ridecamp@endurance.net: Sport Saddles Advice

Sport Saddles Advice

Snodgrass, Bonnie (snodgrab@ncr.disa.mil)
Tue, 21 Oct 1997 12:27:00 -0400

Two or three people asked questions about Sport Saddles and wether
they would fit this or that type of back. Thought I'd offer up my
experience. I got the chance to borrow an older SS last year to try

out on my mutton withered, wide flat backed gelding. This was the
older model with the nylon fabric on the bottom. It fit him well,
was
plenty wide. I could see that this model would not fit a really
high
withered horse. It was too wide in the front tree and not high
enough
in the gullet. I ordered a SS and after 3 months it arrived. It
wasn't
the same saddle. It had a fleeced bottom to the panels but it was
higher in the gullet and would definitely be a better fit for high
withers than the older model. Although I was told that the only
difference between the two saddle was the fleece I know that the
one
saddle fit my table top Arab and the one I bought (of course) was a

bit too narrow. I denied it for months but it became obvious.

So, if you have a horse with signifcant withers the present model
will
probably do you fine. It will conform down into a "swayed" or
curved
back quite nicely. I've seen a few TB's over the years that have
high
knife-like withers that could use this saddle but those are few and

far between. If however you have a really wide withered horse you
may
find like me that the standard SS is too narrow in the front
fork/tree. It may be possible to get a wider fork made for you or
possibly you could find a used older model to try/buy.

My story does have a happy ending as the wide gelding got sold and
the
new anglo-arab mare is doing great in the SS. She has TB type of
withers and a curved back. The saddle fits and stays put when I
mount
and do hills. My favorite girth? A wool string cinch.

Bonnie Snodgrass

Home Events Groups Rider Directory Market RideCamp Stuff