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Re: [RC] [RC] Sport Saddles and soreness - Karen Sullivansome thoughts on Deanna's comments.... ----- Original Message ----- From: "Deanna German" <finishis2win@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> When I used to use a Sports Saddle on my (then) green mare, it would make her sore in the loins for a few reasons: ? her conformation makes her tend towards being weak in that area ? the scrubbing motion of the saddle over the loin -- related to how the girth is attached but also related to her conformation since she is leggy and reaches way under herself with the hinds But the most important thing I think in my mare's case was that, since she was greeen (still in training), she lacked the muscling to carry herself properly and that saddle with me in it was not helping. With that saddle, I couldn't get a leg on her to help her. *Given these two commentsl; I wanted to ask how old your mare was. I was looking back over my log last night on my 4 year old...both how far I have come and how little I did at age 2 and 3, VERY short on and off and do cues, type stuff. My filly was extremely strong and muscled and balanced from years on the trails and hills, but she still went through growth spurts where her hind end was too high, until the front caught up. Thank goodness it looks like she is ending up with a fairly level back. But, with horses that are weak in the loins, or higher in the croup, I have serious doubts that any saddle is going to work, to me it seems that a saddle without a hard tree is going to be kinder on their back..... Also, the rider's weight and balance and the size of the horse's torso make a huge difference with that saddle. I think it works best for short, lightweight riders with low centers of gravity. I'm on the tall side of average and a middleweight. My stirrups are at belly level or slightly below. *I do agree here that I hear more problems from heavyweight riders and the SS than the little peanut size gals....however, then, I am the other end of the spectrum, being almost 6 ft. tall, and all leg. On one current horse, my heels are closer to her knees than her belly; she is not big framed or big barreled, and if I kick, I kick AIR!. There is no way in heck for me to get a leg on this mare or ride in a "proper" position, however ,the mare does have a very level back, and the saddle configuration lets me ride balanced, so it all works. There have been very few horses I can ever get any leg on; I would need to be on a very tall draft cross to look good in an English saddle in an equitation class....however, on the 4 year old, I do finally feel like there is some horse under my leg (calf and even heel), and I can give "proper" cues.... I didn't pursue too many options in trying to solve my mare's loin issues with that particular saddle because I had issues with the saddle myself (the inability to get a leg on the horse plus it killed my hips); instead I found a saddle that solved both my horse's problems and mine -- an OF endurance cutback. Ironically, I feel in closer contact with my horse in the OF than the SS, probably because the saddle isn't hindering me. What's works for one person/horse won't work for all. *I do have to agree here, and don't mean to be arguing with you here, although I have seen so many horses that benefit from a switch to the SS I hate to have anyone discouraged. IT does take a while for your hips to adjust to the wider shape of the horses back (unless you routinely ride bareback). What I found in sitting in an Orthoflex on a horse, was I felt there was just too much "stuff" between me and the horse, like I was sititng up on top of a camel, with no connection to the back....I do think the idea of the flexible panels is great, but still dislike the rigid tree. *I firmly believe there is a lot of room to keep tweaking the whole idea of flexible trees, no trees and good saddle fit...the know-how, engineering and materials are out there. *Anyway, Deanna, it sounds great you found a saddle you and your mare like and hope it keeps working! Karen The SS is a well-made saddle, is a good value and is definitely worth a try for the hard to fit horse. And the person to whom I sold my saddle is thrilled with it. Take care! Deanna =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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