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Honey Monster
Silver Member
 England
318 Posts |
 Posted - 04 Apr 2007 : 7:19:34 PM
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Been a bit busy lately so not been on here much .
Also been a bit down following my saddle quest.
Thought that I would let you know latest following on from my "wintec or thorowgood" post some time ago, as many of you were very helpful.
Well .... as usual a bit of a distaster - those of a nervous disposition look away NOW !
Got chap out with wintecs, thorowgoods and other saddles. Asked to bring ordinary girth - I only have dressage.
Tried some on her and thorowgood endurance looked okay, as well as a couple of working hunter types.
No B.....y girth! - so I couldn't try them. Anyway, he then tries on a Barefoot Cheyenne treeless
No, I said ... tried it before and with the pads it slips.
Oh no he says, you really do not need pads - so he puts it on and I get on and all seems well.
So cut long story short, I am persuaded by this to buy it.
Couple of days later, I really am not happy using this type of saddle without proper shock absorbing pads. Phone him - he stills says same thing. Anyway, eventually take saddle back and get my money back.
Get a qualified saddle fitter (also master saddler). Tries lots of (expensive!) saddles. Now problem is that because my last saddle was putting pressure forward and not on her back so much, she now was very much aware of FATTY on top and seemed to struggle/unhappy. Go chiro out to check her - okay
so saddle fitter comes out again and this time she seems very determined to make me see that my mare cannot take such a fatty (she was diplomatic!)
So, ....
Its official - I am too FAT
on a diet for last 5 weeks and need to loose about 2 - 3 stone
So far, just about lost one stone !!
Its so hard and Easter (loads of chocolate) on the horizon.
Had people say things like - are you going to get rid of your mare and get a bigger one/cob.
WHAT !!!! No way, I will definitely loose the weight -keep looking at my little mare and think "it will be worth it" (oh, and I will be healthier and fitter)
At the moment long reining her up step hills (which is amazing, because I have never long reined before - but she is so clever and has done it before)
Just off to munch on a very small salad ......
Paula
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Judith S
Platinum Member
Wales
15686 Posts |
Posted - 04 Apr 2007 : 7:39:42 PM
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Blimey Paula - in that case I am FAR too FAT to ride Arabs & need to loose hugh ammounts of weight - or cut off a limb or two..........!!!!
Funny then how my little Arabs happily carry my large bulk up & down our STEEP Welsh hills without baulking....often faster than I would wish! Also they happily do endurance with me fat lardy ontop - no probs!!!! Rowan even unfit can out pace visitors fit horses on the hills.................!!!!
Judith |
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rosyw
Platinum Member
England
3756 Posts |
Posted - 04 Apr 2007 : 10:02:47 PM
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Speaking as someone who used to fit saddles for a living, I would say that the people you have been dealing with are just after your money, the 2nd fitter was probably just a bit p**d off if they couldn't find a saddle to fit!
Rule of thumb: first find suitable fit for the horse and second is to get the right size for the rider, and if the rider is large check length of saddle won't interfere with horses loins.
Personally I would rather have lost a sale than supply a saddle unsuitable for both horse & rider, not good for reputation, but would NEVER say it was because the rider was too big for the horse! |
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rabelrhicks
Bronze Member
England
62 Posts |
Posted - 04 Apr 2007 : 10:43:36 PM
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Hi
I too am struggling with my rising 4 year old arab and am a couple of stone too heavy (fortuntely no one else has told me but I know !). In my case although I know arabs can carry weight, my girl is young and physcially devolping so do not want to put too much presure on her.
Like you I do alot of long reining - but another thing helping me to lose some weight is jogging with her !! (in a safe place) To start with my jog was her walk pace (I was almost jogging on spot much to Momo's amusement!!!!!!). After only a few sessions she now trots/jogs at my pace on a fairly loose rein. Where possibly try to jog down hill - easier for me and good for building up her muscle.
Give it a go - does help to shift some pounds.
Good luck with weight lose and finding a saddle - I know how hard both can be !
Bec |
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Cassie
Gold Member
England
781 Posts |
Posted - 04 Apr 2007 : 10:54:12 PM
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Hi
I have had experience of saddlers not being able to fit horse or me I had one saddler fit a show saddle and one day I decided to hack out on it as I didn't have another saddle, well anyway it bought a lump up on her back I complain to the saddler and he said what do you expect it's not designed to hack out on. I have now found another saddler who didn't find a problem fitting either one of us she said my weight wasn't a problem at 13 stone and when you think men ride arabs and they are usually bigger then us and they don't have a problem.
