My Saddle — So Dear to My Soul

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My Saddle tucks me into
Dreamland’s wild calls —
Where Horse Dreams and
Day Dreams encompass all . . .
  DawnHoof
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Recently, I brought my Santa Mark III Trevor James Western-style Australian saddle into the house for cleaning — the one I bought from Colin Dangaard in about 1994.

And I wondered, how many items of sports equipment are still functioning, nearly thirty years later — after hundreds of hours of use on multiple generations of horses — across beaches, mountains, deserts; on stallions, mares, fillys, colts, and still going strong???

Starboy, age 28, (2018) in my 1995 Santa Mark III Western Aussie Saddle (no horn) — ready to ride :))
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Thus my appreciation for my saddle — one of the most valuable assets in my fiftysomething years of horse life. I found this Ode, written in 2019, and share it with you now.

I’ve even awoke from dream recently with a small poem, praising my saddle! (See end of post :))

Which means I can truly say, “This is the Saddle of my Dreams!”

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Ode to My Saddle —

My Surfboard
My Saddle
My Cross-country skis,

My Jogging Shoes
My Bobsled
My (no-longer) sore aching knees!

My Time Warp
My Rocket Ship
My Alien Craft,

My Lullaby
My Beddie-Bye
My Dreamland’s free pass :))

My Comfort Zone
My Home Plate
My Best Trail-side seat!

My Portal
My Guide to Inner Space
My Mental relief.

My Fine-crafted artifact
My Safety Zone
My Peace.

My Saddle —
So much more
Than mere Leather and Fleece!

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I bought this saddle when my kids were small — early grammar school age (they’re now in their 30s). I had come off my English Stubben saddle once when my Endurance Arabian former stallion, Mentor, took a bad step, way out in the backcountry, miles from home.

Fortunately, he stood and waited for me to mount back up, but if he had run off, I would have had no choice but to WALK, on foot, the whole way back (maybe six long miles), and would have missed the school bus — and every Mom knows, you MUST be there to get your little kids from that Big Yellow Bus.

The next day, I shared my lament with my mom: “I really need an Aussie saddle so I won’t come off my horse, in case something happens out there while I’m riding.”

Right then, Mom offered to help. She sent some money toward the price of a new saddle. All I needed was about $600 of my own money to get one. Yahoo!

(Thanks, Mom, now twenty years on the other side of the rainbow.)

Mom’s generous and timely offer sent me to Malibu to visit Colin Dangaard, my former neighbor and Australian Stock Saddle guru, who happened to be the first importer of Australian saddles for the American market. (Check out Colin’s Journalism Story — his previous career was a columnist and interviewer of Hollywood Stars!)

Colorful — bigger-than-Life, broad smile, Australian accent — Colin set me up with the very Santa Mark III I’ve ridden in ever since, twentysomething wonderful and safe years later!

Amazingly, I’ve replaced a strap or two over the years, but the saddle itself is perfect. Bulletproof. With the countless miles and hundreds of hours I’ve ridden it. (And I’ve really only cleaned it a very few times.)

Veritable Saddle Perfection!

Stick-to-my-horse safety.

(I praised it, again, recently, when Laddie let out an early Spring buck in a full-out gallop:  “Thank GOD I’m in an Aussie Saddle! I would have come off!”)

This saddle is the difference between being a broken bucked-off wreck, and staying on my horse, in safety :))

Comfort and fit for me and my horses . . .

Nearly maintenance free.

Thank you Colin Dangaard, founder of Malibu’s Colin Dangaard, Inc., for thirty-plus years as: Friend. Neighbor. Outfitter. Saddle-Magician. Storyteller. Full-on-Horse-and-Riding-Wildman. As well as Inspiration!!!

(Years ago, Colin’s riveting stories got me to ride in the pitch black of night, after the moon had set. On the trails, up a mountain, FAST! Ya-hoo!!!!! And, I’ve been doing it ever since — See my previous post: Adventurer of the Night.)

Thanks to Colin for making, selling (and providing any necessary repairs) the Best-ever-performance-keep-you-on-your-horse Saddles on the Planet :)) :)) :))

With all appreciation!!!!!

Dawn
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My Saddle tucks me into
Dreamland’s wild calls —
And takes me to Horselandia’s
Vast realms, outside of it all . . .

For without my Saddle
I never could go
Into places and dimensions
So dear to my Soul!
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DawnHoof’s Dream Poem:

Graceful curves and
Joyous swerves
Polished leather seat

Fits like a glove
Snug to my Love
Connecting man/woman to beast
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Copyright 2023
Photos: Dawn Jenkins archives

Join Dawn for a Soul Horse Ride! (Oh yes, in Australian Saddles.)  Experience the thrill of becoming one with your horse. Join Dawn and her homegrown herd for a Soul Horse Ride in the Frazier Park Outback!

Call to book your Life-Changing Adventure today:  (661) 703-6283

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Please also visit my Life Blog, Journal of Dawn,

for Strategies and Insights into the

Journey of Life

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