Ken Lyndon-Dykes’ Column
The Experiences and Thoughts of a Saddle Fitter.
This month: Every day is different.
Although I've been involved with horses practically all my life I have had very little to do with driving and really don't know much about the disciplines involved. I was aware that three day event driving has become increasingly popular - and I did know that the cones phase - the equivalent of dressage in ridden has become an increasingly important factor as competition becomes fiercer and standards rise. Recently one of our most successful driving competitors contacted me to fit saddles for two of her driving horses. She explained she schools both animals astride for the cones phase and, when I expressed interest, she invited me to watch some of her clients' horses working. Until then I'd no idea what a high standard of flatwork is reached by top-ranking driving horses. I really enjoyed the time I spent spectating - and it certainly left me with an awful lot more respect for the driving fraternity.
Although I've quite a few clients whose main interest is showing, I normally have minimal involvement with lead rein ponies - but just before the season began I had the opportunity to meet four! I was called out to a showing yard where I already undertake quite a lot of work. A lady who owns four ponies she shows in lead rein and first ridden classes needed a new saddle for one pony and the saddles of the others checked over. I had imagined that some of the top class ponies are spoilt prima donnas but these were all simply delightful. The little jockeys who show them as first ridden ponies were amazing and one little girl, ribboned plaits bobbing, was especially competent. The children all took everything in their stride - and the only boy among them told me very gravely that he thinks saddle fitters are very important because they make certain ponies are comfortable. I left the yard marvelling at the maturity and professionalism of those small children.
Several of the minority equestrian sports and disciplines are enjoying huge growth. A few years ago very few horse owners knew anything about TREK, polocrosse or horseball but interest in all of them is growing at an amazing rate. Polo, once perceived to be elitist and only for the very rich, is catching on and more children and young people are becoming involved. The real polo gurus have always tended to be a bit of a law unto themselves when it comes to saddles and saddle fitting. Most appear to think absolutely nothing of using a favourite saddle on every pony they ride, irrespective of differences in conformation. The backs of many polo ponies are in a sorry state and I have known more than one groom who has given up her job simply because she felt unable to continue to work where she was obliged to witness hardworking animals being abused. Bearing this in mind, I was particularly pleased to be called out to a polo-training yard to check the fit of all the ponies' saddles - and was subsequently asked by the proprietor to make regular visits every six months.
Quite a few schools, including a few in the state system, include riding in their syllabus and some even prepare students for BHS and other equestrian-related examinations. The girls' school I visited was one of the latter. Boarders are allowed to keep a pony or horse at livery during term time. Girls who don't have a pony of their own can ride one belonging to the school. I discovered that a lot of the girls get up especially early in order to help in the yard or to ride out before school commences. I gave a saddle fitting lecture and demonstration at the school one evening and some of the girls were kind enough to be guinea pigs. They and their ponies and horses were all well turned out and I found them keen and helpful. Several are hoping to go on to make a career with horses and I thought they were already displaying three of the attributes most needed in the equestrian industry - proficiency, politeness and punctuality. I congratulate the school staff and the girls on the standards they maintain.
My last story involves an elderly lady and her elderly horse. I was called out to check a saddle in a yard I'd never previously visited. When the booking was made the lady informed me that she didn't know me - but had been persuaded to use my services because she thought the book I had written for Allens - 'Practical Saddle Fitting' - displayed 'a lot of common-sense'!
Immediately I met her I realised she was very much one of the old school. I wasn't surprised to learn that she had been a Pony Club DC, evented, played polo, ridden in point-to-points, taken part in driving events, hunted with half a dozen packs and, strangest of all, been a rough rider in the States. I was surprised, however, when she revealed her age - 86 next birthday. She rides every day - 'I never let bad weather prevent me'- and looks after her horse completely herself. Later, over a cup of tea - Earl Grey in an exquisite china cup - she informed me that her horse would be twenty-two this year but that she wouldn't 'get another youngster to break in all the time he's fit to ride'. I hope I'm as determined and intrepid at eighty-six!
KEN LYNDON DYKES specialises in fitting competition horses and also in remedial and 'difficult' fittings. He is available to give talks and demonstrations for any type and size of equestrian group. Call Ken at head office - 01622 844440 - on his mobile - 07973 501873.
