Re: Twist & SS saddles

["Dyane Smith" <sunibey@sisqtel.net>]

One of the things that I noticed about the Sports Saddle is that they are
not all alike.  I rode in one that I borrowed.  Inside an hour, I could
hardly get off the horse, I was so sore from the wide twist.

Then I found a Bob Marshall western style with a square skirt.  It feels
great.  Unfortunately, I don't know the make of the first saddle, maybe a
Circle Y?

Dyane


----- Original Message -----
From: "Lucy C Trumbull" <elsie@foothill.net>
To: "Karla Watson" <karla@pcez.com>
Cc: "RideCamp" <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Sent: Friday, December 07, 2001 12:46 PM
Subject: RC: Twist & SS saddles


>
>
> > Karla Watson wrote:
> >
> > The RP saddles look great and sound great but I don't think I can
> > afford them right now.
>
> That was my thinking... If only we were rich, huh? I may still
> have to somehow scrape together the money, though, seeing as my
> greenie mare is wide-barrelled and has a v. forward heart girth,
> causing the saddle to go straight up her neck - a crupper definitely
> needed for downhill stuff. I'm sad about the prospect, because I
> love my SS.
>
> > My second choice is the Bob Marshall sport
> > saddle. I heard they feel like a wider twist though. Any comments?
> > I come from a close contact background but am also a HUGE fan of riding
> > bareback with a pad so maybe these saddles would feel good to me?
>
> Karla, I grew up on English saddles and always liked a narrow twist
> to my saddle (I'm 5'2"/125 lbs), but also never rode anything like
> the terrain around here while growing up, so opted for the security
> of the deep seat of the SS. I've been riding in mine for the last
> 3-4 years, including 200 miles worth of 50s on my gelding, and
> starting my greenie.
>
> If you like bareback, you'll probably really like the SS.
>
> The SS does feel like a wide twist - but because it is so
> comfy, it doesn't end up making you butt-sore.
>
> After buying an endurance model, I later switched to the
> Schooling and Training (S&T) one (OK, so I stole my husbands
> and had to order my own when he demanded it back).
>
> Compared to the endurance model, the S&T comes with a higher
> cantle and pommel, so when you get pooped out at an endurance
> ride and the horse makes an unexpected manoeuver, you are less
> likely to fall out of it.
>
> The S&T is also cut longer down the sides of the horse, dropping
> the position of the stirrup and cinch rings. Because that bulk
> is lower, it helps make the saddle feel a little narrower (IMO,
> anyway). This was a definite plus for me and my short legs.
>
> Unfortunately, it also makes your stirrups shorter and gives
> you almost no swing, which can be disconcerting if you're used to
> that... or the reverse - when I recently rode in an english saddle
> again (for the first time in 4 years?), I was quite alarmed *how
> much* my legs could swing <g>.
>
> I have not experienced the hip problems some people suffered,
> athough I did end up with knee problems (had to have torn
> meniscus knee surgery  - "Doctor, it only hurts when I trot
> for 50 miles..." <grin>). I have no idea if the knee problems
> were SS related, or just due to lack of conditioning on my
> part (the horse always finished looking great... I didn't) -
> I suspect the latter the more likely cause.
>
> One thing that may help the wide (or lack of) twist, is to
> make some sort of "twist pad" to go under you on top of
> the saddle. Apparently some people were able to do this -
> making something out of felt, but I haven't seen it. T'would
> be good, though.
>
> The S&T model runs $100 cheaper than the endurance model and
> even if you get the saddle and decide it doesn't work for you,
> the resale on them is very good (people don't want to wait
> for an ordered one).
>
> Hope this helps some.
>
> --
> **************************************************************
> Lucy Chaplin Trumbull - elsie@foothill.net
> Repotted english person in Garden Valley (Sierra Foothills), CA
> **************************************************************
>
>
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