Home Current News News Archive Shop/Advertise Ridecamp Classified Events Learn/AERC
Endurance.Net Home Ridecamp Archives
ridecamp@endurance.net
[Archives Index]   [Date Index]   [Thread Index]   [Author Index]   [Subject Index]

Re: [RC] Saddle Suggestions, Anyone? - Lysane Cree

Reactor Panel.
I know, I know, you said you'd prefer no tree, but with your horse's back measurements and
 the individual adjustable flexible panels, there is enough room to maneouver with a horse's back changing because of fitness level or the way he is carrying himself etc. No pressure across/along the horse's spine, plenty of wither clearance. You can test ride a saddle and return it if it's not working for you.
Can you tell I love mine? lol Best money I ever plunked down because it ended my saddle search.
 
Lysane

From: Dawn Carrie <rdcarrie@xxxxxxxxx>
To: ridecamp <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, July 9, 2009 1:19:54 PM
Subject: [RC] Saddle Suggestions, Anyone?

Ok, it looks like I need to start The Great Saddle Search for one of my horses.  I've been using a Barefoot Cheyenne (treeless) on both of my boys.  It continues to work well for Bear, who has a pretty average back (whatever *that* is!  LOL).  He's not too narrow, not too wide, etc.  I've added padding to my pads, added a plastic shim to give more protection from the stirrup hangers, etc.  He seems to be doing fine in it, and moving well.  He's completed 2 100s in it with no sore back issues, as well as a lot of 50s.
 
The horse having problems is my 14.2h gelding Sundance.  He has a very wide, flat back.  Very widely-sprung ribs.  He's also very short-backed.  Nice withers, not too high.  The last few rides he's had some soreness issues on his back.  Also, on the last few conditioning rides he's had some slightly puffy areas recently right where the stirrup hangers are, in spite of the extra padding.  I've played around with padding, and can't seem to solve it.  I'm thinking it might be due to his back being so wide and flat...on Bear, these hangers lie on an area that is sloping downward, so there's less pressure directly against him.  On Sundance, they lie on an area of his back that is still pretty darn flat, so there is pressure directly into his back from them.
 
I also need to work on how he carries himself, get him to round up more, but he will try to do so but won't hold it, I'm sure due to the saddle being uncomfortable.  He can't bring his back up into the ouchy saddle.
 
So - any ideas for saddles that tend to work well for a horse with a back like his?  I would prefer to stay with treeless and a western style, but will go to a more English style if I need to.  I'd rather not go to a treed saddle, at least at this point, as I feel his back will continue changing as he begins carrying himself better.
 
When I first started riding him I used a borrowed  Bob Marshall Sport Saddle.  He did fine in it, although I wasn't doing enough miles on him at the time to really tell how he'd do in the long haul.  BMs *are* kinda long, though, and I can't remember if that was an issue, with it rubbing on his hip bones.
 
I'm open to ideas...
 
Dawn Carrie, Texas
and Sundance (oohhh...a new saddle for me???)


Looking for the perfect gift? Give the gift of Flickr!
Replies
[RC] Saddle Suggestions, Anyone?, Dawn Carrie