Dear friends of the Donkey Whisperer Farm,
Yesterday as I opened my e-mail I was surprised to find an e-mail from Mr. William Healey, a writer at Horse.com sharing how much he enjoys reading my blog and FB page. Mr. Healey shared a link with me explaining how to measure and fit a western saddle to your horse. Boy could I have used this in 2008 when I first purchased a western Billy Cook saddle for my palomino quarter horse mare Miss Lily. I now own a beautiful western saddle that fits my body perfectly but not hers. After a few trail rides I started to notice sores and then white hairs. I grew up trail riding western and I was determined to make my beautiful western saddle with bling (silver) fit my horse. “I even hired a saddle fitter and we shimmed my western saddle but in the end sadly nothing worked to make the saddle fit her for my four-hour trail rides and the worst part was I lost $1,400.00. Now the saddle sits in the barn collecting dust a huge waste of money and time.”
Things I learned The Hard Way
1. Never purchase a saddle because you think it is pretty.
2. Never purchase a saddle before fitting your donkey, horse or mule.
3. Never purchase a saddle before making sure your bum fits in it. As a kid I can tell you I just hopped on and rode I did not have to think about saddle fitting as a middle-aged woman everything changed.
Here is the e-mail
Hello, Melody
My name is Bill Healey, and I am the content writer for Horse.com. I was searching for article ideas on an assortment of topics related to western riding and just riding in general when I came across your post, “Rio’s New Custom Fitted Saddle Australian Saddle“, from July 2013 on the Donkey Whisperer Farm Blog. Love your site and the Facebook page! I think you discuss everything there is to cover about how wonderful donkeys and mules can be; I don’t often come across great topics like this. I also enjoyed how your website was the perfect blend of entertaining and informative. Last year we created a guide to measuring and fitting western saddles that your readers may find helpful. The article covers everything from how to fit the saddle the horse, fit the saddle for the rider, how to properly evaluate the saddle on the horse and how to avoid common saddle fitting mistakes.
Select Measuring and Fitting Western Saddles
I think some of your readers could potentially find the guide pretty useful and, hopefully, entertaining.
Keep up all the great work,
Bill Healey
Horse.com ***************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** PP
Perhaps one day Horse.com will ask me to write for them?
You never know as more and more people are interested in riding a safe ride and the mammoth donkey is one safe ride. All the photos were taken today as I got on and rode Rio around the new farm. No tune up necessary, not the same case with my horses.
Why is no tune up necessary for the donkey?
Donkeys never forget anything ever! Donkeys are smart and donkeys are into self-preservation, they know how to do the job we humans teach them they are really, really smart, I say smarter than most humans.
Why do you think they use the donkeys and mules at the Grand Canyon?
Safety is number one! Not all mules make it to the Grand Canyon rides as personality, spirit level and training is a huge factor.
Rio is the ambassador for the Mammoth donkey as he has the perfect conformation and personality. I ride Rio with no bit, just a rope halter I trained him on the ground with my voice and words.
I am a world-wide virtual coach, consultant and trainer of the owner of donkeys, mules and horses. If you are stuck with your equine and need a fresh set of eyes and creative ideas to help get you back to your goals and dreams give me a try the first forty-five minutes to meet and greet is free. I have helped over eighty people since surviving the semi-truck accident in 2010. All were free until Jan 1st, 2014 when I started my new business Donkey Whisperer Farm, LLC.
If you would like to learn how virtual coaching works take a look at my website and store. Select DONKEY WHISPERER FARM, LLC to see if virtual coaching will work for you.
GOD bless you and your family two and four-legged!
Melody
http://www.donkeywhisperer.com
https://donkeywhispererfarm.com/our-store/
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