Hay, hay, hay...

Camryn here:
Back to issues of much more importance to myself.  And postitive proof of how awesome my Dad is.  While away at camp he kept himself busy.  I'm not certain if he was pleased with this particular busyness or cursing me under his breath.  Either way, "Dad you done good"!

I get to nom, nom, nom my way thru winter!!!  I so enjoy coming home from a hard days work to find the barn  nearly brimming with my favorite meal.  I stand and stare, patting myself on the back.  Yes, one benefit to being an only horse, is this is "MINE, ALL MINE!!!
Mom figures we'll be needing one more load before winter hits.  I'm a half bail a day kinda girl ya know.  My bounty is kept stored in the loft above me, and in Onyx bedroom (biggify to see him guarding my bounty)  Onyx is a dream roomie as he doesn't eat hay!!  He does however like my treats and will scarf my feed if I can't keep it all in my mouth.
Side note: since the last deluge of rain, I'm now back on pasture and up to nearly 2 hours!!!  Please, let it continue.  I do so love the salad bar here.
Later...

My peeps, their peeps...

Camryn here:
    Just as promised, I plan to bore you with piktures of my humans and their humans.  People pix, they all look alike anyway right?

My human, otherwise known as Mom aka Susan

On the left is Dad, the dogs call him Paw.  He's the haystacker and all around great guy.
On the right is Christopher, Mom's eldest.  The only one with the stones to ride!!!

On the left is Jillian, her is Mom's girl.  She's just as sweet as she looks here.

On the right is Sarah, she is Adam's (below) honey.  This was her first time suffering attending a family get together!

Adam is on the left, he is Mom's baby boy.  They call him "big little brother" because he's the biggest.  He didn't ride cause being 6'3" he'd probably have his feet on the ground!!!

On the right is Mom's Mom otherwise known as Gramma.  Very friendly and her always smells good.

And yes, I am aware that Mom, Chris, Jillian & Gramma all look alike.

Left is Adam again. The pretty girl is Samantha aka Sam.  Her is Chris honey and nearly as sweet as our Jillian.  Her's not afraid of me, but had to leave early to go to work.

Left is Diane another sweetie, her is married to Mom's brother Micheal on the right.  Micheal has a big voice just like me!!!

This Mom's nephews Eric & Ryan, in case you can't tell they be identical twins.

See what I mean "humans all look alike"!!!

Far left is Chris again.  Next be Moria and her husband Mike (from the pirate wedding post).  Their not blood related but, familly just the same.

The humans all sitting around waiting for Dad to take the food off the grill.

Every one played nice together even the dogs had company.  Chris & Sam brought one of their dogs Emily to play. 

Dad pulled a funny on one of the twins.  The frisbee they were playing with went over the fence.  As Dad opened the gate for Ryan to go get it, he explained that we never use this gate as one of the neighbor Rottweilers almost got him once.  A total lie though a neighbor does have Rots.  Ryan goes and gets the frisbee, Dad says to everyone "watch this" and starts yelling "RUN, the Rots are coming".  Poor Ryan believes Dad (who isn't known to pull mean pranks) and starts running as if his life depends on it.  He even falls in his rush.  Dad is barking real big like a Rot to boot.  Everyone almost peed themselves laughing.  I must mention this prank is in no way meant to say we thinks Rots be mean or bad dogs.  Cause we knows they isn't.

Later...

Me entertaining...

Camryn here:
I know you've all been waiting news of the family cookout with baited breath.  I did my best to entertain, unfortunatly only Christopher (Mom's eldest) wanted to be personally entertained.  It appears the rest for some odd reason find (not me personaly), but horses in general intimidating.  I take that back, Christopher's honey Samantha woulda rode, but had to go to work.  Her'll do it another day.  Now keep in mind while Chris has ridden, he's still much like many humans "totaly clueless".  I wouldn't do much for him, Mom had to walk most of the time to get me to do more than just stand there.  For some odd reason Chris kept looking down at my head.  Mom kept telling him, look at a fence post to give me some direction.  Otherwise I had to fill in the blanks and with no direction, I'd take the easy way and do nothing at all.  He didn't believe her.  Finally he started looking around and I walked.  He still didn't believe her.
Anyhow here are some pictures of me being entertaining.  I do apologize for Christopher's flip flops and lack of helmet.  Mom says it's hard to boss an Army person and maybe all the sand from Iraq dimmed his light bulb a bit.  Just kidding, cause he's really smart and Mom is way proud of him...

