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Re: [RC] Saddles that move forward/backward - Sharon LevasseurI use a breastcollar every time, for safety, to minimize the possibility of the saddle rolling sideways. I don't find that it gets in the way or is time-consuming to put on. I just started using a crupper as well, because my husband has begun showing interest in riding, and I want to be extra sure that his lack of balance doesn't cause him to flip the saddle. I wouldn't have needed it with my old saddle (Marciante) but my new Barefoot Cheyenne is treeless and the other day I was appalled to see the center of the back of the saddle 4" to the right of my horse's spine! YES, obviously lessons on balance are in order, but until my husband perfects that, my horse will wear a crupper!! -Sharon L. in Maine Quoting Truman Prevatt <tprevatt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>: I am a minimalist when it comes to tack. The less the better. There are a lot of reasons a saddle would move back or forward. If the tree is too long the loins will push the saddle forward - creating a sore loin. A crupper is not the solution to that - a shorter tree saddle is. If the tree does not fit properly at the shoulder - the shoulder will push the saddle back. A breast collar is not the answer a saddle that fits properly is. In both the horses I've spent my last 15 years riding once I found the correct saddle, I never used a breast collar and I have never owned a crupper. Up hill down hill the saddle stays put. Of course there are some horses under some circumstances where a breast collar and possibly a crupper would help but IMO if you have to use one or both for everyday riding to keep the saddle in place- then you probably have a more fundamental problem with the fit of the saddle. Truman Kristi Schaaf wrote:it. I do disagree about relying on the crupper to hold the saddle back, at least in my horse's case. The sliding forward problem was bad enough that the crupper put constant and significant (unacceptable to me) pressure on his tail at a trot or canter. I still ride with a crupper in the Specialized Saddle, but am happy that it very very rarely has to come into play. I don't believe that the Specialized Saddle is staying in place because it's running into his shoulders, because the way that it's built accomodates shoulder movement. I have a light therapy unit with a scanner, and when I scanned him after several days of mountain riding, there was no indication of any soreness in the area around the scapula. Also, he's a horse who will tell me if a saddle hurts him by getting upset when I put it on him, and in the half dozen rides I have on the Specialized, he hasn't said a word. : - ) As most of you reading this know, saddle fit is a combination of science and art, and if anyone ever figures out how to make a saddle that works for EVERY horse, they'll go down in history. Kristi iluvdez at yahoo dot com Life's a journey, so enjoy the ride (and try not to fall off)-- ?He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.? Friedrich Nietzsche, Beyond Good and Evil =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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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