ridecamp@endurance.net: The Sport Saddle

The Sport Saddle

Fuchsia (fuchsia@mhs.mcn.org)
Wed, 3 Dec 1997 10:43:54 -0700

Hey guys...

I use a treeless sport saddle on my six year old arabian horse, who has an
incredible sway back. The only other person I know who even owns one uses
it for maybe 20 miles per month, tops, on regular backed horses. I use mine
up to 200 miles per week, year 'round, and I've been having some troubles.
Although it's "treeless" it's got a tree piece in the front and back (one
to keep it from twisting, and the other to keep you from sliding off the
back end.

My troubles:

The girth is set too far forward for my horse
I had to modify the stirrup leathers severly to be comfortable

Big troubles

My horse rings his tail constantly, doesn't like two point postion, and
bucks (which he's never done), especially with larger people.

It's also leaving sores on his back... I don't know why. I use a skito pad
underneath, and it works better than the thick felt one I tried, but it
seems as though it's the stirrup and cinch rigging that's a problem. Also,
the back tree piece is apparently also a source of discomfort. I recently
saw a completely treeless saddle, and considered making another substantial
investment, but I think the same problems might occur. I don't want to take
my saddle apart, but I'm wondering exactly how they distribute the pressure
of the straps. A custom tree sounds good on paper, but I'm not convinced.

Does anyone out there have an ill shaped horse? What do you use? Does
anyone use the sport saddle, or another kind of treeless saddle? Do you
have any of my problems? I would like to compete next year, and we did
great this season, but if I don't figure something out for his back... I'm
doomed. Come on, I know somebody here's got some GREAT advice.

--Fuchsia

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