Free n Easy Saddles
www.fnesaddles.com
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One of the major concerns on a
challenging ride of this nature which involves
long hours in the saddle, is finding saddles that
will not only comfortably fit the different horses
used, but adapt to their varying condition through
the duration of the ride.
From my endurance riding experience
I am acutely aware of the negative impact of a
badly fitting saddle, and the extent to which
a well fitted saddle can not only prevent sores
and back problems, but can dramatically improve
way of going and prolong working capacity.
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| We are thus very fortunate
to have secured sponsorship from the British saddle
company Free n' Easy, in the form of two of their
state of the art saddles. FnE saddles have wide
weight spreading panels which can be adjusted as
necessary to the shape of a horse's back, and which
also flex as it moves. These saddles have already
been tried and tested in the demanding sport of
endurance racing, in which saddle fit is crucial
to ensure competing horses maximise their performance
and stay sound. Fellow endurance rider Liz Cooper
has used an FnE saddle for many years with great
success, winning the prestigious Red Dragon ride
and the Best Condition at the Golden Horseshoe.
Having crewed for her on several occasions, I have
been able to see the saddle in action, and it was
partly this that led me to the conclusion that FnE
saddles were the natural choice for the Long Horse
Ride. |
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| Les Spark has made up two customised
saddles based on the Trekker model above. |
Free n Easy Airflow Numnahs
| Another concern was
what type of saddlepad to use over such a long distance
in circumstances when it would be impossible to
bung sweaty numnahs in the washing machine every
other day as one can do at home! Initially it seemed
the best option would be some form of thick felt
pad as used by Central Asian horsemen. This was
before I saw the innovative FnE Airflow numnah.
This revolutionary saddle-pad uses a random PVC
mesh against the skin of the horse - see the photo
to the right. As the numnah does not retain water/sweat,
there is no need to change the pad over long distances,
and it can easily be washed out. |
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| STOP
PRESS: At the end of Stage One of the ride , I have
to report that we have been absolutely delighted
with the performance of both saddles and numnahs! |
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Sorting out saddles
before off
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FnE saddles star
on Shanhaiguan TV.
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Rowena,
and Bei Bei sporting her FnE saddle
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Emergency roadside adjustments
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this was one of the enormous
advantages of using
FnE saddles.
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STOP PRESS: We are now
into the second stage of the ride with a different set
of horses, and I am still completely delighted with
the saddles - in fact I do not know how I would cope
without them!
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From 15hh horse to 12.3hh pony
Here is Zorbee wearing the same FnE saddle.
I had been slightly worried that the saddles
might be too large for the smaller ponies, but
they fitted perfectly!
Another concern was that Zorbee was moulting
a very thick winter coat unevenly under the
saddle, but the wide panels spread the weight
and this caused absolutely no problems
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Bajiu in his
FnE saddle. When he arrived he had a series of
little sore bare patches (from bites?) along one
side of his spine which I was concerned might
cause a problem under the saddle. I needn't have
worried, as they were actually healing as we rode,
although I had to keep assuring people that they
were NOT caused by the saddle!
These were potential problems which I am sure
other saddles would not have been able to resolve.
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Apart from the horses (whose comfort
obviously comes first) I am certain the saddles have
also been the reason I have not personally suffered
from stiffness or a sore bum - even when riding for
long hours after several months of no riding at all!
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