I have to add to this to my previous post, I
have not used the shims yet on either the Western or the English saddle... but
intend to try them on my English style saddle, He is very rump high and has
a very short, short back... I also think the slight rubbing from the
western saddle was just pulling some hairs, cutting them just a tad cause the
Western was a bit to long for his back, I am thinking if I had shimmed the
saddle just a little it would have fit perfectly... but he
did not complain at all... I just noticed it... there was no tenderness either, when he changes coats it was
noticeable...
I just want to make it clear that I and the
horse love the saddles and Terry did a great job explaining how they work...
I am sure with the shims the western would have
worked perfectly for him, I sold it only because I love my English style
saddle... and my hubby bought the special last year... an Endurance type model
with the rise cut out of it like a western saddle on English panels, He and his
horse love it...
I have also ridden both saddles on different
body types, a stocky APPY, a Paso with a short back and no withers, and a Morgan
with very high withers and a short back...Dan rides his new Morgan gelding with
average withers and a stocky build...
The appy is hard to fit, and in the AF saddle is
happy, I keep thinking if I sell a horse they are going to have to buy an AF
saddle to ride the horse in, cause I really believe once a horse is comfortable
in an AF, they know the difference...
I know that Cathy bends over backwards to help make
sure that the saddle is adjusted correctly and works for both the horse and
rider... She met with us a couple of times to figure out some little things....I
have found that her girths are the BEST too...
Debbie In SE MN
I have a high
rumbed short backed Gaited Morgan and ride many miles, not endurance miles
though...I have the shims and am going to get the pad with the pockets at
the MN EXPO so that I can avoid any loin rubbing, as I did have a little of
that in the western saddle in the spring and fall when the hair coat
changed, as it has longer panels because of the western skirt stitched on to
the panels, but not the English saddle I have now, it has the shorter
panels, it is a 17 inch saddle, I have ridden many miles in it, long miles,
up hills, down hills, moving fast... and Jewel gaits beautifully in it, He
was dangerous in all other saddles... I am sorry the versatile did not work
out for you..
