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RE: [RC] Sport saddle for short-backed horse? - Snodgrass, BonnieThere are so many variables here when talking about using a Sport Saddle. First of all, what size of saddle do you need? And your husband? Did you know that Sport Saddles can be placed further forward that treed saddles? I didn't when I got my first saddle, had issues and sold it. Later down the road I noticed that all my neighbors who all ride Arabs in SS's set their saddles up onto the shoulders to some degree. I got another saddle, a 14 1/2", and set the saddle up further and I've had no problems. I have two short backed horses and have had no loin rubbing. I also used it on a mare with a very dipped back and had no loin rubbing. I do believe that you may have rubbing problems with the wrong saddle pad but I think with the right one you could eliminate rubbing in most cases. You can have the saddle length shortened for you when the saddle is made. You can have the stirrups set back under you as much as you want. It will be different from an english saddle as the rings that the stirrup leathers hang from is further down the side of the saddle so the stirrup leathers are shorter, with less leg movement possible. It will feel weird at first. Since it's a lot like riding bareback you will feel like you are being spread apart too much on a wide flat-backed horse but Skito makes a shimmed pad that really improves the ride comfort. The saddle for a novice rider is probably more secure feeling than an english saddle since it has a higher pommel and cantle. You could get your husband a training/schooling model that is suede covered. That's very secure. If you get a higher cantle put on you may need to order a slightly bigger seat size as it tends to make the seat fit tighter. You won't know for sure if one will work with out trying one and I do suggest experimenting with pads also if you have any problems. bonnie Snodgrass -----Original Message----- From: Karen Casemier [mailto:kcrazzmatazz@xxxxxxxxxxx] Sent: Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:31 PM To: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [RC] Sport saddle for short-backed horse? I looked in the archives for information, but I couldn't quite customize the search enough to find what I needed. I know a lot of people use and love the Sport saddle for endurance riding. I have a Morgan with the typical broad shoulders and flat back of the breed, and she also is extremely (and I mean extremely) short-backed. I'm going to get a Desoto custom saddle for her - but that is going to take six months. I'm looking for something I can use in the meantime, and something that I can use on our new horse (keep your fingers crossed -vet check tomorrow) who is a slightly different shaped Morgan (actually has withers, more length, not as flat-backed, still has the broad shoulders. Basically, a second saddle that will become the primary saddle for the second horse once I get my custom saddle. And something I can use if she porks out over the winter until she gets back into a semi-normal shape. I could have swore I read multiple messages about this saddle causing rubbing behind in the shorter-backed horses, but I can't find those messages now (unless I wade through all the thousands of messages about Sport saddles!). Also wondering about how it rides - I've always ridden English, and really like a saddle to put me in the correct dressage position (shoulder/hip/heel alignment). Any comments about the Sport saddle for this particular horse? Also, my husband is considering one as well - I don't think the new horse will have the fitting problems I have with my current mare, but he's not that experienced of a rider, and I wonder how much support he'll get from the Sport saddle. Thanks! Karen and Mazzie, the impossible to fit Morgan. _________________________________________________________________ The new MSN 8: advanced junk mail protection and 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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