I have been reviewing archives for all the saddle information you gave me a
year ago (and the additional information you have given to all the other
newbies). I have been presented with a unique opportunity--my friend and
dentist is also an accomplished saddlemaker. He has watched with interest
this last year as Thumper the Quarter Horse and now Baby Tzar have been
conditioning for and competing in Endurance. He has been studying
everything we can get our "collective" hands on about endurance saddles and
trees etc. He now wants to design and build his own endurance version for
Tzar. Our friend and Vet Kimberly Henneman will help and we have talked
about computer pressure checking fit at each stage. We are still debating
many issues and would love your thoughts and ideas. Here are some of ours:
1. We are seeking the lightest weight but strongest wood for the tree. The
consensus is that I should have a tree (I currently ride a Sport Saddle) as
a Middleweight rider. Several treemakers are working with Clyde to
decide the best way to accomplish the strength/ultralight challenge.
2. Clyde's design has a raised wide curved pommel that is open enough to
grab and will provide security on steep downhill terrain. His sketch
shows an optional little bucking rolls for additional security but we
are debating that at the moment. OF's American Outback shows that
same bucking roll concept.
3. Clyde wants to try making it out of 8 to 10 oz. English Bridle leather
and inlay a padded dish seat and use something really soft like ostrich
to cover it. I thought go "hightech" and see if equigel might custom
make the pad to go under the inlay and then it was suggested if they
would do that, would they make the gel pad to fit the horse side of
the bars. Have any of you had experience with the new saddles that have
the built in equigel seats?
4. The actual design is a western fender but that has caused problems with
my knees and so an english stirrup rigging appears more likely.
5. Should we use biothane for stirrups and cinch material? This is an area
where we have almost no information.
All your suggestions and ideas would be greatly appreciated. I think we
have studied all the saddles on the List but we are always interested in
your experiences with different types of saddles.
Thanks,
Joane and Thumper and Baby Tzar