I'm going crazy !!

lovin-my-mare · 08-14-2004, 07:49 PM

Okay....I'm going nuts! My mare has really low withers and very broad shoulders. I recently bought a new western saddle (Big Horn) with full quarter horse bars and it fits really well...here's the problem....it slips just like my old one did that was way too narrow...I'm 5'3 and weigh 120lbs..I mount as springy as I can (I'm short I know) but I don't want to use a mounting block because there isn't one always handy. I have a new neoprene cinch and I cinch 3-4 times before I mount and I get more each time (she can bloat) I use a blanket and the saddle. I bought a pad about 1/2 inch thick and it ended up sliding in the back.....I don't use a flank cinch....SHOULD I ? I know a breast collar will prevent sliding back and forth...but that's not my problem... WHAT AM I DOING WRONG..? This drives me CRAZY !! Any help will be much appreciated

Paint_luver · 08-14-2004, 08:05 PM

Is the saddle like sliding to the side you get on? If so, it sounds like it isn't tightened enough. Try tightening the cinch several different times before you get on, and after you have been riding for a while as well. Many horses hold their breaths (like you were saying), so you may just have to tighten it many times.

I hope that helped, I can't quite get a good image of what the problem is I'm afraid...

Hannah

MissBandit · 08-14-2004, 08:07 PM

The most obvious answer is that this saddle does not fit as well as you think it does.

Paint_luver · 08-14-2004, 08:13 PM

Oh, sorry, just reread your post and saw you said you tightened it several times. I agree with MIss Bandit in that case, it may not fit correctly still. The saddle should be able to sit on the horse and not move TOO much if you exert a little pressure on it without the cinch. It should be kind of firm aournd their whithers and conform nicely to the horse's whithers and back.

Hannah

i_luv_moth · 08-14-2004, 10:17 PM

Maybe buy a portable mounting block.They are sooooo handy!But yeah maybe have a saddle fitter out because it doesn't seem like the saddle fit properly.I don't know much about western in fact i know nothing LOL!But i mean if a saddle slips around its probably not fitted correctly. Maybe get out a saddle fitter

GeM · 08-14-2004, 11:16 PM

I just don't see how it can fit well and still slide.
Maybe I am just not aware of the way western saddles fit.
I prefer my potato chip english one to a heavy western saddle.lol
Have you asked a saddle fitting professional? Maybe he\she could help you out.

Cowgirl2135 · 08-14-2004, 11:32 PM

It sounds like the saddle don't fit her.

When I test the saddle to see if it fit. I would mount the saddle without a the cinch tight. Without the cinch tight it should not roll.

If your horse round? Overweigh? That also can be another problem.

Lunge your horse in the saddle with a thin blanket, and make her sweat. When she sweats enough, and take the saddle off. There should be no dry spots, on the shoulders to the flank.

lovin-my-mare · 08-15-2004, 03:48 AM

Yes Cowgirl, she's very round and the cinch is tight!! Before I got the saddle, I called everyone in my area it was crazy....I ended up travelling 1 1/2 hours each way to the place where I got it. There are only two places that sell Western everyone else is English. I took a tracing of her withers with me and they measured well. The saddle I had was too narrow...there were dry spots on her shoulders...this is the next up (full quarter) the next size is draft....NO WAY she's a draft.... The saddle is slipping towards the side I mount on. Last night I had to untack and I mounted on the right side (with the help of my husband) and the saddle was great....Should I use a back cinch? what about a neoprene type of pad?

lovin-my-mare · 08-15-2004, 03:54 AM

I was reading the posts and thought I would mention....the saddle slips to the side I mount maybe about 1/2 inch off centre so then I end up playing back and front to readjust....I don't know if that helps any

Kar · 08-15-2004, 02:21 PM

From my own experiance, neoprene has always slipped on my horses. so I go with the good ol hand made cinches. Mole (sp) hair is good. And I also use a good ridding blanket pad of the sheepskin stuff.
It seems that with some horses the neprene just slips, I dont know wht it just does. My girl friend had a full set up of neoprene, and she slid all over. Her mare that thin shoulders and withers. Try one of the good ol fashioned blankets,with the mid wieght blanket over it. And the hand made cinch. See if it helps,

Sometimes the good ol stuff pays off ... lol

Good luck,
Kar

08-14-2004, 07:49 PM	#1
lovin-my-mare Full Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 116 Images: 2	I'm going crazy !! Okay....I'm going nuts! My mare has really low withers and very broad shoulders. I recently bought a new western saddle (Big Horn) with full quarter horse bars and it fits really well...here's the problem....it slips just like my old one did that was way too narrow...I'm 5'3 and weigh 120lbs..I mount as springy as I can (I'm short I know) but I don't want to use a mounting block because there isn't one always handy. I have a new neoprene cinch and I cinch 3-4 times before I mount and I get more each time (she can bloat) I use a blanket and the saddle. I bought a pad about 1/2 inch thick and it ended up sliding in the back.....I don't use a flank cinch....SHOULD I ? I know a breast collar will prevent sliding back and forth...but that's not my problem... WHAT AM I DOING WRONG..? This drives me CRAZY !! Any help will be much appreciated

