Cruppers - pros and cons
- Thread starter popularfurball
- Start date
If a saddle really does not fit and the crupper is not fitted properly it can put pressure on the tail and cause them to have a sore tail and back.
If it's fitted correctly and used as a "belt and braces" solution and not used to keep the saddle in place then there's no problem with them. Like everything, it needs to be fitted properly and used for the right reasons.
If it's fitted correctly and used as a "belt and braces" solution and not used to keep the saddle in place then there's no problem with them. Like everything, it needs to be fitted properly and used for the right reasons.
In Portugal we used cruppers on some of our riding Shetlands. The standard Shettie shape of big belly and not much in front does not lend itself well to saddles! - the result of not using a crupper on our ponies was somewhat like this... :bounce:
We also needed to use a crupper on a 12.2 Welshie with such a narrow shoulder and low withers there was no way a saddle would stay in place without one.
People who don't like cruppers usually say something about it being uncomfortable for the pony, or say that they will rub and cause sores under the tail. I have to disagree, a properly-fitted crupper is no more likely to cause discomfort than any other piece of tack... even a noseband can cause discomfort if it's done up too tight! And what about driving horses, a crupper is a standard part of harness and I doubt every single driving horse in the world has sores under its tail!
We also needed to use a crupper on a 12.2 Welshie with such a narrow shoulder and low withers there was no way a saddle would stay in place without one.
People who don't like cruppers usually say something about it being uncomfortable for the pony, or say that they will rub and cause sores under the tail. I have to disagree, a properly-fitted crupper is no more likely to cause discomfort than any other piece of tack... even a noseband can cause discomfort if it's done up too tight! And what about driving horses, a crupper is a standard part of harness and I doubt every single driving horse in the world has sores under its tail!
Most of the ponies i grew up riding had cruppers and definately no sores as the best part of the day was tacking up and untacking and checking for things like that.
As everyone else has said with correct fitting they are fine.
As everyone else has said with correct fitting they are fine.
Even with that shape of pony it really is possible to get a saddle to not shoot up the neck, though occasionally it's hard to get them back as far as you'd like - flatter trees and point straps can usually help. Haven't had contact with a crupper for, ahem, 30 years or so, so can't comment :biggrin:
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OMG is this where the saying 'to come a crupper' comes from? (I always thought it was to come a cropper but the other would make more sense?)
Sorry, totally OT....
Sorry, totally OT....
He is triangular shaped - if a rug is a bit short on him or has no tail flap it comes forwards. His backside is the widest part of him, he has no shoulders or withers - I can feel both fairly easily - withers more so, but they just don't stick out - he is built more like a dog than a horse. There is no "natural place" when you slide a saddle on him coupled with a forward girth groove which also pulls saddle forward. And a Houdini attitude to life.
I fit numerous ponies (and my colleagues have done the same for 10 years, its what we specialise in) and we see these shaped ponies quite often - they are not easy to fit. As you say, narrow shoulders, no withers (though even withers don't help on the narrower Welsh As!), wide rear ribcages and forward girth grooves. Fitting a saddle does not rely on supposed physical anchors on the horse, it is about getting a good close fit with as much panel contact (grip) as possible and using the right girthing - choice of straps and choice of girth.
As I said, you can't always sit them back quite as far as you'd like, but it IS possible to fit them without the saddle shooting up the neck. I don't know the explanation for the driving harness but I suspect it is the lack of grip - a saddle has a much larger surface area which you can utilitise, with the right tree, panel and flocking techniques, plus the weight of a rider, to keep it roughly in the right place.
As I said, you can't always sit them back quite as far as you'd like, but it IS possible to fit them without the saddle shooting up the neck. I don't know the explanation for the driving harness but I suspect it is the lack of grip - a saddle has a much larger surface area which you can utilitise, with the right tree, panel and flocking techniques, plus the weight of a rider, to keep it roughly in the right place.
LOL, I have some WONDERFUL photos of a local show with EVERY saddle fitted far too far forwards, but then I find most folk plonk the saddle on too far forwards.
We use cruppers on the Icelandics as a belt and braces measure. Some of the terrain we ride over means that a novice, not knowing the signs does not get to the point of no return.
We use cruppers on the Icelandics as a belt and braces measure. Some of the terrain we ride over means that a novice, not knowing the signs does not get to the point of no return.
I've seen those local shows :biggrin:. I have to really try and ignore the saddles when I watch a lot of showing classes! I often find clients are having saddle fitting issues and when I go out to them all they've done is forget where I showed them to put the saddle.
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