"Buddy" in his New Saddle (Criollo)

[K.T]

Here is Buddy in his new saddle.

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa136/katieclare_photos/IMG_2953.jpg

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa136/katieclare_photos/IMG_2959.jpg

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa136/katieclare_photos/IMG_2948.jpg

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa136/katieclare_photos/IMG_2942.jpg

[MagicSix]

I love that seat saver, very nice

[Amber*1]

It looks lovely Katie! Is it comfortable? What make is it?

[MagicSix]

http://www.newrider.com/forum/showthread.php?t=142622

Did that work?

[MagicSix]

Hey cool, it did :D. Thanks KT - font of all knowledge!! Now all you have to do is work out what they mean:D

[K.T]

Magicsix - well done!!

Amber - its a Garland Roper saddle - I think its going to take a while to feel normal - as ive got so used to my barefoot! it feels like a big ol` chair Lol:D

[Great Auntie]

Well we think it looks lovely KT, absolutely Stunning!:D

We saw Moniques 2 yes 2 new foalies today, they are adorable.:)

[Pink's lady]

Don't want to be a spoil sport but does it fit? I don't know much about western saddle fitting but there seems to be not a lot of it actually touching his back? I know they're meant to flare up a bit at the back but none of the back half of the saddle looks like it's touching? And is the seat not meant to be level? In that saddle your entire weight will be pushed right onto his loins.

It's a very nice saddle though:o

[K.T]

I really hope it fits - as ive had Don from thebootand saddlecompany out to fit it - you have worried me now - so i will pass on your comments to him!!

[No_Angel]

looks a really nice saddle.:)

It does look to be a bit high off his back, although it looks to be following the curve of his back, is your pad too thick?

[K.T]

it has a very thick pad underneath which is twice as thick at the front - as Buddy has lost quite a bit of weight through the winter. Its a Roper saddle.

[fee12345678]

Hello stranger!! The saddle looks great and really comfy!!

[marieb]

Very smart....looks comfy too, i think our Criollo's look fab in their western gear.

[Trio]

looks realy comfy KT, and buddy looks lovely ! i've got the same saddle pad as you - its fantastic - so well padded. mines purple though! love the red on bud.
know nothing about fitting the saddle - maybe they're all supposed to be like that and come into contact all round when you're mounted.

[Trio]

where did you get you're seat saver from- i want one!

[Trio]

don't worry - just ordered one!

[western-saddler]

If you are concerned at all about the saddle fit - hire/buy/borrow a Port Lewis Impression Pad and test it for yourself. Therefore you don't need to rely on a fitter if they live far away. This will show you either way whether it is a good fit or is not so good. :)

[K.T]

Hi
I worry easy!!

But I phoned Don - he explained a few things and put my mind at rest.

Buddy is very happy in his new saddle.

[Keket]

Gorgeous saddle! I love the colour. Metal stirrups? Or does it just look that way from the pictures?

[Denbenj]

Wow lovely saddle !!! looks very comfy!
I miss mine terribly!! ( alougth wasnt half as nice as yours!!)
I was under the impression with westerns that they take some time to relax and mold to the horse, it actually looks to me like it has not been stored correctly prior so should all loosen up as you break it in. I know mine took a while to break in was quite stiff... however it became a very nice comfy saddle in the end!! I sold it to fund my Exercise trap :cool:

[western-saddler]

The saddle is probably made on a ralide tree and therefore will not change shape, although the leather will soften. :)

[landcruiser]

Hi, I put a deposit on a Criollo on Sunday, at TheCriollo Farm. Looking forward to choosing a saddle! I love the coloured saddle pad - where did you get it?

[marieb]

Denbenj, good luck with it.

[Great Auntie]

Landcruiser, we were there on Saturday & knew someone was going Sunday, so that must have been you, who did you buy? Details please....

[KateWooten]

Ummm .... I had to wait awhile to get the photos to show up ... but no, that saddle is not fitting at all well. If you look at the tree on a western saddle, it extends back a few inches behind the cantle - cantle itself is solid and then the rails extend out behind it. All that surface you can see raised up off his back needs to be lying flat. To me, it looks like the saddle is too wide for him at the front, causing it to lie tip forward.

[Chilli]

I know I guy in the US who is an equine chiro who lectures on the subject post grad at one of the big universities over there who does talks on saddle fit.

As the bars on a western saddle are on the top of the horses back he says you fit the saddle to the rib cage so gaining or loosing condition doesn’t really change the fit.

He also says the same about English saddles which is completely wrong as they fit and work so differently so who knows if he's right.

I know a trainer in the US who said to me they would like a Dressage saddle but their friend who was a saddle fitter told them it was impossible to get a dressage saddle to fit properly, yes I laughed and suggested her friend was in the wrong business (Didn’t go down to well) but it shows the problem of getting an English saddle fitted in the US( and the UK to be fair) and a Western saddle fitted over here.

