What should I do....and saddles for arabs LONG SORRY!!

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LauraWinter

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My boy I bought as my riding horse in May has been diagnosed last week with OCD in both stifles and will be going to horsepital in a couple of weeks for arthroscopies. I am hoping he makes a full recovery afterwards and becomes sound
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He will be on box rest for about 6-8 weeks with a gradual return to work after that if all goes well. (Positive recovery stories anyone??? Please??!!)


In the meantime, I also have an arab mare who has not been ridden for two years. I used to have a sharer for her and between us we just used to hack her about 5 times a week, however she quit at the same time as I started my degree and as I had also taken on some other committments I decided to temporarily 'retire' her and then put her in foal to the stallion at the stud where she is kept and give myself some time out from riding. All went well, she had a beautiful foal who is now sold and having more time on my hands this year I decided to get back into riding. I bought my boy as I felt that I really wanted to do more schooling/jumping/competing than my mares talents allow and was quite happy to keep her as a field ornament which she seems to enjoy very much- I am able to share my stable between them so one is on 'proper' livery and one on grass livery so its not too expensive.

Now that I cant ride my boy for a while, I am thinking about restarting my mare as it does seem a bit of a shame that she is just doing nothing (she is only twelve) and I dont want another foal next year, however once my boy is back in work I wont have time to ride both regularly and my boy is a youngster with more potential so I will want to concentrate on him. My idea, basically, is that I get her restarted and going well again now which may take me a couple of months to do properly to the point that I would be happy to have another sharer for her, and this will coincide with my boy being ready to come back into work (fingers crossed) so I can then still ride her sometimes, and she will not be wasted out in the field. I will have to have another stable for her in this case, so it will cost me more but a contribution from a sharer would eventually cover that.

What does anyone think? Experiences, good or bad, of sharers? Mine was ok but only had one before. I only really want a sharer to hack I would rather do schooling myself. Are they easy to find? Generally reliable? What are peoples experiences of bringing horses back into work after time off? Although my mare is generally well behaved, excellent on the ground and easy to do she can be very spooky- typical arab really- would this put people off?

I am going to get my vet to come out next week and give her a bit of an MOT before making a start and I will also be getting a new saddle for her if I decide to go ahead, I was going to get hers checked just before I decided to stop riding as I was not happy with the fit and so getting her going again is going to be a bit of an expense. Trouble is, I had three saddle fitters out to her previously none of whom had anything to fit and thought I should get one made..... EXPENSIVE!! She is a typical arab, no withers, no shoulder (they all slip forward) and barrel shaped- wide fitting and completely flat backed so panels need to be flat. Does anybody know which makes of saddle suit arabs? I cant remember which were best or worst from previous fittings.

Sorry its so long, I am rambling really, just wondered what others thoughts were.... I have mint aero and wine to offer anyone who got this far
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Very best wishes for your boy's treatment and I hope it all goes well.

With regard to sharers I can vouch for good sharers, having been one myself . I have shared and part loaned for about 10 yrs. prior to buying my boy, who is a chestnut Crabbet Arab. The only reason I decided on an Arab was because f the last horse I loaned was as Arab, and was owned by a lady who had three Arabs! I fell in love with them and having also ridden TB's and Cobs decided the only ones for me were the spooky Arabs! So I am sure you will find a good sharer who would be happy to hack your mare.

As to saddles, my boy is now on his 3rd saddle since owning him, but really only grew out of one, the latter one I decided to change because it was more comfortable for me. The saddle that he has now is an Ideal and it is lovely and fits very well. The other option might be to try one with care system which does make it very easy to alter according to fluctuation of shape etc.

Good luck ! xxxx
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On the subject of saddles, depending on what you want to do with your mare, English style saddles don't always seem the best for Arabs. Most of the ones I know who are used just for pleasure riding have western or endurance style saddles - maybe you could look at something along those lines? I sympathise as my Anglo has a very flat back too.
 
