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Keep in mind that I didn't pay much for this used saddle, so didn't have
much to lose if I ruined it.
I cut a slot in the housing into which I laced the still good end of some
old dressage stirrup leathers (with convenient holes that fit the girth
buckles!!)
I use the "rear" girth ring for the second billet (also using old parts of
English stirrup leathers -- in 35 years I've stretched a bunch).
After I decided that I liked the new rigging, my husband cut out the rest of
the housing (I don't know if that's the right term -- I mean the leather
that holds the center fire ring in place under the stirrup leathers) and the
rigging ring. My mare is very rib sprung and just the thickness of the ring
was enough to cause welts.
I would still keep that ring in case I want to use it to stabilize the
saddle. I've made the error of cinching that rear billet too tight,
resulting in some white hairs. I'd thought that the saddle itself was at
fault, but I managed to do the same thing with the rear cinch of my western
saddle.
I'm back to using the "Oxymoron" (my term) for longer rides -- will give it
a good test within the next two weeks culminating with the Biltmore Ride.
Although I'm not competing, I expect to be putting a lot of miles in with
last minute markings, riding point, safety and the like.
I'd like to have a saddle maker feather in a rawhide housing so that I can
position the second strap a bit closer to the front one. I would not have
had to cut out the ring for my other two horses and would probably alternate
between the western rigging (using a neoprene girth) and the English rigging
(using the Dressage girth).
I hope this helps you.
Barbara
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