saddle problems/questions (longer even)

[Chelle Sherman <cms@fluent.com>]

Hi Sarah and everybody: I hope we get some responses to this one,
because I am going through very much the same thing, and it is
frustrating. All those of you who are bored by saddle-fit questions,
bail out now. I have researched this and learned more about saddle fit
than I think I want to know, and still no answer, but I'm getting
closer. I can answer some of Sarah's questions, but the ultimate one
still remains unanswered for me as well. Here goes:

Thanks to a David Gonadek (hope I spelled his name right) seminar I
watched this Fall, I now understand the difference between semi-QH and
QH bars, etc. Basically, anything with QH-type bars is made to fit a
QH-type back - this is a back that may be wide, but is essentially flat
and straight, with very little shoulder flare. Semi QH are at the same
angle as QH bars, just set closer together. The bars have very little
"twist" or curve, to accomodate a horse with a curvy shoulder and back
(which most Arabs have). The bars are also long - usually 24" - because
QH's usually have plenty of back length to accomodate them. The tree
material probably matters very little - ralide is plastic, wood is wood,
pro-tuff is also plastic, I believe. The rock (amount of front-to-back
curve), the twist (amount of side-to-side curve), and the flare (amount
that bars are flared out at the ends) is what determines fit.  All of
this explains why semi-QH and QH bars often do not fit Arabs. I spoke
with David, and although he makes semi-custom saddles on a tree that
will fit many Arabs, they still have long bars, and are over 30 lbs. in
weight, so I don't think he has an answer, yet.

The other major thing I've learned is that rigging is not a trivial
issue - it can make the difference between a saddle that fits and one
that very clearly doesn't. With my horse, anything that does not secure
both the front and back of the saddle will move around too much, unless
the bars are very short - my horse has lots of motion in his back,
particularly when he walks. This rules out 7/8 Western rigging, and many
English saddles. Center-fire rigging seems to work pretty well, but only
if the saddle isn't too long. Gonadek advocates using a rear cinch on
all saddles, and tightening it as much as the front one - I have been
reluctant to try this, but it makes sense from a physical perspective.

I tried the Tennessean - it was close, but was too long for my Arab. I
sold it to somebody who is using it on their racking horse and is very
happy. I am in the process of trying the sports saddle. It is also too
long, although my horse loves it - I am trying to figure out if I can
stop the knee pain I get from it - but maybe that's just me, so I would
strongly suggest you look into it. I have tried a variety of english
saddles - so far they all interfere with my horses' shoulder motion - he
has big muscles, which I call "shoulder bags", which extend way back
when he moves, and the english flaps interfere, which gets the saddle
fishtailing back and forth on his loins, and voila, loin rubbing. I
might try a Wintec in the dressage style - the straight flap might help
avoid that problem. I am also going to try a Stonewall McClellan style
(with a tree that is supposedly wide enough for my horse) - it has
secure rigging, is short in length, is cut to avoid the shoulder. Mine
is coming sometime in the next month, and I sincerely hope it works for
us, because this is getting exhausting.

Many folks like ortho-flex. Mine didn't fit my horse - again, too long
and rigid. I tried someone else's Synergist, and liked the design very
much - it seems to be made for Arab bodies - although the one I tried
was made for a more narrow Arab than mine. I have heard good things
about SR Enduro, and Sharon Saare, so you might try those. I have seen
Western saddles with so-called Arab bars, and I wonder why nobody makes
an endurance saddle with Arab bars - this would seem to be a no-brainer
for some enterprising saddle maker - it continues to amaze me how many
endurance saddles have semi-QH bars (Abetta, Big Horn, etc.).

If there's anybody out there who has a wide, short-backed,
big-shouldered Arab who has found something that works for them, please
send suggestions - Sarah and I will appreciate it - thanks!

Chelle Sherman and Mystik Star




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