I actually have a spare Ideal hanging around, which came with my boy but didn't fit very well. I doubt it will fit her well but I could at least try it and see how the panels go on her back...

CM- I am actually really interested in riding western have always wanted to try, however I have no idea where or how I would go about getting a saddle to try/buy, is it different for the horse, as in they have to get used to it? Are they expensive? Sorry, as you can tell I know nothing about them but have always thought from a distance that it looks rather comfy and like good fun
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RE sharers, rather than looking on her ''typical arab spookiness'' I would use this as a plus point and activley go out looking for a person who likes arabs. Those of us that like arabs will want one in preference to absolutely anything else!

Re saddles have a look at the Free n Easy site - adjustable panels are very useful. Alternatively, if you are not too fussed on the traditional look consider a Podium or a decent treless: Barefoot, Torsion etc

Good luck!
 
only got advice about the saddle...

There is a company called the arabian saddle company - based in the US but every now and again one will pop up on ebay in this country - check on there, the saddles are specifically made to fit the arab shape.

Lovatt&Ricketts also make a saddle more shaped towards the arabs (called the ellipse) http://www.landrsaddles.com/Saddles-Dressage.html
 
The current Appy has a fair bit of arab in her, hence forwar slipping saddle! I have a nice falcon WH which does the job well, with a barnsby grip pad under it for when she is it her slimmest
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I have heard of the Arab saddle company now that you mention it but I was worried about getting one on ebay as I wouldnt know if it will fit- I will look into it though, and also the lovatt and ricketts, thanks!

Funny enough, the saddle she was wearing which I have still got and was the best we have ever found, although not great, is a falcon- has to have a half pad under though else is rises off her back when I do...
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Lovatt and Ricketts make all the Arabian Saddle Company saddles - which means that L&R saddles often fit arabs very well (they use the same trees on some of the models).

The Thorowgood T4 Cob with an extra wide or xxw gullet can work well on flat backed/no withered arabs. I used one for a bit on an arab shaped like that and it fit well but I found it felt very wide in the twist and made my hips ache. I ended up buying a second hand GP from my local saddlers that fit him like a glove and was comfy for me. He's since gone back to his owner but I still have the saddle - keep meaning to put it on ebay to sell but if you're interested PM me. It's nothing flashy but is a good quality saddle.

As for sharers the fact that's she's an arab can put a lot of people off. But it's only down to ignorance of the arab breed. I have five and wouldn't want anything else. When non-arab people handle my horses they always comment with surprise on how calm, polite and easy to handle they are. That's what arabs are like if they're handled correctly - they're very intelligent and very sensitive. You can't blunder around them like you can other horses, they don't tolerate heavy handed or ignorant people. But you know all this already I'm sure - they are amazing creatures. However finding a sharer might be hampered so perhaps looking specifically for an arab lover would be more fruitful. I'd suggest advertising on www.arabianlines.com. That's where most of us arab people hang out.

Just out of interest what's your mare's breeding and what stallion did you put her to?
 
In terms of bringing her back into work I would spend 6 weeks lunging/ long reining her to build up topline and muscles followed by hacking up and down hills. She will have absolutely no back muscles at all after 2 yrs off.

Saddle wise, arabian saddle company saddles are great as are Ideals. I have the same problem with my anglo - except he also has a forward girth groove and is built very downhill so his wide barrell pushes all saddles forward. The usual method is to fit the saddle very narrow in front to cinch it down which is why he came to me woith such severe muscle wastage. I am a saddle company fitter so fortunately I was able to fit panels which are half way between a standard and a drop - this means that the panels are ever so slightly fuller at the points which balances the saddle for his conformation. He was a NM but is now and XW in summer and a W in winter. As the tree is adjustable I don't have a problem with his changing shape.

You need to find.a saddle with a flat tree and sufficiently wide panels that a saddler can adjust the flocking to fit your boy. Perhaps people on here can recommend a good saddler in your area?

Hope your boy's arthroscopy goes well.
 
