saddle survey (final)

[Kimberly Price <PLOUGH1@ix.netcom.com>]

These are the last of the saddle answers I received.  It is unknown if
they were sent to the list.  Of course, any sent to the list and not me
are not included, nor are they included in my summary.  Those who
requested the summary: I'll mail them out on Monday.
Sorry if some of these are redundant.

If I get bored enough I'll set  up the surveys and send them in as a
F.A.Q.  This is a good way to condense many answers into one list and
have them as history for anyone to see in the future.  It is easy to do
and perhaps Mike Maul will elaborate again to the list how to do it for
the new readers, if he is still in charge of this.

Happy riding to all!, Kimberly Price.
*********************
Subject:       Re: saddle survey#3 (long)
  Date:       Thu, 22 Jan 1998 20:35:55 -0700
  From:       "Robert J. Morris" <bobmorris@rmci.net>
   
Kim:

I know that I am late with this info but I just could not resist. My
wife
Arlene has ridden a saddle made by Gary Mc Clintock some years ago (like
20?) She has logged about 15, 000 miles in competition in it (mostly top
tens) and I would venture another 45, 000 in training and conditioning. 

This saddle has never shown any sign of soreing any horses back.
Something
I cannot say for the Orthoflex we thought would replace the old saddle.
It
has had new stirrup leathers put on it and a few dings repaired after
wrecks but it is still going strong and will survive a few more thousand
miles. Gary is located in Southern California and I guess will still
build
endurance saddles if you want one. Does not look very good since it has
seen rain,  snow,  heat, much horse sweat, wrecks , thrown in the back
of
the pickup,  and general abuse over the years.

Bob Morris
Morris Endurance Enterprises
Boise, ID

----------


Subject:       Australian Stock Saddle Company
  Date:       Fri, 23 Jan 1998 18:40:12 -0500
  From:       yerrick@juno.com (Beth A Yerrick)
    To:       PLOUGH1@ix.netcom.com

You can e mail the Australian Stock Saddle Company at the following
address:

TASSC@aol.com

Their phone number is 818-889-6988.

Website:  www.aussiesaddle.com

Subject:          Re: wither tracing
     Date:          Fri, 23 Jan 1998 21:53:29 -0600
     From:          Chris Paus <paus@micoks.net>
      To:          PLOUGH1@ix.netcom.com
      CC:          ridecamp@endurance.net

That's easy. I went to an office supply shop and bought a thing called a
flexicurve. It is used by draftsmen. It bends, but has ruler marks on
it.
You may also use a piece of clothes hanger or baling wire.

Take the wire or whatgever, place it at the horse's withers and press it
down on either side, behind the shoulder. The flexicurve is best because
it
stays where you put it. The baling wire or clothes hanger will take some
doing.

The wire should be sitting on the horse where the front of the saddle
will
sit. When it is pressed into place on the horse, CAREFULLY lift it off.
Lay
it down on a piece of paper or cardboard and trace around the wire. This
is
the shape of your horse's back where the saddle belongs.

Some saddlers will tell you to fax them a copy of the wither tracing.
They
compare that to their templates. I prefer to make a cardboard tracing,
then
cut it out. I can take that with me to a saddle shop and place it under
a
saddle to see if the fit is close. It can help you rule out some saddles
right away.

It is also an eye opener as to what different saddles call a regular
tree
and what they call wide. There is a lot of variation.

good luck

chris paus & star


ect:       Re: need saddle web sites.
  Date:       Fri, 23 Jan 1998 22:02:48 -0600
  From:       Chris Paus <paus@micoks.net>
    To:       PLOUGH1@ix.netcom.com


Hi. Here's the website for Thornill saddles.

http:\\www.thornhillusa.com

Subject:       Re: need saddle web sites.
  Date:       Sat, 24 Jan 1998 07:36:59 -0500 (EST)
  From:       Dolores Arste <darste@emi.com>
    To:       PLOUGH1@ix.netcom.com


try, www.vitalo.com/frankbaines

Subject:          Re: saddle types..more questions
      Date:           Sun, 25 Jan 1998 13:22:48 EST
      From:           CSimmons99 <CSimmons99@aol.com>