Me n Onyx prepare to entertain...



Following Mom on account Chris won't look up...



See what I mean!!!  What's up with that, Onyx is laughing at Chris for looking at my head I think...

Jillan (Mom's girl), her is big on self portrait silly girl...

Finally I got "a little" direction so I'm walking...

This is Mom's fav, even though Chris has a goofy look goin on...

I deafened Grandma at one point.  Mom was up at the house, Diane, Sarah, Gramma, Jillian and Samantha were at my gate visiting with me.  I'm standing there all mannerly just listening to the gab.  I see Mom headed our way and let loose with one of my huge NEIGH's right in Gramma's ear!!!  It's OK though, she's alread partialy deaf.  I know Mom likes it when I say "HI MOM"!
I apologize in advance for the next post which will include mainly boring humans...
Later...

Keeping watch...

Camryn here:
No need for a neighborhood watch here.  I keeps my eyes peeled for trouble, watching out for my family, friends and neighbors.  Onyx helps of course, but he's getting old and needs his rest so I try to take up some slack for him...

When keeping watch my fly mask actually becomes a "super hero" mask.  My fly sheet can double as my cape.  I am "SUPER HAFY!!!
Mom n Dad getting ready for a family cookout.  I imagine I'll provide some form of entertainment along with the keeping watch part. Expect pictures coming up of me entertaining, guess being they're family I can suffer thru.  As long as there is plenty of hay as payment that is.  Mom is making a corn bread casserole, maybe I'll get to try some???  One can only hope...
Later...

It's what I do...

Camryn here:
   Life is back to normal.  Thought you'd all like to hear/see a part of my daily routine...

Nom, nom, nom, I tidy up the pasture. Hard at work...

Gotta keep it mowed, nom, nom, nommers, the boss is watching...

All that work earns me a break...

Scuse me boss the break bell rang, I'm on a mission here...

Ahhhhh, yes must hydrate...

Break over, back to work!  Such a harsh task master Mom is.



Later...

Sleeping real good...

Camryn here:
I was sooooo happy to be back home after our little trip, slept super duper good on a self made pillow.  Mom was a little stunned in the morning, but also understood that I was probably tired and gave no thought to "what I slept upon". 
Guess these pix prove I'm only a Princess in Mom's eyes.  I'd never feel a pea under a pile of mattresses as in the "Princess and the Pea" story...

Mmmm, can you see it in this pikture?...

I know you can in this pic, if you biggify I kind of resemble and abstact in poo!!! 
Luckily for me it was kind of cool and breezy so no bath.  Took Mom over an hour to brush it all out good.  Her explained that this wasn't a good idea to do on a regular basis, specially during bug season.  Seems it turns you into a fly magnet.  Who'd have thunk!!!
Later...

Last of the trip...

Camryn here:
Well the rest of our trip was pretty uneventful...Lots of Nom, nom, nom.  I think I mentioned room service was awesome didn't I?

Below is one reason why, instead of Mom being way up in the house.  She set up her tent real close like...

Mom called it a room with a view!
    So anyway, while Farrah, myself and the rest of the horses (probably 30ish), the peoples all had a get together with food, prizes (no Mom didn't win nothing) and music.  There was 120 people there for this.  It started pouring rain, which felt good to me, it stopped just as the humans were dishing up dinner.  They did something called a pig roast, I'm happy not to be a pig!!!  Dad came and joined in on this for a while.  Me n Farrah was real close to all the hubub on account of other Susan's hubby Bob was in charge of the festivities.  Lots of people went by and I heard several exclaim over my glorious tail.  That was nice. 
    After dinner bunch of people pulled saddles out and I had to model AGAIN!!!  I can't even take a vacation with modeling I guess.  Most saddles Mom discounted automaticaly as to long for my back.  One fit nicely, it was a Torsion barefoot.  Mom decided to take a spin in this one.  Farrah wasn't overly happy about this.  While we was taking our spin, Farrah was taking one of her own at the highline.  Guess her went kind of bazoo.  I tried going back to assure her all was well and I'd be right back.  Mom wouldn't have any of this however, she mentioned this all being a good test of being secure in a saddle hee hee!  Her did, so while Synergist is what she's shooting for if she finds a barefoot Torsion similar at a good price her may give that a go.
    I just realized I haven't added any real pictures of Farrah...

