Re: Saddles for gaited horses

[Robert Ferrand <sadddle@best.com>]

I have a 16/2++ Missouri Foxtrotter so I understand that people" want to
find a saddle for gaited horses" The problem is we do not have any three
dimensional measurement standard so that you can figure out that the "saddles"
coming off the production line are the same or that they are different
shapes. "Narrow", "Regular" and "Wide" is very misleading because one cannot
describe a three dimensional shape by using one "relative" dimension. So....People
assume that if XYZ saddle fits this "gaited" horse, therefore it will fit
all gaited horses. It just is not true. Each horse is an individual. The
problem is the saddle trees are not consistent. Not all saddle trees are
the same from the same manufacture. Without any three dimensional measurement
we can not have any quality control. So a particular saddle may fit your
horse, but there no guarantee that the very next saddle of the same model
will actually be the same shape. It might be, might not.

I am not aware that anyone has done any research correlating saddle shape on the effect to the horses gait. Using the Saddletech Computer Saddle Fitting System we can determine the actual contact pressure against the horses back. Using the Saddletech Gauge we can determine the shape of the horses back relative to the shape of the saddle. With the Saddletech Formula we can then create an equation that compensates for the weight of the rider relative to the weight of the horse. With further research using the entire system we may be able to determine the subtle difference between a particular saddle shape on "gaited" horses relative to other types of horse.

However, as the inventor of this measurement system I am  not aware that anyone has any "scientific" data that shows that a particular saddle shape will have a particular effect on the gait of a horse other than that the saddle contacts the horse's back evenly with the weight of the rider. Meaning that the saddle fits.  I am not aware of any data that shows that saddles that do not fit have a positive effect on the gait of the horse. So the issue is not finding a saddle for a "gaited" horse, but the issue is how do you find a saddle that fits your gaited horse that you like.

A lot of people think that they can prove this idea or that idea, but I am not aware of any data that would stand up to the scrutiny of the National Institutes of Standards and Testing.....but we are working on it. For further information you can review "Scientific Saddle Fitting" on our web site, http://www.saddletech.com/scientif.
 
 

Date: Sat, 26 Dec 1998 16:11:36 -0500
From: avpinc@bellsouth.net
To: thrdmstrs@primary.net
CC: ridecamp@endurance.net
Subject: Re: Saddles
Message-ID: <36855107.24D27042@bellsouth.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Hi!  I, for one, would appreciate answers to this question
on a public basis, so that the rest of us can benefit.  BTW,
the catalogue, National Bridle Shop, specializes in Gaited
Horses, and I'm considering one of their saddles--the
Granada Paragon.  It is inexpensive, which will allow me
to try  an English type trail saddle that supposedly fits the
gaited horse well, for a smaller investment.  It costs $335
and is  leather with lots of  solid brass rings and a deep
padded seat.  They have a line of Western style saddles
as well.  Their # is 1-800-251-3474--I don't think they
have a web-site.  Thanks, and keep the info. coming.
                      Linda w. Johnny Walker Red
                      Ormond Bch., FL

Kat wrote:

> I have a Tennessee Walking horse and two gaited mules.  My saddle is 20
> yrs old and isn't the best fit for my mules.  I'd like to have a new
> saddle(s) made.  In your experience who makes the best trail riding
> saddle for gaited horses & mules?  Generally saddles for gaited equine
> have a deeper seat and don't throw you forward.  I sit the running walk
> instead of standing or posting the trot.
>
> If a survey was taken of all competitive and endurance riders who ride
> gaited horses I wonder what the most frequently used saddle would be?
>
> Do any of you ride a Tucker saddle?  What brand saddles should I
> consider?
>
> Thanks for your help.
>
> Kat
 
 

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