New Horse/Saddle Placement/Imus 4-Beat
I've been riding my TWH mare in a Tucker 16.5 in. Endurance Saddle. I find this saddle comfortable, but I believe the seat size is too large. I should've bought a 15.5 seat.......I've never been able to find my "seat" in it. Keep shifting around in the saddle and after a ride, my hips and knees hurt.
I've bought a 3 year old SSH and while this Tucker saddle fits, I'm finding with this new horse's conformation (she has a slight rise to the point of the croup) I'm being thrown way to the front of this saddle. Where I'm being placed in the saddle feels good and balanced if "I take my feet out of the stirups".
I'm wondering if anyone thinks with the 4-Beat saddle would be a better fit for me and this horse since it sits differently on the horse. The Tucker sits right directly behing her withers.
She's a darling little horse, and we went trail riding yesterday (our first one since I've bought her) and she gaited for me a couple times then the rest of the time we did a fast dog walk. I was concerned about asking her to gait too much for me since my balance wasn't in the right position.
I have had tucker saddles and never have been able to get them to work we have just gotten our second 4-beat and are using them on 5 different horses and works well with them all a horses back is ever and in this modern times there seems to be no need for a rigid tree . when we have access ti materials that will give the same support of a wooden tree and still conform to the shape of the horses back . But i am an hi-tech kinda guy
chris
The Imus 4 Beat Saddle is designed to place you back against the cantle. This places you directly over your horse's center of gravity. Also, the stirrups are placed slightly forward which put your legs in a more natural seated position. If you were to drop your stirrups and let your feet dangle, this is where the stirrups fall on this saddle. Also, they are freeswinging to give you a little more freedom as well.
Re: 4-Beat
The silver looks good on that black saddle. Now I've got to decide which color to order and if I want horn or not. I'm used to riding without one from my Tucker, but with such a young horse and horn might come in handy when the "boogie men" in the woods jump out to eat us!.
Do you find the seat size runs along the same as a western saddle? I used to ride a 15" Western before the Tucker. With the 16.5 Tucker being too large, I figure a 15" 4 Beat is what I need.
Re: 4-Beat
Greetings from California. I simply love my Imus 4-Beat Saddle. It fits all three of my horses. It is the endurance saddle without the horn. Recently I ordered my second. It is a Western style, for my husband.
Re: 4-Beat
In truth i rode an endurance style for several years and got this to show western in and being 6'1" on a 16hh horse the horn dose get in the way when ducking low branches or going up steep hills or catching buttons on shirt when mounting . But its a nice place to rest your hand on a lazy day . I alway grab for a fist full of mane in those panic situations .
chris
I received my Imus 4-Beat saddle about a week ago. I was previously riding on a Tucker High Plains Saddle (16.5 inch) and had the same problems as you, the seat was too big. I like to ride a 15.5 or 16.0 saddle. (When I bought the Tucker, the dealer recommended the 16.5 because of the padding.)
I ordered the 16 inch Imus saddle and have found it fits about like the 15.5 saddle I have. I believe this is due to the padding in the seat.
I've found the seat is verycomfortable. I injured my tailbone about 10 years ago and have had to ride with a Cashel tush pad, even on the Tucker. I haven't needed any pad with this saddle, as I don't "hit bottom" with my seat bones. What a relief!
The biggest benefit I have seen so far though is that my horse moves out more fluidly and faster in the flat walk and fox trot. His ears are perked up and forward, and he actually looks happier to me when I am riding.
I am really encouraged, as so far the sweat patterns look fairly even. I love my Tucker saddle, but I found it was bridging in the area behind his shoulders, leaving a white spot about 4 inches in diameter. Plus, when ever we would go down a very steep hill, he would turn sideways, as his way of telling me the saddle hurt. So I decided to try the Imus saddle, because they have a 14-day trial period. Now he doesn't turn sideways anymore.
Re: New Horse/Saddle Placement/Imus 4-Beat
Hi Sue,
People always wonder if their saddle fits their horse or not. I think if you are in tune to your horse, they will let you know their comfort level one way or another.
Of course there always is a million exceptions to every rule.....
It sounds like you had your eyes open. Good for you.
Re: New Horse/Saddle Placement/Imus 4-Beat
Hi All. I just recently purchased the Tucker Old West Trail model, and although I ahve been it only about 5 times, so far it is working quite well. Seems to fit my horse and me too. I looked at the Imus saddle but never tried it although i did get a trial on the tucker.
Re: Saddle Placement/Imus 4-Beat
Hi Chris,
Thank you for posting the photo of your horse with the Imus saddle on. How does the flank strap attach at the cinch? I could not find a photo on Brenda's site, and wonder what it looks like, with the two latigos attaching to a single cinch?
Does it acts like a flank strap, without a flank cinch? Do you have any photos of the saddle on your horse, with the rigging exposed? Thank you for posting the first photo too.
Natalie
Jamie said she stopped in here and saw the conversation regarding the rigging, and wanted me to reply. Not sure if I know how to post a photo, but will give it a shot.
The rigging is 3/4 fired, as opposed to the usual 7/8. With the 7/8's rigging, the rigging falls directly below the horn of the saddle, placing the girth right behind the horse's elbow. This means that the saddle is only attached in front, unless you use a rear cinch. It also leaves horse prone to saddle galls, since this is the most active point in the underbelly of the horse.
The 3/4 fired rigging falls just below the rise of the saddle. We place a slanted rear rigging so that riders can connect the cinch latigos from the front rigging to the cinch, back up to the rear rigging. This secures the saddle front to back, but requires only one cinch at the barrel. The cinch tends to shift very slightly so that it rests at the least active point of the barrel. The latigo ties off on the back rigging ring, keeping all the rigging bulk out from under the rider's leg. You'll see in the photo that we make sure there is fleece lined leather under the front rigging and straps--again, to avoid unnecessary rubbing and irritation on the horse. We tried a number of different prototype riggings before settling on this system and, quite frankly, I think it works absolutely great for both horse and rider.
BTW, a true center fired rigging comes down from under the deepest part of the seat-too far back to permit a rear rigging and, IMHO, it is even less desirable than a 7/8 rigged saddle.
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