    This is her.  She's very pretty with a very feminine face.  If her were human I imagine she'd be a cheerleader.  I'd be some jock kind of girl, we're polar opposites but, still good friends.  She's not a stuck up or anything like that.     After dinner they had a band play, had banjo's a chello, guitars, fiddles and stuff like that.  The band was only like 50 ft from me.  Nice music which I found quite relaxing.
    In the morning, humans had a big breakfast, then we was going back out on a ride.  Fortunatly it started raining again YEEHAA!!!  So after it cleared Mom and me headed home. Mom and other Susan knew Farrah wouldn't be happy bout me leaving, so they led her up to my trailer with me to say a proper goodbye and her wouldn't fret so much.
     Soon as I was unloaded at home, I had a little snack then rolled n rolled n rolled.  It's nice getting away for a bit, but there really is no place like home!!
Later...

Adventures/Misadventures part 3 (long w/pix)

Camryn here:
    I'm happy to say that the rest of our voyage wasn't nearly as hairy, still we had our trials and tribulations.
We came to that hill I mentioned, and boy did it grow our brains back!!!  I hadn't worked a hill like that in many moons.  Had to concentrate on where I put my feets, keep my butt pushing onward and upward.  Credit to Mom is her stayed outa my mouth realy good, sat just right so I could work it.  Got to the top and by then we'd all forgotten bout the crazy as loons people, goats, and cannons.  We meandered thru the woods for quite awhile, then of course when you goes up a big hill, you gotsta come down sometime right?  Yeah, well going down was even tougher than going up.  I remember Mom"thinking  "Oh S*#%", so course I thought her didn't wanna go down no more.  I stepped offa the trail to turn and head back up, good girl that I am and all.  Mom turned me back into the trail and heading down.  Darn thought I had that part thwarted.
     We comed outta the woods into a clearing that leads towards a gravel flat area full of cars and peoples milling about.  Pass a stink place again (potty) then start towards this big red building.  As I get closer I realize this building isn't sitting safely on the ground but, kinda perched on both ends with it's middle over a river!!!  Our peoples called it a covered bridge.  I was first, but when I realized this I decided I prefered to follow.  Stalwart Lady with Sheila decided to go first, well Lady was having none of this hanging in air building any more than I was.  Then suddenly Farrah decides "come on girls, lets get it over with" and heads on in.  Lady and I follow our foot falls echoing as we go.  Farrah though her did grow enough stones to enter is all high headed actually going thru.  Lady and I are tilting our heads looking down thru the floor cracks at the river below.  Actually it was kind of pretty!!!
    We comes outa the bridge, little ways down a road, then traverse about in the woods again, me n Farrah play around with our humans walking over logs and such.  Other Susan has been having stirrup problems so dismounts to fix that issue.  Mom lets me graze a bit since I haven't been drinking at the water crossings much.  Silly Mom still forgets she's got a camera hooked to her bottom SIGH.  We apparently loop around a while cause we end up back at the covered bridge going in the way we comed out the first time.  As we start in we see these peoples getting ready to come in the far side and they have a dog.  These humans "appear" to have brains and hang back for us.  Then their brains dissapear cause as we're midway thru they come on bridge with the dog.  Let me inform you a Pomeranian barking under a covered bridge sounds lots like a Great Dane!!!  The peoples brains reattach and they pick the yapper up. I like dogs so, I did attempt a sniff as we passed them heading back out.  As we comes out there are groups of people with black boxes stuck to their faces.  We felt like movie stars with all the papparazzi, course we did have Farrah with us so kind of makes sense they wanted piktures?