I have a Chilean Saddle and I know I couldn’t find anyone to fit over here.

Iirc a western saddle rocks on the horses back when the horses back is rounded during lope, canter, gallop and the skirt has something to do with how the saddle rocks not sure how risers would effect this.

But I’m not a western saddle fitter maybe someone from the US could enlighten us, it is a nice looking saddle though.

[western-saddler]

I know I guy in the US who is an equine chiro who lectures on the subject post grad at one of the big universities over there who does talks on saddle fit.

As the bars on a western saddle are on the top of the horses back he says you fit the saddle to the rib cage so gaining or loosing condition doesn’t really change the fit.


Is that Dr Dave Siemens and David Genadek out of interest? :)

[Chilli]

Is that Dr Dave Siemens and David Genadek out of interest? :)


Dr Dave Siemens, we dissagree about english saddle fit.

[Styric]

That saddle very much doesn't look like it fits with that inch of space along the back of it. I really hope it looks different in person..

[scribbler]

Question Does your saddle have back cinches! cant see any.we had a western saddle for a while wandered why it wasint siting right and it slipped

found out needed back cinches at the back of saddle at side there is a space
slit bit this is where they go...Maybe you have them and i am seeing things
just wanted to make sure your safe...lovely saddle:)

[Zarney]

what made you change from your barefoot just interested as thats one of the treeless ones isnt it. ?

[kathymhutton]

Hi, am new to the site, and learning!..Just became proud owner of dun criollo called 'yellow'.
Am struggling with lifting my saddle tho, and wonderered how long it took you to get 'the knack' of lifting it on and off...have brocken 2 buckets in a week!

[chickyd444]

looking good buddy :p x

[marieb]

welcome kathy and "yellow", you will find loads of us on here. Need to see pics of your new hoss asap please.......

i have a treeless barefoot, i can't lift the western saddles onto my horses back, he is big and they are darned heavy!! so with you there, you could try using a portable mounting stool to help, i have to do this to do "Spots" mane etc.

[kathymhutton]

I am glad I'm not the only one struggling with the saddle!! I did try a mounting stool...but couldnt get up the 2nd step! as couldnt see it!!was wobbling all over the place. Will take my camera today, then try and work out how to download onto here..havent worked out how to join the nr criollo club yet either...maybe i am more blonde than i thought..

[criollocrazy]

Hi, i've just joined and very new to this. My sister has 2 criollos and I'm going to corporate horse to get one this sunday..can hardly wait. Has anyone got any tips? My sister's coming with me but any words of wisdom very welcome!

[marieb]

Hi criollocrazy and welcome. Have any of us got tips......try and stop us. My advice is go with what feels right, (not looks/colour etc) and don't try too many, gets confusing. Have fun and good luck.

[Keket]

Question Does your saddle have back cinches! cant see any.we had a western saddle for a while wandered why it wasint siting right and it slipped

found out needed back cinches at the back of saddle at side there is a space
slit bit this is where they go...Maybe you have them and i am seeing things
just wanted to make sure your safe...lovely saddle:)

This is BAD advice.

If your saddle is slipping without the back cinch, it doesn't fit. Plain and simple. I've ridden western for four years, reining, trails, pleasure... My trainer has been breaking her occassionally rank gelding, complete with bucking fits and rears. Not once have either of us ever needed a back cinch. Rear cinches are only meant to be used in extremely high stress situations like barrel racing, pole bending, and cattle work. They're sometimes used on very demanding trails that require very steep angles to prevent the saddle tipping up.

Also, if your back cinch is making that big a difference, it's too tight. There should be a fist width between the horse's stomach and the rear cinch. The cinch only comes into play when the saddle tips up in rare situations. The rest of the time it would be way too loose to make a difference.

[western-saddler]

I would agree with Keket. The only time a saddle might come up a little too much at the back and it be ok is when there is no rider on and you are lunging. Sometimes, in an effort to fit a little wider at the front (when fitting to a young, still growing horse or one with atrophy) it sometimes will cause the saddle to bounce around a little at the back when doing groundwork. But once the rider is on on board the saddle should be assessed in jog and rising trot to make sure it is hardly moving with a rider on board. :)

The rear cinch is only for decoration as we rarely have any need in the UK to use them for what they were designed for.

[blacklabrador]

My mum really wants a western saddle for her horse who's called buddy too.

[K.T]

Hi
Thanks for that

Do you sell Argentine Headcollars?

[ChristineH]

Yes I do have Argentine-style halters and rawhide bridles. My original post seems to have been removed. Maybe advertising is frowned on here. Please contact me and I'll send you a catalogue of my current stock.
globalsaddles@btconnect.com

[ilovemyboys]

my uncle has one of those and i think it is the most comfortable thing i have ever ridden in and i loooooooove the barbwire trim!!!

[Styric]

Yeah advertising isn't allowed here. You can put a link & description in your signature, that's it and you can't really directly mention your stock in posts.