Ive Got a Vogue...What next?

[NoviceNic]

Hey all, I bought a HM Fhoenix Vogue GPS...

I popped it on Captain last night to have a look at fit etc. My RI is away this weekend so wont be around to advise me if any padding is required...

First thing first, I think the girth is too short and I do need some dressage leathers.

I did put it directly onto Captain's back as I want to make sure that the marks it leaves after riding after equal both sides and that the pressure is distributed equally. I could see daylight straight through and spinal clearance.

I feel that the marks were deeper on his nearside. There could be a number of reasons for this.

1. Maybe Im putting more weight on that side.
2. Ive been told Captain shows signs of soreness on his offside so maybe he is pushing his body through to his nearside more.
3. He has tweaked a muscle on the top of his nearside fore leg. Im currently trying to massage this knot out, if I cant do it then the physio will be called in.

Today I shall be pootling around again on him. Im going to put a cotton sheet underneath the saddle so I can see the pattern the saddle is making.

Anyone got anymore ideas please?? Im hoping to get ridden pics to make sure the saddle is level still whilst im riding.

Pics....

[sadiesparkle]

Wow you lucky thing - I'm gagging for a Phoenix!! I'd like a Captain too please

I had a RI who stuck tape on my top down my spine and square on my shoulders - I fall natrually to the left due to an old injury and muscle wastage. Give this a go and get someone to take a photo from behind. You can see if you are not sitting right then

xxx

[No_Angel]

The pics are quite small but from what I can see the saddle looks like it sits a little bit away from his back at the cantle, so could possibly do with a bit of shimming there.

[NoviceNic]

Neither Fhoenix or Captain are for sale..... Good luck in your search though he is truly unique...

Where do you buy the shims from?? Im looking at buying some for his withers too as I feel the saddle is lower at the front when im riding...

[Peaches]

Shims can be made from thick felt or fibergee or similar. Often people (like me) use pads which have pockets for them, as it's neat, tidy, and keeps them in place.

Did you get my PM?

If you feel lower at front, then chances are it is tipping downhill (which makes sense - his back looks like that in photo without saddle? Croup high maybe?), which might contribute to what No Angel is seeing re lifting at the back. A shim or 2 at the front should sort you out.

I said in PM, not sure whats happening re more pressure uniformly down one side - thats unusual, but like you said there are explanations. I think investigate as to how you sit might be helpful - but also to try a pad of some sort, and see how that changes it. Do you/RI have pads you can play with?

[NoviceNic]

I got your pm thank you...

I dont have any pads. My RI is away at the moment...

What pads do I use down his side?

Here starts the fun...I need to get this right.

[Peaches]

Down his side?

I use sheepskin pads, mainly cos they're nice and can aid in pressure distribution due to the way air is pocketed between the fibres. Either half pads, or half lined full pads (don't have to be half lined, thats my preference). I shim between quilt and sheepskin parts of pads personally...Don't have to use them, that's just how I like it =]

Just a thought....how did you girth up? One side up then the other, or alternate bit by bit?

These saddles are soft, so if you say did the right side first, and then the left all at once, the left side could be compressed more, causing the pressure?

I think it's recommended you always girth up bit by bit, alternating sides if that makes sense?

[NoviceNic]

I girth up one hole at a time side by side. A habit I have and completely an.al about...

[Peaches]

so that's not the reason then...oh well, worth a shot!

[NoviceNic]

Thinking about it though....its hard trying to pull the girth tighter when mounted. I wonder if im putting it one/two holes tighter on one side...

[No_Angel]

I do the girth up as tight as I can when on the ground, then when I get on I hardly ever need to do the girth up, the saddles squash down so the girth doesn't stay tight.

I would start off trying fibergee pads under the panels and making sure the seat is level. He is a round horse so you don't want loads of sheepskin and padding under the saddle otherwise it's going to make it very unstable.

Mattes do nice saddle pads with some sheepskin under the seat area and shimmable pockets so you can get the fit exactly right.

[NoviceNic]

Could you put a link on for the Mattes pad please No Angel...

Just so I make sure im looking at the right one...

Oh and another thing. Stirrup leathers. I need new ones because the thickness and buckle on my leathers are ruddy painful under my leg...

Which one are the thinest??

[No_Angel]

This is the sort of pad I am thinking of
http://www.numnah.com/product_menu.asp?cid=63

The sheepskin might just fill in the gaps (anyway you could borrow a half sheepskin pad?) but you can also get ones with shim pockets that allow you to fine tune the fit.

My boy is a round boy and I used a nuumed half sheepskin pad on him under his fhoenix (the mattes is nicer sheepskin- but the platinum is very dense and quite slippy - so a more woolly sheepskin would add more grip) and it was a little too much padding really, the full numnahs with half linings seem to more more low profile under the saddle.

I used wintec pro webbers on my fhoenix and my other saddles that use webbers, they are nice and thin and have a faux suede back which doesn't rub the saddle.

[NoviceNic]

Thank you No Angel, they certainly are better value..