Re: General Gaited Horse Tack Questions and Answers!
I have a SSH/TWH and I've been round and round with the saddle thing! I had a dressage-style with the idea that it would be off the horse's shoulders, but someone told me it won't allow me to sit correctly. Then I liked the Bob Marshall treeless saddle idea but I talked to a saddle-maker who can justify a tree with DETAILED explanations and thinks a "leather pad with a pommel and cantle" is for dummies. I've even tried a Lane Fox; I didn't like sitting back THAT far and it made the horse's back muscles sore. In the meantime I'm riding on a fleece bareback pad... I just purchased an Icelandic Endurance saddle on eBay--can anyone share an opinion whether this was another bad idea? I'd love to have an Imus 4-Beat, but it's too expensive for me right now. Help?
Tack Question
Hello chippychick,
The best judge of saddle fit is the horse. If your horse seems to be comfortable and well behaved, why would you care what a saddle maker believes. Especially when you can get direct feedback form your horse.
Re: Tack Question
I always that that a dressage style seat would be very balanced and would work fine i find myself sitthig that way in my imus when working on collection . as far as the sportz saddle that I had at one time for my 240lb size i didnt think it dispersed the weight enough . And i got sore spots on the spine right in the middle of the saddle (but i go on 4 to 6 hr rides . As with the isey saddle it may work fine you will just have to see . The most important thing to look for is good contact along the saddle bars . Nice space over the spine and not pinching in the shoulders.
chris
I'm having problems with girth galls on my 14 yr. old SSH, McGruff. I've tried every girth known to man...almost. Right now I'm contemplating changing tack completely and I'm looking at saddles AND rigging options. He came to me with small hard knobs behind each elbow where the girth goes and it's gotten worse with time. This winter our vet gave him steriod injections in each knob to reduce the swelling. They chafe, ooze and at times I've looked down and they've been bleeding. Needless to say, we stop riding RIGHT then. As a result, I can't always ride when I'd like to and he gets really hissy when his pasture mate goes and he's left behind! I think I made a mistake with my first saddle for him. I'm a large woman (240 lbs. but proportionate) and I was paranoid about adding more weight, so I went with a light weight abetta. I've had no problems and McGruff has had no back problems or any soreness other than the girth problem. His gait has been fine. Right now I'm looking at saddles...and possibly center fire rigging like an endurance saddle? I started out with a neoprene girth, then switched to really dense sheepskin and I was really careful to keep them clean. Now we're using eggcrate foam between him and the sheepskin. Our vet has suggested surgery to remove the lumps and loose skin, but I hesitate. He has tender, pink skin in those areas (he's white there) and I'm not sure that the scar wouldn't be just as sensitive! IF I do it, I'll wait till winter when the flies are dead. Meanwhile, I'm going to try a change of tack. Has anyone ever dealt with this? I use a breast strap as we ride in really rough, mountainous areas frequently. He's not overweight, although he's a really easy keeper. We do rides from 2 to 6 hours. The longer rides are broken up with a rest break for us and the horses. (The horses can pee while saddled...it's harder when you're IN the saddle! LOL) ANY help or advice would be appreciated by me AND McGruff. He wants to go as much as I do! (I'm just glad he doesn't buck or be nasty like some horses would...he just slows down and starts looking at his girth.... It breaks my heart!)
Re: Tack Question
Hello SC welcome
Have you tryed a molhair (100%) cinch i had a horse that was very sentisive and that is all i could use on him and it is low profile . Center fire rigging would help alot . what kind of saddle do you have . Can you rig it center fire like the imus is
chris
Re: Tack Question
Hi Chris,
Thanks for answering my plea. I haven't tried mohair but at this point I'm thinking about changing the location of the girth.
I'm also seriously thinking that maybe my Abetta is too light and doesn't distribute my weight right so that there's more tension on the girth? I don't even know if that makes any sense, but my farrier said a heavier saddle would distribute my weight better. Could that affect the girth? Gruffers doesn't have any sore spots on his back. I've been told I've got a nice seat (yeah, I know...my husband says it looks the same as it always has..big! LOL) so I'm wondering if it could be the saddle itself? One thing I have learned is that I will never buy another horse with white in the girth area! This horse gets groomed to death and I'm meticulous about cleaning girths, so it isn't dirt. I'm looking at the Imus saddle as well as a couple of others. I'd like to say money is no object (wouldn't we all!) and actually, if you think about riding or not riding....it really isn't! A new saddle may be Mother's day, birthday, XMAS, anniversary all rolled into one....as well as my husband's payback for that crack about my seat!!! Thanks for answering!
