EQ TWO-WEEK TEST RIDE DIARY
Jessica Young and her 2013 Dutch Harness Horse “Iceman” were so blown away by the flapless experience, she sent us reports every few days!
Jessica bought Iceman as a 2-year-old from a small Amish breeding farm, and has trained him herself. She says, “He has taken quite a long time to mature both physically, as he’s 17.2, and mentally”. , and has been with Jessica since he was 2. Now that he’s 7, she’s looking forward to starting to show him in dressage.
Day 1: “LOVE THE FIRST RIDE”.
Holy Moly EQ,
I am just at a loss for structured paragraphs so bear with me as I jumble my feelings.
The saddle immediately felt like I sat in a molded lazyboy chair. I felt close to him and the seat is really comfy. I didn't have to shimmy around, bring my legs off his body like a barrel racer so I could open my hips, or tug and pull at my breeches so I could situate into the saddle... I just sat there lol! My leg lays longer and feels like a wet towel draped over a chair. My hips felt more relaxed then they do in my old saddle.
I had my first weird feeling when I was giving him his sugars (gotta put the penny in the pony for a ride). I could feel each side of his back move in a way I've never felt a horse’s back move.
In all three gaits he was slower than normal at first.... and how did you know he'd want to stretch?! I can never stretch as early in the ride as I could in my very first ride in your saddle!! He was so so so much lighter in my hands as he could feel my leg and seat aids sooner, and he was much much more reactive to my downward transition seat aids.
I didn’t have to readjust (usually my saddle shifts to the right) so he did get a little grumpy with me because he couldn't push through my right side nor shift me to the right. Muhahahha…
I love that I don't feel or notice a single strap below my leg. And I sat tall and didn't break forward at the hips! When I look back in photos, it is hard to find a riding picture of me not pitched forward. My mind is blown with that.
The saddle marks after my ride matched! They were slightly different left vs right in his old saddle. There were also large sweat marks where in my old saddle he was completely dry.
It is amazing that all of this was possible through measurements and a video call. Why aren't more people riding in these saddles????
Notes from rides 2-4…
Non horsey husband comes up to me after riding and says "is he different in the canter? He looked really good, but much different than he normally goes." My mouth dropped, I know he feels totally different but someone with an untrained eye can tell! Boo ya!
I am noticing the sweat marks on his back are changing as well as the dirt marks on the pad. They are becoming more even along the entire panel with every ride as the saddle breaks in.
I am feeling him use his hind leg more already after 4 rides.
I took him to a local show as I wanted to get a feel of things with him in a different environment... he was so calm and chill! I could actually train some movements as he didn't want to just run and when he did become more alive the saddle supported me so I could bring him back without getting into a pulling match. I also didn't feel bad for sitting on his back to talk to someone for 10 minutes as these panels aren't pressing into his loin. I had three people come up to me at the show and say wow he looks so different then he did last year here.
OMG have I told you enough times yet how much I love this saddle!?!?
Dear Diary
My horse is farting and pooping during my rides, this really didn't ever happen prior to the EQ saddle. Can you say relaxed back?
The canter has improved 10 fold in this last week. I can control his speed and keep him more balanced in corners. Like I can actually ride a corner now instead of arch.
I also want to say, in 5 rides, this saddle has given me the confidence (and steering/speed control) that I have signed up for a ride-a-test clinic in a few weeks. I feel much more comfortable that I can steer my 17.2 hand beast around a 20x60 arena. I'm excited to start practicing tests so I can begin showing next year. I feel so proud of what this saddle has done for our progress in this short period of time.