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[RC] Saddle for mule - Advantage SaddlesHi, Shannon;Recently I tried to explain the difference between a mule's back shape and a horse's back shape, in layman's terms, to the owner of a young mule. I came up with an analogy that she understood. There are mens jeans and women's jeans. Mens' jeans are built rather straight, for men, without extra room for rounder hips or small waists. Womens jeans are made for smaller waists, larger hips and fuller thighs. A mule could be compared to a men's fit, whereas horses could be considered a women's fit. Mules tend to be straighter backed and horses tend to have more ins and outs in their shape. The shoulder angle and gullet width is not one-size-fits-all for mules as it is not for horses...mules tend to get their shoulder angle and width from the horse side of the breeding. The mule probably is built "like a mule" but with TWH shoulder angle and width. I'd always hesitate buying a horse saddle for a mule as it could be a lot more uncomfortable for them than it is for a woman who wants to put on a men's pair of jeans. It might better be compared to a man trying on a women's pair of jeans... there will be room in some places that you'd rather have fit well, and the places that are tight are going to pinch hard. That would be in the center of the bar, where horse tree bars generally get closer together(waist), and the mule does not need that pressure. Also, the front and back of the bars would veer away from the back where the mule doesn't need the room, concentrating the rider's weight into the center with too much pressure. Loin soreness can be from the center being too tight and the rear not fitting correctly either. I have not seen a sway backed mule before, but if one was ridden for awhile in a horse saddle that pinched the middle, the mule would certainly drop away from the pain. I'd imagine that with a proper fitting saddle the back would lift again and the mule would be quite relieved. Katee =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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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