Thursday, January 27, 2022

saddle skeptic

broad and flat
It would be easier to sit on a propane tank. At least it wouldn’t trot. Q is very round. And while overweight (1050 according to vet weight tape) it’s also just her shape. Mutton withers blend into wide back, also short backed, oh joy! 

She got her own sign, can't have a no-name horse in pasture!
Of course my favorite Solstice wide is far too narrow. I tried it anyway and rolled side to side like a drunken sailor, as the too tight saddle couldn’t settle. Q was quite tolerant but after the short ride she had totally dry patches on the “shoulders” (they’re so meaty I’m not even sure I can call them that!), so certainly a bad fit. But I’ve ridden that saddle probably 10,000 miles, it’s amazing, not getting rid of it. But not for Q. 

saddle skeptic

Onto saddle two: Freeform Elite dressage. It’s treeless, It has extra panels for taller withers (she certainly doesn’t need those!). I have a good pad with equipedic inserts. I tried this on about five rides. Good sweat patterns, and she doesn’t object, but I feel like a flopping beginner up there. After a trail ride she did the whole body shake and I almost fell off! I don't hate the saddle, but me learning the saddle and learning the horse is a tough combination. (I didn't even take any photos of it!).

old standby: Wintec 2000

one of my favorite trees didn't survive the storms
So out to the dusty saddle trunk, where I dug out an old standby: Wintec 2000. Why did I keep this? It was the saddle I first rode Major in, but mainly it wasn’t worth selling and has fit quite a few horses. I stuffed the widest gullet plate in there, got out my trusty thin line pad and sticky girth, and tried out the combo. Better, still a bit of rolling, but secure. Maybe my best option?

Duett Tango test, rear panels nice and wide
I’m not buying a saddle for a lease horse. Ok, whoops, I wrote some of this a few weeks ago…yes I did buy a saddle for a lease horse! (But you know how horse math is…I can always resell it…). I found an amazing deal on a Duett Tango. I tried one owned by another boarder on her, seemed very promising. Duett is a hoop tree, wide rear panels. It’s not as comfy as my Solstice, (twist is too wide for me) but with my Haf saddle pad (no inserts), breast collar, sheepskin saddle cover and endurance stirrups, we had a few good rides, though I still had to get off and adjust the saddle slipping. Upgraded to a non-slip anatomical girth. Better, but arghh, still some rolling! 

current setup, need to take better photos (and shorten the breast collar)
I was at my wits's end. I read some used a piece of shelf liner under the saddle pad? Seemed like it could bunch or rub. I went for the actual horse version. It showed up and was tiny, flimsy and sure looked useless. 

dumb thing is a miracle worker

back on the trail
This stupid little thing is amazing!! A lifesaver. Saddle is solid (still have to really watch placement, it’s much farther back than I’d have thought). I really thought I had a lot of tack available until now, hah! At this point the only other saddles I own are a very old charro kids saddle (my uncle's or grandfather's?) and my uncle's huge heavy western. Both are old, dried out leather and not safe (plus my butt is not fitting in that kids saddle!!) 

old saddles, not for me (but cool tapaderos!)
 I think the saddle hunt is solved for now… until she gets in better shape and changes? Oh no. 

My other adventures: taking Wesley for his daily walks!

10 comments:

  1. Q has a lovely eye - so happy for you ❤️❤️❤️
    And Wesley looks positively dapper in his adventure-cat outfit!

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    1. Q can be very sweet. And Wesley loves his adventures, climbing trees the most!

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  2. I know what you mean about the short backed low wither problem. Tandy our Morgan gelding is that way, my husband uses a western saddle we got used, that was custom made for such a Morgan. He uses a five star felt pad and a breast strap. Coco who is med length, but now slightly dip backed and low withered has a five star pad, a very wide tree dressage saddle, a gel pad with extra padding in the middle for the dip, so that we have no "bridging". Both saddles are super comfortable to ride in. Thank goodness we are all hopefully more knowledgeable now about saddle fit for us and our steeds. Best of luck with your new one !!

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    1. Yeah, if I wanted to go western I think there would be more options, and so true, glad we know more about fit!

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  3. PS that is so great he that you can do that for your cat. I had two of mine Leash trained many years ago and they traveled everywhere with us.

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  4. It's weird to see Major's stuff on another horse: (
    I rode a propane-tank Haflinger a few times and tried my trusty Wintec 2000 with the widest gullet and it worked, but it was not truly secure.
    Please keep blogging about your adventures!
    I have a friend who has a cat fence in her back yard so that her cat can go outside and be safe. It looks ugly, but that cat sure enjoys it. She also takes him out for walks, but there are an awful lot of dogs around here. I'm very sad that I'll never have a cat again, after the traumatic loss of ours. Unless there are cats that truly want to stay indoors all the time (?).

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    1. Agreed. I use the saddle bags and pad, but his bridle/reins I'm not using. Can;t do it yet (if ever).
      Wesley would love to be outside, and not indoors. But for safety he does not get to decide! He would get eaten by a coyote or run off after something, so instead he can look out all the windows, play in his catio, watch the birds and just "suffer" his difficult life indoors! 8-)

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  5. What kind of harness is Wesley wearing? who makes that? I need it!!

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    1. It is a cat harness, but I've already switched what kind (that one was all velcro and covered in cat hair almost immediately!). I found one I liked by searching Amazon, they're all over now!

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