Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Hi Chris,
	In only 9 lines you managed to include the most common fit problems and 
also the most common and worst saddle fit assumptions.  You've just 
started on The Great Saddle Hunt.  First Base is called "education." 
(sorry for the very mixed up sports references!)


Christina McCarthy wrote:
> Hi, unfortunately the saddle that I have been using on my Arabian 
> Gelding no
> longer fits him correctly
what makes you think it no longer fits and how and where does it not fit
 and I am having to look for a new saddle with
> limited resources. 
a problem but not having money doesn't lock you out of finding a great 
fitting saddle
 The current saddle I have been using is the Wintec
> Endurance Pro with the Cair system and removable panels.
it's my understanding that this system is designed to fit almost 
everthing and also to be adjustable.  Have you discussed your fit 
problems with a Wintec/CAIR expert?  Maybe there is an adjustment that 
will solve your problems
  I would love
> to be
> able to afford the ortho flex cutback.....I have ridden in that saddle and
> it was very comfortable.
comfortable for you or your horse?  I'm getting the impression that you 
are also concerned with your own comfort which is good.  But fit for the 
horse and fit for the rider and two entirely different aspects of saddle 
fit and shouldn't be confused.  That said, you should never compromise 
on either!  If you're uncomfortable, you can't ride well and your horse 
suffers almost as much as if the saddle didn't fit him/her.
  Does any one have any advice?  Any reasonably
> priced used saddles out there?  What do others use on their arabians?
Take a look at the arabians you see around you.  Are they all shaped the 
same?  NO!  To assume that all arabians (or quarter horses or morgans, 
etc.) are shaped the same is just like assuming all whites are shaped 
the same or that all blacks or orientals, etc. are!  (No, I am not 
racist!) You probably have a friend who wears the same shoe size you do 
but I'll bet if the two of your tried on the same shoe, it might fit one 
but not the other.
	Before you can hope to find a saddle that works, learn to really see 
the shape of your horse's back.  This includes height of the withers - 
high, medium, low; shape of the barrel - round, flat, round in back & 
narrowing towards the girth, etc.; build of the horse - uphill (withers 
higher than croup), downhill (withers lower than croup); any asymmetries 
from side to side (usually in the shoulder but can also be in the hip 
and croup).
	Quentin and Libby Llop's webpage has lots of really useful info about 
CAIR and FLAIR panels.  Unfortunately Quentin is out of commission due 
to an injury but, you like your saddle, perhaps someone could exchange 
your CAIR panels for FLAIRs and help you adjust them.
http://home.earthlink.net/~qhll/  follow the links for explanations of 
the panels.
Good luck!
Laney
> Thanks in advance for all your help.
> Chris
>
>
>
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Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
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Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp

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