08-14-2004, 08:05 PM	#2
Paint_luver Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2004 Location: Cork, Ireland Posts: 5,888 Images: 297 Blog Entries: 137	Is the saddle like sliding to the side you get on? If so, it sounds like it isn't tightened enough. Try tightening the cinch several different times before you get on, and after you have been riding for a while as well. Many horses hold their breaths (like you were saying), so you may just have to tighten it many times. I hope that helped, I can't quite get a good image of what the problem is I'm afraid... Hannah __________________ "Riding a horse is not a gentle hobby to be picked up and laid down like a game of Solitaire. It is a grand passion. It seizes a person whole and, once it has done so, he will have to accept that his life will be radically changed ." Ralph Waldo Emerson

08-14-2004, 08:07 PM	#3
MissBandit Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: BC, Canada Posts: 13,218 Images: 300 Blog Entries: 43	The most obvious answer is that this saddle does not fit as well as you think it does. __________________ Founder is the #2 killer of horses. Learn how to prevent, spot and treat this deadly disease. Emergency Treatment http://www.laminitisclinic.org

08-14-2004, 08:13 PM	#4
Paint_luver Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2004 Location: Cork, Ireland Posts: 5,888 Images: 297 Blog Entries: 137	Oh, sorry, just reread your post and saw you said you tightened it several times. I agree with MIss Bandit in that case, it may not fit correctly still. The saddle should be able to sit on the horse and not move TOO much if you exert a little pressure on it without the cinch. It should be kind of firm aournd their whithers and conform nicely to the horse's whithers and back. Hannah __________________ "Riding a horse is not a gentle hobby to be picked up and laid down like a game of Solitaire. It is a grand passion. It seizes a person whole and, once it has done so, he will have to accept that his life will be radically changed ." Ralph Waldo Emerson

08-14-2004, 10:17 PM	#5
i_luv_moth Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2004 Location: New Zealand BABY!!! Posts: 6,818 Images: 133	Maybe buy a portable mounting block.They are sooooo handy!But yeah maybe have a saddle fitter out because it doesn't seem like the saddle fit properly.I don't know much about western in fact i know nothing LOL!But i mean if a saddle slips around its probably not fitted correctly. Maybe get out a saddle fitter __________________ I'd Rather Be...... SHOW JUMPING!!

08-14-2004, 11:16 PM	#6
GeM Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 1,928 Images: 22	I just don't see how it can fit well and still slide. Maybe I am just not aware of the way western saddles fit. I prefer my potato chip english one to a heavy western saddle.lol Have you asked a saddle fitting professional? Maybe he\she could help you out. __________________ Don't insult the aligator until after you cross the river.

08-14-2004, 11:32 PM	#7
Cowgirl2135 Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2004 Location: California, USA Posts: 3,459 Images: 32	It sounds like the saddle don't fit her. When I test the saddle to see if it fit. I would mount the saddle without a the cinch tight. Without the cinch tight it should not roll. If your horse round? Overweigh? That also can be another problem. Lunge your horse in the saddle with a thin blanket, and make her sweat. When she sweats enough, and take the saddle off. There should be no dry spots, on the shoulders to the flank. __________________ My Quarter Horse is better than your 4th level dressage horse!

08-15-2004, 03:48 AM	#8
lovin-my-mare Full Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 116 Images: 2	Yes Cowgirl, she's very round and the cinch is tight!! Before I got the saddle, I called everyone in my area it was crazy....I ended up travelling 1 1/2 hours each way to the place where I got it. There are only two places that sell Western everyone else is English. I took a tracing of her withers with me and they measured well. The saddle I had was too narrow...there were dry spots on her shoulders...this is the next up (full quarter) the next size is draft....NO WAY she's a draft.... The saddle is slipping towards the side I mount on. Last night I had to untack and I mounted on the right side (with the help of my husband) and the saddle was great....Should I use a back cinch? what about a neoprene type of pad?

08-15-2004, 03:54 AM	#9
lovin-my-mare Full Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 116 Images: 2	I was reading the posts and thought I would mention....the saddle slips to the side I mount maybe about 1/2 inch off centre so then I end up playing back and front to readjust....I don't know if that helps any

08-15-2004, 02:21 PM	#10
Kar Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,079 Images: 428	From my own experiance, neoprene has always slipped on my horses. so I go with the good ol hand made cinches. Mole (sp) hair is good. And I also use a good ridding blanket pad of the sheepskin stuff. It seems that with some horses the neprene just slips, I dont know wht it just does. My girl friend had a full set up of neoprene, and she slid all over. Her mare that thin shoulders and withers. Try one of the good ol fashioned blankets,with the mid wieght blanket over it. And the hand made cinch. See if it helps, Sometimes the good ol stuff pays off ... lol Good luck, Kar __________________ www.horsehope.com The Lord invented alcohol to prevent the Irish from taking over the world. "This is one race of people for whom psychoanalysis is of no use whatsoever" -Sigmund Freud (speaking about the Irish)

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