Re: endurance saddle for TB

[crockett-collection@juno.com (Crockett Collection)]

It has been written:

Subject: Re: endurance saddle for TB
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In a message dated 98-09-23 11:59:30 EDT, kathy@nvolve.com writes:

<<  "Own a TB, buy a Stubben". >>

Heidi Smith, DVM--Sagehill Arabians (Oregon) wrote:

<<Works for a lot of Arabs, too. Bought a well-used Stubben in 1978 and
rode it
on ALL my horses until 1997 when I broke the tree.  Put over 4000 AERC
miles
on various horses with it, as well as all my conditioning, trail marking,
pleasure riding, you-name-it.  Never had a sore back until the ride after
which I discovered the broken tree...  Admittedly I have never had a
horse
that was hard to fit, either--Junior (my now-going-blind stallion) had 5
different riders the year he was PNER mileage champion, and has had 11
different riders in his career--all have used their own saddles, and the
only
time HE has had a sore back was the ride after which I discovered the
broken
tree...  Had one other PNER mileage champ (also reserve points champ--an
old
mare named Sansih) back in 1985 who was ridden by me in the Stubben every
step of the way.>>


Again my $00.02 be sure the saddle you purchase for endurance fits.
Stubbens are great but don't just buy one without fitting it to your
horse. Equalizers are the best pads available, but if the saddle doesn't
fit properly no pad will fix it. Personally I've spent most of my career
in XT and dressage, though I've Been enjoying endurance for years as well
(NO WOOL JACKET IN ENDURANCE). I used a Stubben dressage saddle pre 1950
until three years ago when I switched to a Passier Grand Nicole. I had it
restuffed every year to fit my horse. I do the same with the Passier. I
still have two Stubben Jump saddles and have them restuffed just about as
often and can't use them on one horse to another. I haven't much
experience with the modern Swiss made Stubbens. I do have much experience
with older German made Stubben saddles. I suspect the quality is similar.
Of course, since the German made Stubbens haven't been sold in N.A. for
years they are probably classified as antiques. :)

Some years ago Linda Cowles posted an excellent trick for body casting
one's horse's back on ridecamp. I suspect it is still back in the
achieves, probably circa 1994. It's The Gonzales method. It is an
invaluable piece of information. You might try searching the ridecamp
achieves for it. That way you can cast the horse's back and take the
cast, not the horse to the saddlery and find the perfect fit. Of course,
the horse's muscular development will change with time and that's where
restuffing comes in. If it's a fleece sometimes refleecing is needed, but
it seems to hold up rather well. 

Unfortunately when I left California I left my saddle guy behind in Santa
Barbara. It's a nightmare now, soon to come. The thing I like about John
DiPetra's Synergist is that he will adjust to saddle to fit changes in
one horse's back or a change in horse for a slight charge compared to the
saddle's price. 

Not that Kathy and the Doc haven't given wise and sage experienced
advice. Just make sure the saddle is correct for the horse. 

Remeber your milage may vary...

Good Luck,

t


Tommy and Rosemary Crockett Owner-Operators of The Crockett Collection
Fine Jewelry and Equine Designs,  Weeks-Ft. Churchill, Nevada USA, N.A.

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