Local Western Saddler - Gold Coast QLD

Local Western Saddler on the Gold Coast in QLD

Recently I was on the hunt for a new western saddle.  There are so many different types out there the exercise to find a good one became daunting.  I have some very dear friends who allowed me to try out their saddles just to make sure I was going to be happy with the feel of the seat and of course the fenders!  

After searching the internet and visiting local horse supplies shops and having a few different types of saddles fitted to my horses I decided that the only way to get the perfect fit was to have one custom made.  I don’t agree with making a saddle fit by using thicker pads, props etc.  Imagine having to wear a pair of shoes for hours on end that didn’t fit because they rubbed, were too tight, slipped when you walked, make your legs ache etc.  I certainly didn’t want to put my horses through this and have them misbehaving due to trying to let me know of some sort of discomfort.   As they say “equine welfare” is not just about saving starving horses; it is also about preventing pain and discomfort.  It is our duty as owners to make sure we do everything we can.

After hunting around for the perfect saddle I came across a local saddler, John Allington who has been making beautiful saddles since 1962.  He lives on the Gold Coast and I was lucky enough to have him personally come and fit my horses. Both of my horses have shorter backs, are extremely round and have virtually no wither.  John suggested a wade tree as it is the best type of tree for my horses and fits in well with the type of riding I do.

My beautiful Arab Amber has always been reluctant to go forward, her nickname “Ambling Amber”. Now when using my beautiful western saddle she certainly has more go than whoa!  I feel she is very free in the shoulders and there are no discomfort spots along her back anymore and the closeness of my saddle lets her feel my body which makes her response more accurate.

Here is the saddle which has been custom made to fit my horse.  If anyone is interested in having a saddle made by John you  are welcome to come and have a look at  mine.

Speedi Beet

What is Speedi Beet?           

A truly amazing feed which is available in around 24 countries world wide.   If your horse suffers from laminitis then Speedi Beet may be your answer in helping control this terribly painful condition.  It is an ideal fibre source for horses prone to laminitis.  Speedi Beet is low in sugar (unmolassed and 95% sugar free) and high in fibre. It is a Laminitis Trust approved feed.

Speedi Beet is extremely palatable and is a slow release energy feed.  It helps with rapid re-hydration and is non heating. Its unique processing allows slow release of nutrients prior to hind gut fermentation making for an extremely healthy horse.

The dried beet flakes (as pictured above) are soaked to 1 part beet 5 parts water for a minimum of 10 minutes before feeding.  This allows the beet flakes to completely soak and absorb all water before feeding.  Speedy beet can then be fed alone or mixed with chaff to make for a more interesting feed.  I mix ours with oat and chaff as it makes a wonderful natural unprocessed meal. 

It is best not to leave soaked Speedi Beet for a length of time in the hotter months to prevent fermentation.  During cooler times of the year Speedi Beet can be mixed in the mornings and fed later in the afternoons.  I have yet not come across a horse that does not like this amazing food.

Liberty float loading with Thor

My young Fjord horse was 18months old when he arrived out our place.  He had never been floated and arrived here after being herded into a truck.  For a very long time he wouldn't even feel comfortable about looking at our float. 

After a few months of ground work and gentle float loading techniques he loaded at liberty.  This video is a clip of his 4th ever floating experience.

Enjoy :)

Meet Thor, beautiful Fjord horse

The next member of my horsey heard I would like to introduce to you is Thor.  He is a 5 year old Fjord horse gelding and stands just over 14hands.  I bought him when he was only 18months old and he has spent time with our other horses growing and just being a horse.

Last year in March 2010 he was started naturally by Shane Ransley from Quantum Savvy and returned home to have 6 months rest before doing too much.  Since then I have been doing mainly ground work with him and a little riding.  I hope to get out and about more with him later this year.

He is a great horse to work with, lets me know when my  "ask" is not polite and really tries to please.  He is amazing at reading body language as in "life up and down" and responds well.

I plan to do mainly trail riding with him and lots of liberty work in the future.  He's a heavy horse so my work with so my timing with him has to be slow and steady with absolute instant release.  He is teaching me a lot about patience and understanding.  Thor is the sort of horse that would really stick by his rider through any situation.  He is extremely honest and reliable with no hidden secrets! 

Here is a pic of my very special friend.