     So now we're headed back the way we came SIGH.  Gotta go down the big up hill, then back past the rude idiot people place.  This time the peoples all seemed to understand the rules, though they did have black boxes on their faces like at the bridge.  We're on the bridge again, all the peoples are standing waiting to for us to get across.  Then of course an IDIOT appears out of nowhere, comes careening onto the bridge on his bicycle.  He wears a helmet to he's not totally stupid I guess.  Anyhow, he's heading right at Farrah!!!  Farrah who has bonded with me sidepasses right up to me, then immediately calms down.  Glad for that otherwise, I'd have stepped into Lady, who'd have stepped into the bridge rail and who knows what woulda happened next!!!
     We cross the huge road bridge, then down along the cornfield again.  Suddenly we're back to artilery fire all round us.  Mom realizes her's got her clicker finally (DUH Mom)  and when it goes BOOM, I hear a click and get a treat, then I hear a BAM and again click/treat.  We do this the next several times, and before you know it, I'm merely flinching at the sound!!!  Good one Mom!  As we continue on I experiment running down a few corn stalks that stick up helter skelter.  Kind of fun, and they scritch the itchy spots on my belly.  Then we see these two huge machines in the field with peoples around them.  The peoples are then getting in the machines.  Other Susan says, "uh oh, their gonna start em up".  They did, which was no big deal.  Not a big deal that is until one is heading right towards me.  I'm serious, it's gonna eat me!!!  I stop, should I catch up with Lady and Farrah who are safely across the path of the beast?  Should I turn and get me and Mom the H out of Dodge?  The lady in the beast motions to Mom that I can cross in front.  Mom motions that it's not gonna happen!!!  The lady smiles, reaches down and shuts the beast off, "WHEW".  Thank heavens that some humans unnderstand!!!  I mean bombs and a horse eating huge beast all at the same time, Mom understood my near meltdown there.  Lady and Farrah are all, "what was wrong",  I'm "DUH we just about got bombed and eaten".
    I should mention bomber flies, there are tons of them and they are doing what they do and bombing us from all over.  Mom keeps watch for them on Lady and Farrah's butts, and tries to keep watch on mine as well.  Farrah and Lady would kick up a bit when bitten.  I would turn on my giant vibrator skills and shake em off.  Mom got a kick out of that and laughed hard each time.  Other Susan and Sheila couldn't figure out what was causing the vibrator noise from behind and Mom laughing till they both witnessed it, they laughed too.
    We come out of Corn Cannon area, I think WHEW we be free and clear when suddenly I see them.  GOATS N CHICKENS, and their heading our way!!!  Side note: (Mom has been working on my side pass without progress.)  I continue walking on coming from the rear, the goats n chickens are getting way to close, I don't of course realize there is a fence, though I guess to chickens that don't matter right?  Then suddenly out of nowhere my lessons come into play and I sidepass beeeutifuly.  Mom is all excited and yells ahead, "hey guys Camryn can sidepass" then starts laughing.  Jeez, Mom we're gonna be eaten and your laughing.  Humans I tell ya.
    Soon we're back at camp, I thought it would never happen.  Mom was quite pleased that none of us rushed in as her other friends do when out riding and they spot camp.   Course we were a tad exhausted so her did take that into consideration.  People are yelling "the Haflingers are back".  That was nice.
   Once back at our home away from home, Mom hung fresh  hay net, and made sure I had plenty of water.  We did do several water crossings but, I just drank little bits at those and played around mostly.   I drank from my bucket, ate like I normally do (never get enough).

Then I...

I'm thinking "and now she remembers her camera"  Mo-om put it away!!!

More tomorrow I promise, I'm tired just talking bout it all now.
Later...

