Ridecamp: Re: [RC] childs trail saddle

> My 8yr. old grandchild is ready for her 1st 25 mile.  She has >>done >
some > judged pleasure rides in an old English saddle >>>but really likes
the > endurance > type Marciante that I ride.  The only saddles that I
have found are > the kids 
> western which are way to small.  Does anyone know if anyone makes a  >
13 inch 
> endurance saddle with short fenders at a modest price? 

Hey Pat,
I wrestled with this problem for *years* and know other parents (and
grandparents) do to. The people who make saddles ignore basic rules of
anatomy. They make a child's western saddle exactly like an adults, just
smaller.  In Art class they taught us that if you measure the body in
"heads" a baby is about 4 heads tall...and an adult is 7 heads
tall...thus the proportion of upper body to legs is *very* different. 
With children's pony western saddles if the seat fits, it's impossible to
take the stirrups up short enough. Once the stirrups work, the seat is
too small.  The tree by the way is made to fit a small pony and will
pinch lots of horses, the buckle is uncomfortable under the knee, the
girth hooks too far forward... and if you'll notice they're put together
pretty shodily and who wants tack failure with their grandchild in a
situation like an endurance race? (for instance, the cinch, which is very
thin leather is hooked to the ring with a rivet)  I had my little girl in
a jumping saddle and had to punch holes the entire length of the stirrup
leather to get that 6" long length she needed. :-) 

When she was ready to go to an endurance ride I looked all around for
something...anything.  Considered a Wintec Aussie but couldn't find a
used one.  I got to the point where I was going to try to get someone to
build a saddle on a western youth size tree, but instead of fenders, have
a flap like an English saddle so the stirrups could adjust all the way
up.  There's tons of backyard saddle makers in the Chattanooga area and
I'm still tempted to try to get someone to try my design.  

What I ended up doing was realizing that  that was pretty much the same
design as my OF Express. It's a 14" western seat, no horn, has flaps
instead of fenders and the stirrups can go all the way up if you want
them to.  Made for a horse not a pony. A fleece cover would make the seat
feel smaller.  She has the EZ ride aluminum stirrups (which run small now
I think) with cages.  Added bonus is that with the cam lock buckles you
don't have to punch all those holes in the stirrup leathers.  I know it's
a lot of saddle for a little kid, but I can't ride in inappropriate tack,
so how could I expect her to be able to?

Angie 

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