Racing Exercise Saddle .... Help please?!

[sammorgan99]

Hi,
I work in a Jumps racing yard and I want to buy my own exercise saddle. I'v decided on the Gibson's Half Tree one. However, there is a slight issue for to whether I chose the standard or wide tree. This saddle will be used on lots of different horses, not huge hunter/chasers but none the less a fair bit bigger than a flat racing horse. So my question to you is should I get the wide and pad it out, our get the standard?
thanks in advance!
Sam

P.S( would love to hear a review of the saddle if anyone has had or does have one!)

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Get a standard. Most jumps horses have been bought off of the flat these days anyway.

 

[sammorgan99]

these jumpers are all bred for it, their all youngsters, have been bought up from foals. but thankyou

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Ah but they will have been bred from flat stock! There aren't many traditional jumpers around these days. A half tree will fit anything anyway as it is mostly shapeless.

Personally I am not a fan of Gibson's saddles but many do like them.

 

[sammorgan99]

ah I see, ok thankyou! could i ask why you dont like them?

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

2 reasons - half trees aren't great for horses backs and you need to ride in them carefully and properly to avoid causing damage. Secondly - they are leather and working in a jumps yard through the thick and thin of winter I am far too lazy to look after leather. Hence why I love my synthetic Zilco so much lol!

 

[sammorgan99]

ah I see ! tried full trees but I just hate riding n them. thanks for your help.

 

[sammorgan99]

anu other people got any views on the saddle/fitting?

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

I basically know nothing of half tree saddles, but I'm wondering what the stirrup bars attach to? If its the tree, then how does the width fitting become irrelevant? If its too narrow then with all the riders weight in the stirrup won't it pinch? Or does it just not matter because you're not riding for long? Just curious.

 

[sammorgan99]

yeah their attached to the tree in some way... but with racers we use lots of pads so it sortof prevents that... generally dont have that as an issue

 

[sammorgan99]

bump

 

[be positive]

The best person to ask is the trainer, assistant trainer or head lad they should have an opinion on what they prefer their horses ridden in, some yards are happy for work riders to provide a saddle other yards will prefer to only use their own so they know what is being used on the horses, some yards have had issues with half tree saddles causing sore backs and only use full trees for daily exercise.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

The best person to ask is the trainer, assistant trainer or head lad they should have an opinion on what they prefer their horses ridden in, some yards are happy for work riders to provide a saddle other yards will prefer to only use their own so they know what is being used on the horses, some yards have had issues with half tree saddles causing sore backs and only use full trees for daily exercise.

We only use full tree saddles due to a fair few horses forming bursors on their backs. We don't alow half trees any more.

 

[sammorgan99]

We only use full tree saddles due to a fair few horses forming bursors on their backs. We don't alow half trees any more.

asked trainer if it was ok,he said yes so thats not an issue

 

[zaminda]

I have ridden on my half tree leather saddle for a long time. I am however currently looking to get a full tree zilco synthetic, seriously comfortable compared to the standard full tree saddles I have ridden in and looks like a half tree in most ways. From experience, I am moving away from half tree saddles, as I have found there can be problems with them, although have experienced them only with horses at work, not mine!

 

[Mike007]

We used to call full tree saddles ,"sore back saddles". But that was in the good old days when stable lads (and a few lasses) were fit enough not to bump about on a horses back.