Adventures/Misadventures part 2

Camryn here:
   First of all, I slept like a log last night.  Mom could tell too, I used my "piles" as a body pillow.  Mom mentioend that I looked like an abstract in manure.  Her also mentioned the word "bath" SIGH
   Back to my weekend.  Before bedtime, Mom,  other Susan, Sherry and a few other ladies checked saddle fits on me.  Of course yet again the one Mom thought fit didn't!!!  However one she thought hadn't, then thought did, then didn't actually did.  So we rode out in the Synergist.  Quite nice saddle actually, we get to use it till Farrah's competitive driving season is over in Nov. 
     In the morning a lady who prefred a slower ride hooked up with other Susan and Mom.  Other Susan had a riding accident a few years back and is hesitant yet in the saddle.  Plus Farrah is primarily a carriage girl and hadn't been ridden in quite a while.  I wasn't my admirable self once Mom was mounted, just soooooo much going on.  Lots and lots of horses, trucks, trailers, peoples, Mom said I was on "sensory overload".  Her circled me around, till I calmed, circled till calm, on and on like that.  In the meantime Farrah wasn't standing for mounting.  Keep in mind she's unused to being mounted so her wasn't be a bad girl at all.  Mom took this as an opportunity to get my thinking side back.  Mom mentioned to Shelia that I was like riding a differant horse all together today.
     Other Susan got mounted and off we went.  Farrah and Lady (pretty paint girl) were hesitant leaving camp.  We had to pass an odd smellying green thing (port o potty) they didn't wanna, so I took the lead.  Mom mentioned that "her Camryn was now back under her".  We crossed a road then into the brush.  It was nice and leisurly for a while.  Then suddenly all these creatures appeared at the side of the trail.  I'm like "OOOOOOOH NOOOOOO" Mom will be eaten for sure.  They was walking up, running towards us, some made noises like Bahhhhhhh, others twitterd about quickly making noises like "cluck, cluck, cluck".  I turned prepared to whisk Mom off to safely, Farrah was of like mind.  Lady was "don't worry girls", so we followed her past.  I did keep a close eye on these creatures.  Any thing that makes Mom say things like "OH S#@* one must be leary of.
     So, we ride on, Farrah and I are like "WHEW" we saved our Moms and starting to chill.  When suddenly BAM, BOOM, BAM  all around us.  I nearly left my skin, Farrah I think nearly transported into space, once again Lady was "come on girls" lets keep going.  So we did!  Still Farrah and I were worried, I heard Mom talking bout her boy Chris who's been in Iraq couple times.  He'd apparently been marathon training on this trail with friends and had to leave.  The booming had sent his mind back to Iraq and he was shaking and quivering all over.  This is how bad the noise was, their called Corn Cannons and meant to keep crows off farmers crops.  We had to endure this torture for several miles, at several points the cannons were only yards from the trail. I should mention here that Mom didn't choose this route!!!  Sheila and other Susan had.
    So, finally the noise is being left behind, we go out onto a road.  No big deal, motorcycles (Mom mentioned must be a poker run), cars, bicycles, peoples walking.  We cross a bridge where I enjoy the view watching the river flow under us from both sides.  I be doing pretty good here.
   Then we come to what be called the "towpath" this is a narrow area with people walkers/joggers, strollers, bicycles.  Mom and me are kinda all agog, Farrah is getting there too.  Lady is OK.  Sheila and other Susan are explaining to Mom that horses have the right of way in this place.  Well, no body told the peoples around us.  We had to cross a kind of narrow bridge, would fit three horses abreast easy if we were just horses on the bridge.  All others are supposed to wait for us to be across "NOT"!!!  We're on the bridge, and bikes start coming towards us, I turn my head to see bikes coming behind, this stroller thingy is starting to come behind too.  Then 4 joggers running two abreast is headed "directly" at me!!!  I'm "gotta save Mom"!  Mom kinda shouts "please stop", the peoples cept the joggers get their A#@es outa their butts long enough to enjoy my dancing about.  Farrah and Lady aren't to happy at this point either.  Lady doesn't get unhappy at goings on much, so I knew our peoples had to be in serious dangers. The joggers however are still headed right at me, kinda like their brains were transported elsewhere, I know mine was!!!  Mom yelled loud this time "STOP, she's gonna blow", they kept jogging.  Mom yells "YOU IDIOTS, STOP", they paid her no heed at all.  Mom members thinking "at least we've all got helmets on".  Finally the IDIOTS pass, I breath a heavy sigh of relief as does Mom.  All three riders is purty pissed off at this point let me tell you. A few peoples who had heeded our right of way had stood watching and they were all agog about da rudeness of the others as well.    In case you haven't noticed there are no pictures of our ride, Mom kinda had her hands full!!!
    Soooo, as we leave the populated area still alive, Other Susan mentions that we're coming to a hill that will be sure to make a horse brains reconnect again.
More on that, later...

