Big Horn saddle

[Salim Nice <snice@premhealth.com>]

I recently purchased a Big Horn saddle for an endurance prospect that I
picked up from Jim and Jackie Bumgardner.  I have experienced many of the
same problems associated with the Big Horn saddle as all of you.   In my
experience, these problems are caused by the "center-fire" rigging system.
Big Horn calls it that, although it really is not.  The rigging is
positioned mid-belly on most horses causing the girth and saddle to move
forward on the downhills.  This movement occurred despite any padding and
girth adjustments that we made.  The solution, in my case, was to have the
rigging moved forward about 4 inches.  This has completely solved any
movement problems with the saddle.

One of you mentioned the leather wearing on the rigging near the ring.  I
believe it was mentioned to have been caused by rubbing of the stir-ups.  I
have not put enough miles on my saddle to have experienced this problem.  I
do agree that the quality of the leather used for the rigging looks *very*
poor.  If I were to do this again, I would have upgraded the leather as I
had the rigging moved.  I am hoping that the movement of the rigging will
either eliminate the rubbing, or, reduce the amount of rubbing on the rigging.

Has anyone produced a true "center-fire" rigging system that can be
retrofitted to saddles such as the Big Horn?  Something like the system
used on the SR Gonzales saddles?

Salim Nice





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