Saddle day

It is time to find a saddle for the UBF, which means it's nearly time to ride him. After a year of groundwork and consistency, the UBF has shown that he is mature enough to accept a rider. I don't plan to do much with him over the next few months, maybe a little walk and trot in a circle, but for that to happen, we need a saddle. There are many things I don't know about horses, despite having been around them all my life, fitting a saddle is one. So I called a professional saddle fitter to help, knowing that I could be 100% sure that the saddle didn't pinch or hurt his back. It is imperative that his first rides are a great experience, like everything else in his life so far.

Ed was incredibly well behaved on saddle fitting day. He ties without fuss, he was measured and prodded, saddles were put on his back and taken off. He even had a girth fitted and was lunged in a circle with the saddle flapping about - something he had never done before.

Big boy day

Out of all the saddles I have accumulated over the years it turns out that with a bit of flocking, Spot's saddle fits the best of all. Spot is my dear pony that I lost through a tragic accident a couple of years ago, his saddle has been growing mould and feeling neglected ever since. Tears pricked my eyes to see Ed wearing it so proudly, and as it was adjusted to his back I gasped at the little white hairs still caught in the buckles and flaps. I don't want to clean them away, I want Spot to be with us through this process, a little white angel guiding us.

We miss his cheeky face so much

Hoping his cheeky side doesn't transfer to Ed!