This list is great; it seems to address all the topics that really relate to Fjords!
I have 3 ortho-flex saddles at the moment, and have purchased 5 all together. Started with one of their first models, which I sold to friends with fjords. I first tried a Sharon Saare endurance saddle, only to find it bridged. I didn't know that much about saddling at that time (1987) and was setting that saddle over Stella's shoulders in an attempt to make it fit, and poor Stella: She was terrible when I started out riding, and I didn't know enough to know it was the saddle. She eventually got numb to the pain and was a bit better later in the ride. I stopped riding her when she got closer to foaling, and then ordered the Ortho-flex. Rode it on my gelding, Bjarne, who I got that spring. After Stella had foaled and the foal was a couple months old, I tried the Ortho-flex saddle on her, and even leaving her foal for the first time and not having been ridden for months, she was happy and obedient, no problems like before. It made me a believer in the Ortho-flex. There are used Ortho-flex saddles for sale on the Endurance net classified ads, http://www.endurance.net and also I see them advertised in the classified ads of Trail-Blazer magazine. Cantering has been a problem for me with my big gelding, BJorken. He will break into a canter sometimes, but I throw him off balance. Last summer my dressage instructor worked on his canter by lunging him in the field over low jumps to get him more balanced, and we were just getting the hang of canter departs last fall when the weather got bad. My instructor can get him into a canter, but is concerned with him being heavy on the forehand and off balance, thus running faster and faster to try to get his balance. (Gail copied an article from the Horseman list yesterday addressing this). Seems like Fjords are bred more for wonderful trots than canters! I have been using the Glory butterfly bits for riding as well as driving, using two reins on the bit for my dressage lessons. I use mostly the snaffle rein but have the curb rein available for control.The Glory butterfly is like a pelham bit, with a mullen mouthpeice. You can get them in any size to fit your Fjords. Jean in sunny Fairbanks, Ak 20 degrees this AM, up to 35 today * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Jean Ernest Fairbanks, Alaska e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
