The general concensus seemed to be synthetic leathers for synthetic
saddles is OK, but biothane seemed to rub the saddle & scuff the
finish on a lot of folks' saddles. Biothane doesn't seem to scuff the
horse when he wears it since he sweats, making the biothane slick &
slippery!
I also received a number of posts commiserating on the sores on my
shins. I'm sure that there are folks who aren't rubbed, but there
are a lot who are.
The suggestions I received:
1) Wear 1/2 chaps (I do already)
2) Pad the leathers for your legs comfort w/ fleece (Done that,
too. Majewski's comfort stirrup slip ons - very plush!)
3) Pad the leathers (w/ extra padding at the camlocks) to prevent
saddle scuffing. (Pads for my legs don't cover the one side of the
leathers which brush the saddle. Plan to make a fleece tube SOON.)
4) Switch to real leather for my leathers :)
5) Be sure that my toes don't turn out - adds pressure to the front
of your shins. (Will ask my husband to critique my riding next time
out - especially as I get tired which is when I tend to get lax with my
form.
Thanks for all the replies!
Linda Flemmer
ABF Challenger ("Rocket") & Eternal Point ("Major")
Blue Wolf Ranch
Chesapeake, VA
"In case of emergency - Fur side up, steel side down!"