Saddle for Sale: Loxley Foxhunter

 Back in November I lamented that Pyro had yet again outgrown his saddles. After his illness and my concussion, I'm finally getting to post my custom Loxley saddle for sale. I figured I'd share it here in case this beautiful saddle would work for another blogger.

(more photos below)

Loxley by Bliss of London

17.5" Foxhunter with Adjustable Tree

- Cocoa with navy welt and grey stitching

- Quilted cantle

- Serge, wool flocked panels

- Currently has a Wide (W, red) gullet plate

- Moveable velcro knee and thigh blocks (petite)

- Added point and back billets for many girthing options

- Includes matching webbers and Loxley fleece-lined cover

- Always stored in a climate controlled tack room

- All fittings and work done by Bliss of London fitter

- Only worn stitching is on the bottom edge of the left flap (pictured) and does not affect the structural integrity of the saddle

I custom ordered this saddle and used it for 2 years for both dressage and low level jumping. It fits me beautifully, to the point I can forget about it and just ride. I wish more saddles had the slim twist this one does. However Pyro's back shape is now too flat (front to back) for Loxley's adjustable tree. It would be better suited to a semi-curve shape, and is otherwise highly adjustable via gullet plate and wool flocking. Feel free to reach out via the blog if you or anyone you know might be interested!

BONUS: The world's flattest back.

Hold on, Partner, I'm Overstimulated

 

This shirt (a late Christmas gift from my husband) about sums up the week I've had. There were several medical appointments, checking in with my primary care provider (PCP) on my brain and such for the first time since the holidays, as well as the first of my vestibular therapy sessions. While my PCP is in agreement that the vestibular therapy is EXACTLY what I need, it is extremely draining. Nothing like spending an hour or two doing exercises specifically to tick off my brain, waiting for symptoms to subside... then doing it all over again. If you're curious what vestibular therapy includes, here are some of my home exercises:

Yes, I already have a coffee stain on my papers.

That last one in particular leaves me reeling. 

On top of the added demands on my brain, we have gotten some serious winter weather for our area. 

Snow

Subzero windchills

Freezing fog

aka hoarfrost

and even more snow

I think all told we got 12-13 inches. The last time I recall this much accumulation of snow in this area was when I was a kid (1996). We've definitely gotten subzero weather for short stints in recent years, but this is the longest stretch of dealing with snow/ice/cold that we've experienced in a long time. It's not looking like it will let up anytime soon either. 

The weight of the snow collapsed the sawhorse I used under the shafts of my breaking cart.

I have never been more thankful that barnmate (and future barn owner) Jen lives next to the stable than during the first snow storm that dumped 10 inches on us. The county stopped plowing the highway I live on, and there was no way I would've made it safely to the stable. She trekked across the hay field to make sure the horses were warm, fed, and had clean stalls. 

She also learned how to use the snow blade with the tractor and is keeping the drive plowed! #likeaboss

Between the additional asks I've been making of my brain and the terrible weather, the horses have gotten zero work this week. I haven't even done in hand ground pole exercises. We have been *surviving*, lol. 

staying warm

a tragedy

Pyro: HI MOM!!

Missy: ...I miss you too

Got anymore of those apples?

While the horses were over the snow pretty quickly, they've been doing well. I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to get a restraining order against Pyro though, he's so starved for my attention. Anytime I set foot in the pasture, he literally GALLOPS up to me. Surprisingly, Missy has cantered up with him on occasion. I'm happy to see that this cold hasn't been negatively affecting her joints too badly. She suffers the most when they have to be stalled 24 hours (or risk severely damaging our pasture), and she gets a bit stocked up and stiff. 

Ol' gal is looking good and keeping Pyro in line

We've been feeding hay to Missy and Pyro's herd in 4 small hay feeders made of water troughs with slow feed netting over the top. There are four of them for four horses (chestnut OTTB Magnum and grey arabian Ivan join the Pinto Party for turnout), and it has been an interesting opportunity to observe herd dynamics. Throw in the fact that Missy is acting hormonal ALREADY, and the stage is set for hours of musical hay feeders. I got to watch the herd for a while one morning and realized there is a cyclical arrangement of who can move whom. 

My top quality diagram of who moved whom from a morning of observation

Despite not getting to "work" the horses, this opportunity to observe and learn was fascinating to me and a good outlet for wanting "barn therapy" when I didn't feel my best. 

News flash: Missy is a hussy. 
She has been winking. IN JANUARY.

There are some days I feel like I'm going to puke while mucking stalls, or I have to take a nap in the stable office before feeding to let my brain recover after driving. BUT, I still get to go to the stable, strap my helmet on, and pet my horses, which is immensely beneficial to my mental health. I daydream about where Pyro and I were when we last rode together consistently,...

