Re: Fw: was CTR: slipping saddle now muscle loss

["KLyn" <alecman@alltel.net>]

Thanks for your response.
The saddle I am using is an all-purpose english saddle and I alternate with
an officer's field saddle.  My father suggested that changing the rigging on
the field saddle may correct where the saddle sits on the back.  I am
skeptical, however........the saddles never slide too far forward, going
down a hill they end up in the correct spot however, because I ride in an
extremely hilly area, both saddles end up settling on to the space on the
back about an inch behind the end of the mane, and that is where they stay!,
unless I dismount and re-adjust. The saddles settle behind the shoulders (to
allow for free movement) and end up in the indents on either side of the
withers (towards the rear of the horse).  Am I making myself clear on this??
So, I have minor bumps on his back where the front trees of the saddle
presses into that area.  Tonight I tried a thinner fleece on the back with a
closed-cell foam on top, cut out at the pressure points to "try" to lift the
saddle somewhat but allow the spots where the saddle causes pressure to have
less coverage.......does this make sense?  I also tried a breast collar.
The saddle definitely stayed in place better and even on the couple of steep
hills we do.......the saddle didn't seem to slide as
much......however.......I only ended up riding a short while because of the
humidity.  I suppose experimentation is the key.  The shim idea sounds
interesting......I don't like using the closed-cell foam because of
"breathe-ability" which is why I am considering a Toklat with the pockets
for inserts.  Any other suggestions are greatly appreciated..........Thanks
again for the response!

Kelly from SW PA
-----Original Message-----
From: Rides 2 Far <rides2far@juno.com>
To: alecman@alltel.net <alecman@alltel.net>
Cc: ridecamp@endurance.net <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Date: Tuesday, August 01, 2000 5:19 AM
Subject: RC: Fw: was CTR: slipping saddle now muscle loss


>My saddle now > slides> back into the spaces on either side of the wither
>that were > previously
>> "fat" I had not used a breast collar previous
>.if  the saddle is causing pressure bumps on either side of the >withers,
>will > a breast collar do the trick or just mask the problem??  I use a
>thick, synthetic pad and am wondering if I >should invest in a Toklat
>
>I'm not sure how a breascollar will make any difference at all. That's to
>keep a saddle from sliding *back*.  Why would your saddle be in front of
>the hollows by the withers? That would be on top of the shoulder wouldn't
>it? Sounds like yours is falling down or forward.  The problem with
>weight bearing in the area to either side of the withers is that it's a
>slope.  No matter what, it's a real pain to try to distribute weight on a
>slope.  I'm not good enough to tell you how to solve the problem, but
>maybe I can at least give some hints.
>
>First, I'd expect a crupper to help more than a breastcollar.  When you
>go downhill the only thing to hold a saddle back is the shoulderblade
>unless you use a crupper so it seems to me it would cause your saddle to
>get farther forward than is optimal.
>
>Also, as far as the inserts thing goes.  I use a Toklat that has a place
>for inserts, but instead I made myself a sort of portable shim pad.  I
>took a sheet of felt...about 1/4-3/8" thick.  I cut one shim that lays
>all the way over the back.  It's about 8"-10" deep on the sides, and
>cutback where it goes over the back.  Then, I cut 2 more shims that can
>velcro on each side to stack it if I like.  Each one is maybe an inch or
>so shorter than the one below.  I used to use the foam shims from
>Ortho-Flex when I had booties on my saddle, but now this is what I use.
>I just try to level up my saddle with them, so if it looks as if it's
>doing a nosedive, I'll add a shim.
>
>Angie
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