lungeing with a saddle on

[dozzie]

I was recently told by a saddler that you should never lunge with a saddle on. I felt I was being told off so didnt have the guts to ask why!!!!It didnt really make sense to me.

At BHS stage 2 I was taught to lunge with a saddle. This was a while ago.

Is the current thinking different?

If it is bad for the horse could someone explain why?

I still often lunge with saddle before I ride as horse is more relaxed if I do. But I would hate to think I was hurting her or damaging the saddle.

 

[Dotilas]

We always lunge with a saddle on... And when we break horses we lunge with the saddle on and often the stirrups dangling for the ponies who are going to be children's ponies.

What conversation were you having with your saddler when he mentioned this?

 

[dozzie]

I was buying a very expensive saddle!

Was having serious behaviour probs (due to saddle) with horse so had to lunge before I rode. I was told quite categorically (with tut-tutting), I should never lunge in a saddle!

Like you Ive always lunged in roller or a saddle.

 

[fernando]

As my TB is cold backed I always have to lunge with saddle before I can ride. So if it is that bad I might never ride him again

 

[Dotilas]

Maybe he wasn't referring to comfort of the horse or anything, maybe just thinking about how many horses roll/fall over on the lunge and thinking about the saddle!!

Besides, the saddler doesn't have to care about the horse, only know about the shape of it's back...

 

[Chex]

I was thinking that too, probably incase the horse rolls. I wouldn't lunge in a saddle because Chex does roll if I lunge him (so I don't lol), so I would be wary of lunging other horses in expensive saddle as I know how quickly they can go down with no warning!

 

[mar2505]

I was also told off by my saddler, probably the same one!. I called him out cause saddle slipped back on my horse and after 2 visits he was unable to sort it. I told him that my instructor always lunges my horse before my lesson and he went mad but i think personally he was trying to justify the fact that he could not solve my problem as have since had another saddler out who said if a saddle fits then lunging should not be an issue.

 

[seabiscuit]

The actual fact is that a saddle is designed to be made stable by the weight of the rider. So if you are lunging with a saddle on and no rider then the saddle is unstable and moving on the horses back.
Simple remedy- use a sucringle over the saddle when you lunge!

 

[dozzie]

Mar: Whereabouts are you? Saddler was from Oxford way.

I have a different saddler now.

Glad Im not the only one to get told off!!

Forrest: Thanks. That makes sense. I have thought about a surcingle to keep saddle more stable. Will go and look one out!!!

 

[Forget_Me_Not]

I too back, and lunge with saddles. I tend not to use my best ones but cheap things I have around yard for breaking in. A rollor doesnt act for a saddle with say a cold backed horse but will buy a surcingle good idea

 

[mar2505]

Dozziesmum I am in Bucks, this saddler also from Oxford. Without naming anyone were the initials M N. If so I found that he was fine at first but turned when could not solve problem.