Jane
Olympic Poster
Colo ("koala")
Posts: 938
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Post by Jane on Dec 29, 2009 12:27:39 GMT 1
Have to admit, I didn't use a knife, more a matter of various screwdrivers and a scalpel to get through horrible glue. I am defeated by pop rivets in the Wintec though - would that take an angle grinder, does anyone know?
Heather, you'll be pleased to know that I have a little SC HM Easisit saddle sitting in my front room :-) As it's used, Aus immig and quarantine impounded it and held it to ransom. I had to pay to have it disinfected or they said they'd destroy it.
I have heard the soiled bandages from India story too. I heard it from an Aus guy who wrote a book on saddles and used to dissect camel saddles...
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Post by marianne on Dec 29, 2009 13:24:58 GMT 1
One of the greatest things about this forum, in my humble opinion, is opening horse-lovers' eyes to what ISN'T so great in the horse world.
Until I attended the IH 5 day course 5 years ago, and particularly Nicole Goulding's thoughts on saddle fitting, it never even crossed my mind that saddles might not be 100% perfect at the time they were made :-(
I think we make so many bad decisions, not through being nasty or mean, just ignorant! We "look", but we dont' "see" .... until something becomes an issue!
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Post by mandal on Dec 29, 2009 13:42:18 GMT 1
We "look", but we dont' "see" .... until something becomes an issue! I agree Marianne! I've found that the more I learn the more I question 'experts'! Challanging the culture of 'it's always been done this way'!! is so important as it stops people finding out for themselves. I don't mean all traditional is bad or wrong by any means btw. Some 'new' things are bad for horses imo. We should be encouraged to question everything! ;D I think we make so many bad decisions, not through being nasty or mean, just ignorant! We "look", but we dont' "see" .... until something becomes an issue! I agree with this too wholeheartedly!! That's one of the reasons I like getting help. It's amazing what you just don't see day to day because it seems 'normal'.
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Post by feemac on Dec 29, 2009 13:48:19 GMT 1
Well said Marianne its amazing what is brought to light on this DG. The collective gives so much to think about that magazines can't. Its also nice to have the support from like minded people.
Again it was the 5 day course that brought the insides of saddles to my attension with Julia.
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Olivia
Olympic Poster
Sparrow's Flight
Posts: 533
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Post by Olivia on Dec 29, 2009 17:12:40 GMT 1
The problem is, you can hardly strip down every saddle you buy before buying it. Its a bit of a gamble. Even a well known expensive make that might have been 100% at the time of manufacture could have been 'adjusted' by a saddler and now have problems. We need saddle xrays ;D
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Jane
Olympic Poster
Colo ("koala")
Posts: 938
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Post by Jane on Dec 29, 2009 23:19:06 GMT 1
The saddle x-ray machine would be good, wouldn't it, especially if it could do measurements too.
The problem with manufacture is quality control standards. A good handmade saddle takes nearly a week to make, so there's more opportunity for checks every step of the way (with a good saddler). It's expensive timewise and the cost of rejecting work that is not up to scratch is high.
As for magazines, well, look at which products are advertised and it's easy to see why critical articles aren't written. The major retailers dominate both advertising and event sponsorship here - who is going to want to alienate them? (Although I have to say, my local branch no longer displays my cards! LOL).
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Post by portiabuzz on Dec 30, 2009 0:27:40 GMT 1
this is such a good idea....and scary! But it needs to be thought of and people made aware!
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Post by Zuzan on Dec 30, 2009 0:51:16 GMT 1
Why doesn't someone with alot of knowledge of these saddle problems blow this whole subject open in some of the horse mags and let more people know. I'm sure alot of people would be interested. ... too many vested interests I fear...
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Jane
Olympic Poster
Colo ("koala")
Posts: 938
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Post by Jane on Dec 30, 2009 6:42:54 GMT 1
I also think that forums and places like Facebook are a faster way to reach a lot of people than magazines...
So: I'm developing a short course for horse owners out here. I'm no expert, and obviously don't have the knowledge that someone like Heather has, but what I do know is enough to help a lot of owners and horses who just need some support. A little bit of information actually goes a long way.
I'm also thinking of starting a saddle fit discussion page on the Balanced Horse facebook page. Not to slate brands or companies, but just to build awareness and answer each other's questions in a positive way. Sharing information is a great way to start!
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tamzin
Intermediate Poster
Posts: 247
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Post by tamzin on Dec 30, 2009 8:27:34 GMT 1
We have known for many years that the cheap indian made saddles have contained swabs, sometimes used swabs and have warned people, but people will still buy them. When we had our saddlery business 5 years ago we refused to sell these cheap saddles and the cheap synthetic ones also contain foreign material which can pass diseases onto humans. Beware. The problem is the demand for this type of tack is still very high as people dont understand or cannot afford quality goods. They even think that the cheap synthetics are a better option than the leather ones but have no idea how they are made or whats inside them. The trees of these saddles are often made from ply wood and give no support whatsoever. At the end of the day you get what you pay for.
Cheap is cheap for a reason.
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Post by heather on Dec 30, 2009 10:52:34 GMT 1
Hi Jane, Good old Easisit found its way to Oz then?!! I cant remember if my representative, Paul Cairns had any, but I know we had problems with leather exports into Australia, after foot and mouth disease struck. Jane, I think anything you can do to raise awareness of saddle fit and construction is an excellent idea. Julia and Nicole, also got their saddle knowledge from Kay Humphries as far as I remember, as my EET and ex Fhoenix sales manager, Jill Shephard told me, and she was an RA too at the time and working as a saddle fitter for Kay too. Heather
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Jane
Olympic Poster
Colo ("koala")
Posts: 938
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Post by Jane on Dec 30, 2009 11:02:59 GMT 1
Bates/Wintec are made in India, I hear...
Heather, I shipped the used Easisit out myself, whereupon it got impounded at customs until I paid to have it disinfected with something highly toxic (they would have dumped it if I hadn't paid). I know people importing western saddles are having huge problems with rawhide, with customs actually sending saddles back to the US and costing the unfortunate buyers hundreds of extra dollars. Post-equine influenza outbreak, everything seems to have been tightened up even more.
There is even more need for saddle fit info out here, where so many people live in places that saddlers won't even travel to, as they're a long way from the saddlery stores.
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