Re: RC: Heavyweight saddle preference?

[Jerry D Milam Jr <milamj@agtelco.com>]

brenda casebeer wrote:

> Hi everyone, I wanted to ask some of the heavyweight riders what
> they're saddle preferences are.  I've moved my two geldings up to 50's
> this year, and both of them have developed sore shoulders just below
> the withers--complete with white hair growing in, and are vetting in
> with B's on back soreness.
>
> I have used the Big Horn endurance saddle, a well fit close contact
> english saddle, and an Ortho-flex.  Have used skito, wool,
> neoprene and  coolback pads.
>
> I come from a dressage/hunt seat riding background, try to ride
> balanced and light, and have had people watch me ride and don't think
> my riding is the problem.
>
> Is back soreness a common problem with heavyweight riders?  Is the
> increased time and distance in the saddle fatiguing muscles to the
> point where the horse is going to be sore no matter what?
>
> Horse #1  5 yr Polish arab gelding, 15.1H stocky build  2 yrs of LSD
> Horse #2  6 yr Appy/Arab gelding, 15.3H fairly substantial, 1st yr of
> endurance

Brenda,

Go with a Desoto custom made by Marilyn Horstmeyer. Her saddles are superb
and are made to fit your horse. Maybe both can use the same saddle. Her
saddle trees are made to distribute the weight over greater spread of the
back that the regular saddles. I used to vet in with B's until I got one
made for my polish gelding-15-1 as well. The saddle is worth the cost and
the wait to have it made.

She is up in either Mich or Minn now. If you're interested, I'll give you
her #.

Susan