ridecamp@endurance.net: Saddles, hard to fit horses

Saddles, hard to fit horses

Dolores Arste (darste@mailhost.emi.com)
Fri, 8 Aug 1997 09:52:35 -0400 (EDT)

This is not an advertisment, at least not yet. As some of you know, I've
been talking with Frank Baines of England about ordering a saddle. I have a
very hard to fit morgan stallion. I've had two saddle doctors here at the
barn to help. Anyway Frank has been very helpful and I ordered a saddle from
him that should be coming next week. Please hope that UPS is off the strike
by then.

Anyway in a conversation this morning he was telling me about his latest
product. Its not quite ready for mass production yet. It is a saddle pad
filled with soft space-age beaded material that molds and can be re-molded.
After being placed on the horse and saddled the air is sucked out (sort of
like Nike Air Jordan sneakers) and the result is a perect mold of the
horse's back. That in tandem with a correct saddle tree should make it very
comfy for the horse. Sounds like it would sure beat buying a new saddle as
the hores changes. He also mentioned working with an organization in Europe
(called "Balanced seat") that feels wider is better for the horse. So now he
is making all his saddles in tree sizes up to 10 wide. The widest I've heard
to date here is 5 wide.

He mentioned an article in "Tack N Tugs" from Minetonka (sp?), Minn that
had been written this up. Anybody ever heard of this mag? It was the January
issue.

Since I'm a died in the wool English rider all this was fasinating to me. So
I thought you all might be interested. If you would like more info, write
Frank directly at Baines@vitalo.com.

PS. He also makes Jumping and Dressage saddles in these wider widths. And
I'll keep you posted on how this saddle works for me.
Dolores
Braken Schips / Entwoond Racing Siberians - Morgans Too!
"Authority without domination, Love without subservience, Respect without fear"

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