Re: Tack Question
I have heard that the abetta saddles work well . The fact that a "heavier saddle would distribute your weight better i dont know about . the plane matter of fact is the amount of weight bearing surface in contact with horses back is what makes the differance , but i would look for something center fire rigged to get that girth from right behind hes leg. Now I have said in other posts what saddle I have found that i love . Its not cheep and if the abetta tree is working then you might look at there endurance saddle . It has centerfire rigging.
chrisEdited by: cclarsencc at: 4/15/04 5:53 am
girth problems
You might want to try changing how you use a breastplate on your horse. We ride mountains and hills a lot mostly around Ky. Tn and Va. Some of the problems seem to have been caused from trying to keep the saddle to far forward. I ride a Peruvian Paso and also a SSH using the same Aussie saddle and have noticed if you force the saddle forward on either of them it causes some lack of balance and behavior changes in both horses. The only type of breastplate that I use now is an Aussie type even if I change over and use a Western type gaited saddle.
One of the Aussie saddles I use is a Syd Hill and the other is an Australian Outrider. The Outrider does a better job than the Syd Hill Endurance which is a more central localized girth location.
Just try some smaller ups and downs and see exactly how your saddle is going to need to be placed instead of pulling it into position with your breastplate.
Good luck and enjoy those mountains.
Barefootrider.
The reason gaited horses, specifically, tend to get galls is that gaited horses tend to have a much longer stride, and much more movement in general, than non-gaited horses. This poses a major problem because it pulls the girth forward on the forward stride and then the girth pinches right behind the elbow on the back stride. I had this problem on my KMSH and a walker a couple of years ago.
Try looking for a saddle that has the girth placed further back away from the elbow. Also, center fired rigging will help keep the girth pulled back a little further.
Brenda Imus' saddle is designed this way specifically for this common gaited horse saddle fitting problem. I haven't had a problem since.
You can check out her link to the saddle here: www.gaitsofgold.com/saddles/saddles.htm
This may be the answer to your problems.
Good luck!
Is your Abeta saddle the model that has a slot for a back cinch? If so you can get a long billet strap and rig it so it is centerfire. If the girth rub is your only fitting issue then a simple change like this could save you a bundle. If you don't know how to do the rigging change let me know. There are two ways. One is real cheep (2 long latigos and a regular western cincha) but sort of a pain to girth up. The other takes four straps and a different (english type) girth so it would cost a bit more but is soooo much easier to use. But I bet it would only cost $50-60. Much less than a new saddle.
Anyone got any opinions about Tucker saddles? I got the Plantation saddle, and it's very comfortable with the gel cush seat. I'm not a saddle-fitting expert, but it seems to fit well and my horse goes very well with it. Only problem, it's much heavier than it looks. I would appreciate any comments you may have.
Re: Tack Question
We went through several tucker saddles and thay just had too much rock in the bars for out flat backed horses . This is one reason i am sold on a flex tree style of saddle . We did a 10 mile ride (3 hrs.) last saterday and my imus saddle did wonderful no soreness at all.
I no longer worrie about dropping my hat beacause this is the first saddle that dosnt move when i remount .
chris
Re: Tack Question
Yes, Chris, your Tucker info is really appreciated. We will have to really take that into consideration when Rusty buys his next saddle - as a broad-backed horse could be what we wind up with!
Note on my Longreach Endurance (Aussie): it comes with a really nice felt and nylon & canvas webbing girth. We have had NO PROBLEMS at all.
Re: Tack Question
My husband bought a Tucker plantation late last summer. So far so good; doesn't sore the horse & he loves the seat (it IS heavier than it looks). He previously rode in an aussie made by Outback which he'd been using for years with his other walker. I rode the same type aussie on my old peruvian for years, but wanted a lighter saddle, so ended up with 2 new ones: 1 Columbian paso fino (McClellan-style), and a peruvian trail saddle. I LOVE the peruvian saddle, but the paso fino saddle is incredibly light. I use both.
Re: General Gaited Horse Tack Questions and Answers!
To %%WORD0%f,
The saddles we bought for our walkers were from National Bridle Shop from Tennessee (they have catalogs.) The trail saddle is light weight, and is specially designed for the way the walkers have a different build. The cantle is higher and the skirt is more rounded. The basket weave is very comfy and NBS is online also.
Re: General Gaited Horse Tack Questions and Answers!
The SSH I just bought had a girth gall after I test rode him. They ride him in an Abetta endurance saddle. I'm having the vet check done tomorrow and I am going to have im check this. After reading your message about McGruff now I'm really worried.
I was concerned about this because I don't want it to be a recurring problem. He doesn't have pink skin but the gall was right where you describe.
I have a Longreach Endurance (aussie) saddle and I'm hoping that doesn't cause him problems. I'm going to buy a very soft wool sheepskin cover.
Re: General Gaited Horse Tack Questions and Answers!
Christine,
You also might want to consider if he is overweight or out of condition. If he's fat, he'll show up with galls much sooner than if he's in shape. How much is he being ridden now and how long was your "test" ride? Has he been out to pasture rather than being ridden? These could be reasons for galls that won't be an ongoing problem once he's back into shape. I really think some of McGruff's problem is loose skin....due to age or prior weight gain and loss I don't know...but I'd check to make sure he doesn't have any loose skin/wrinkle-rolls in the girth areas...
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