Saddle Review

SADDLE REVIEW

Hennig

As many of us can testify, when the horse bug bites, it can bite early - and Cara Kwiecien was definitely no exception to the rule!

Now based on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, Cara Kwiecien clearly remembers her early obsession with horses: “I just wanted a pony! My parents had to erect a fence around our backyard to stop me from disappearing when I went to visit the horses that were kept just down the road,” she recalls. And by the time Cara was nine, there was a pony! Although her parents were not in the position to take her to Pony Club, the fact that she could ride laps around the backyard was more than enough. Now an equestrian with more than 25-years’ experience, Cara has a passion for dressage, but wants to try out Working Equitation. And her partner in this endeavour is Doc, an OTT Thoroughbred formally known as Doctor Keys. Doc, grandson of the famous New Zealand-bred Octagonal, was simply not cut out for racing. “My husband, then an equine photographer, was taking photos of OTT horses to help rehome them. And that’s when we met Doc, who despite his excellent bloodlines had not distinguished himself on the track, unless you count achieving a second to last,” Cara laughs. “Racing wasn’t his thing, but we loved him.” At just shy of 16hh, Doc is quite narrow with a short saddle area – so fitting a saddle was always going to be challenging. Cara had her heart set on a Hennig, but knew they were very rare, very expensive, and usually designed to fit a much broader backed Warmblood.

“I was searching through second hand saddle sites when I came across The Saddle Hub – and that’s where I found an excellent Hennig at an excellent price! After a number of emails back and forth to establish whether the saddle would be a likely fit for Doc, I decided to go ahead with the 14 day free trial,” Cara explains. “I really liked that Shae at The Saddle Hub was happy to answer all my questions – that really gives you peace of mind.” And was the Hennig a good fit? “I adored the saddle from the first,” says Cara. “The twist was very narrow so I could easily have that long draping leg. I found that I had to adjust to how much I could feel Doc’s musculature through the saddle – a feature I now love - but the cut away section at the front was instantly perfect for him. It allows plenty of horse in front of the saddle without interfering with his back.” We think it’s safe to say that Cara is delighted with her Hennig saddle! The Equestrian Hub has a wide variety of second-hand saddles, so be sure to visit www.equestrianhub.com.au and browse through their fantastic range. All saddles come with a twoweek trial, finance options, and a courier right to your door.

Cara and Doc, blissfully happy with their beautiful Hennig saddle (Image courtesy of Averil Crebbin, Picture the Moment Photography).