Here is one prototype I came up with for Paisano’s saddle, this time on our new Hope tree.  I pieced it together in Adobe Photoshop from several saddles that had elements I liked. Now that I am looking at it I made the saddle a little large on Pai with the stirrup leathers needing to be longer and stirrups needing to be larger, but you get the idea.  There is no skirt or blanket yet. I’m thinking either a black with white trim Navajo double blanket or a red Navajo double blanket. I would have added a skirt but I didn’t have one that would work with this saddle in my photo library. If I continue with this prototype, I’ll go online and search out a skirt that fits.  This saddle has no screws, buckles or rivets. The only nails used will be in the seat, and rigging and skirting.  In the rigging there will be two rows of nails (3 in each row) on both the front and rear rigging straps (each side) as they go up over the fork and rear bars.  The nails will serve dual purpose to secure the rigging and act  as an understated style element.  The conchos are both leather underneath and antique stainless steel on top.  I’m using rawhide for the strings which will tie the skirt, tree and rigging together.  All areas where a buckle or screw or rivet would be used I am lacing the pieces together.  I think this version is in keeping with my 1800′s goals being rich enough in color and flashy enough in character without being gaudy or over powering Paisano’s color.  What do you think?

There may be several of these protoypes before I finally settle on one this winter when building the saddle begins.

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I guess some of these Thankful Thursday’s have a fairly personal tone to them.  But what else is thankfulness if not personal… (?)

Today’s THANKFUL THURSDAY

Please visit these websites for more thankfulness.  Some good stuff ther folks!!

Akal Ranch

Tired Dog Ranch

Enlightened Horsemanship Through Touch

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Not a lot to say here, except that it is gorgeous and it was shipped out today.  We expect about 10 -14 days for arrival.  Can you see why I would want for most of the tree to be visible.  It is just a piece of art!  I’m going to have a hard time drilling holes in it for the strings, or screwing anything into it.  Rod did a magnificent job spacing the tacks/nails perfectly and the stitching is beautifully done.  What craftsmanship and well worth all we have been through to achieve. This tree could easily last two life times and I am guessing if a tree is kept in perfect condition it could last many more lifetimes. Obviously Pai’s tree will live in the house and the saddle will be carried in a water proof saddle bag at all times.  I think in  the saddlebags I will keep a saddle poncho as well for any surprise storms.

I am going to name this tree and refer to it by that name. Much like a swordsman names his blade. A name to be carried on throughout its lifetime.

I have waited 16 years for a tree that will fit one of my horses properly.  This tree Rod, Denise and I have been discussing for well over a year and half now.  It started out with me wanting to have a saddle built for Kindlewood well over two years ago.   When she died, I lost hope or sight of having a tree made, but when Pai arrived with his particular needs, the dream was rekindled and now he is only days away from having his own tree upon which I will be build my first saddle.

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All photos for this post compliments :   Wojtek Kwiatkowski

I took Paisano out for a ride today. The plan was to ride him for about 2 miles then come home  to take Pro out for about 1 mile walk later this evening.

Best laid plans… I should know better, I have had horses how long?

The first part of the ride Pai was exceptional, so exceptional that I thought hmmm…?  Karen McClain from Twitter lives right down the road from me, I’m thinking I’ll just ride down to her place and check in on her. That would lengthen our ride to about 3 miles round trip.  About two thirds the way to Karen’s place Pai began to spook at things, obviously calculating his spooks well ahead of time which brought my attention to the game he was beginning to play.  After a short visit with Karen, we headed off and it looked like it was going to be a relaxed ride home.  Yet something told me that if I went back the way we came that Pai would start looking for his spook spots and start playing his game again, thus we went a different route.  Everything look as though we would have a nice quiet ride home, but then I’ve been wrong before. I have to admit I think Pai kind of lost his focus.  I’m use to horses having a much longer focus. Pai reminds me of someone who is sheltered and wants to be careful not to get into iffy situations.  He seems like he wouldn’t have a clue about how get himself out of a nasty situation unscathed.  You know soft.    Kinda of the soft guy on an adventure hero’s journey. I’m certain this is just a developmental stage he is going through, but it flared up today smacking us square in the face when a dalmatian dog ran up to the fence line across the road from us on the way home.  It had to be the most frightening sight Pai had ever seen loosing it all together.  I decided he had had enough so I dismounted to calm him down.  Guess I’m going to get that one mile walk in today without Pro in tow.