Camping adventures/misadventures...

Camryn here:
Hi all, guess what Mom & I are back from camping boy are we tired!!!
Mom was soooo right, I made some new friends.  First off when we arrived at our site on Fri., our friends were all set up but nowhere to be seen.  Mom figured Bob was out picking things up for Sat. pig roast. Since Farrah wasn't there either Mom figured her friend Susan (yeah same name as Mom) was off riding somewhere.  Mom was tying me to my line when her heard a voice thru the undergrowth shouting for a lead rope!  Mom says to the voice "is someone down there" (it's a dry creekbed)?  The voice (a man) says "yes, I've got the horse and need a lead rope".  Mom is "horse???", voice says "I got the loose horse".  Mom of course just having arrived knows nothing about this loose horse but, shouts  I gots another rope in the trailer be right there".  Mom runs pretty fast when she has too.
 By then lady camped nearest comes running, it appears that Farrah wasn't out being ridden at all.  In true Haflinger tradition she'd pulled a Houdini, escaped her line and for some odd reason was down in the creek bed.  Mom finds where teh man is and tosses down the rope.  The lady is all atwitter, she apparently was supposed to be watching Farrah but, had gone in her trailer to make a sandwich.  So, now the man is trying to find a way to get him and Farrah up and out of the creek bed which has pretty steep sides.  He finds what he thinks is least steep bank, Mom and the lady who we now know as Barb trample down wild roses to clear a path.  The guy says "it's still pretty steep, not sure we can do it".  Mom says "she's a mountain horse, she can do it".  The guy motions Farrah up with Mom clicking to here.  Farrah hops right up, Mom takes her to the lead which is of course totally intact.  The man and Barb are trying to figure out how she got loose, Mom told them "she's a Haflinger and that's what we do.  Escape without leaving evidence of how we did this"!!! Oh, and Barb's dog ate the sandwich she'd made during this event. So anyhow this is how I got to meet Farrah Lou.  We hit it off right away.

Actually we pretty much ignored each other and I went about my business making sure my area was clean and tidy!!!  My goal "nothing green"!!!

Mom got me all set with room service right away.  Room service here was superb!!  Farrah was non the worse for her little misadventure.  Mom told Susan what happened but, left it up to her to decide on informing Bob.  Me thinks Bob is still left unaware!

Our Mom's made sure we had our jammies on to keep the skeeter from eating us.  Actually everyone was pleasantly surprised at the lack of bugs in the camp area.  Ecspecially considering all the hi-lines were along the edges of the woods.  Just beyond the overgrowth in our area was a creek bed.  Just beyond that was a very handsome Haflinger gelding named Sammy.  I watched him lots.  Mmmmm, maybe that's where Farrah was headed when she went down into the creekbed???
I'll tell you more tomorrow, I promise.
Later...

Going camping...

Camryn here:
Will be without the computer for a few days.  Mom's taking me camping, sure hope weather cooperates as I hate to hear Mom whine.
We're taking the borrowed barrel saddle for me to wear.  Mom's making sure I gots plenty of hay, apples, treats, water, ect...
I'll be hanging out on a Hi-line with a new friend, another Haflinger mare named Farrah.  That'll be cool.  There's gonna be lotsa peoples and their horses.  Dad's technicaly staying home as he has school stuff to do, he'll be coming in the evenings though.  Ecspecially Sat. he won't miss cause that's the Pig Roast, not sure why the peoples don't just eat hay like us though.
I'll make sure Mom takes her camera for lots of pics.  I had to get a bath today SIGH but, my tail is looking totallly awesome.  Mom used shampoo from when her showed the dogs, it's to make whites whiter.
Later...

I'm a Fashionista...

