Help - People with Barefoot Saddles

Kenzo

Kenzo

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28 February 2008
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Yes I know another treeless post....sorry guys.

As some of you know I got my Barefoot London last week, this Saturday was the first time I tried it, after nipping out for a dressage girth and lovely Numed sheepswool girth cover.

Anyway because I don't have the wide pommel yet (been ordered) I thought Id soft pommel it which has been suggested before, just as a temporary measure. Once girthed up and I'm on, its pressing down onto his spine (bottom of his wither) just under where it girths up (if you imagine where the built in girth straps come from and where your stirrups come from which is no good what so ever! But is fine under where I'm sat, can get my schooling whip down and there was even sweat patches on each side with good clearance down the spine there.

Now the pad that came with it (proper Barefoot London shimmable pad) only came with one soft shim in each side but there that soft they just squash down.

Question is, once a normal hard pommel is in will this make any difference, does it actually give more structure to the saddle in this area or will I still have the same problem, will I need to shim up more in that area to create more of a gullet or use the harder thicker shims? Seems that the spine of the pad in that area just pulls down onto the base if his wither as the is nowhere for it to sit up into and the width between the two sides of the pad is too wide so it won't whim up in the right place without it adding bulk everywhere else.

Any suggestions?
 
Hiya,

I don't have the London model so not sure I can offer much help, but could you post a picture of the saddle on your horse and the area that is causing a problem.

I have the hard pommel and have found that it doesn't affect the saddle at all due to the pad underneath it doesn't come into contact with the horse. I have the chyenne so I will have a look at yours on their site.
 
Ok have had a look at your model and it is not all that different to mine.

I don't get from your post where it is causing the problem (Im sure its just me and monday morning syndrome :rolleyes: )

You have to remember that these saddles are a glorified saddlepad. There is very little structure to the saddle and will not look or fit the same as a saddle with a tree.

With the hard pommel I have found it keeps shape of the saddle better along the withers. TBH my saddle acts just like a saddlepad so just like a more substantial numnah with a girth a stirrups.

Sorry I'm not much help, but if you could post a picture that would be great.
 
Ok yes I'll take a photo so you can see where I mean, I presume its pressing down from the pressure of where the girth pulls it down, but I thought with a shimmed pad this wouldnt be the case, unless I've just got the wrong impression, if this is not the case and they are supposed to pull down onto this area then it will be uncomfortable for the horse and cause pressure lumps.

Thanks, I'll get back to you with some photos so you'll see where I mean.
 
Mmm, my gut reaction is that if something like a saddle doesn't fit, then the only thing to do is send it back. Full stop.

Its not worth it IMO to persist with whatever saddle (treeless, treed, or whatever) if it plainly doesn't fit. It will affect your riding, but more importantly you will do untold damage to your horse's back and then you'll probably get a whole lot of "issues" to boot.

Send it back!
 
It's the pad your supposed to use, as in a Barefoot London one but its not the more expensive physio one, its the one that is the 85.00, could that be why?

Myjodsr2blinkintight - I bought if off ebay, not directly from Barefoot or other stockists, so its either see if I can get it to fit or stick it back on ebay I afraid.
 
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