riding, experimenting...

Butchmule and I both need to get back in shape after a few weeks off. I'm taking it extra slow as I see how his new saddle works out. It needs shims in front while the atrophied part of his shoulders muscles up. I'm trying various experiments. Last thing I want to do is sore his back as we're working on building endurance! I am pleased to report the saddle does NOT need to be "broken in." Lee's method of conditioning the leather, hot neatsfoot oil in light applications over several days, worked perfectly. Nice and pliable, not a single squeak.

Today was Arizona winter at it's most glorious. Sunny and warm with a touch of brisk. Windy, though. I was glad of it - gave Butch a bit of a challenge. We went for a leisurely 2-hour ride, most of it at a walk. Lots of folks out walking dogs, all of them very considerate.

Earlier, I spent about an hour trying different cinch positions. Since finishing the saddle I've found that nontraditional parts of the design Lee tried to talk me out of - explaining at length why they might not be such a great idea - and I stubbornly insisted on, now I get it. After the saddle is all finished. My teacher actually did know more than me, imagine that. Well gee, he's only built 40 or 50 saddles!

Upshot is, no, Butch does not like his creative 3/4 position front rigging. Not one bit. He was much happier with the traditional forward placement, thankyouverymuch. So... tried 2 different ways of tying center-fire (looping the front cinch latigo between the 2 rings so it sits in the middle of mule's belly); then center-fire with back cinch on; center-fire without back cinch... none of them worked. The saddle slid from one side to the other no matter how tight I pulled it. So, we ended up back with the original plan: getting the front cinch as balanced and comfortably snug as possible (I usually ride with it loose) and hoping Butchmule would get used to it. At least when I took the saddle off 2 hours later, the sweat pattern looked almost perfect, showing equal pressure. I tested his back... no signs of soreness.

I'm also working on designing a few alterations in the seat for myself...

In the meantime, feeling pressed to ramp up the getting ready. Yesterday I could already feel the coming heat in the air. I could smell summer in the wind. Here in the desert, summer often arrives suddenly. One day it's winter... spring temps tease for a week or two... then whammo, Mother Nature's furnace blasts on.

Been invited to ride with various friends every week from now through February - YES!! Butch gets shoes on Friday. We're heading for the rocky hills!