Saddle Arrival!

The saddle arrived today and, luckily, is exactly what I'd hoped it would be. Yay! We took a test ride even though it's a balmy minus 20ºC today. Kasey was fired up as usual - maybe even more than usual as he hadn't been worked yesterday. The saddle does need the sheepskin half-pad underneath to lift it back off his shoulders - I call it his "prosthetic withers". This is one of the few instances I've come across where adding padding really does help the saddle fit well. It's supposed to be about four months old but is barely used; the girth straps aren't even broke in yet.

I'd really like to try Kasey in harness but I think he needs more time to settle down under saddle first. I called his breeder's mum to see if she wanted to start him for me, but they are going to be busy with cows for a few months. Nita took Kasey's grandsire, Comet, to a Canadian championship in combined driving out in Ontario in 1990. She said the safest way to do it is to hitch them up to a big draft horse (or two). That way you can't get in a wreck the way you can if you start them single. Makes sense to me, all I am lacking is a draft horse and harness and sleigh.

Work is proceeding on the January issue of the Canadian Arabian Horse News. This will be the premier issue of the revamped magazine. I'm working away on the advertising this week and can't wait to start on the editorial design. Will keep you posted!

I also sent in my paper today for the Alberta Horse Breeders and Owners Conference in Red Deer in January. I'm speaking this year on Marketing Horses on the Internet. As part of this talk, I plan to post some free downloadable PDFs on my website covering topics such as improving photography and copy, generating links to your site, and tracking site statistics. Stay tuned!