Sunshine
Well-Known Member
Last year I let our little native mare go on permanent loan to local BHS riding school to replace one of their elderly 'first ridden' lesson ponies. It would be the perfect home as she needed to be ridden regularly and looked after properly to for weight management, although she had never had laminitis. I also provided bridle, bit, numnahs, girths and complete saddle. Originally she was sent with a synthetic, adjustable one, as I knew she would be getting fitter, but the yard manager asked if I had one a little larger whilst they were riding her to school and work her ready for lessons. So I ended up letting them have my best Ideal WH for her (I knew it was the best fit as it had been her showing one).
However, today we went to use their indoor and noticed my saddle was out on the rack ready for a lesson in the other school. Knowing that it was only the more experienced riders that had later lessons I asked YM if our old girl had progressed to doing more. "err, no. I know it's cheeky but..." Turns out they have been using my saddle for another pony that is ridden more frequently and vigorously than our girl, because it fits that pony and they have been given an old foreign leather one they are using on ours because she has fittened up. I was not amused about it, and just said that they should have told me and I could have brought the synthetic one back before. OH was furious overhearing this and insists that we only have a responsibility to provide the saddle for our pony -not the other one - and they have sourced one that they are happy to use so we should have ours back.
So, how do I turn up with the synthetic adjustable saddle and take back my Ideal,(even though I know they will be planning to use it for the other pony in a jumping comp on Sunday) and risk a big upset, or wait until after, or how else do I deal with it. I obviously can't guarantee they will keep the best saddle for use just by our pony and I am rather upset that they feel it is ok to substitute a poor quality saddle onto our girl.
However, today we went to use their indoor and noticed my saddle was out on the rack ready for a lesson in the other school. Knowing that it was only the more experienced riders that had later lessons I asked YM if our old girl had progressed to doing more. "err, no. I know it's cheeky but..." Turns out they have been using my saddle for another pony that is ridden more frequently and vigorously than our girl, because it fits that pony and they have been given an old foreign leather one they are using on ours because she has fittened up. I was not amused about it, and just said that they should have told me and I could have brought the synthetic one back before. OH was furious overhearing this and insists that we only have a responsibility to provide the saddle for our pony -not the other one - and they have sourced one that they are happy to use so we should have ours back.
So, how do I turn up with the synthetic adjustable saddle and take back my Ideal,(even though I know they will be planning to use it for the other pony in a jumping comp on Sunday) and risk a big upset, or wait until after, or how else do I deal with it. I obviously can't guarantee they will keep the best saddle for use just by our pony and I am rather upset that they feel it is ok to substitute a poor quality saddle onto our girl.