Re: RC: saddle question

[flemmerl@rcbhsc.wvu.edu (Flemmer, Linda)]

Keeyun@aol.com wrote:
> 
>And it does not fit my horse.
> This saddle rides forward on him.

Some saddle makers advertise "It'll fit anything", but we all know
better.  If one saddle fit all, there wouldn't be so many styles out
there.  Welcome to The Great Saddle Hunt!

>  Then I tried a friends stone-wall.  This saddle
> seemed to fit him best of all.  <SNIP> After the
> 25 I continued to train him and noticed the saddle started slipping forward.
> I just finished a 50 and had to get off and adjust the saddle 2 times in-
> between vet stops.

Kelly, I'm originally from Ocala, and I can't remember anyplace down
there with enough hill to make me worry over the saddle slipping.  Where
were your rides with the hills?  What did I miss down there?  

We ride in the mountains of PA, VA & WV, now.  Our horses have good
withers, so we generally get along with just a breast collar.  If we
plan on a lot of STEEP downhill, we do use a crupper on one of our 
horses, but not as a routine.  We expect a little saddle slippage on the
steep stuff, but certainly not up on their neck, either.  

Does you horse have good withers?  Is he at "fighting weight", or does
he need to loose a few pounds and develop his back with miles to come?

>  This saddle also had the circle behind his left shoulder.
> I am going crazy here trying to find out what is wrong.  I am beginning to
> think no matter what saddle I get I will still have problems.

Look to see if your horse's back is evenly developed.  Sometimes what
you're describing can happen if a side is atrophied, even slightly. 
Then, your goal is to help him develop his muscles evenly.  Stand above
him on a ladder or from the hay loft & look down.  Feel both sides of
his withers with your hands, eyes closed, for any differences.  Look at
his chest from head on for symmetry.  

What pad are you using?  Wool seems to be less irritating than
synthetic, too.  

Was the swirl just hair moved around, or was it dry?  I sometimes see
one side affected if the rider unconsciously weights the opposite hip
and pulls the saddle across the horse's back.  Ask someone to critique
you as you ride for evenness.  Another option is to ride with your eyes
closed, with & without stirrups, sitting on your hands while somebody
lounges your horse at a walk & sitting trot.  You will feel if there is
any uneveness in your seat!

>  I have used a
> crupper but it does seem to get very very tight as I ride.  I do not start out
> with it so tight but it ends up really tight.

We adjust our crupper so that it isn't againt the dock when the saddle
is neutral (finger width of clearance).  As the horse rounds his back to
the canter, extended trot (or buck), the crupper will tighten slightly
without cutting off their tail.  Down hill, we have given the saddle 1
fingerwidth (approx 1/2 inch) to move before being caught by the
crupper.  If the horse works downhill properly, he rounds his haunches
under himself, tightens the crupper imperceptably, and will keep the
saddle in an even better position.

Is your saddle in a neutral position when you attach the crupper?  If
the saddle is too far back for his conformation when you adjust the
crupper, then the crupper will be too tight when the saddle settles into
a neutral position over his center of balance.

Just some things to think about.

Linda Flemmer
Blue Wolf Ranch
Bruceton Mills, WV


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