New Australian Pad

Checked the saddle position tonight.  Clear the shoulder blade and don't extend past the last rib.  With her short back, not much margin for error.  Then looked at how the new saddle pad seemed to work.  I think it's going to work fine.  3/8 inch wool felt with about 1/4 inch felt shims under the bars of the saddle.  It's going to sit higher than the old foam pad, even with my fat butt on her. That raised the saddle up high enough to keep the skirt from putting pressure on her back without being as thick as the typical western pad.

Forgot to readjust the breast collar.  Oh well, can do before the next ride.  Hopefully it'll cool off soon so we won't bake on the trail.

Sore Spot

I've had my little Rocky Mountain mare for 2 years.  What a great little trail horse.  Earlier this summer I noticed a small sore near her spine above her hip bone.  That spot roughly lines up with the back of the saddle skirt.

When I first got her I had a cheap western saddle that when used with a good pad worked for my other horse.  It didn't even come close to fitting the little Rocky, so I purchased an Australian saddle that was adjusted to fit her.  I also bought an Australian pad.  The pad was thin foam with wool cloth on both sides.  The saddle slid all over the place, partially due to my poor riding.

I replaced that pad with one that was also thin foam but with ribbed polymer next to the horse.  No more sliding around, but the sore spot appeared.  The 17 inch Australian is great for me but may be a bit long for my short backed horse.

I now have a wool felt pad that's 3/8 inch thick and has pockets for felt shims that will lift the saddle a bit off her back, or can be used to change the fit.  I don't know if the shims are needed.  The less compressible felt may lift the saddle enough to eliminate the sore.  I'll find out this weekend.

Granddaughter => New Son

Yesterday I held my new great grandson for the very first time.  He's very tiny and only 2 weeks old.
Hard to believe I've gotten this old.

Nostalgia

A week ago yesterday we spent the afternoon at my eldest sons place.  He has 7-1/2 acres and a dirt hill, bullet stop, at the back.  His 11 year old son has done some plinking with a child sized 22 single shot, but never shot a handgun before.  I pulled out an old Charter Arms revolver as a teaching aid.  I did some of the instruction with my son doing most of the teaching.  Doesn't seem that long ago that I was showing him the ropes.  Now he's working with his son.  Nostalgia!

Back to The Barn

Two hour ride this morning.  We haven't ridden much this year and other than the half day ride in Montana, today was the longest.  Nice weather and a nice ride.  On the way back I took my cell phone and did my first video holding it in my hand as we rode down the road to the barn.

Damn Job

The Boss and a friend are going riding tomorrow morning. And what will I be doing? Going to work while they're riding their horses through the woods.  Damn job.

This time next year, after the Boss turns 65, I'll be retiring.  Looking forward to that eventuality. 

Never Saw Anything Like That Before

The day started off normal.  I took the day off from work to take the Boss to get steroid shots in her spine.  After leaving her at home I headed to the county sheriffs office to pick up my renewed carry license.  That's when things went a little strange.

Picking up the license was uneventful.  Then I went to a local holster shop, they make them there, and ordered 3 new holsters, 1911, Kahr PM9 and 4" 44 Bulldog.  And then on to the range for an hours worth of short gun shooting.  I was actually quite pleased with my marksmanship, especially considering how little range time I've had this year.  My trigger finger got its long needed fix.

The weird thing happened when driving through the city going to the sheriffs office.  On a corner of an intersection was a middle aged woman wearing a bikini, with no swimming pool near by.  But I took a second look, and found that she was wearing absolutely nothing below.  Her boobs were the only part of her body covered.  I needed fuel so pulled into a station on the other corner.  I saw people on their phones talking and others taking pictures.  A few firefighters arrived with pants for her, then she ran off.  Other than probable mental issues she appeared unharmed, so I traveled on.

When talking to the lady in the sheriffs office I learned that a few days earlier a different woman was spotted walking naked in the middle of a street.

Sounds like a drug problem to me.