 |
Re: [RC] saddle fitting problems - desertrydr1One sign of a saddle that's too narrow is that it slides up the horse's neck. No amount of padding will fix a too-narrow saddle. You probably need to start the Great Saddle Hunt", sorry to say.That exact symptom is why I spent the last 13 years looking for the perfect saddle for each of my riding equines (2 horses, 1 mule right now) I started with a western saddle on my purebred arab mare. After she had her first baby (no riding for a couple months) she let me know in NO UNCERTAIN TERMS that she was NOT interested in wearing that western saddle. I tried a lot of saddles on her over about a year, in the mean time riding bareback on a heavy saddle pad for spine and butt protection. Helped my balance a lot. Then after trying out a LOT of different saddles, I bought my first Wintec, a Dressage Sport. About that time the baby was ready to start under saddle. I put the western on her once, to wander around the round pen. Decided it was just plain uncomfortable, and started using the Sport on her. The Wintec Dressage 2000 followed that one. Then I went to the AERC convention and fell in love with a used Arabian Saddle Co. Solstice. I took it home on trial, and it seemed to fit the younger horse and the older one too. Sold! Then there were a couple more Wintecs (the CAIR panels and changeable girths had just come out.) None of them seemed quite ideal. I got interested in the treeless concept, so now I have a Torsion and a Sensation. Each of them is good, but not great for one reason or another. None of them have quite the same issue, and each of them has at least one thing that makes them better than one of the others. Now I am seriously considering either a Barefoot London or a Freeform. The Duett saddles specialize in wide sizes. Many treeless brands work great on wide horses with no withers. Lots of treeless (and other) saddle dealers will give you a trial period for a fee, some even for free. That can be a great way to figure out what she (and you) need without buying 8 or 9 saddles. I have found Beverly Grey, an Arabian Saddle Co. dealer, to be exceptional in her service and advice. Also, Lori Baker of Equine Performance Products, a dealer for Freeform and Sensation, to be outstanding to deal with; she was very helpful and knowledgeable about her products, and her service was fast. Some of the treeless dealers are very active and helpful on the Yahoo treeless saddle group. There are a n umber of dealers/makers of treed endurance saddles who advertise on Endurance Net, or participate on Ridecamp. Good luck with your saddle issues, it's certainly something most conscientious horse people face. jeri -----Original Message----- From: Jessica Spoone-Raines <jspoone@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: ridecamp <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Tue, 3 Jul 2007 4:29 pm Subject: [RC] saddle fitting problems I have a mare that I am having a heck of a time with fitting. She is 15.1 and approx 1200 lbs, not fat just a big Morab mare. I have 2 specialized saddles, one a trailmaster one the english one. Our problem is she has no withers, they are literally flat, she has a wide back and wide shoulders. The saddle will creep its way up until it is stopped by her neck. And this is happening just working in the arena, no hills involved. I use a skito pad under the saddle. I am using a neoprene dressage girth, neoprene sheath with the stretchy girth part in the middle. Anybody have suggestions on how to keep this from sliding? The only thing I have thought of is to start training her to use a crupper.
Jess Spoone-Raines
|