You know how to offend a Spanish Mustang owner don’t you?  Call their horses a BLM  Mustang?  Nah, that’s just a good way to get them fired up to teach  you right from wrong.  You can call their horses ponies, cute, plunky, nag, even plug.  But don’t ever call their magnificent Spanish steed and Arab!

I have to say that Pasiano did an unforgivable thing today.  He shamed me something awful.  First off he was mad at me for making him go down this new road, then he was certain he would be eaten by the ghostly dalmatian, and then once I’m afoot an Arabian came charging across the paddock next to us tail flagging, snorting and looking quite grand.  That was it, Pai fell apart, but then he caught himself and thought, “Oh no way!”, he would not be outdone! My Pai would not have any of that!

Oh and in public  too!

We had our share of this…

oh yes we lots of this and tons of deer springy trot and stiff legged pouncey walk…

Oh and when I suggested to Paisano that he might want to act more like a Spanish horse in public, this is what I got.

With this as a threat, if I didn’t like his highly refined Arabian impersonation.

I’ll tell you that Arab had nothing on Pai today, and the neighbors, to my shagrin, just had to come out of their homes to compliment me on my rare colored Arabian.  How low can I hang my head?

All photos compliments :   Wojtek Kwiatkowski

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Well guys it’s almost finished drying and will be shipped off once its varnished.

Here it is before the rawhide was applied. 

Paisano’s Tree

Rod and Denise will send me another picture of it once the varnish is dried just before shipping.  I am in a state of disbelief. After all these years finally a tree that fits my horse.  Paisano will have a saddle that offers him the most comfort and I will have a saddle that fits me fairly well. 

So now we have a tree, so let’s talk style.

First off the horn cap is not as large as I had originally planned on.  Rod and I talked for quite awhile about how I ride and what functions this saddle would have.  Yes it will be an exhibition saddle representing the 1800′s period style Hope saddles. But it will also be my daily riding saddle and see many, many miles in all different types of terrain. Each Hope’s tree style was dictated by the locale in which it was made and used.  A Texas Hope from a very early age may have a very large horn cap, if its a Mexican saddle that horn could be very large in deed. If the saddle tree maker was from New Mexico or California the horn style would begin to vary.  I told Rod to build me the horn that would best suit my style of riding while maintaining Hope credibility.  So with that we see some variance between the horn style of my tree and those trees we will be viewing below.  Also the angle of the cantel was dictated by Paisano’s length of body and my thigh size. which made it sit upright a bit steeper to accommodate my thigh than what you may see on one of these other saddles that accommodate a longer bodied horse and possibly narrower legged rider.  It took some Rod Nikkels magic to get a 15 inch seat on Paisano’s bar length.  We also see a more accentuated curve to the bottom sides of the bars which accommodate Pai’s very flat wide and well sprung ribs.  Being cut away that much will also make for more comfort for my thighs as well as provide for more contact with Paisano.  Which brings us to the saddle style itself.

Original Model

Here you see my original model for Pai’s saddle.  It has changed a bit since then.  I’m going with less leather is better. I have no idea what color the rawhide dried out to be so that will be a deciding factor in leather color.  That and I have decided that I love Paisano’s blueish black coat in russet so we’ll see.

Saddle #1

Saddle #2

So here we see two saddles that give us two different rigging options.  Before I actually build Paisano’s saddle I will buy some latigo and basically tie the rigging ring to the saddle reminiscent of the saddle #1 .  In other words run the latigo around each side the of the pommel/gullet and tie off at the ring. Repeating on offside. I can adjust to Paisano’s needs and get a good feel for where his rigging will go before I  cut expensive high grade leather for the final build. When I get around to building the saddle I want to do the variation that’s on the saddle #2.   Basically running the strap around the pommel to attach both ends  to the rings and have and additional latigo go up over the front the pommel to attach on both sides between the smaller straps. 
As for back strap or “jockey” that goes over the back of the bars behind the cantel I plan on using a basic latigo strap initially and tie it off to the ring to complete the prototype rigging.  I will maintain this theme into the finished saddle as I have no plans on build jockeys that cover the rear bars. Instead I will cover the latigo rear rigging strap with saddlebags as seen above.  This helps to cut down weight and work while making the saddle highly functional for those “long-rides” I plan to be taking  Pai on. I.E. the Arizona 800 mile trail ride.

