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Scarlett 001
13th Mar 2007, 09:50 PM
What kinds of saddle racks are best for storage of a dressage (well any english) saddle?

I have a new tackbox for my saddle and it came with a rather plain wooden kind of post for the saddle - so I guess the gullet/center of the saddle would sit on the wooden rail (pressure in the gullet when stored, not on the panels). I could put a fleece pad over the post though for storage.

But I got to thinking that maybe that is not ideal? Is the pressure when stored better distributed over two panels like for the saddle racks in the pictures below? I realize that it is not good to put the saddle directly on wire/metal racks like this, so I would have a nice fleecey pad underneath so the saddle gets no marks/indents. Is this worth doing? (I'd have to go buy a new rack and install it to replace the wooden post).

What is best type of saddle rack for storage?

Some examples of saddle racks.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a17/scarlett001/saddlestorage1.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a17/scarlett001/saddlestorage2.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a17/scarlett001/saddlestorage3.jpg

CurlyWurlyRach
13th Mar 2007, 09:52 PM
i have the second type of rack you show and (so far) its great. easy to get my saddle on and off and ive been carefully feeling under it for any indents from the rack - none so far.
ETA - I dont use a numnah (much) so my saddle sits stright on it.

Scarlett 001
13th Mar 2007, 09:55 PM
Thanks. :)

I wondered if sitting the saddle's gullet right on the wooden rail would damage or not be good for the saddle somehow? Anyone (saddle experts or others) have thoughts on this?

Rips
13th Mar 2007, 10:00 PM
Em - someone recently posted a picture of the underneath of there saddle, the thread title was something like 'whats wrong with my saddle?' there were marks on the gullet from the tree. My saddle has a similar mark of the gullet, you can feel the tree if you push the leather in, (its very soft leather)

I think this was caused by the one rail rack, one round post the saddle sits on. I'm not sure though. I didn't have time to reply to that thread at the time but I was hoping someone would.

poohsmate
14th Mar 2007, 05:49 AM
if you are going to use any of the above, imo you really should put somethng on the rack first, ie a thick numnah or a piece of foam etc.
if not the weight of the saddle will cause it to sink down on the bars and as rips said you will get indentations in the panels, which also compresses the flocking in those areas, which in turn can cause pressure points on the horses back.
imo the single bar with a piece of foam wrapped around it is preferrable as the saddle is resting on the tree, and the foam will protect the underside of the gullet.
it is also not wise to stack saddles on top of one another!:)

Scarlett 001
14th Mar 2007, 06:05 AM
imo the single bar with a piece of foam wrapped around it is preferrable as the saddle is resting on the tree, and the foam will protect the underside of the gullet.

Okay, but the thing is the from pommel part of the tree is so insanely high and long (to clear that insanely high and very long wither) - tonight when I tried out the saddle on the bar with some foam wrapped around the bar (great minds think alike!) the saddle just tipped forwards onto the pommel part of the tree and I did not like that!!! The back end was just flying up in the air! :eek: Oh well...

I guess with the two side bars (like in pic below) at least it will rest on the panels so it won't tip forward.

No worries, I always store the saddle with 2 saddle pads underneath it (including a big fluffly wool one).

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a17/scarlett001/saddle3.jpg