I'm assuming you are referring to Native Americans when you say "Indians".
I think back in fronteer times, back soreness would have been totally
relative. Most saddles in those days would have sored backs. So, if there
was some soreness from riding bareback, it probably would have been
considered normal.
Linda Van Ceylon
lvanceylon@vines.colostate.edu
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Linda,
I have heard the opposite. I believe saddle trees used to hand
carved with more of a curve or bend to the bars. They had to
fit, horses were being used all day. Many current trees are
mass-produced, with insufficient bend in the bars in order to
use smaller pieces of wood-those that are wood. This is why so many
Western saddles cause bridging problems.
Karen
To: ridecamp@endurance.net