On a saddle, what is meant by a "straight head"?

[Sarah-B]

Sorry for the dozy question, but Kay has told me on a saddle I should look for a "straight head" as it gives a little more room in the seat.

I thought I was familiar with all the parts of a saddle but don't know what this means - help!!

[ponylover88]

ive never heard of that before either? maybe she means a cut back pommel. im used to cut back pommels, i personally find them comfier, but my new saddle hasnt got one, and ouch!! :eek:

[PePpAcOrN]

i'm not sure either but would be interested to know. At a guess.. (and this is just a stab in the dark) i would have thought she is talking about the pommel, being instead of rounded and going over the wither... maybe it's a straight cut back one...??

We have a brand of saddle over here called a status and it has the pommel i'm thinking about.. i'll add a link...

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Saddle-status-16inch-near-new-unmounted-black_W0QQitemZ7214983617QQcategoryZ3170QQtcZphotoQQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

i'm probably way off track tho :D

[Remmy]

Hello Sarah

It's actually a pommel which isn't cut back! :)

[Remmy]

...in fact, I've just found a piccy of one to illustrate...

[Sarah-B]

So am I right in thinking that this has a "straight head" :

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c83/Saxon-Clydie/Saddlestraight.jpg (http://photobucket.com)

and this has a "cut back head":

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c83/Saxon-Clydie/Saddle.jpg (http://photobucket.com)

[Remmy]

Both of those saddles have a cut back head. Some saddles have more of a cutback than others. If you look up a Lane Fox saddle on Google, you'll see an example of a big cutback.

[Wally]

No, The photo above does have a slight cut back, a straight head has no swell in it at all.

[Wally]

hang on I'll have a look for a true straight head.

[Sarah-B]

Can anybody find a piccie of a straight cut head from above (like the piccies I posted) so I can really see what I'm looking for?

[Sarah-B]

Oooops, posted at same time as you Wally - thanks!!

[Wally]

Not brilliant pic but here's one

[Wally]

Try this

[Sarah-B]

By George I've got it!! Thanks everyone!!

[Tangle]

So would this be a cut back head?
http://www.longmelfordsaddlery.co.uk/shop/media/kieffer_ulla_rusty.jpg

[Sarah-B]

Yes!! That's a cut back head, cut back quite a lot in fact and I can now see how having a "straight head" would give you more room in the seat.

(Hope you don't mind me using your piccie hun!!)

[Wally]

We used to make Lane Fox Show saddles these things have a 4 inch cut back, I think you can see it here. They were a pain to lace in, sore knuckles every time!

[Tangle]

Blimey Wally - see how that would impact on seat size :eek:.

Sarah - no problems :)