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Kirstie Graham
Kirstie says:
Like I have told everyone - you are a complete miracle worker. Bella's back had reached a stage where my vet thought I may have to give up on higher mileages. I had tried just about every saddle on the market, but the same pressure bumps always came up after about 60k. Since you fitted the FnE, Bella hasn't had any return of the pressure bumps. I can feel the old scar tissue is there, which makes it all the more remarkable that it never flares up on long rides.
Image by Francesca Nunn-Equine Photographic www.equinephotographic.com.
The 2day 160k at Perth racecourse was the Championship class. Since Bella and I were the only finishers, we are Scottish Champions 2008! Unbelievable. It was quite a challenging course - hilly and with varied going - I think the term is a true endurance ride. The Scottish Championship always aims for a testing course, and although this didn't have hills to rival the climb up to Steer Rig at Yetholm there were some decent climbs and it was very undulating. It was a beautiful route, taking in the historic Coronation bridleway (oldest bridleway in Scotland, where the Kings used to travel from Falkland Palace to the stone at Scone - the stone of destiny - to be crowned).
I think a hilly 2 day 160k is probably the ultimate test for a saddle, because all the adrenaline has died down and any niggles and sore spots will emerge overnight. Bella's back looked exactly the same at the end of the 2 days as it did at the beginning and she had no soreness anywhere. I had her checked over by equine physio Catriona Goulding and she agreed.
Another point is the 'bathmat' numnah - I was able to use the same numnah for the whole 2 days. It is amazing (and very convenient) not to have to swap numnahs at vet gates. It also meant I could slosh under the saddle without getting a soggy wool numnah.
Anyway, long email, but I am very grateful. Without the FnE saddle, we would not have been able to attempt the 160k - let alone all the lovely rides in between I have been able to enjoy without worrying about Bella's back.
Thanks again,
Kirstie