Christine |
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AkramGold
Gold Member
England
843 Posts |
Posted - 05 Apr 2007 : 09:49:29 AM
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| I would say it sounds like not the right saddle I have had simular trouble with my boy. I had an arabian saddle company saddle which I loved and it used to fit him really well but he has got a bit narrower over the years and became really unbalanced and would not canter on circles. I have had chiropractor out physio, vet and all said if he can trot up in hand like he does and didn't have any bad pain points there can't be much wrong. Then i found out if was the saddle a girl at the yard lent me a torsion with no prossure points and the problems went away. I weigh just over 8 stone so I don't think its how much weight but more how is distributed. |
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Grey Girl
Platinum Member
England
1554 Posts |
Posted - 05 Apr 2007 : 10:14:05 AM
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Honey Monster: Just to say well done on losing weight and try not to feel too sad/bad about it: I am too fat for Amelia at present but despite this amazingly good piece of incentive am finding it v hard to cut back on grub (I am just plain piggy!) Have lost half a stone though, so it's starting to shift...
Hang on in there girl, you are not alone... but of fellow feeling goes a long way, I find.
Grey Girl |
 Said the little eohippus, "I´m going to be a HORSE"  |
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Honey Monster
Silver Member
England
318 Posts |
Posted - 05 Apr 2007 : 4:00:26 PM
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Thanks everyone, I knew I could rely on you to say the right things !
The second saddle fitter didn't actually say I was too fat, just kept on saying that she is short backed (so 16.5? saddle not much weight distribution), fine/dainty (although I suspect she is used to warmbloods !!!). She also proded along her back and she quivered. It seemed that she was trying to get me to realise I was a problem, so it was me that said about my weight and she agreed that it would help to loose 2 stone.
It has been nagging me that it didn't seem right that suddenly my weight was a problem. My previous saddle did seem to push all the weight forward - I found this when I got a limpet pad and all the indentation in the pad was at the front and nothing where I sat.
But, I just remembered that when I got the Barefoot and rode two (very very short) rides without the proper pads ALL of my weight would have been on her back. She did not have the same problem when the second saddle fitter was here - then her back went down and I felt that her hindquarters were going under her.
I think that she might have had some muscle problem after using the Barefoot.
I did have the chiro out to her before the last fitting. I think I will have a word with her - but she did say her back was okay. I am beginning to wonder that as she has now had 5 weeks off, she might now be okay ....
Christine - I was 13 stone and my mare looks about the same type as the one in your first photo.
Grey Girl - thanks for support. I too am a piggy - addicted to food. Very hard to be sensible.
Akram - Did try a Saddle Company saddle - that was one of the problem saddles - I have tried a Torsion and it slipped forward and round.
I am now wondering whether to get the second saddle fitter back and try the working hunter types - I think it was Albion saddles and an Ideal Jessica and Ramsay - and these seemed to fit BUT she could't take my weight.
Or ? do I try another saddle fitter and have one more try at a thorowgood endurance (T6 model) - there is another distributor reasonably close, I think he is the chap that also makes the Dartmoor/Exmoor Treefree
Now down to 12 stone - oh the stress of this ... now, where is that chocolate ?!
Paula
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nikki
Platinum Member
Wales
4384 Posts |
Posted - 05 Apr 2007 : 4:49:30 PM
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Paula-how good humored you are! It's not funny, but i can't help but laugh at your posts!
Easter is a terrible time, theres something different about Easter Eggs, the chocolate is......mmm..yummier?
Try the ideal saddle-i can not fault them, they fit all the arabs i ride/ridden i have 3 saddles, and all fit them and go well in them.
Your mare will soon tell you if she's uncomfortable, and if it was your weight(very doubtful there) she would of been having probs since you got her. |
pagey |
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Marie-Molly
Gold Member
United Kingdom
929 Posts |
Posted - 05 Apr 2007 : 4:59:34 PM
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My gelding Hebe is very short backed and came with a 16.5" saddle. Now way could I ride in it! I am 5'8" and weigh between 11 and 12 stones... 
I got a reactor panel saddle, which distributes the weight over a wider surface, the panels are the standard size and 23" long. The saddle seat is a 17.5, which is perfect for me!
Hebe is very happy to carry me and my saddle (which alone weigh almost 2 stones) over very long distances. Off to do 50 miles on Saturday!
Find the right saddler and saddle and your weight won't be an issue. As long as you ride your mare in balance, she will be comfortable carrying you.
Marie  |
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Judith S
Platinum Member
Wales
15686 Posts |
Posted - 05 Apr 2007 : 6:46:54 PM
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| Will agree with Maries post about her RP saddle - I use Ortho-Flex & they spread the riders weight over a larger area than conventional saddles - which helps me being a heavier rider!! |
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Honey Monster
Silver Member
England
318 Posts |
Posted - 10 Apr 2007 : 2:57:07 PM
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Seems Ideal is very popular
Nikki - I had started to think that "something" didn't add up - and why didn't my weight cause problems before.
