Events
Groups
Rider Directory
Market
RideCamp
Stuff
>> I ride a Mclellan (SP?) saddle which is almost Center-fire
>> rigged and have no problem.
>
>Brent
>
>I'm not sure what a Mclellan saddle is, but I definitely
If you watch some of the old cavalry movies, you will see a McLellan. They
are the original cavalry saddles, effectively a 'tree' with a leather wrapping.
The reason I like riding on it is a) it is light weight b) Lots of contact
with the horse like an english saddle c) much cooler than a western saddle
d) has a deep seat like a western. d) relatively inexpensive (in canada, I
see used ones for $300 - $500 cdn. you can buy new ones in the states, they
are often advertised in magazines like western horseman.)
Are they comfortable? The first time I sat one, I thought I couldn't ride 5
miles in one. but the second time, I fell in love with it. It does take a
few months to get your butt used to it. I've been riding CTR on it for
three years.
Fit.... while the saddle has some flex and give, you can only use one on a
relatively thin horse with well developed withers (not TOO high, though).
The arabians I use it on are all ~950lbs with good withers. on this type of
horse, I stick it on with one sheep skin saddle blanket, cinch up not too
tight, then as the horse gets down the trail and sucks up, the cinch hangs
down 1" or more. I ride with an english breast collar (keeps from sliding
off the back). Could use a croupper (saddle -> base of tail) to keep from
sliding forwards, but don't. BTW, I live in the foothills of the Rockies,
and do MUCHO hill/mountain work including the Great Divide trail etc. I
have no problem on the hills with a loose cinch. One thing you do learn is
how well balanced you are in the saddle!
>don't know what "center-fire rigged" means. Can you explain?
if you draw a line from the center of your saddle down to the ground, where
is the cinch in relation to this line? if the cinch is on the line, it is
Center Fire (fits well back from the horse's elbow).
Most saddles tend to move forward from this line and they have differing
names depending on the location ie: 7/8 rigged, 3/4 etc.
>
>(I'm in the process of mulling over what sort of saddle to
>get for me and my [presently unbroken] mare, and sway from
>english-style (what I've always ridden my whole life) and
>western (coo, that was comfortable for that three hour ride).
>
>Any pointers greatly appreciated.)
>--
>**************************************************************
>Lucy Chaplin Trumbull - elsie@calweb.com
>Displaced English person in Sacramento, CA
>
>http://www.calweb.com/~elsie
>http://www.calweb.com/~trouble
>**************************************************************
>
>
No Problem,
Brent Seufert.
Events
Groups
Rider Directory
Market
RideCamp
Stuff