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Over this last year's conditioning, my
narrow-backed Mustang mare has become cranky, slow, dropping her head to the
ground halfway through a ride, looking over her shoulder at me, and as
her winter coat grew in, white patches appeared on her back. Never having had a
saddle fit problem before with my other horses, it took me until the white
patches to figure out what my problem was. I was riding a medium flexible tree
dressage saddle. I also use this saddle on wider horses so it's possible it
stretched some. After deciding to search for a new saddle, I settled on a Wintec
Endurance Pro with Cair panels and an adjustble gullet and a Skito pad, thinking
that would do the trick. In the meantime I dug out my old western saddle and did
a few rides. I immediately had a different horse! She was so eager to go that we
did our entire one-hour ride at an extended trot and a hand gallop, ears up and
bright eyed and just seemed so happy. What a great feeling! My Wintec came and I
went for a ride. My old horse was back with all the old problems. How sad I was
to discover that it is obvious that she prefers the tree of the western saddle
over the smaller area of the english saddle. But at the same time, I also
discovered I like the seating position better. I'm a little (a lot) top
heavy and I find myself getting thrown forward in the dressage and Wintec with
any type of sudden slow-down. I hate that. I also won many ribbons in western
equitation and never in english. Go figure. Which means I am again, on a saddle
hunt and my brand new beautiful Wintec is for sale. Obviously, I can't return it
as I couldn't figure out a way to test it without actually putting stirrups on
it and RIDING it. So I've listed it in the classified section and am throwing in
leathers, girth and a Skito pad. Any thoughts from anyone on narrow-backed
Mustangs and distance saddles would be greatly welcomed. In the meantime, I
guess I'm riding the old western saddle. My thoughts are that both of us might
be happier with a western-type endurance trail saddle, if I can find one with a
narrow tree.
Jackie and MC, the
temporarily-excited-to-go-for-a-ride-Mustang
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