Kyra's Western Saddle (video)

J

JinglebellJessi & MistletoeMagic

Well-Known Member
Joined
21 April 2011
Messages
570
Location
Essex
Visit site
I bought myself a western saddle for christmas as I've always loved watching the trail riders, barrel racers and general rope trick riding western things. So here's Kyra wearing the saddle. It weighs so much I wanted to lunge her in it first to get her used to the weight of it.

Apologies for the lunging, this was after her lunging lesson so I was trying to concentrate on filming rather than standing in one place and no one was there to help out and hold my phone!

Feel free to pick apart her trot and canter. I'm constantly worried she's lame and I just don't see it!

Trotting
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jY7uzwslv-4&feature=youtu.be

Also, I am so so sorry about my shrill and horrid voice. but I'm teaching her to slow down when I say steady but not so much so that she drops down a gear.

Cantering
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idCiQytZ30o&feature=youtu.be

And some pics
2qtct9f.jpg

34jdiye.jpg
 
I couldn't open the video sorry, but, and I hope you don't take offence, none intended, western saddles are designed to be used with thick saddle pads or blankets, the blanket you are currently using is usually just put over a pad as a decorative touch. Your mare may be more comfortable with a thicker pad.
 
No offence taken at all (: the underside of the saddle is thickly padded with sheepwool. About an inch and a half and the blanket came with the saddle and is doubled over. But i have been looking at the padded shaped ones but then she'd have over 3+ inches of wool (:
 
I meant to reply earlier but ran out of time sorry. The saddle is bouncing around at the back a bit in both paces.

My friend has a western saddle which was fitted to her horse and I'm sure she said that the finer adjustment is done with the pads under the saddle (as long as the saddle itself basically fits) she uses a very thick heavy woolen saddlepad.

Hopefully someone else will come along who may be able to help you, you could perhaps try PMing Big Ben or having a search for others who ride western and message them asking for their opinions?
 
I agree with Enfys. If you think about it, when you ride on an English saddle you have a fair amount of wool between you and your horse, it is just wrapped in leather so you can't see it. Western saddles can't be adjusted the way English saddles can so the adjustment is done by selecting a pad of the right shape and thickness for the horse. I used to ride in California at a reining/western pleasure barn with a national trainer and I have never seen a horse ridden with a thin blanket, only with the thick pads that the others have mentioned. Some of the owners preferred professionals choice air ride but it is pretty expensive.

Personally I prefer to use an air pad instead of a wool pad with my western saddle. It has a some flocking in it but you can adjust front and back, left and right separately in order to improve the fit of the saddle. It is the easiest thing for me to change (with my saddler's advice when he comes to do my English ones) as my horse changes shape.

Without wanting to appear rude or pushy because believe me I am just making suggestions here, I think your horse's gaits look tense as she has her head up and is very tight through her back. Try lunging her with nothing on her back if you are worried about lameness and see if she looks better - my guess is that she will. If I were you I would have a saddler who is used to western saddles take a look - after all you wouldn't fit an English saddle by yourself.

Good luck and enjoy your new saddle and western riding which is super awesome :)
 
Just a few points here. The saddle in the photos appears to be a little far forward and looks to be interfering with her shoulder movement. This should also take care of some of the sloppiness (bouncing). I very seldom use a back cinch, only when doing certain types of riding otherwise I remove it. You should be able to comfortably fit your hand between the horse and the back cinch if using it, but it shouldn't be so loose as to interfere or be dangerous. The saddle should be somewhat centered on the blanket and a pad should be used with this type of blanket. I use a wool pad under it (make sure there are no wrinkles). I prefer a blanket and wool pad to the modern western pads because I think it is more comfortable for the horse on long rides. (just my opinion). The blanket should have the fold to the front and before I cinch up snugly, I place my hand under the front of the blanket and make sure, without causing wrinkles, that it isn't going to bind down on the withers. Hope this helps.
 
I agree with what the previous posters have said about the movement at the back, the placing, and the pad. I'd like to add a few thoughts on the fit. I'm slightly concerned by how high it sits off her back at the back- hard to tell from the pictures, but I wonder if it could be too narrow for her? With the saddle placed correctly on her back, no pad or blanket, it shouldn't rock backwards and forwards, and should feel secure when you try to rock it the other way, ie side to side. You should be able to run your hand all the way down under the skirt and feel pretty much even contact all the way. If there's a big hollow under the seat and it's sitting on her shoulders and flank, then it's bridging. If it feels tight over the shoulders and the swell at the front is high, it is too narrow. If the swell sits right down on her withers it's too wide.

There's a common misconception that western saddles are easy to fit. I've been riding my 2 boys western for 5 years and went through so many saddles before I got two that fit, you wouldn't believe!:rolleyes: I ended up buying one hugely expensive new one and getting it properly fitted by a well known Western trainer/fitter. The other was an ebay bargain and fits like a glove. Along the way I learned a lot about western saddles and how they are meant to fit - and the main thing I've learned is it's NOT easy to fit a western saddle correctly! Pads can only correct so much. So get someone who's familiar with westerns to have a look. Hope this helps:)
 
Thank you lovely people!! I havet tried riding her in it as when the weather gets nicer im taking some western lesson (: super excited about this. Finding a western saddle fitter in the essex area is proving hard. When i got for the lessons i'll ask who does their's. i think the saddle is too far forward, so il look at the position and do research as to fit it (: thank you again!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top