ridecamp@endurance.net: saddle fit

saddle fit

Lysane Cree (cree_l@LSA.Lan.McGill.CA)
Fri, 17 Oct 1997 14:31:35 EST

I bought a Western saddle in August of this year and I am wondering about
whether it fits properly. It fits me fine and I thought it fit my
horse fine. But sometimes when I remove the saddle there are some dry
spots and other times there are not. Does this depend on something
I'm doing? Could I be tightening my saddle too much or not enough?
How long does it take for a saddle to become "broken in" and could
this be the problem?
My horse is a Paint who is more of the "Thoroughbred look" than the "Quarter
Horse look". He also has high withers. I use two thin saddle pads,
but I am putting some money aside to eventually buy the thicker
therapeutic-type saddle pad (such as the one by Sports Medecine
Products).
If anyone has any ideas about my saddle problem, please
let me know.
Also, has anyone used the Sports Medecine western saddle pad? If so,
what is your opinion on it - is it worth the $$??
Lastly, (I'm almost done!) I was wondering if I would be laughed off
the trail if I used a western saddle for my first rides this summer
(1998)- 25 mile novice rides. I know that endurance saddles are
probably better since for one, they are alot lighter, but I would like to see how
my first one or two rides go, and how my horse handles it (the one
with the bone jacks in both his hocks) before investing in a second
saddle. I may have access to an English saddle but I won't know until
the summer really whether I can use it or not, so I am going ahead
and planning as if I were using the western saddle for competition
(since I am using it for training).
Thanks for any info. you can provide.
Lysane and Buck

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