Things with Rusy are going pretty well. My new barn owner just loves him and spoils him at every chance. He gets to stay in at night if it is cold or raining and she convinced me to order him a cute new blanket. She even started feeding him peppermints! Spoiled, I tell ya!
I did call a tack shop a few hours south of here (none of the local shops were much help) and the lady was super-helpful. She rhymed off several saddle brands/models that might work. They even ship for free. I will probably take that avenue in the spring to find something that works. Right now, I'm reading up on Billy Cook, Circle Y and Tucker saddles. Circle Y and Tucker are in my good books because they offer a short fender option for those of us that are vertically challenged! Anyone else have any suggestions???
As much as I joke about him being spoiled, I'm very happy with my decision to change barns. He is getting alot of attention, good food and good living conditions. Since he is older (17), it is nice to know he is as well taken care of as possible. I want to keep him going for as many years as I can.
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Lessons are going well - we have been just working at the walk and trot for now, trying to get Rusty to relax and take the bit more. He tends to ride behind the bit with his neck all scrunched up. We have been doing alot of consistent trot work and that is starting to help. My riding is smoother and he is starting to let go of his old habits. I find I'm still a little strong with my aids and corrections sometimes, so that is something I need to work on. Often I'll feel him starting to break from the trot and I'll give him a little too much leg and he will blast off and surge forward.
I was pretty sure my western saddle didn't fit him 100% and started experimenting with different saddle pads to try and get the saddle up off his withers. I couldn't get any fingers in between the withers and the saddle, so I'm sure he wasn't too comfortable. I have started doing some research on a new saddle, but it is hard to find western saddles for high withered horses. Although Rusty has high withers, he is fairly broad in the shoulders and back - kind of like a triangle. Luckily my barn owner has several saddles she is letting me try to see if we can find a brand/model that is higher in the pommel to accomodate those withers! This photo doesn't show quite how low it sits, but you can tell how low it is. With a rider's weight up in the saddle, you actually can't get your hand under the pommel at all.
Tonight, we tried a very low tech and budget conscious method - a fleece pommel pad and a piece of foam cut out to level the saddle. Normally, I woudn't try and use all kinds of padding to make a saddle fit - I would get a new saddle. The foam and pommel pad did not work AT ALL - it was quite the ghetto setup. We then tried a lami-cell pad, that had a wither cutout and some built-up areas. On top of the special pad, I just used a really thick western blanket. That seemed to do the trick enough to keep the saddle in a better position. I'm going to go out and buy one of those pads - much cheaper than a new saddle right now.
I did call a tack shop a few hours south of here (none of the local shops were much help) and the lady was super-helpful. She rhymed off several saddle brands/models that might work. They even ship for free. I will probably take that avenue in the spring to find something that works. Right now, I'm reading up on Billy Cook, Circle Y and Tucker saddles. Circle Y and Tucker are in my good books because they offer a short fender option for those of us that are vertically challenged! Anyone else have any suggestions???In my research, I came across Double J Saddles, based in Texas. Have you guys heard of/seen these? They are extremely fancy and blinged to the nines. A little out of my price range, but fun to look at all the same. Check out the barrel saddles - Cdncowgirl and BECG - you guys need these for your barrel events!
Got mints??
11 comments:
Your special boy looks quite happy in his new home!
As for your tack, I find Billy Cooks don't fit a wide shouldered horse very well. (Speaking from experience, I am trying to sell mine!) I however, LOVE Silver Supremes. Not the new ones, but the older hand made ones. Love 'em! As for making your current saddle fit a little better, Try a thick pad made of hospital felt. (Thick dense black felt. the grey isn't dense enough to actually lift the saddle up off the withers) This is what I have used to get my semi QH Billy Cook to fit my Full QH bars cow pony. It's obviously not the cure all, but it is a good fix for the interm until I am able to sell my saddle and purchase a new one. I find a thick western saddle blanket still leaves a few pressure points that, over time, can become quite irritating. Hope this helps a bit! (And please.... stay away from Air-ride pads... I have seen more than a few horses come out with sore backs and roaned patches from these pads breaking down incorrectly and rubbing.)
Your boy looks quite content, spoiled, and happy in his new blankie!
My mom's gelding has a prominent whither, and had similar issues. In the long run, using saddle pads aren't usually overly effective. I can't offer any advice as to specific brands, but I know that a saddle that doesn't fit can cause a whole host of other problems. I'd get a saddle that fits right as soon as you can. I think you will notice that Rusty is more comfortable and moves better! ;)
Sounds like your lessons are going well. I'm jealous, I think My Boy and I could really benefit from some!
If you get a Billy Cook you may need a full QH bar instead of the semi QH bar. Quinn was a very big boy and it was the only saddle I found, that I could afford, that fit him.
Not sure what price range you're looking at but you could check out the "About the Horse" website. He's an amazing saddle maker.
As for those Double J saddles... you're such a tease! lol They make the Pozzi barrel saddles (as in Brittany Pozzi, world champ). A few girls I know have them and they are awesome. You get a real nice feel for your horse in them.