Marie and Judith - oh no not another different saddle to try !!
Think I will get Chiropractor out in next week or so and have one last check up and will then go trying more saddles ........
oh what fun
paula
now where did I hide those easter eggs ? |
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madmare
Platinum Member
England
2129 Posts |
Posted - 10 Apr 2007 : 3:39:09 PM
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I had a barefoot Cheyenne, and I am around the 10 stone mark. I have sold it, and have just bought an 18" med/wide fit saddle, which I know will fit Crystal, on Ebay!!!! Mylast saddle before the Barefoot was an 18" and I have ridden her quite happily in my friends 17.5" saddle...
It's rubbish about arabs not being weight carriers....if the horse ain't comfortable..they let you know in no uncertain terms!!!!!
my girl's previus owner had sat on her, and he wa the wrong side of 16 stone..my hubby has ridden my girl, and he was 16 stone at that point...now he's slimmed down from a whopping 21 stone, back to a rather svelte 14 1/2....which, for a 6ft 2 bloke is fairly skinny!!! And that is since Christmas!
You get a saddle that fits you AND your girl...and as long as you are both happy..who cares! |
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ACGODFREY
Silver Member
United Kingdom
440 Posts |
Posted - 10 Apr 2007 : 4:09:43 PM
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Oh dear! Please don't listen to some of these saddlers. I also got told that I was too big for my boy...not weight wise because at that point I was only 9 stone (not anymore..too much wine and chocolate!). At 5'8" and the wee boy only being 14.2hh (max) & very short backed I received comments about how only a child/small person should be riding him and I would never be able to fit myself into a 16.5/17" saddle!!! Hey presto, I can fit myself into these saddles no problem and tend to ride long anyway. I get very fed up with folks thinking that cos an equine is not 16.2" they can't do anything They will have to watch and learn when we zoom around the 90cm jumps not only faster than them, but not knocking anything down! |
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katefox1812
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
1612 Posts |
Posted - 10 Apr 2007 : 4:17:30 PM
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Maybe all you experienced saddle-experts could advise me as well?
What would be the very best make of saddle for my 3yo Arab stallion - just starting preparation for backing now? He's about 15.1, very strong and muscled for his age (pic below shows him as a 2yo). But we will just back him gently this year, do a few tiny short gentle hacks, no real work at all until he is 4.
Even so, and even though he may well grow and change shape, I want to get the best possible saddle for him to start with, so that his first experience of being ridden is totally comfortable and stress-free.
Weight is not an issue as I weigh just under 6 stone, but I am 5ft5 with longish legs so not sure what size saddle I need? With my last horse (ages ago) I think I had a 17" saddle, but can't remember. I would be happiest with a dressage saddle - ideally one of the ones that helps to put you in the correct position!
He will also be ridden by another rider, much more experienced than me, who I think weighs about 8 or 8 1/2 stone, and is about 5ft6 or 5ft7.
Any thoughts?
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Vera
Membership Moderator
United Kingdom
8652 Posts |
Posted - 10 Apr 2007 : 4:40:27 PM
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You're thinking along the lines that I did when I backed Dennis. Some people thought I was mad to spend such a lot on a first saddle knowing that it wouldn't fit for that long.
Anyway I attended a saddle fitting clinic and was very impressed by what Kay Humphries had to say on saddle fitting so I asked her to fit Dennis.
She recommended serge panels as they are very soft and will mould to the horses. She also highly recommended the Arabian Saddle Company Saddles. So I have a ASC Showring Saddle, doeskin seat and knee panels, buffalo hide leather, serge panels and made to template taken by Kay. It is a gorgeous saddle and worth £1450 that I paid for it.
Vera and Dennis |
    
Hampshire |
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katefox1812
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
1612 Posts |
Posted - 10 Apr 2007 : 5:32:51 PM
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Vera that sounds like exactly what I need! Thank you! I love the look of the ASC showring saddle - been wanting one for ages!
Are they comfortable for the rider as well? (Top priority is horse's comfort, of course, but a comfortable rider is likely to ride better!)
Do you have contact details for Kay Humphries? Where is she based? Do you think she would come to Berkshire to do a fitting? |
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Rebeckah
Silver Member
England
330 Posts |
Posted - 10 Apr 2007 : 8:13:26 PM
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I sympathise with all of you. I am having serious saddle issues too!
My boy Anubis is a very wide barrel shape but has a short back. Hence getting anything to fit him is mental! He has the same width back as an Irish Draught - yet takes a Pony size headcollar! All saddles slip on him or are too long and sit on his kidneys. Plus I am a pear shape so have a big bum so I need to find a saddle I can squeeze my arse into as well! I'm contemplating just a pillow strapped to him with a girth! |
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