Use the navigation bar above to access articles and more discussions on this topic.
| Author |
Message |
    
cindy O'DELL
| | Posted on Monday, Jun 12, 2000 - 12:24 pm: |   |
After 30 years my wife and I have got back into horses. As kids we were around the Arabian Raffles/Azraff/Ferzon horses and have gone with those bloodlines again. However, our little mare (14.1 h) has what I would describe as a barrel type body with little or no whithers. We currently are using a trail/pleasure saddle with Quarter horse bars (Ralide). The problem is that although my wife loves the saddle, we don't seem to be able to keep it from slipping. Does anyone know how we can keep this saddle from slipping or have a suggestion for another type of saddle we could try? We are interested in trail riding and would prefer either a western or endurance type saddle. We also live in a relatively rural area so don't have much oppurtunity to try different saddles, except through mail order. We have done this and had to keep shipping the saddles back, which we hate to do because it has to be a nuisance for the catalog people. Any suggestions would be appreaciated. |
Agnes Tafaro
| | Posted on Tuesday, Jun 13, 2000 - 1:32 am: | |
Try the Arabian Saddle Co. They make an endurance saddle and specialize in Arabians. They have a rep in Utah, the phone/fax number is 435-649-8215 and their email is bgray@xmission.com to request a catalog. Western Tradition also custom makes western saddles; you can fax them at 530-899-1455. You can also try a built up saddle pad; the kind with more padding in the wither area, but if you use this make sure that the saddle is not pinching anywhere. If it is slipping around the fit is probably not right for the horse. Victor Tack also makes great Arabian saddles (work saddles as well as show saddles, but I don't have that number. They're located in Scottsdale AZ) |
Heidi Hocker
| | Posted on Tuesday, Jun 13, 2000 - 11:42 am: | |
I also have a smaller (Raffles/Bask bred) Arabian mare with no whithers. I'm using a saddle on her that has Arabian bars. The saddle that fits her best is my old (25 yr old) Billy Cook saddle. I have used a Cordura saddle on her that fits pretty well (and is really light weight).
The best idea that I've found though, to keep her saddle from slipping, is to use a 100% wool felt pad that is at least 1 inch thick. I've had my saddle checked by a professional saddle maker, and it fits really good, however it still slipped. The wool felt pad seems to have fixed the slipping problem. I ordered my pad from the Jeffers Equine Catalog, at a cost of around $35 - $40.
If you continue to have problems finding a saddle, you might try to look for a professional saddle fitter. I found one in the Phoenix area, they advertised in the local horse papers. They charged about $75 for the fitting, but it eased my mind quite a bit.
Good Luck
Heidi |
Elizabeth
| | Posted on Wednesday, Jun 14, 2000 - 7:28 pm: | |
My arab mare also is low withered and round like a barrel! I have a Simco saddle made for arabs which fits her very well. I have yet to find an english saddle that fits her correctly. good luck |
Linda Antipala (Alika)
| | Posted on Tuesday, Feb 27, 2001 - 4:03 pm: | |
I'd like to reopen this discussion because advice certainly needed. Having a bad saddle slip problem with my Arab mare, who like the horses described in the discussion has almost no withers and is very round. Right now I have a Circle Y round skirt trail saddle with quarter horse bars and it constantly slips down her side. Using a Pro Rider pad with fleece (about 1/2" thick). Ordered an Abetta, but the bars too narrow and pinched shoulders so that just got returned. Next step is to try a Cordura with square skirt and add a chest strap. Could it be the girth? Now using just a narrow fleece lined front girth and a leather rear girth. Anyone had luck with different material girth? If anyone has solved this Arab fit problem, I'd sure love to hear about it! |
Karen Inscore (Vallie)
| | Posted on Wednesday, Feb 28, 2001 - 1:38 pm: | |
Linda,