... playing with Missy in her retirement,...

... and working on my olympic lifting form,...

... but all of those daydreams keep me pushing my brain's boundaries, even when it means I turn into an overstimulated mess with soup for brains.

Holiday Highlights

 The holidays have come and gone and 2025 is already rolling right along. 

I spent the morning of New Year's Day scooping poop. I foresee a lot of that for my 2025.

There haven't been a ton of updates from my last post, as I'm still "grounded" (aka, not in the saddle) and healing from the concussion. I've been prioritizing my sleep, hydration, and nutrition to enable my brain to heal as quickly as possible. I have good days and bad days, and I get to start vestibular therapy this week to help improve my balance. 

They'll have me bouncing around like Tessa on a frosty morning in no time. 

A highlight of the holidays was my husband surprising me with a custom-ordered, synthetic buggy harness for Pyro. He prioritized my safety, saying I could stop looking at used harnesses (that might have weaknesses from wear) on Facebook marketplace. Who says romance is dead? As the cherry on top, my father in law sent me home from our Christmas visit with his breaking cart to borrow. 

The Brahma web is stamped to look like leather, but can be hosed off.

The saddle is treeless, but does have spine relief.

Practicing ground tying while I fit it.

His first time wearing a breeching.

This cart is a perfect place to start... once I'm ready to hitch.

For now, it's tucked away under a tarp.

I've ground driven Pyro once in the new harness, but that made me quite dizzy and nauseated, so we'll slowly make progress on that front. Trying to give him soft, steady contact while timing my aids clearly and keeping myself in a safe position was a lot for my brain to juggle. 

Besides that ground driving session, I've been doing as many in hand workouts for both Miss and Pyro over the ground poles as I can manage, even if they only last 15 minutes.

Abbey Road

Missy the hand rail

She was so attentive this session with the mounting block

Lift that thoracic sling!

I delved into the weakness I saw in Pyro's right hind when stepping over the ground poles. 

He gave a clear "no thank you" when I palpated his right groin area.

After looking up how to do a stress test on the area, I (carefully) asked him to load his left groin muscles as a control...

...then compared that reaction to when I asked him to load the right. 

While I don't think anything is pulled, I do think he has some soreness in his right gracilis muscle based on him stepping out of the stress test and exhibiting discomfort on palpation.

The Gracilis (F) is responsible for adduction of the leg, as well as some bending of the stifle and internal rotation of the limb.

My theory right now is that he slips into poor posture habits when out of work (like he was for most of November and December). I think gentle, progressive strengthening exercises (such as stepping over ground poles), paired with a little extra massage and stretching, are exactly what he needs. 

His conformation is such that I think this will always be an issue for him. Consistent, biomechanically correct work is a crucial part of keeping him happy and healthy.

I've also been pairing the ground pole workouts with some proprioception-building tools. One being large ace bandages tied up in a Linda Tellington-Jones method, and the other being an Eagle ProSix equine system I found used, like new. The ace bandages didn't seem to phase them at all, and I asked them to do 15-20 minutes each of ground work while wearing them. 

Missy stepping up square in a halt, wearing the ace bandages

She stepped under herself with that band behind her bum!

"What now?"

Working that right hind

And stretching over his topline

He seemed unperturbed 

The ProSix (which I snagged for a greatly discounted $175, as the new ones are a pricey $325) is definitely more substantial and gave both of them a lot to think about. I introduced it in their stalls and let them simply wear it for 15 minutes while munching their hay. Missy was pretty sure at first that she couldn't move while wearing it. Pyro kept munching like nothing was wrong, but his several comically loud snorts gave away that he was really processing the input. This tool made of wide, elastic bands and velcro for adjustment has been used recently by Coach JT and other fellow students to rehab horses following surgery or injury. I look forward to trying it as another tool to increase the Pinto Party's core strength and encourage them to improve their posture while I'm healing. 

404 ERROR: movemare.exe IS NOT FOUND

Somewhat deep, veeeerrry slow thoughts

*SNORTS*

New Year's Day was a bit of a "bad brain day" for me, but I paced myself and managed to get a little bit of time with each pony. 

sweet mare

uneven walk poles this time

ground tying

Over the break, I got to bear witness to my barnmate Jen's first ride on her best baby stallion, Disco!

Zero theatrics, all smiles. Just how we like it.

As well as the infectious joy of barnmate Deb playing at liberty with Ivan. 

Their partnership is really blossoming

Otherwise, I've been enjoying family time, a break from my work laptop, and apple slobbers from very grateful ponies.

I hope you all had a happy holiday, whatever that means to you, and that 2025 is kind to all of us. 

May we be happy.

May we be healthy.

May we find peace.