Total Contact Saddle for backing/training

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Arianrhod

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I know the TCS has been discussed some time before, but I wonder, has anyone actually used one in the process of backing /training their horse? My mare is not a youngster, she was at a stud farm previously and never been started. With the help of a suitable trainer I'm planning to back/train her with a Transcend bitless bridle, and I've had it suggested that because I'm interested in eventually moving to a TCS, that it might actually be a good idea to back her right from the start using one.

Just wondered if anyone else has done this on here, and thoughts on the process if you have? I'm not concerned on the pros and cons of using a TCS at all, just in the backing/training aspect.
 
I did. I started out sitting on bareback and introducing a roller, hanging stuff off the roller, the the TSC with stirrups hanging down, then combined the two. Happy horse, still in the TCS three years later and going well.
 
Thanks Beausmate, great to hear this worked well for you. Did you find it odd riding with the TSC or were you used to one before backing your horse? And if you don't mind the daft question, why the roller phase, was it just to get your horse used to something that could have something hanging from it?
 
I tried the saddle out on my old, sensible horse first and I liked it so much I'm still riding him in it too, in fact it's the only saddle I used between three horses. The roller was partly to get him used to having something strapped around him, partly so I could hang haynets off him (he made quite a handy packhorse!) and partly because it was easier to longline with a roller.

I felt more secure with the TSC than I thought I would, no problem sitting bucks and the odd surprised jump over puddles, twigs, dips on the path etc.
 
I would predict that you'd need to do a light rebacking at least to be able to fit a saddle later on, horses who have been ridden treeless or bareback often need this. Do monitor for soreness regularly under the stirrup bars and seatbones, we saddle fitters are a bit cynical about them and worry about the pressure points but can see they are useful and know that many people and horses seem to get on very well with them.
 
I would have thought there would be a weight limit for these. surely? I ride all my horses in a Holistic Freedom treeless, and I weigh 13 stone. I've never had the slightest pressure or sweat mark using this saddle, but it does spread my weight over a much bigger surface than a Total Contact. I also have had an issue with one sensitive horse when mounting her in a treed saddle after riding her in a Barefoot Cheyenne. She made it very plain she wasn't happy, and it took her some time to accept a treed saddle. All things to think about.....
 
Thats interesting sbloom, i was at a saddle fitting demo with a master saddle and he discussed how much damage he sees to young horses backs from treeless saddles being used. I think he said they can work well in some situations but should never be used with stirrups as the pressure points can be extremely bad and the weight isn't spread correctly.
 
All interesting comments, thanks everyone. Weight limit shouldn't be a problem in my particular case, as I'm 8st7 and my horse is a chunky cob cross. I do follow the comments about pressure with interest, but the issue is actually addressed at length on the TCS website: if anyone's interested to read it, the document is here: http://www.total-contact.co.uk/index.php/total-contact-horse-riding-saddle-and-pressure/

It starts thus ...

Total Contact Saddle and ‘pressure’ produced
Of all the questions we get asked on a regular basis by far the most popular is, “Does your saddle produce pressure on the horse’s back ?” (the second most popular is, “Can I have a discount as I’m (insert name/occupation here) ?”. The very simple answer to both of these questions is, “Yes” and “No” respectively ! Of course it produces pressure. Everything that has mass creates pressure (pressure is simply mass x the force of gravity / area applied over). The real question should be re-framed to, “Does it produce excess pressure and in such a place as to cause problems for the horse ?”. The answer here is, “No”. Now, most people wouldn’t be satisfied with that very simple answer and in fact there’s a whole lot of science behind the answer so let’s see if we can cut through the simplistic answer and look deeper into things. Get a cup of tea about now ‘cos there’s some reading to be done ….
 
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