I can't comment on the slippage. I'm very lucky with my Arab Mare in that respect. Just a warning, be careful with the square saddles. Arabian are well known for their short backs and the square saddles can put pressure on places you don't want it. I have a TexTan saddle with a round back that fits her great. Before this one I had a cordura, also with a round back, that did not fit her well. They are nice saddles and easy to keep clean, though. If you can, check with a professional fitter, they can help you fit a saddle to a horse that has no withers. Good Luck. |
Linda Antipala (Alika)
| | Posted on Wednesday, Feb 28, 2001 - 3:36 pm: | |
Thanks for the advice. I'm hoping the new cordura I ordered with square skirt is ok, but I'll keep an eye on her back. Last night I changed from a thin felt to a rope girth and didn't have the slipping. Maybe that's part of the answer. Unfortunately, there are no "professional fitters" where I live (an island), and no tack shops so it's hit or miss with the catalogs. One of the disadvantages (few) of living in Hawaii. |
Karen Inscore (Vallie)
| | Posted on Friday, Mar 2, 2001 - 1:14 pm: | |
Linda -- I have heard many people say that the rope or string girths do not slip like the felt or neoprene type. I'm very envious of you living in Hawaii. I think not have tack shops or professional fitters is something I could live with. Good Luck. Karen |
Beth Seyer (Jacque)
| | Posted on Saturday, Mar 3, 2001 - 7:35 pm: | |
hi--by all means, switch to a rope cinch....I had the same problem with the felt cinch that came with my cordura saddle! Also, Cordura's are nice as far as maintenance goes, but I've found that they do not always fit the horse, especially one with "hard to fit" shoulders and back. Good luck! |
Sibylle Waruszcak (Sibylle)
| | Posted on Sunday, Mar 4, 2001 - 9:29 am: | |
I have the same problem with my Arab.As I'm in a rural area as well, I can't keep trying new saddles that easily. Besides it only makes sense that any saddle will not be very stable on a round barreled horse. I bought a non-slip pad from Stable Ride.It really makes a big difference.I'd rather have something natural next to his skin, but apparently you can't have it all.This pad is available from Valley Vet. It really does help.Good luck |
Jennifer Cobb
New Member
Username: Jencobb
Post Number: 1
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Friday, Jan 17, 2003 - 11:06 am: | |
Hi-
Has anyone ever encountered or heard of hair rubbing off under the panels of the cantle before? I am noticing that the hair is rubbing off of my 15.1 Arabian gelding under the cantle where the panels are located. I use a Stubben Scandica VSD saddle. It has been reflocked by the saddle fitter(Ibought it used and did not fit well at first), so does anyone think this is a saddle fitting issue or a saddle pad issue or a winter hair issue. My horse was clipped in October and wears a blanket at night and some days. Any thoughts would be appreciated. |
kerry bixby
Member
Username: Parfait
Post Number: 29
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, Jan 17, 2003 - 1:24 pm: | |
Jennifer,
I have had trouble with rubbing around the loin area on some horses. Can you switch blankets to isolate whether it is the blanket or the saddle? If is the saddle, then I think you might have a fitting problem as there just shouldn't be that much side to side motion. If it's the blanket, I have found that leg straps (as opposed to belly straps) can pull and cause rubbing.
I just recently started using Emu oil (I hate the idea of it though, poor things) on some shoulder rubs that I couldn't get rid of any other way. It seems to really help with dryness.
Kerry |
Jennifer Cobb
Member
Username: Jencobb
Post Number: 2
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, Jan 18, 2003 - 12:44 pm: | |
Kerry,
Thanks for the input. Unfortunately I don't have another blanket to switch him to, but i'm going to have the saddle fitter out to look at the saddle. We'll see. Jen |
Administration
Board Administrator
Username: Admin
Post Number: 477
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, Jan 19, 2003 - 10:43 am: | |
Hi Jennifer,
If you will post your question as a new discussion, instead of placing it at the bottom of someone elses discussion, you are likely to get more responses.
Administration |
