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Re: [RC] McClellan saddles in endurance? - Dr. Liz Faletti, DCIn regards to McClellan saddles, I don't have personal experience. The reputation is that the McClellan fits horses much better than most saddles. It kills the riders. If I'm wrong, I would love to hear from others. In regards to saddle fit, I have lots of experience. Both because my horse has been hard to fit and because as a chiropractor, I am aware of the importance of the spine being free of damage. There are many ways to check saddle fit. The idea of sweat patterns is only partly correct. You can still have heavy sweat patterns and still have pressure. I haven't tried the pressure pads yet. They are expensive, yet have a great idea. An old fashioned way to get the same information, is to get some blue carpenters chalk at Home Depot or other places like it. Sprinkle the chalk on the back of the horse, put a white pad and the saddle on the horse and ride for a good half hour. Check the marks left on the white pad from the blue chalk. Heavy/dark marks equal too much pressure. Some of the pressure can be relieved by applying pads correctly, others can't. Therefore, all those McClellan saddles that are for sale could be a potential fit. You just have to try them. You can also make a mold of your horse's back by using a soft drafting (don't actually know the name of the tool) guide. Fold it across your horse's back a couple inches behind the shoulder blade (wherever you expect to put the saddle bars). Carefully remove it from the horse's back and trace the outline onto a file folder. Cut this out for future reference. You can take this with you as you look at saddles and come close to seeing if it fits. Measure back the distance appropriate to the back of the saddle and make another mold. Remember that distance when you take your molds to look at saddles. This will show you if the saddle is too long. I have a great book on saddle fit. Just don't have that info in front of me right at the moment. E-mail me if you need more. By the way, just cause a saddle fits a horse as he's standing, means nothing. You have to spend at least a half hour in that saddle, perferably a nice couple hour ride and watch both how your horse moves and then look at sweat patterns, hair swirls (there shouldn't be any!!!!!), etc. Whew... Good luck. Liz Faletti, DC ----- Original Message ----- From: "Lucie Hancock" <lbhbhnck@xxxxxxxxx> To: <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Friday, July 11, 2003 6:28 AM Subject: [RC] McClellan saddles in endurance? Hi, I have a question for any of you who may have experience with McClellan saddles. The background for this question is that my custom made saddle was damaged at the Pyramid Challenge, and the tree was broken. I am sending it back to Desoto Custom Saddlery to be reepaired. The local tack repairman suggested to my husband that we get a McClellan saddle as a "back up" saddle because the army had to use them on so many different horses. I understand that the calvarymen would change horses every three months or so, but had to keep the same saddle. so...I want feedback from folks who ride or have ridden with a McClellan. I know of three used ones for sale in my area, but don't want to take a chance on hurting my horses buy purchasing one that won't go the distance. Thanks in advance for your input. Lucie H from South Carolina, and HH Trinity =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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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