Ken Lyndon-Dykes’ Column
The Experiences and Thoughts of a Saddle Fitter.
THIS MONTH: considering the big picture.
There can be very few people in this country not aware that global warming is a serious threat to our planet. For a long time dismissed as something dreamed up by mad scientists and regarded as scare mongering, it's now accepted as just the tip of the iceberg - excuse the pun. Almost all of us are guilty of wasting energy, often without realising we're doing it, and horse owners certainly aren't the exception. My work obviously takes me into a huge number of equestrian yards, both very large and very small. More often than not I see lights on in broad daylight. In some yards it is habitual to put heaters on in offices, tack rooms and the like - and then leave doors wide open with the warm air pouring out!
Water is short in many areas in the south-east and it looks as though restrictions will remain in place during the winter months and continue throughout 2007. Yet I frequently see taps left on and buckets overflowing. The equestrian world is fuel guzzling. Horse transport is expensive in diesel or petrol. The majority of horses are kept in livery, often sufficiently far away from where owners live that there is no alternative to using a car to get to yards.
Every one of us has to make a contribution that will help to extend the life of the planet. It is so easy to dismiss small contributions as 'meaningless' and 'not worth the effort'. In isolation, turning off lights when they aren't required may seem trivial - but not when multiplied thousands and thousands of times. If we don't act now and begin to make changes by choice, there will inevitably come a time when more draconian measures are forced upon us. Horse owners and the equestrian world in general have the opportunity to be among those leading the way in reducing carbon emissions. It may only relate to turning off lights that aren't required, changing to energy efficient light bulbs and using water economically. Maybe it would be possible to share horse transport and cars with other owners going to the same venue. Of course, there are masses of other ways of reducing carbon emissions - and each and every contribution will be important in its own right.
Many people still regard riding as an elitist sport and horse owners are perceived as having an awful lot of money. (This despite the fact that I could fill a sizeable book with stories of people going without absolute necessities in order to keep a horse. In my own youth I had personal experience of having one very small meal a day so that there was sufficient money to ensure my horse was well fed!) The other day I was informed that horse owners are 'unaware' and 'disinterested in important issues', the inference being that the equestrian world would be among the last to play a part in saving the planet. Now is the chance to prove those comments entirely wrong!
Moving on. We all know that children can be wise beyond their years. I recently gave a talk for a branch of the Pony Club and, as usual coming towards the end, I asked if there were any questions. One very earnest little girl - I wouldn't imagine she was more that about eight - asked, rather wistfully, if I thought ponies dreamed of going to the Horse of the Year Show. Before I could find a suitable response a small boy, possibly a little older, butted in to say he didn't think they did because otherwise her pony would try a bit harder. You can imagine that this led to a fairly animated discussion! Later a much older girl asked if she would be able to train to become a Society of Master Saddlers' Qualified Saddle Fitter, how long it took and how she went about it. I was very pleased with this particular question because it indicated that she understood the importance of correctly fitting saddles. For the record: it takes a minimum of three years' saddle fitting experience before a candidate can take the S.M.S. assessment which is restricted to members of the Society or their employees. As well as ability to fit horses of vastly differing conformation, candidates are examined in a broad range of subjects. These include ability to handle horses safely and correctly, recognition (but not diagnosis) of lameness and unlevelness, ability to examine the horse's back and to recognise asymmetric musculature (which could have a serious influence on the fit of the saddle), et cetera. More information can be obtained from The Society of Master Saddlers (01449 711642).
KEN LYNDON DYKES specialises in fitting competition horses and those with 'difficult' conformation. Obtain Ken on 01622 844444 (head office ) or 07973 502873 (mobile).
FOOTNOTE. Ken's book 'Practical Saddle Fitting' would make an excellent present for anyone making a career in the equestrian industry as well as all horse owners. Published by J. A. Allen, it costs £19.99 and is available at quality saddleries and bookshops. Anyone having difficulty in obtaining a copy should contact SADDLEWORLD: 01622 844440.
Ken Lyndon Dykes occasionally has vacancies for individuals wishing to train as saddle fitters. Ideally they will be experienced riders who have already worked in one or more sections of the equestrian industry. Contact Ken as above.
