Total contact saddle...
- Thread starter Dark Storm
- Start date
It's something that's been recommended to me, so asking thoughts on it
http://www.total-contact.co.uk/extra.php?p=qa
http://www.totalcontact.eu/en/system_tc.php
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There is on for sale on ebay currently.
As I suggest to people using bareback pads not to use with stirrups because of pressure I would be inclined to say the same with this.
You would be better going for a treeless saddle that does give spinal clearance using the correct pad.
It I designed for show jumpers who will want shorter stirrups and the stirrups to be more forwards. That photo would put you in the arm chair seat straight away. With your lower leg in front of you, ideal for jumping but not for average hacking or schooling. Unless of course this is because you want to do jumping with it?
As I suggest to people using bareback pads not to use with stirrups because of pressure I would be inclined to say the same with this.
You would be better going for a treeless saddle that does give spinal clearance using the correct pad.
It I designed for show jumpers who will want shorter stirrups and the stirrups to be more forwards. That photo would put you in the arm chair seat straight away. With your lower leg in front of you, ideal for jumping but not for average hacking or schooling. Unless of course this is because you want to do jumping with it?
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Kis Vihar
Nutty Saddlers !
Hmmmmm.
I saw these years ago, and I know SBloom and I feel the same way.
HOW can they NOT cause a pressure point over the spine from the stirrup bars?
And I refuse to register on a website to allow me to view photos.
I can find nothing on their site which addresses pressure issues apart from them being briefly glossed over. Maybe I'm looking in the wrong place. Pressure points with treed saddles have been researched for decades. These, IMO, have not been about long enough for full long-term studies.
But this made me
Yes, this saddle is made in the UK by a saddler who hand finishes each one - sitting by a sewing machine threading each stitch.
:giggle:
I saw these years ago, and I know SBloom and I feel the same way.
HOW can they NOT cause a pressure point over the spine from the stirrup bars?
And I refuse to register on a website to allow me to view photos.
I can find nothing on their site which addresses pressure issues apart from them being briefly glossed over. Maybe I'm looking in the wrong place. Pressure points with treed saddles have been researched for decades. These, IMO, have not been about long enough for full long-term studies.
But this made me
Yes, this saddle is made in the UK by a saddler who hand finishes each one - sitting by a sewing machine threading each stitch.
:giggle:
For photos just Google it, there are some on there that wet can see without registering.
If anyone recalls requsite brought out a bareback riding roller, equally people we're concerned over pressure points.
Who has recommended the saddle? Someone who uses and can lend you one?
Eta. Here is another link
http://www.nagmagonline.com/s/news-...contact - a totally new design of saddle.html
If anyone recalls requsite brought out a bareback riding roller, equally people we're concerned over pressure points.
Who has recommended the saddle? Someone who uses and can lend you one?
Eta. Here is another link
http://www.nagmagonline.com/s/news-...contact - a totally new design of saddle.html
They're just going to show me how it works, and see how it feels, it's new to them too, and i'm pretty sure they wouldn't set out to hurt a horses back, we may not even get that far, anyhow, depends how they feel after testing it on their horses..
From what I have read and heard from friends you need to a balanced rider or it will move round, there is nothing to stop that happening.
You still need a pad and even that can move as usually it is fitted to the saddle. You are sitting on it.
The girth groove is forwards means the whole thing puts you out of alignment.
I love testing as everyone is aware, I declined I let my friends do so, they didn't get on with it and went back to treeless.
But good luck, let us know.
This is the other type I know of
http://www.horsesemporium.co.uk/bareback-roller-p-4446.html
You still need a pad and even that can move as usually it is fitted to the saddle. You are sitting on it.
The girth groove is forwards means the whole thing puts you out of alignment.
I love testing as everyone is aware, I declined I let my friends do so, they didn't get on with it and went back to treeless.
But good luck, let us know.
This is the other type I know of
http://www.horsesemporium.co.uk/bareback-roller-p-4446.html
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If you want to ride like that I wod save your money and stick stirrups on a roller.
I wouldn't ride like that personally though
I wouldn't ride like that personally though
Kis Vihar
Nutty Saddlers !
At least a roller has spine clearance...but there's still a small area of concentrated pressure.
Could you ride with a roller? With pad underneath as someone has suggested? Not necessarily the one I put link up on because just looks like armchair seat and more trouble than it is worth.
