Re: Reactor panel questions for users and the manufacturer

["Joan Dowis" <jrd@foothill.net>]

Have you looked at the RP site?  Also, see Lynne Glazer's site,
www.lynnesite.com and follow the links to the RP stuff.  Lots of good
information there.  My horse is dippy in the back, set-back withers, and
short back.  RP was able to fit him to a "T."   There is an incredible
amount of adjustment possible, once you have the correct tree size.  The
endurance model has all the rings on the back, plus good thigh pads for
downhill security.  Very comfortable, narrow twist.  I also have trouble
with wide twists.  Also, very close contact.

Joan Dowis

----- Original Message -----
From: "Deanna German" <finishis2win@columbus.rr.com>
To: "Ridecamp" <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Sent: Tuesday, December 04, 2001 10:53 AM
Subject: RC: Reactor panel questions for users and the manufacturer


> I don't feel comfortable in a western design saddle, so have had some
> challenges finding an appropriate saddle to use for distance riding. Seems
> like most saddles are based on a western design.
>
> I'm comfortable in a hunt saddle, but I think a hunt saddle puts too much
> pressure in the withers area (at least that's been my personal experience
> and observation -- perhaps this is related to lack of proper muscling and
> carriage in a young horse); an Aussie saddle is the same, plus the
stirrups
> are hung too far forward. I don't think the Sports Saddle provides
adequate
> weight dispersion for a horse learning to carry itself properly (just my
> opinion, folks, based on personal experience and observation!), plus it
has
> no twist and caused me to be in great agony in my hips.
>
> I have tried all of the above for extended periods and this last spring
> bought an Orthoflex endurance cutback used. The saddle fits me like a
glove
> and I don't feel like I'm riding way above the horse like others have
> reported for some reason. (And you would think that I would since my
saddle
> previous to the OF was a SS.) The OF is the best so far for me and my
horse,
> but we have some slight bridging issues, so I'm still looking.
>
> So here are my issues: I want a saddle that feels as good to me as my OF
> does but that won't bridge. (The reason the OF is bridging is because I
have
> some remedial work to do with my mare to get her to carry herself better.
> Once I have sufficiently developed my mare's topline, I believe that the
> bridging issues will disappear.)
>
> Will any of the Reactor Panel models fit the bill? Or are my hips going to
> ache again from lack of a narrow twist?
>
> Any opinions on the Wintec CAIR system? I wrote to the company asking
about
> the CAIR system for their endurance model and they assured me it would be
> available in the U.S. before the end of the year. I know, as inexpensive
as
> that saddle is, it's kind of a no-lose "buy it and try it" proposition,
but
> I thought I'd solicit some opinions.
>
> Thoughts?
>
> Deanna (Ohio)
> a few hundred AHAO CTR miles, looking towards endurance next fall or the
> season after that.
> AERC #M30478
> AHAO CTR participants kick butt at IAHA Regional and National CTR
> competitions. (No offense intended to Jan. She assured me that she can
like
> us and NATRC too!)
>
>
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