Drawing

Saddle #3

Now for the stirrup leathers. Yep that’s it folks straps with the old time buckles will be what I use for now. Later on I plan to use the stirrup leather style minus all the tooling that you saw above on Saddle #2.  One piece leathers cut to allow for fenders and old style buckles. Of course the stirrups leathers will attach at the slots you see in the bars of Paisano’s saddle instead of running over the entirety of each bar.  I will cover the seat with a simple 1/2 seat over a steel retainer.  As for the skirting I will have to let Paisano decide how that will go.  It will be a rounded skirt but it’s size shape will be dictated by Paisano. If I go with a skirting like  saddle #3 I may choose to use ring guards which are perfectly correct for the period I am shooting for.  However since the rings will hang lower as on saddle #3  as opposed to what you may see in some of the saddles above, I may build my skirt to come down low enough to come between the ring and horse. Pai has so little room to work with in this area, that I will have to let him dictate how the skirt and rigging come together. 

I figure about one hundred more dollars and Pai’s saddle will be serviceable.  I will get a good feel for how the tree will ride and how Pai responds to it. Probably my winter project will be putting the final saddle together at an estimated additional cost of five to six hundred dollars.  There will be long tie strings, the fenders to make, the seat to make, the permanent rigging, stirrups, conchos and medallions to add, plus having the saddle bags made.  I will having a breast collar and headstall and reins/romal made to match as well.

More updates will come when the tree gets here.

Next spring this boy will be decked out!!

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Another morning comes along with a great email. One from Chris of the Watson Cattle Company.  This time we get a contact for joining up!

Go to THE RIDE under the Arizona Trail at the left of my blog for regular updates on the progress of this huge untertaking.

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I began this Thankful Thursday last Sunday, here is what I wrote…   My Sunday Surprise

Be sure to visit other grateful bloggers listed on my Thankful Thrusday – BLOGS page.

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Well maybe not the wave of the future, but certainly a new and delightful addition for those who are interested in a higher sustainable production animal, or a yard pet, or a hiking/packing buddy, or a wool producer and the list goes on.  The meat tests out healthier than chicken, is a dark red meat  that is delicate, lighter and more tender than beef, and grass fed produces higher yields by comparison to other meat producing species.

Yes I’m thinking about this… a lot!  I was originally considering the San Clemente goat for meat, milk  and other goat products to be part of my sustainability goals, yet having found DelYaksTM who operate their Yak breeding and meat production business in Montrose, Colorado my interest has been peaked in a new direction.  Yes I said Montrose!  This ranch produces product that has been handled and raised with great love and care on diverse local species highland grass with a goal for riparian conservation.

Sounds like my kind of place. Go read for yourself to see what you think. I’ll be visiting them for certain shortly after moving to Silverton.

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This is my birthday month and as an on going birthday celebration I have decided to join in National Poetry Month. You can blame Kim over at Enlightened Horsemanship Through Touch for THE PONY EXPRESSIONS participation in National Poetry Month.  Stay tuned for some drudgery lacking in creativity poetic musings from THE PONY EXPRESSION throughout the month of April. I will occassionaly and arbitrarily pick a photo of one of my horses and write a few simple words that reflect the relationship with or the personality of that individual.

WHEN THEY TOOK MY LIFE FROM ME

By: Celt’s Rio Shannon who lossed her leg when her new owners, who were decent animal loving people,  made a careless decision against training advice. Here I am visiting Shannon at her new home giving her first bath.  She was only a yearling when she passed a few weeks later.

Today I have wept my first tears over her loss.  It’s funny how much she looks like Pro. Even her personality was much like his. Her sire was Chemehuevi (Cerbat stallion) and her dam was My Ambling Rambling Rose (1/2 sister to Azul’s el Milagro al Asad). Losing Shannon was the begining of the end of my life long career as a successful horse trainer.  You have no control over others or their situations, thus the horse is always at risk.

You gave them the chance to love me,

To learn from me.

You came often to check on me,

To bath me, and talk to me in our own private language.

You showed them how to treat me,

To protect me, and help them teach me new things.

You worried when you left me behind,

To cope with their ignorance.

