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Lloyd (South African) and Isabel (German) are riding around South Africa to raise awareness of African Horse Sickness and to raise funding for their Equine Welfare Project in the Transkei. The aims of the project are to vaccinate, deworm, tick spraying etc. and most importantly to educate the owners to correct handling and care. The people in impoverished rural communities in South Africa lack knowledge and resources which result in horses (animals) being mishandled and abused and that in many cases leads to death
Riding For Horses - www.ridingforhorses.co.za
Lloyd und Isabel Gillespie
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Isabel and Lloyd report:
We have started our journey in July 2009 in Durban and will probably be finished by the end of the year 2010. We have been on the road for a year and 1 month and have ridden 5145km so far. It will take us roughly another 4 months to get back to Durban. (approx. 1900km)
Lloyd is a very experienced rider and horsemen. He is a horseguide and takes guests on outrides in Big 5 game reserves.
Isabel had riding lessons for many years in Germany. She jumped and rode dressage up to level L. In South Africa she is now working with young horses and schools them for the horsetrails.
Isabel`s report after having ridden in the Barefoot saddle for a couple of weeks:
“What a difference! The saddles feel so different in comparison to the saddles we have used before. We had such problems to find a saddle that fits our horse Fever. Most of the saddles we have tried would sit “on top” of him and fit to tight on his wither. Through that I would feel “ top heavy” and sometimes imbalanced in my seat. It was so bad that the saddle would occasionally slip under his belly. Fever is a nervous horse and it was not good for him. It created a fear of the saddle in him.
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The first time we tried I could feel a difference in Fever immediately. He seemed not as nervous and tense. We have been using the Barefoot saddle now for about 6 weeks. Fever has almost lost his fear completely. Now when I saddle him up I can actually leave him standing with the saddle on and he stays calm and relaxed. The Barefoot sits perfectly and allows the muscles normal movement at the same time. It is light and I can see and feel the saddle moving with the horses movement. It has even corrected my seat and makes it difficult for “bad” habits to creep in.
The Barefoot has improved not only our comfort and riding but our horses attitude too. |
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I am very happy and thankful for that!” Isabel
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