Cindi Burns and TC AKA Tough Cookies
Saddle fitting…emmm what a project. Seems like my horses body shape has changed with his new work this summer. Larger shoulder muscles I suspect from trail riding steeper terrain and/or proper usage of his back in the ring. One of these or both have caused a sore back for my horse. My eyes burn from reading so many articles on how to fit a saddle properly. I’ve had 3 professional saddle fittings over the the last 5 years on this somewhat wide QH of my mine. None found a english saddle that fit better than my current all-purpose Crosby soft-ride that was marginal at every saddle fitting. Well, now that saddle has totally failed me or should I say my horse. As for me my butt was totally content in that soft-ride saddle. but as for my horse the bar area has become too narrow.
Loaded up the horse and went to the tack shop…tried on saddles in the parking lot. Tack shop assistant amazed how quiet my QH was as trucks parked nearby. Expressed her TB mare would never do the same. Now I have a wide all-purpose saddle sitting at my feet awaiting tomorrow’s ride.
I asked my webmaster what to write in my first blog. I felt like it was my personal diary and didn’t want to share it with the world, His response, “ just write something about horses”. Emmm that is my personal diary…my webmaster is obviously not a horse person but a good webmaster so he’s a keeper.
Cindi Burns, Manager of The Horsemen’s Guide
Tags: best saddle pads, chiropractor horse, flocking, Saddle Fitting, saddle pads for comfort, saddle widening, sizing, sore back horse, stuffing
June 30, 2009 at 2:21 pm |
Continuation of my saddle fitting by Cindi Burns
Well, it’s been since last fall that I was in the middle of my saddle fitting.
The wide saddle did not do the job as it was too wide…medium too narrow and the 500 saddle fititings continued….until I investigated getting my current saddle widen just a bit and possibly reflocked. (that means restuffed just in case you don’t kow) Karen Clark, of The Horseworks, Inc had been playing try this saddle game until she suggested a lady in CT who could widen my saddle and reflock it for a price range of 300.00 plus shipping costs – I had done the two procedures separately it would have been 250.00 for each so the 300.00 package was a no brainer. Karen Clark did the back tracing for me for a minimal fee and off went my saddle and back tracing for about a month. Meanwhile in my readings I had found an interesting saddle pad. Not just any saddle pad a very expensive pad that had great reviews. So I dicided to order the pad as it had a 30 day trial period – cost around 235.00 from SaddleRight.com – guaranteed not to pack down – I purchased the dressage/hunterjumper version as I’m in an all purpose saddle and it fit great. After reading their testimonials on their site I was almost convinced so I called with questions and spoke with a very knowledgeable lady that removed any doubts. Remember I had nothing to lose on a 30 day trial. I tried the pad even with a not so perfect fitting loaner saddle (mine was in the shop) …my horse already responded with relief…got my saddle back and the combination worked like a charm. So now my horse has a good back without the frequent chiropractic work…last check was ‘he doesn’t need it’ quoted the vet.
If anyone would like to chat about saddle fitting or you’re currently frustrated with the matter …let me know and I’d be more than happy to chat with you.