Re: [RC] making SS front into cutback? - Karen Sullivan
Just DID that!!!!
Yes, it was one of the non-peaked front sport saddles and
it was sitting right on top of my mare's withers.....however, it seemed wide
enough at the base of the pommel, so it seemed just cutting back the top would
make it perfect....
I had a saddle-maker friend who actually made the
cut....she cut it back to just mid-way under the pommel; but then could not
figure any way to bind the edge; fasten them back or re-stitch it closed.
So, you could see the layers of neoprene, foam, fleece and top leather,
etc.
The actual slit was a good idea and did not affect
stability of the saddle, however, once it was not "held up" on the withers, it
did drop a bit more in the front and was tighter under the front. This was
a very, very wide horse.
In any case, I wanted more of a "wider" cutback, that was
over 2" of material removed from front of saddle narrowing
back under the pommel to the slit. I found an old-time
saddle maker guy who was able to widen the slit....but FIRST, and most
important, he sewed it first with an awl, by hand....so to a nice, tight line of
stitching so nothing could shift or pull....THEN went back and cut out the
notch area inside, if that makes sense.....
Yes, the "inside" areas were still exposed somewhat, he
had no idea how to bind them either....I just eneded up really sealing all that
with Mink oil, and the fleece top saddle cover hit the slit.
Sorry can';t take photos, sold the saddle. I do not
feel it compromised the integrity of the saddle.....it went to a friend and
seems to fit her mare very well....
Now that I explained all that....I can rant a little bit
that this would be extremely easy to do in production, as well as some sort of
cut back behind cantle, which would keep saddle from rubbing spine.
Another friend had to give up on her beloved sport saddles
in that they rubbed the loin and spine on two of her horses, again, very
prominent spine horses; her two prior horses had not had that problem.
Because the saddle is essentially stablized by the pommel and cantle; one almost
wonders if the whole thing could be slit up the middle, similiar to a
McClellan., or at least the underside have some sort of raised panel on each
side, giving it a gullet.....
Some conclusions I am drawing are that just becuase a
saddle is more flexible or treeless, does not necessarly mean it can or should
bear down on the spine.....
Back to your "slit" idea.....I would call the company and
talk to the production manager; explain the problem and see what they have to
say!
I'd like to hear from anyone (off list is fine) who has modified the
front of their Sports Saddle into a cutback. In my limited experience
with it (3 horses) there's never been enough wither clearance there especially
when riding a higher-withered horse, and with my aging gelding's dipping back
the front presses on his withers. I just ordered a new Skito pad with
the special SS shims to bump the saddle up a little more, and I explained to
Tom about the dipping back so he'll shim more if needed to help
that.
I still would like to cut back the front. I've already started and
just cut a simple slot... just wondering if I should make it a larger slot and
leave the edges where they are, or fasten them back to the inside of the
gullet? Did you just bind the edges with thin leather? Any
experiences, and photos if you have them, would be appreciated!
