Sunday, January 17, 2010

YEAH!

I just got home from today's lesson. It was the best lesson I have had so far! Usually I hate riding in my instructors covered riding arena. It is much smaller than her other arena and it is as long as it is wide..so you know what that means... Yeah boy - way harder work! Since we are constantly working on a bend, it is much more difficult for me to stay balanced and composed for longer periods of time. Today though, I am sure that the thigh exercises have paid off. I was able to post my trot for a very long time (okay - long for ME anyway!) So - I will continue the exercising and ride as often as I can...maybe maybe maybe I will one day, be a GOOD sidesaddle rider!

NEWS FLASH - Soon - I will have a new give away. I think you will really like this one as I found something so special at an auction....VERY elegant, Very detailed and with a hint of Victorian flair. This one is not specific to Sidesaddle...but I can imagine every sidesaddle riding lady to have this!

...so take a second and hit one of those pesky ads on my sidebar....SHHHH - don't tell - but it helps to defer the cost of my give aways!

12 comments:

Michelle said...

Yay! That's awesome!

Unknown said...

Awesome!

Know anything about the halison sidesaddles? I was hearing they were pretty good by my friend in Florda. Her mother's friend has a few and rides in her halison the most.

Julie said...

Hi Sydney! I only know of Western Halison's. They may make English ones - but I have never seen one.

They are more common on e-bay. I do know that Steele sidesaddle's are suppose to be wonderful..but as you probably already know, I have only ridden in my antique Champion and Wilton sidesaddle.

That is one of my goals for this blog - to be able to ride in different types of sidesaddle's and review them. Heck - I want to ride different breeds of horses aside and review them too!

Fantastyk Voyager said...

Is your horse already trained to be ridden aside or are you both learning at the same time?

Sounds like a good day!

Anna Larson said...

Hilason saddles are pretty much junk. They are cheap for a reason. Plus the Customer service is horrid. I screwed up and purchased one several years ago (western saddle not side saddle) I'll never make that mistake again. They sent me the wrong saddle completely and it was horribly made and it took forever to get them on the phone to get them to take ti back and refund my money.

Julie, your lucky to have an indoor to work in all winter long. I'd kill to have one. I can't ride for probably two or three more months until the snows go away and the arena dries up a little bit. Right now it's either snow all day long or slush and slick as ice.

Julie said...

Fantastic V. - Oliver and I are learning sidesaddle together! I actually started on a different saddlebred named Chastain, but he has a 'un-lady-like' canter..so we decided to use Oliver until I became a better rider. I still want to show the other horse aside too one day - but right now I can only manage one!

Julie said...

PS - as you can see since it is after 1am....I can't sleep tonight...uggghhh..

Michelle said...

I'll ditto what Dunappy has said. Hiliason sidesaddles are horrible. You're better off to just burn your $$ or give it away.
They aren't built correctly at all, therefore making riding sidesaddle feel very insecure (which it shouldn't). I've heard of a lot of people buying them and being so turned off that they stopped pursuing sidesaddle riding. Not only are they uncomfortable for the rider but they tend to slide sideways, again because they aren't built properly. Really stay clear of these! I know they are cheap but they aren't worth it at all. You're much better off to save up for a decent saddle.

If you're wanting to find a less expensive saddle, Hundred Oaks saddlery has a model called the "Elan" that's a reasonably priced starter saddle.

Julie said...

Sydney - I hope you got the information the others advised about the Halison saddles. I tried to go onto your blog and comment - but for some reason it would not take it.

Nice hat band BTW!

Unknown said...

Thank you everyone for commenting.

I asked my friends mom about her friends halison just now and she said she had all the rigging re-done on it and a new seat put on it. Duh.

Thanks for the comments about the hat band.

Unknown said...

What? No pictures or video from the lesson! I always enjoy those.

Julie said...

Trust me - taking a video in the covered riding arena would make you ill! It is slightly larger than a 'round training pen' and we just go round and round and round...Oh my - just thinking about it makes me dizzy!