mulesuk

Hi all

As from 1-2 weeks ago i have started mounting tigi in my round pen.
At the moment i am using a monty roberts dually halter( http://www.horseandharmony.co.uk/shop/i ... cts_id=282 ) to lunge her in and a best friend Bareback pad( http://www.barebackpad.co.uk/ ).
Monty says that you can ride in the dually and this is what i have been doing but it is rubbing on her nose as of when turning.
Horsey people i know keep saying that i should put her in a bitless bridle but there is a BIG BUT as of how the spanish have treated her, she has had a bridle on that has a bit then on the noseband there is a spikey metal band and on her poll behind her ears is another one and as of this result i can not/do not want to use a bitless bridle as they put pressure on the poll,cheek and nose.
A friend who has a little tack shop has lent me a 5" full cheek french egg butt and a 5 1/2 " Thick french snaffle , also a plastic bitfitter( www.theoriginalbitfitter.com/ ).I had my andalucian in a peewee bit ( www.peeweebit.com ) and i was very extremely happy with this bit and also was thinking of just buying another peewee.
Any way onto saddle department..
As i said above im using a blue best friend pad,that i have always had.And at the weekends when my trainer comes and teaches she brings her synthetic saddle(not a barefoot) and we use it over the pad.
It is basically just a pad with a handle and girth!
On my big grey i rode him in a little joe saddle pad from usa ( http://www.better-horsetack.com/lj/ ) i loved it , as it gave him free movement of his back and i was basically riding bareback but a bit more comfortable.this has d-rings you can add stirrups, but i would recomend caged ones, as i had.
I am now in talks with the spanish importer of barefoot saddle( www.barefoot-espana.com ) and am thinking of buying the new synthetic cheyenne dry tex. http://www.horseandharmony.co.uk/shop/i ... ts_id=1999

Hope to here all your opinions and suggestions.

Regards

Georgia and Tigi

I've gone down the "normal" english route now and Treacle is in a made to measure working hunter saddle and a myler bit.

As a result I do have for sale a barefoot saddle in blue complete with the pad which I would sell for £250 (including postage) it was used a handful of times so it is dusty but not had much wear. Treacle went wonderfully in the barefoot saddle but I didn't like it (didn't do my hips any good and I didn't feel very secure) but obviously if you are used to riding in a bareback pad you would probably feel more at home in it.

I think you just have to keep trying things and see what works!

I agree with Mulesuk,go with what suits you and your girl.
I had a lovely saddle for Sarah-lee which was made by Thorowgood and was bascically an adult version of their Cub saddle but as it was quickly stolen I bought a Trooper cheaply out of Henley Market and it seemed to suit us both well.
I bought her a Dartmore and a rebecca Softride but never had a chance to try them on her.
Malaga started in a BobMarshal which quite a few Mule owners and endurance riders use and he seems to like it so until I have real confidence in him we'll stick with it.
I prefer the western shape to english though.
Sarah-lee had an eggbutt snaffle as she was used to it but if I'd've known then what I know now I'd've used a rope Hackamore which is what I use on Malaga.You do have to train yourself and your mule first on how to use it though

I will probably get him used to a bit sometime but i will use a Myler.One day i hope it will be just as common to take the iron out of the mouth as put it in but until that happens Malaga will have to try it occasionally just in case.