My friend is a Master Saddler who used to make Michela Leng saddles, now known as Strada Saddles. She has an arab and several friends with arabs and they have these saddles. I have an Andalusian who is also a "wide" fit and I have one too. They are brilliant saddles and will be very suited to your horse. Google Strada saddles, they have a website.
 
Thanks everybody, I am going to look into all of these options and see if I can find some locally to try.

g_g- you are right absolutely, I have not had much experience of other arabs but she is the most fantastic well mannered horse I have ever met, providing you handle her quietly and kindly and she is very generous; tries hard to please and doesnt have a bad bone in her body, I love her to bits! I will, as you and somebody else suggested, focus on getting somebody who is an arab lover in particular and will appreciate her properly, this is a much better idea and that way I will be able to focus on her positives and not the 'negative'.

Whereabouts are you? Just wondering whether you happened to be near enough for me to try your saddle...

Re her foal, she is a Michael Harris mare With Rumak lines and by Da Vinci. Sire was a stunning small warmblood whose first covering season it was and so unproven at that time and the filly was an absolute cracker, tri coloured and with all of her mothers good looks, she has gone to be an all rounder and potentially to do endurance with an arab lover
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I have a Lovatt and Ricketts Ellipse dressage saddle, I have it on an andalusian but it is specifically shaped for flat backed horses and is also marketed as an Arabian Saddle. Might be worth a look. Check out ebay as you can sometimes pick them up on there quite cheaply.
 
Re saddles, I've had a succession of Thorowgoods for my endurance Arabs and they've all fitted very well. Currently using an extra-wide 17" T/good endurance saddle. Other people I know with endurance Arabs have varying success with Free 'n' easy, Reactorpanels, Strada and ASC saddles. All worth looking at.
 
To me, typical Arab is calm, good natured, generous as long as you're fair to them and will turn their hoof to anything. They're not all spooky, although they will take the mickey if you're not a good leader to them. Some of them can be though!

I've never had a problem with the saddle slipping forwards on any of mine (all Arabs) either so that's not necessarily a "typical Arab" thing! I'd recommend the Free n Easy saddle, too, if you can find a second hand one (or fancy spending £1800 on a new one - I'd love a new one some time myself). They fit all mine really well.

And for a sharer, advertise for someone who loves Arabs as they aren't likely to be bothered by her sharpness and will see it as part of the appeal of her.
 
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Thanks everybody, I am going to look into all of these options and see if I can find some locally to try.

g_g- you are right absolutely, I have not had much experience of other arabs but she is the most fantastic well mannered horse I have ever met, providing you handle her quietly and kindly and she is very generous; tries hard to please and doesnt have a bad bone in her body, I love her to bits! I will, as you and somebody else suggested, focus on getting somebody who is an arab lover in particular and will appreciate her properly, this is a much better idea and that way I will be able to focus on her positives and not the 'negative'.

Whereabouts are you? Just wondering whether you happened to be near enough for me to try your saddle...

Re her foal, she is a Michael Harris mare With Rumak lines and by Da Vinci. Sire was a stunning small warmblood whose first covering season it was and so unproven at that time and the filly was an absolute cracker, tri coloured and with all of her mothers good looks, she has gone to be an all rounder and potentially to do endurance with an arab lover
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I'm in Lancashire - probably a million miles away from you. Your mare has lovely bloodlines. Rumak was an extraordinary horse. Her foal sounds fab too - I'll have to keep an eye out for her in six years or so on the endurance circuit. My arab mare is in foal, due in April. It'll be my first - very excited and terrified all at the same time. Definitely check out arabianlines.com - I'm sure you'll find a sharer on there.
 
Saddle wise, generally what you need to look for is something fairly straight cut, with deep rather than long panels.

I've had success with arabian saddle co saddles, also ideal highland and cob. I've been tending to use a dartmoor treefree over recent years.

If you did want a free and easy I've got one I need to rehome.
 
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