Kv, could you eliminate pressure with correct pad.
Would the old donkey pads do the job? Is this what the total contact is based on?
Kv, could you eliminate pressure with correct pad.
Would the old donkey pads do the job? Is this what the total contact is based on?
Kis Vihar
Nutty Saddlers !
The old 'donkey pads' were intended for little children, I have one, about 50 years old. I am only guessing, but I reckon they are similar.
You can't eliminate pressure without a gullet. IMO.
I am only guessing, but I reckon they are similar. You can't eliminate pressure without a gullet. IMO.
Having been all around the houses, had treeless - Freeform, HM Vogue and Barefoot - am back to square one with a treed. And I am happy with it, and more importantly, so is Tobes.
Personally (ducks to avoid poison arrows!), I don't think you can get better than a properly fitted treed saddle. Freeform rubbed him and slipped, Vogue gave him raised lumps under the stirrup bars, and Barefoot gave him a swollen wither on one side. The reason I went down this route was because the treed saddle I had at the time caused him to buck. Actually so did the treeless saddles, so it clearly wasn't a saddle issue, although I am not convinced that the treed saddle I initially bought him was fitted correctly.
Guess it is horses for courses, but actually, I wouldn't touch that roller/surcingle with a very long barge pole.
Is bareback not an option?
Personally (ducks to avoid poison arrows!), I don't think you can get better than a properly fitted treed saddle. Freeform rubbed him and slipped, Vogue gave him raised lumps under the stirrup bars, and Barefoot gave him a swollen wither on one side. The reason I went down this route was because the treed saddle I had at the time caused him to buck. Actually so did the treeless saddles, so it clearly wasn't a saddle issue, although I am not convinced that the treed saddle I initially bought him was fitted correctly.
Guess it is horses for courses, but actually, I wouldn't touch that roller/surcingle with a very long barge pole.
Is bareback not an option?
Not too keen on BB.. my confidence goes out of the window, although I did try it again for the first time in years yesterday (logged in diary)..
I am trying to accept that what is acceptable fit is actually the horses choice.
I would really like a tree saddle for madam as I am heavy for her in the scheme of things - she however, has other thoughts and merrily runs about the countryside in a treeless. So sometimes treed isn't a great option (annoyingly! Been banned from buying more saddles by Poohsmate!!!).
I'm not sure a gullet even precludes pressure issues from stirrups - I think the treeless madam has doesn't distribute it that well and pigs treed saddle had gaps in flocking underneath stirrup bars so again not convinced treed always sorts it either! I think it's a good step towards avoiding it.
I would really like a tree saddle for madam as I am heavy for her in the scheme of things - she however, has other thoughts and merrily runs about the countryside in a treeless. So sometimes treed isn't a great option (annoyingly! Been banned from buying more saddles by Poohsmate!!!).
I'm not sure a gullet even precludes pressure issues from stirrups - I think the treeless madam has doesn't distribute it that well and pigs treed saddle had gaps in flocking underneath stirrup bars so again not convinced treed always sorts it either! I think it's a good step towards avoiding it.
It is always the combination that you need to look at though.
Comformation of horse, age as in muscle development, weight of rider and skill of rider. Most saddles fit most horses, not all saddles fit all horses.
I also know people who have gone full circle. I still say I will be in a tree if I come across one that is right for us. It is what is best for the horse with that rider. I would need a straight cut for cob.
She doesn't mess if hates it, you don't even get on!
Comformation of horse, age as in muscle development, weight of rider and skill of rider. Most saddles fit most horses, not all saddles fit all horses.
I also know people who have gone full circle. I still say I will be in a tree if I come across one that is right for us. It is what is best for the horse with that rider. I would need a straight cut for cob.
She doesn't mess if hates it, you don't even get on!
Agree that horses have their own opinions about saddle fit which don't always tally with the textbook version of a fitted saddle, but you do need to stick within certain parameters. As PM has said on here before now, if a horse has pressure in saddle A but you put saddle B on which is just as bad a fit but the pressure ie elsewhere, he way well appear to LOVE it but further down the line you'll hit the same problems.
And flocking behind the bars is often slightly lighter than elsewhere to help prevent pressure - wherever you put more flock into smallish areas you get more contact, wherever you leave it thinner in areas you get less pressure (all other things like front to back balance etc being equal and correct!).
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