liked all horses, but they were not my breed of choice. Subsequent real life interactions with Arabians did nothing to alter that view. Arabians were fine, but they didn't particularly excite me.

Kiko the Arab and Bill the Quarter Horse, Tom Sawyer Day Camp, 1984

When I was eighteen I moved to Fort Collins, Colorado to attend Colorado State University. A year later, I met Trisha.

Trisha and Amie Phoenix +, 1988?

Trisha's family bred Arabian horses on their forty acre farm in nearby Wellington, Colorado.

Suddenly... 

I was surrounded by Arabians!

 For three years, I rode Arabians every single weekend.

Jennifer with NBD Charity and NBD Peace, 1991

Even though I grew pretty fond of some of those horses, I continued to maintain that I was not an Arab person. 

Jennifer on Mt Vu Angelcharm

After I graduated, I moved to Tennessee to take a job on the Hunter/Jumper circuit. There are a few Arabians showing on that circuit but not many. I reasonably thought my Arabian days were over.  Then I met Cathy...

Cathy and Rohara Samurai ++, 1994

and her herd of Arabians.

El Zortan and RA Canadian Jade, 1994

Once again, I found myself riding an Arab!

Jennifer on Tsouri, 1994

Although I really did like this little mare, I continued to maintain that I was not an Arab person.

Jennifer and Tsouri, 1994

Meanwhile, Trisha had also moved from Colorado to the Eastern side of the country. Once a year I'd go visit her and her new Arabian, the occasionally brilliant but always erratic, Zee. Here they are at Michael Poulin's winter headquarters in Florida...

Trisha and Zee, 1993

and at Jessica Ransehousen's Blue Hill Farm in Unionville, Pennsylvania.  

Trisha and Zee, 1994

Despite--or perhaps because of--her idiosyncrasies, I was a big fan of Zee's. Still, I continued to maintain that I was not an Arab person.

Jennifer on Zee, 1994

Eventually, I got married, moved back to Colorado and started a family. When I was ready to start riding again, I did so at my friend, Fran's house. Guess what kind of horses she breeds?

Iris and Pixie, 2009

Yep, more Arabians!

Cara and Miss Allison, 2009

I am not an Arab person, but somehow the Arabs always seem to find me.

Jennifer on Regal Revenue, 2012

I suppose it's possible that Rev will be the horse that turns me into a hardcore Arab lover, but I kind of doubt it...  And, you know, even if he does, you'll never get me to admit it!

All work and no play...

is impossible, at least when there's a brand new lease horse just five miles away.  

My studio time was limited to just a couple hours today, but that was all that was needed to complete the criollo saddle's stirrups and leathers.

There's just the fleece pad and cinches left to go...  With any luck, Kellye will have this in her hands in time for next weekend's show!

Square deal

Yesterday afternoon, Ryan wandered into my studio and asked me what I was making.  I showed him the second saddle base, and told him it was going to be a Criollo saddle.  He wasn't impressed.  In fact, I think his exact words were: "So basically you've spent the whole day making a leather square?"

Ouch.

Fortunately, today's studio marathon has transformed that square into something resembling a saddle.

Both Ryan and I like the top view best.  It's too bad that all those nice details will be covered with a sheepskin pad.

As always, the pictures make it look more "finished" than it really is.  There's still a long way to go with this one, but it's awfully nice to have something tangible to show for all my studio time.  Even the most cynical almost-teenager is unlikely to refer to this saddle as a simple leather square!

Back to tack

As always, one of my New Year's resolutions is to finish all the outstanding orders on my work list.  Chief among these is Kellye's Criollo set.  I made the bridle months ago, but progress on the saddle has been sporadic and slow.  Today, I gathered up all the parts and pieces,

checked my references,

and got back to work! 

Most of the day was spent on planning.  I played with paper patterns and experimented with tooling. 

Finally, I made the leap into actual construction.  I cut and tooled the main saddle piece, and then discovered why most Western tackmakers tool first and dye second...

Oh well.  Tack making is rarely a success only process.  I started again, this time tooling first...

and dyeing second.  Attempt number two is currently drying on my work desk.  Hopefully, this one will turn out better, but either way, there will be more progress pictures tomorrow!

What could possibly go wrong?

I spent a couple hours hanging out with Rev today.

One of the trainers, who has been working with his last lease rider, was kind enough to get on him so I could see him under saddle.

After she was done...

I hopped on and took him around the ring a few times. He was better than he was yesterday, but there's still a lot of room for improvement (understatement). 

At this point one thing is abundantly clear: Rev is no Trillium. In fact, it's fair to say that he's the anti-Trillium.

And yet, I kind of like him. It makes no sense, but there it is. I'm signing up for a one month trial lease. If all goes well, we'll negotiate a slightly more long term arrangement.

New Year/new horse?

I made an early start on my 2013 to do list by braving the cold and auditioning a new lease horse this morning.

Regal Revenue is a fifteen year old Arabian gelding who lives at a large boarding stable just five miles from my home. Although not a fancy show barn, this stable has some  enticing amenities - in particular, an indoor ring and access to good trails.

Because Rev/Ralphie's owner is recovering from shoulder surgery, he has not been in consistent work for several months. That, combined with the extremely cold weather, made for a very - how can I put this nicely?- spirited ride.  It wasn't pretty, but it was fun. I suspect it would be even more fun in better circumstances.   

There are a lot of upsides to leasing this horse. He's ideally located, he's been leased before, without drama, and he has a really cute face.

On the minus side, he's an Arab, and I am really not an Arab person. Also, he's a gelding, and I much prefer mares. And, um, that neck... I am really not loving that neck!

So, I just don't know. I keep reminding myself that a lease horse is not a forever horse. I don't have to be in love with a lease horse. In fact, it's probably better if I'm not. In any event, I don't have to decide today. I'm heading back tomorrow for another look. Wish me luck (and clarity!).