The fitting of a Startrekk Western saddle

[No_Angel]

I have been having some paranoid panics that the fork that came with Shays Startrekk Western saddle doesn't fit him.

I took some pictures this morning so I could look over them and decide whether it fit or not, and I think it does, I just need to sort out the padding, but I thought it might be interesting for some people that are maybe new to treeless saddles or are wondering how you go about fitting one:)

So, some pics of Shays back to you can see what shape he is.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b242/madams_walk/PICT0003-15.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b242/madams_walk/PICT0002-19.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b242/madams_walk/PICT0001-19.jpg

The saddle on him without any pads
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b242/madams_walk/PICT0005-13.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b242/madams_walk/PICT0006-11.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b242/madams_walk/PICT0007-10.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b242/madams_walk/PICT0008-9.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b242/madams_walk/PICT0009-11.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b242/madams_walk/PICT0010-10.jpg

[No_Angel]

With a thin tuffy saddle pad
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b242/madams_walk/PICT0011-10.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b242/madams_walk/PICT0012-11.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b242/madams_walk/PICT0013-8.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b242/madams_walk/PICT0014-9.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b242/madams_walk/PICT0015-10.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b242/madams_walk/PICT0016-11.jpg

[No_Angel]

With a grandeur pad with one full length shim
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b242/madams_walk/PICT0017-9.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b242/madams_walk/PICT0018-8.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b242/madams_walk/PICT0019-9.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b242/madams_walk/PICT0020-9.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b242/madams_walk/PICT0021-7.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b242/madams_walk/PICT0022-5.jpg

With the saddle cinched and the grandeur pad
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b242/madams_walk/PICT0023-5.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b242/madams_walk/PICT0024-5.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b242/madams_walk/PICT0025-5.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b242/madams_walk/PICT0026-6.jpg

[Showjumper]

Not a Star Trekk pro but it looks like it's lifting at the back, even though the angle at the front looks ok. Do those have adjustable panels?

[No_Angel]

yes it has adjustable panels:)
I have tried moving the panels and they seem to fit him best as they are now.
It is lifting slightly at the back, but once the flank strap is done up, and my weight is in the saddle it sits down at the back.
Shay does have a fairly straight back and I think this is why it sits up a bit. These saddles also sit slightly further forward than other saddles, and this is the shorty model he could have perhaps got away with the larger one.

[Showjumper]

Does it rock if you don't do up the back strap? If it does I'd be inclined to go for a wider pommel insert and a pad with front shims to balance it out.

[No_Angel]

no it doesn't move at all.
it fits all down his back apart from the very back of the saddle.
To give you a bit of comparison, the freeform sat about an inch or so away from his back at the rear of the saddle, even with the equitex pad under it.

I have been thinking about getting him a wider gullet, but they are £60 a go and I can't really afford that at the moment (im a poor student), I would also have to import one from Germany, and as this one fits him I think I will stick with it until I can afford a another gullet.
I think I just need to play with some padding so I can get the best fit.

[Showjumper]

Strange...without seeing him in the flesh and doing the hands on thing all I can advise is to just play with the padding some more, but if he's happy and comfortable, I wouldn't worry too much :)

[western-saddler]

Would be good to see what it looks like with you in the saddle.

Also, cis there anyone near you with a Port lewis Impression Pad that you can borrow or hire as that will show you if there are problems. ;)

[Mariaana]

That Grandeur pad looks HUGE. The fit of the saddle looks ok, although it is so difficult to tell from pictures!

Because his withers are so long, I'd check that the panels will lift the saddle off the base of the withers as well as from the front - especially when you're on board. Try to push your hand under the saddle from the front of the saddle (under the horn) and feel where the withers finish and join his back, that there is clearance. If there isn't, a standard western pad wouldn't help with it but a treeless pad would help to lift it off (or a prolite pad, or similar).

[Sam (aka SLW)]

I dont know anything about western saddles so am not able to comment on the fit too much. The only thing I though when looking at the pics is that to me it looks as though it is positioned too far back on him?? Might be wrong as I do not know this field so just an observation :D

[No_Angel]

Thanks for comments everyone:)

The granduer pad it quite big, it came with my size 2 barefoot arizona, but the startrekk saddle is the shorty version which might make the pad look bigger,lol. Also horse is only 14.3 (tho he thinks he is much bigger).
I don't think I will be using the grandeur as it sits the saddle a bit to high off his back for my liking.

Will try and take some pics when I next get on him, and will do the check say Mariaana.

Not sure its its to far back, in some of the pics it looks further forward than I would usually put a saddle on.
His back has actually built up further back where his fhoenix saddle has been placed.
I think these saddle like to be placed a little further forward compared to my other saddles.

[ShariN]

Looks like it fits him fine. Western saddles, no matter the make tend to lift up in the back when someone is not on the horse, this is normal.

It also looks best with the first pad you show.
The Gran pad doesn't look right.

The saddle has a "sweet" spot and will settle where it needs to be. Just line up the cinch with his girth grove and that is where it needs to be.
It also takes the Star Trekk saddles 6 months to break in.

[No_Angel]

Thanks Sharin:)

I agree with you about the grandeur pad, I think it sits the saddle too high, and makes my cinch look really short.

I bought my saddle second hand from Germany, so not sure how much use its had, but people seem to comment on how new it looks, so it can't have had much use.

I have been looking at different pads, I do like my Tuffy one but the lack of wither clearance and it not being attached to the saddle (need to be able to get saddle and pad on easily when we go out in the trailer) bothers me a bit.

[Rips]

6months!! Good thing I have someone breaking mine in for me :D

I find even my dressage cut one lifts at the back until someone sits in it, but I mean they are rather light. And the thin nunmah which it needs slips terribly - the girl who is using it ATM has the numnah straps in the first stirrup bar to stop the numnah slipping. She quite likes it.

I have to say I'm not too fond of it.