Camryn here:
Yup got stuck modeling again.  At least I got paid this time, in hay of course!!!  I was forced to leave hay momentarily to move about in each saddle however.
Mom got an email last night from Terri on the Haflinger Friends yahoo group.  Let me tell you Hafy people YOU ROCK!!!  We've never met Terri before and her offered to loan Mom her two saddles.  Not to keep or buy, but to check fit so Mom would know what to look for.  Mom went to her work (a horse barn), Terri's boss also had a saddle for me to try on as well.  That one was for sale but, SIGH didn't fit.  Mom got to meet Terri's Hafy's, Lexi and Lewie (could be Louie), oh and her Mini that looks like a Hafy named Skeeter.  If Mom still had her van Skeeter woulda been kidnapped for sure. 
Sooooo, Mom called Danette on the way home, her comed over and I modeled.  Mmmmm, maybe I'll apply for a Super Model job.  I'm getting the experiance lately for sure.

Saddle #1 was gorgeous, Mom and Danette got drool all over it I think.  It was a round skirt which worked great for me.  Sadly the gullet was to tight...

Saddle #2 a Billy Cook FQB.  Very nice saddle, at first glance the fit seemed good...

Saddle #3 another barrel saddle with FQB.  This one made Danette & Mom realize the Billy Cook didn't fit because this one does.  Gullet is juuuuust right, Mom trotted me, backed me and everything just fine.  The skirt is a tad to long, but we won't be running barrels this weekend.  Mom will just remain aware not to make tight turns this weekend.

Oh, yeah forgot to mention Terri is letting us burrow it for our camp trip.  Terri YOU ROCK BIG TIME!!!
Mom's gonna make tracings of the saddle gullet to take to saddle places maybe next week and try to find something with same gullet but, shorter or round skirts.  Guess that means I'm not done modeling just yet?
Thanx again Terri, Dad and Danette both were awed how helpful someone we've never met in person is.
Later...

Trying on borrowed saddle...

Camryn here:
Mom took bunch of pictures of me modeling one of the saddles we be borrowing.  It appears to fit in Mom's non saddle fitting eyes.  Danette agrees.
Jury still out as Mom wants others to check it as well. Mom thinks while it'll do as a borrowed saddle, that it won't fit once my atrophy goes away, and her worries it may hinder my muscles developing?  This is one of the reasons for the closer up pictures.  Maybe some of you can give us your 2 cents (not literaly of course).

Should mention that after the pictures were taken Mom moved the saddle back a smidgeon.  Also take note, in the second picture above I'm licking my lips.  Please excuse that my saddle pad doesn't "fit" the saddle.  It's the thinnest pad I have...

Pictures taken on both sides...

 Mom had few more but, blogger isn't loading them up.  Hope these will do.  Mom rode me a bit in the paddock, then over to Danette's and headed to the arena.  I moved fine at a walk.  Not so much at a trot, Mom thinks it's more her and the saddle causing that. My old saddle sat her very deep, this one has a much more shallow seat and she has to tweak the stirrups more.  She wasn't posting or sitting my trot very nicely at all.  Her loves the quality of this saddle (Synergist) and the fact that it fits me better than our old one.  Her doesn't like the way if feels for her much at all.  Her keeps looking longingly at my old saddle SIGH
Thanks in advance for any input.
Later..

Saddle came-didn't fit...

Camryn here:
Well, the new saddle came, an now it's going back.  Mom did wither tracings, her made gullet templates an all that.  Still it didn't fit.  To big actually, the gullet was nearly sitting on my withers, no way I coulda moved freely with Mom in it.  It woulda been hurting me big time, in no time. 

Mom put it on me while still in my fly gear.  Silly woman!!!  Danette came over and they stripped me down and did a proper "does it fit" look.  Answer is no way...

This is me showing my frustration over the new saddle not fitting...

Chomp, chomp, chomp, I'm very frustrated.  Mom said if she drank, she'd get drunk.  Me, I chew the fence...

This is my sad frown, saying "Good bye new saddle"...

So, Mom has friends bringing saddles to the camping thing.  I'm going to model them, whichever fits, we'll buy if for sale, or we'll borrow whilst Mom saves up for a proper - Camryn Saddle - in the spring.  That be one that I can try on.  If none fit at the camp, then I'll just hang out and make new friends all weekend I guess!!! 
Funny thing is that the lady from the saddle place suggested a Specialized saddle.  And they don't sell them either!!!  That's what her rides in an they can change as your back does.  Momma may just check them out.
Later...