You tried to help them grow,

To listen and become good stewards.

You felt something  of your heart break,

To fall away when they took my life from me.

You locked away your pain,

To learn the final lesson.

Yes my dear friend in the end it was you who learned the final lesson,

When they took my life from me.

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Yesterday I had a nice short ground driving session planned for Pro.  He handled his intro to ground driving very well. I introduce ground driving through lunging. If the horse is lunging well both directions I will add the second rein by attaching the loose end of my lunge line to the soft chain bosal. So basically both ends are attached to the soft chain bosal making a very long continuous rein.  I then continue lunging but at the walk with the outside rein coming around the haunches. When it is time for the horse to stop I allow the horses motion to slide the reins through my hands as I lower them and come to a stop. My feet stop. My hands are lowered which allows the reins to slip down below the hocks of the hind legs. I don’t use a cir-single for this reason – I want the reins to drop down from the head to the ground. My horses ground tie and stop when they see the rein fall toward the ground.  They are taught it from day one as youngsters and it builds upon itself throughout my entire training process to finished horse. Since Pro had learned when the rein is lowered while lunging that he is to stop and stand quietly (no moving of feet), he had it down that when my feet stopped and the reins fell below his hocks that he should stop and stand quietly.  It was like he’d been doing it all his life.  This means that ZERO pressure was applied and in fact he stopped to an increased release, as opposed to a pressure release, or increased contact.

Well, yesterday I took it a step further and included  what I call outside turns. In other words, we are lunging with the drive reins intact with outside rein laying along his side and around his buttocks. When I wanted him to change directions I would take up slack on his outside rein and allow the inside rein to slip through my hands as I encouraged him with my inside hand to move away from me. Basically I pointed my finger toward his inside eye. He’d want to move away from my gesture while feeling a light tug on his outside rein which would cause his momentum to carry him around away from me and into the opposite direction. I might tickle what was his inside shoulder with the now loose inside rein to help send him around.  Call it a roll back of sorts only with forward motion at the walk. I keep him moving in the new direction for a lap or two then stop him and reward him for getting it right. We would repeat each direction until he could turn upon seeing my hand gesture.

In the process of learning this new trick he did walk through his stops a couple times.  Too much on his mind.  I’d back him up into the spot I had intended him to be standing in and let him relax there. He did this new exercise very well.  Remember he is still only 15 months old with a very baby mind yet.

After this brief introduction to turning on the drive lines we set out to drive down the road with an intended repeat of our last session.  Pro was very concerned this time – as I mentioned in my last post about his adventure out in the big ol’ world, he had come home pretty frazzled.  Well he started out this time worried about being frazzled ending up having quite a hard time of it.  He reared, stomped, charged and threw himself to his knees biting at the dirt in a boyish tantrum. I spent what was to be a 30 minute walk  backing him and making him stand quietly (no stop on him now) for about 2 hours.  As he began to wear himself out and calm down we walked a few times past our street which he wanted to consistently dive on to.  When he could get past it with in reasonable self control I turn him down the street and we headed home, which also took some work since he thought it was time to  prance and dance.  In the end he walked and then stood tied to the trailer for about another hour until he got over throwing another tantrum there rearing and pawing.

During his tantrum and only at moments of him maintaining a quiet presence he received many lovings and good boys, pats and encouragements. But with every one he’d use the opportunity to exclaim his anger at being controlled.  His earlier turning session came in quite handy as I was able to easily control his direction even though he was all about going his own way.  He did exceptionally well in that department.  Pro has a bully personality and it really showed during this session.  I was thankful I had chosen to start him earlier than I would normally have. I usually hold off until the horse is at least 2 years of age to start disciplined work.  If I take a young horse out to see the world I usually do this on a lung line  and work on small stuff along the way, but mostly just exploring and looking, smelling and tasting things.  Pro has become pretty sure of himself and is very study, and pushy, so between getting beat up by Paisano a couple weeks ago, and now finding he is under my spell, he has been given some solid things to think about.  As he comes into his 2 year old phase next year he should have some decent manners on him and be a pretty well behaved young stallion.

I will probably not take him out again for another week or so.  He’ll need time to sort this whole thing out without my interference.  I figure he’ll be pretty well in control of himself by the time we move to Colorado, an understanding he really needs to get before we embark on our journey.

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