Re:SS, Woolback, Natural Ride

["Cheryl" <mskit@utec.net>]

> Hi All - 
> Hey what a refreshing topic to be discussing for a 
>     change, huh?
> Corrin 
>     wrote-
>  I've toyed with the idea of a full 
>     saddle cover, but since I'm afraid 
> the extra padding will cause a 
>     chafing 
> I write-
> The sheepskin won't chafe you. But 
>     get one that is still attatched to the skin, the merino ones. Or if you're 
>     handy with needle and thread, you can make your own, I have one purchased 
>     one, and two that I have made.
> Corrine 
>     wrote-
> Just bought a 'natural ride' saddle 
>     (bareback pad w/ a fork), and have found 
> that the complaint that a 
>     couple people warned me of is exactly true--tough to 
> get your legs under 
>     you when the stirrups are hung from the fork which is in 
> front of you 
>     :-).....however, all I really wanted was the fork. I plan to modify the 
>     natural ride significantly
>  I write -
> Are you from White Oaks, Corrine? Then, I'm 
>     one who wrote to you. You should be very pleased with your modified Ride, I 
>     know I am. However, I don't use the little pad that came with it, I gave it 
>     to my cat!! I made a Ride built on a 1'' split neo/felt pad, with removeable 
>     stirrups; crupper ring, saddlebag attatchments, and standard western girth rigging. For 
>     stirrups, I bought a set of those "helper" stirrups (The 
>     "spare" stirrup you hang from a horn, for people who need a longer 
>     stirrup to mount from the ground, so they don't have to readjust their 
>     saddle stirrup when mounted)- $40 for two. I cut up an old western cinch for 
>     the rings, then bought a nylon cinch latigo ($6), sewed the rings on either 
>     end and velcroed it to the felt pad, this is my stirrup rigging (now before 
>     y'all gasp in horror, or even amusement (whichever) at my velcroed-on 
>     stirrup rigging, I've been using this for about a year now, and it holds. I 
>     used the HD velcro, sewed snug "keepers' on the pad, and I sit over the 
>     rigging. If I ever do get hung up, the whole thing will come apart anyway. 
>     The girth rigging is another nylon latigo, sewn to the pad.  I use a 
>     saddle blanket or a sheep skin over the riggings, to sit on. I shaved down 
>     the fork a bit, deburred the edges, and wrapped the ends with 
>     neoprene.  For attatching the fork, I cut slots in the pad, and the 
>     blanket (the sheep skin, if I use it,  velcroes on behind the fork). I 
>     placed thin patches of neoprene on the pad underside (thought that would be 
>     softer than nylon) to protect against the nylon strap (which anchors the 
>     fork to it) from rubbing the horse. The patches are only sewed on three 
>     sides, so I can get my fingers in there to grab the strap and feed it back 
>     through. The crupper ring and saddlebag attatchments are anchored through 
>     the pad with latigo saddle strings, however the bag attatchments themselves 
>     are 1/8" mountaineering line, with spaces cut in the blanket. I should 
>     get around to taking some pictures. I have a second one built on a woolback 
>     roper pad. The modified rides are very comfy, they are secure, and a very 
>     nice alternative to using a saddle. I've used this setup on long rides in 
>     varied terrain w/no problems.
> Oh, for sore ankles or knees, get 
>     some stirrup turners. I bought a set, then made the other sets with leather 
>     and lag(?) bolts. Every set of my stirrups has them.
> For 
>     pads, I prefer woolback. You can order them with a wither cutout, or do it 
>     yourself. I've never ever had one slip, I have several different 
> types.
> Ride 
>     Safe -
> Cheryl 
>     in WNY
>  
>