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Re: [RC] saddle issue - use a saddle fitter!!! - Carrie - Kitley, Carrie E Civ USAF AFSPC 30 MDSS/SGSLFOn that note, where does one begin to find a good saddlefitter? Specifically, in the Central Coast area of CA? Thanks everyone. :) Dear list, I had trouble with saddle fit and I didn't even know it. I remember the first thing I learned about saddle fit was the focus on width, but what I have learned from a professional saddle fitter is that the front to back fit is the most important fit, especially on my Arabs. He even says saddles made in England are all made on the same tree and that tree fits Thorobreds, not Arabs. My mare was developing lameness in her hind legs. It was the saddle bridging on her back!!! This causes pressure points by the withers and on the small of their back. So, my only advice to anyone with a saddle issue is to use a professional saddle fitter. They will save you thousands of dollars. They charge you very little for their time and every penny and minute is worth it. I have paid my guy twice and I am so glad I did. Now I have a saddle that fits an impossible mare and she's happy and I am happy and we get out thereand ride, really ride!! I will NEVER purchase another saddle without a professional saddle fitter checking fit on my mount. If you live in Arizona, I am happy to send you my guy's number, offline. Cheers, Sheila As Winston Churchill said, "No hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle." As Shakespear wrote in Henry V, "When I bestride him, I soar, I am like a hawk; he trots the air, the Earth sings, when he touches it; the basest horn of his hoof is more musical that the pipe of Hermes." From: "Dolores Arste" <darste3@xxxxxxxxxx> To: "Ridecamp Ridecamp" <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: Re: [RC] saddle issue Date: Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:32:13 -0500 If the saddle needs repair, she can send it to us. I've written to her off-list. My husband is a fitter trained in the UK and we love the Wintec's. If the Cair panel has failed, the saddle can be changed back to full flock. I had a Baines Enduro that came as flock, was changed to Flair and back to flock again. It's not easy but it can be done for less than the cost of a new saddle. Cair is a knock-off, albeit an improvement, of the Flair system. Warmly, Dolores Arste Zen Horsemanship Middle Grove, NY 12850 tel: (518) 882-6485 fax: (518) 602-9213 site: www.zenhorsemanship.com Co-Author: 101 Ways to Improve Your Life Improve Your Life with Horses and Zen. Zen: Always the Beginner - Coaching Begins with You ----- Original Message ----- From: "Elizabeth Walker" <bwalker2@xxxxxxx> To: "Ridecamp" <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Cc: "gina tabasso" <gtabasso@xxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Tuesday, November 11, 2008 12:59 PM Subject: Re: [RC] saddle issue I am no saddle fitting expert, so hopefully others on Ridecamp will jump in. However, I have some suggestions for you. Since you have a Wintec, I would suggest first buying the gullet gauge that Wintec sells to determine which gullet width to use. Since you can't afford a new saddle, that is the cheapest alternative for starting to figure out what is wrong. Second - a too narrow tree can cause problems, and since you say that you have put weight on your horse, I would tend to think than you might want to go *wider*, not narrower. That depends, however, on where the sores are. You didn't say, exactly, but it sounded as if they were on top of the withers. If they are on each side of the withers, I would guess the gullet is too narrow. If they are on top of the withers, then the gullet is probably too wide. (hence the saddle gauge recommendation) If the gullet width is right, and you are still having problems, (and assuming the sores are on top of the withers), then you might try a cutback pad. If the saddle normally sits level, a cutback pad will raise the whole saddle up, rather than just the front. Some older horses lose condition over their topline, which would have the effect of "raising" his withers. One final thought. Have someone (like a saddle fitter) check your saddle to make sure that there isn't something going on with it. For example, some of the Wintecs have air-filled panels. If those panels have stretched, or lost air, then your saddle simply doesn't have the panel height it is supposed to, again making the saddle sit down on the withers. Padding may not be able to compensate. I don't know where to point you for repairs in that case, but you could contact Wintec. Hope this helps. On Nov 10, 2008, at 8:33 PM, Steph Teeter wrote: Gina - I'm forwarding your question to the Endurance discussion group 'Ridecamp' (http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp) - (Ridecamp: send private replies to gtabasso at hotmail dot com) Steph On Nov 11, 2008, at 2:47 AM, gina tabasso wrote: Hello, Someone directed me to your website and said that endurance riders would have a solution. I was wondering if you or anyone you know could help me. I have a horse who is 18. I've had him 11 years. Bought my current Wintec saddle about five years ago (with changeable gullets). About two months ago it started pressing on his withers and rubbing bloody sores. I double padded. No help. I tried a pommel/withers pad and it tipped the saddle backward so it pressed on his lower spine. I tried a riser pad and that worked for 20 minutes until it worked its way out to the back of the saddle and my pommel was pressing again. I put the narrowest/smalles gullet in (one down from what I was using all these years). Nothing helped. Last night I bought a swayback pad although he has a pretty straight spine (16.2 thoroughbred with the withers of a shark fin). I have to try it yet. But if this doesn't work I don't know what to do or why my saddle no longer fits. I assume his body is changing with age. I can't get a narrower tree and this saddle is all- purpose and cut back pretty well. I can't afford a new saddle. This one is like new. Worked all this summer and all of a sudden not. I did put some weight on him for winter because he shivers it off and maybe the weight gain did something but that would seem to indicate a WIDER tree, not narrower. I don't know where to turn. I usually ride every day and can't right now and he is getting batty and dangerous again without being worked hard and galloped. If you have any resources or advice, please let me know. I am going to the experts! Thanks, Gina Stay up to date on your PC, the Web, and your mobile phone with Windows Live Click here =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com Version: 8.0.175 / Virus Database: 270.9.1/1781 - Release Date: 11/11/2008 8:59 AM =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------- Follow-Ups: Re: [RC] saddle issue - use a saddle fitter!!! From: Dolores Arste Replies Re: [RC] saddle issue, Dolores Arste ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------- Previous by date: Re: [RC] Some thoughts - Truman Prevatt Next by date: Re: [RC] seizure citizens? - D'Arcy Demianoff-Thompson Previous by thread: Re: [RC] saddle issue Next by thread: Re: [RC] saddle issue - use a saddle fitter!!! Carrie Kitley 30th Medical Group, Vandenberg AFB DMLSS Database Sustainment Specialist (DSS) CACI International Inc, www.caci.com DSN: 276-1077 Fax: 805-606-1179 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 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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