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Re: [RC] Testing Saddle Fit - heidiIf I have to tie the saddle on the horse, it doesn't fit right. :) I am serious about this. In my experience, if a saddle fits right and the rider is riding right, then you don't need straps (girth, breast collar, crupper) to keep the saddle in place. Alas, this IS only true if your second part of the equation is there: I am willing to concede that there are some horses with backs conformed in such a way that there is no saddle that will stay in place without being tied in place. However, I contend that this just means that there is no saddle that fits that horse well and that horse's owner (if s/he wants to use that horse for a saddle horse) will just have to "make do" with one that doesn't fit quite right and that saddle fit is going to be an ongoing issue with that particular horse. You are 100% right about the need to do the following: 1. Buying/breeding horses that have a good place to put a saddle <snip> I have long since come to the conclusion that a good back is the key to a good riding horse, and a good place to put the saddle is essential in a good endurance horse. I have yet to see a really top-notch endurance horse with a poor back. But alas, backs seem to be the LAST thing that most breeders consider, and I would reckon a guess that most breeders don't have a clue what constitutes a good back. Hence, it was much easier to find good backs on riding breeds 50 years ago when horses were actually bred to be ridden by breeders who rode than it is now when most "riding" breeds are bred to be lawn ornaments, or at most, spend brief times doing minimal activity under saddle. <sigh> I would maintain that this is an area that needs a LOT of education. Heidi =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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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