Lordy, lordy...I gotta win the lottery! Those are some a.w.e.s.o.m.e looking saddles. Cough, cough...wayyyy out of my price range though.:(
I think if you can get your saddle to set up off of Rusty's withers you will get along fine with the saddle you have. I think your idea of the cut out pad and then the thicker pad over that will get you by without a problem. The rest of the saddle looks like it sits on his back correctly.
That will give you plenty of time to look around and find a saddle you like with semi-QH bars. There are a lot of them for sale second hand out there, because most people need the wider bars.
I'm with natarojo on the Air-ride pads...they are junk!! I do like the hospital felt pads. A person doesn't have to buy the most expensive thing out there-just what works.
I do like Billy Cook saddles-the ones made in Sulpher Springs-not the Greenville, TX ones. Other than that-I don't really care who makes the saddle-it just has to fit right. Megan's saddle is the cheapest looking little thing, but it fits a horse good and is light enough for her to handle easily. That is all that is really important. Have fun shopping though.;)
LOLOLOL... BECG only needs one of those mega bling saddles if they can make it a pole dancer design like her shirt with the pink pole dancers on it... ;) (OK, so she will smack me for that I am sure! HA~)
Laura, I am glad you posted this. I have the same type of issue with Sonny Horse right now. Since he came back home in Aug, his back has gone through several changes. One thing that is constant is some pretty steep withers, and he is kinda... pear shaped I guess, when it comes to his back and wither as well.
What I know is thins: He has two more years of "blooming" to do, before things will settle down. So in the meantime, that leaves me looking at other options for the Tex Tan we use on him, so it too does not sit on his wither! His also slides back, a LOT, and I ended up putting a breast collar on him to anchor it.
Sigh... our horses. Geesh!
Kisses to Rusty!! It is so fantastic that you guys are so happy at the new barn!!!
Good to know about the air-ride pads - that was one we didn't bother to try. I'm glad now!
I used a lami-cell pad that my barn owner has had for over 6 years and it is in fantastic shape. It seems to lie nice and smooth against the horse, so the western wool blanket on top shouldn't rub anywhere.
I'll look into the black felt blankets as well and see what I can get locally...
He does look happy!
On saddles....your guess is as good as mine. I like the Billy Cook Saddles and they are affordable just like Circle Y, but each company makes so many different kinds of saddles now - its hard to keep up on them all. My work saddle is a * Billy Royal * (you can get these through www.sstack.com , and i totally love it and it has fit all my horses. Is sooo comfortable too - I can literately ride all day in it and not get sore. They are very well balanced too. Have heard good things about people using those saddles for high withered horses too - check em out!
My show saddle is a Phil Harris and i can't really recommend one of those to non-show folks cause they are bank breakers and if I didn't show personally I would never put out of the money for one - even though it is a VERY VERY nice saddle.
Thanks for the update!
Oh Boy! saddle fit issues can be a big pain in the ass, Literally hahaha. Anyways my few words of advice are to make sure that your horse is comfortable. Not fitting any fingers through where it sits on the withers is a big big big concern. I know that many people have used pads and other things to make it more comfortable, but nothing is going to work long term or correctly than getting a better fit saddle or having a saddle doctor look at it and see if there is anything he or she can do. I have personally seen many horses turn sourt and deveelop all sorts of problems just due to ill fitting tack. Padding and things is fine for now, but certainly not a long term fix. It might be a long and difficult road until you develop that perfect fit, but it will be well worth it, especially considering the age of your pony and they way he is built. Hope that things work out quickly so you guys can get back down to business.
He seems happy with his new blanket.
I have read your post with much interest for I do not know many things about western saddles. I always use a dressage saddle.
See you soon
Awww. Just look at that cute boy!
I'm so glad you decided to change barns, too. Rusty looks so happoy and calm in the photos. Spoiling is good! :)
Saddle fit is so important for horse and rider. Makes horses much happier and comfy, too :)
As for saddles for horses with high withers, I'd recommend the saddle I have, an Amish made Eli Miller. It's a sort of Aussie/Western style with a suspended gel pad seat and the softest goatskin leather seat.
I've never read one poor review on it on any site. Only downside is that our just a few distributors that sell them. I had to buy my mail-order. But the folks are totally helpful and hands-on, answering any questions, so the entire process is simple.
I got the semi-quarter horse bars. It's perfect for horses with a little wider back and high withers. And is touted for gaited horses because the saddle is set back in the front for shoulder freedom. Very comfy for the horse, too.
I have photos and a review of my saddle on my blog. You can look it up under 'saddle' in the Interest column side bar.
Oh, and I also use a built-up cut-out comfy pad.
The cut-out is for my horse's higher withers and the built-up is to give some lift in the front, because she is a bit high in the rump. With her WP stance (neck and head really low), I sometimes felt like I was going to tunble onto her neck. lol!
Good luck,
Lisa
New Mexico, USA
Hey Laura,
I figured I'd save ya the trouble of hunting for those saddle links on my blog. Here are the ones I think you may be interested in. :)
Photos of me in the saddle
Photos of my saddle
New Saddle
~Lisa
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