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arabic
Platinum Member
 England
4562 Posts |
 Posted - 17 Apr 2007 : 11:40:29 AM
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I bought a second hand wintec saddle via here a year ago and love it. Got the saddlefitter out to check it and although it came with a wide gullet had to change to m/w which he checked and ok'd. During my natural horsemanship lessons my instructor picked up that the saddle was way too tight on his shoulders restricting his movement and suggested I put the wide gullet back and use plenty of padding. We started off with wintec comfort pad and poly pad and over the months gradually reduced it as it became obvious that Freddie was muscling up. I have been reluctant to reduce further from the thick wool pad we have been using but one of the girls on the yard encouraged me to as it was so hot. I tried him in a normal but well padded numnah and he feels fantastic so obviously its the way to go and we are back to normal at last!
I was blaming the saddler (every year he reflocked the front of my old leather saddle) but is it possible that I was having my saddle checked every spring, having ridden very little in the winter and the saddler was actually doing his job correctly? (The problem wasn't noticed until the Autumn)
I am very confused by it all and not sure about saddlers at all. Thankfully Freddie has come out on top bless him and I get to keep my lovely saddle. Perhaps it will mean plenty of padding each spring instead of restricting the poor chap.
How on earth do you all manage, no wonder there are so many "saddle" topics!
Sandie
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anne
Gold Member
England
877 Posts |
Posted - 17 Apr 2007 : 12:10:00 PM
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Sandie,
I know how you feel I have just had a similar conversation with my instructor this morning.
Fitter says the saddle is right for Tara I'm not convinced neither is my instructor although it appears to fit we both feel odd in it as though it ia leaning to one side.
I don't have a problem with my New Forests saddle regardless wether he is having a fat or thin month and I did not have any trouble with my anglo arabs.
Maybe it is true that Arabs are difficult to find the right saddle for
Anne |
    
..................................................................... Photo by David Evans |
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arabic
Platinum Member
England
4562 Posts |
Posted - 17 Apr 2007 : 12:42:35 PM
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Hi Anne, Im glad Im not alone!!
No one that I know has trouble with "fat or thin months" either and Freddies first synthetic(when he was 3) still fitted him 4 years later. Unfortunately my butt was a little bigger than my stick insect son's, otherwise I would have kept it and wouldnt be where we are today grrrrrr!! I am hopeful that perhaps now this saddle will be the same.
Sandie
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rosyw
Platinum Member
England
3756 Posts |
Posted - 17 Apr 2007 : 3:14:48 PM
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As a saddle fitter I would also agree with your instructor, if the horse has not been doing much through the winter you should make allowances for the horse to muscle up when properly back in work, use extra saddle pads if needed as you have done. If you don't do this you can cause muscle wastage on the horses shoulders. I once fitted a saddle on a really nice Arab who was being pinched so badly by his old saddle that he couldn't get his forelegs behind the vertical! his owner couldn't believe how much his paces improved and I now see him regularly 'floating' down our local bridleways. I am sure most saddle fitters feel the same way as I do, it is truly satisfying to see a horse being ridden in a saddle you have fitted, moving freely and with a happy rider on board!
Rosie |
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arabic
Platinum Member
England
4562 Posts |
Posted - 17 Apr 2007 : 3:38:58 PM
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Thanks Rosie, yes it is a pleasure to feel him going so freely, cant believe how restricted he was (dont think he can either!) Definately dont want to go back to that!!
Sandie |
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Honey Monster
Silver Member
England
318 Posts |
Posted - 17 Apr 2007 : 4:24:16 PM
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Sandie
Glad you have (Finally !) got the right outcome.
As you said, saddles are a nightmare.
Paula
(still having sad saddle nightmares - hope to wake from it soon!) |
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nicolanapper
Platinum Member
England
4247 Posts |
Posted - 17 Apr 2007 : 8:53:35 PM
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I have recently just spent over £800 for a made to measure saddle for my pure bred. It was however worth every penny, he is so different and fantastic to ride. For the last 2 years he has been ridden in a wintec and was so cold backed it made it positively dangerous mounting up on him. That has now all stopped. The leather saddle he has is soft (the flocking is lambswool) and is like a cushion, he is a sensitive boy, I do know that, now I just feel rotten that I put him through such uncomfortable hell with the old saddle.
Nicky |
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arabic
Platinum Member
England
4562 Posts |
Posted - 17 Apr 2007 : 9:35:52 PM
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Well, Freddie had a Mctimoney session this afternoon and he came out with flying colours. I was well chuffed, bless him he thoroughly enjoyed it and has no problems at all except stiffness in the saddle area from when his saddle was too tight, which has now been rectified. The only slight fault she could see was his short strides again due to the ill fitting saddle. He has already started to lengthen and I am sure the more comfortable he feels, the better it will get.
Nicky, I dont have the cair system and find the flocked wintec ok. It was the combination of the wrong gullet (advised by the saddler) and the saddler overflocking the front of my previous leather saddle, but thankfully we seem to be sorted now.
Sandie |
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