1.  The eventing and jump type saddles have a very forward flap as your
center
of balance (upper body) needs to come forward over your base of support
(leg)
as you go over a jump.   A dressage saddle is used primarily on the flat
and
you want the horse to work in a more collected frame so the center of
balance
is further back and leg position is more under your hip (body lines up;
ear,
shoulder, hip, heel).  An all-purpose saddle has a center of balance and
flap
that will facilitate some jumping and some dressage as well as trail
riding
(modified position).  The a/p flap is not as forward as a
jump/xcountry/event
saddle but not as straight cut as a dressage flap.  (Now days there are
a/p-
w/jump tendency and a/p-w/dressage tendency; with flaps reflecting leg
position to upper body/center of gravity needs).    Most traditional
western
saddles/some trail saddles reflect the western tendency for a more
forward
leg.  This is conduscive to speed work with quick stops.  Cow work,
barrel
racing, gymkana etc
2.  Depends on the company.  I am most familiar with Ortho-Flex so will
let
others fill you in on their preferences.  O/F has trail saddles on
wooden
trees in both their E & W models.   Some are very traditional western
looking
w or w/o horns and some look quite English but with more rider support
and
cush.  Their English trail models on American made trees (Lifetime
guarantee)
vary from English twist (crotch-narrower), trail models (crotch-not as
wide as
western saddles) and western trail models (wider than the English and
"trail"
models; many not as wide as some western that you feel like you're
sitting on
a 1/2 barrel).   They also have traditional "English" looking saddles
made in
Britian but with O/F's weight distributing "spring panels" attatched.
3.  O/F saddles have a tendency to put you a little further behind the
shoulder than alot of English saddles that lock you into the
wither/shoulder
area.  This is very conducive to arena schooling.  Some models have a
tendency
also to have your leg position a little more under you than traditional
western models; an asset for posting and arena schooling.  Their
Endurance
Cutback model is built on their Dresseur Dressage model tree.  The
difference
is in the all-purpose flap versus the more straight cut dressage flap. 
Their
trail models also have easy flat work seats.   
GP comment:  My girlfriend rides & shows western but loves her
Stubben-Tristan
FYI comment:  Andy Foster, England makes an awesome custom English
saddle to
your structure requirements.  My friend has had Thorogood-synthetic
(like
Wintec); western trail O/F, and English trail O/F  and now that she's
doing
dressage/arena schooling she wanted something to fit her 5 foot tall
height
with very little of it leg.  Andy modified the flap, stirrup bar
position and
custom built it to her and her horse.   A little extra padding in the
seat,
than most English saddles, for more comfort on the trail; small upper
thighblocks as she liked the added security she gain from the
thighblocks on
her E C/B; and a sliding/adjustable stirrup bar hanger, to change from
dressage/trail/jump position or to a  different rider with a longer
thigh.
Also a unique adjustable girth system for horses with a need to have a
more
forward or rearward placement.  (Some saddles are pulled forward or
slide
backward from the position of the girth in relationship to their
structure).
It's pricy but she's not complaining.

Subject:       Re: wither tracing
  Date:       Sun, 25 Jan 1998 11:22:35 -0800
  From:       "Duncan Fletcher" <dfletche@gte.net>
 
That is better than nothing, but there is a lot more to saddle fit than
just
the fit at the withers. Better is to use to take several tracings along
the
back at known distances. Better yet is to also trace the shape of the
horses
back along the spine. Then understand how dynamic fit may be different
than
static fit, and since I have no good information on how that might
differ, I
can only point you to the archives - there was a brief discussion of
this a
couple of months ago.

Duncan Fletcher
dfletche@gte.net

Subject:       Re: need saddle web sites.
  Date:       Mon, 26 Jan 1998 17:28:23 EST
  From:       RUN4BEAR@aol.com
   
For the Sharon Saare Saddles, check out: 
http://www.tic-hppt.net/runningbear/

Teddy



ubject:          Re: Synergist (John DiPietra) saddles
     Date:          Wed, 28 Jan 1998 20:19:18 -0800
     From:          Lauren Horn <fourhorn@fea.net>
      To:          KIMBERLY PRICE <PLOUGH1@ix.netcom.com>
      CC:          Ridecamp Endurance <ridecamp@endurance.net>

I've had mine almost a year and really love it. While it was made for my
measurents, I got a standard arab tree as I knew my horse would muscle
up in the future and obviously didn't want it made to fit an unfit
horse.

I really don't have a lot of miles in it but so far, no problems. I am
very comfortable in the seat and because it is balanced it is a breeze
to stand in the stirrups.

Lauren

Subject:       Saddle survey
  Date:       Wed, 28 Jan 1998 07:00:13 -0700
  From:       lyoness@castlenet.com (Joane Pappas White)
    To:       plough1@ix.netcom.com


Hi,

I apologize for being so behind on my Ridecamp materials but I have been
at
Convention.  I am very interested in the results of your saddle survey.
Have you reviewed Archives at Ridecamp too?  I asked the same questions
about 18 months ago and got some great suggestions.  This is the result
of
my own experience for the last 18 months:

SportsSaddle-fits everything well and was a wonderful saddle for
security
and confidence.  I actually ride the barrel racing version which is
deeper
seated but the horn is dangerous.  It was never sored a back--not my 1/4
horses who is round , nor my baby Arab who has no withers or my new mare
who
has huge witheres. Problem--I'm a middle to heavy weight depending on
tack.
I think that the saddle does not work as well for us as for the tiny
people.
I'm seeing white hairs on all the horses and am concerned that it is the
SS.
The vets don't know because there has never been soreness.

I have a autrailian stock saddle that I rode for a 25 mile ride on the
1/4
horse.  Although it is heavy, the vet was impressed with it and the
horse
and I both loved it.  

My english Ainsley is really and jumping saddle and is too forward
seated.
A dressage saddle might be a good chice thought and now that I'm
spending
time in dressage, I may try that saddle at a ride and see.

I just bought a Trekker RR from La Selleria Italia at the convention. 
It is
the most comfortable thing I have ever been in.  They guarantee it will
fit
any horse and it better because it was very expensive.  This is a new
suspension system with a seat suspended over webbing so it never makes
actually contact iwth the horse's back.  I should be here in a couple of
days and I let you know.

Thanks again,  Joane