Traditional saddle alternative combos...

[AutumnDays]

Does anyone have any experience of using a Total Contact Saddle with a Christ Lammfelle pad? Long story short, odd shaped Arab x Appy, nearly 4, backed and lightly riding away. Tried many traditional treed saddles (with fitters!), and none have worked for us, very wide, no wither, bum high etc etc... Got given a CL pad to try, great! Returned to lender, and bought myself a new one... Only to find out upon using that the girth straps are lower and longer than the one I borrowed (very old), so we are on the top hole with nowhere to go, and it's loose! If I get a shorter girth, it will be under/in the way of her elbow. So I was wondering about cutting the straps off the pad, and using the TCS as a girth... Thoughts? I cannot return the pad as was worn, and it is very comfy for us both, and less hassle while I wait to see what shape she ends up...
To add, we don't do any hard and exciting work and won't be anytime soon, I'm a bit of a crock myself, so just hacking with the odd canter is about all we aim to do in life, in case that would mean anything to any opinions. Thank you

 

[cauda equina]

Are you using a dressage girth?
I used one with my CL and it was fine

 

[AutumnDays]

Are you using a dressage girth?
I used one with my CL and it was fine

Yes it is a dressage girth, 22 inch. It's the same one I used on the borrowed one, which had the biothane girth straps that were also set a little higher. This new one has leather straps set quite low, so we are already at the top!

 

[cauda equina]

Oh that's a bummer

 

[AutumnDays]

Oh that's a bummer

I know I'm gutted, it's only been used once and that was when I noticed, but am unable to return it and no takers on eBay

 

[shortstuff99]

Could you not use a different style of girth like an H-girth or similar?

 

[Poppy+MrDarcy]

One of my friends has an arab and she uses a dressage girth

 

[Poppy+MrDarcy]

One of my friends has an arab and she uses a dressage girth

Not sure yours is the same though

 

[AutumnDays]

Could you not use a different style of girth like an H-girth or similar?

Not looked at them, that's food for thought, thank you

 

[AutumnDays]

The problem is that the girth straps now sit so low down, that the buckles on a dressage girth (and the H girths I'm assuming, just looked at them) sit only just above her elbow on the top hole. The pony size pad would probably have been slightly better, but my long legs wouldn't fit in it (due to thigh rolls), and I had no issue with the borrowed, older full size pad... This is working out as frustrating as the saddles!

 

[tda]

Friend of mine had custom small dressage girth made to use with her Christ pad for her pony - 12 inches.

 

[AutumnDays]

Friend of mine had custom small dressage girth made to use with her Christ pad for her pony - 12 inches.

I was wondering if I go smaller... Excuse my ignorance, but would it matter if the buckles were below her elbow as long as they are not in the way/affecting movement?

 

[tda]

I think there is an area to avoid but im not sure exactly where that is
Fp

 

[Dexter]

could a saddler move the straps?

 

[AutumnDays]

could a saddler move the straps?

This is another through that has occurred to me, the leather straps are sewn into webbing straps attached to the under pad... I'm sure it should be possible?! Will have to enquire and see

 

[JenJ]

'So I was wondering about cutting the straps off the pad, and using the TCS as a girth.'

This is what I did in effect, though I thought of it the other way around - I used the CL as a pad, and the TCS + girth as the saddle. Very comfortable, but then I only pottered around on my fairly elderly mares.

 

[AutumnDays]

'So I was wondering about cutting the straps off the pad, and using the TCS as a girth.'

This is what I did in effect, though I thought of it the other way around - I used the CL as a pad, and the TCS + girth as the saddle. Very comfortable, but then I only pottered around on my fairly elderly mares.

Sorry I just read my garbled post, and yes, what you have done is what I mean! I am only ever going to pootle about for pleasure and escapism, and comfort for both of us is the main thing. If it works I'd want it to be her set up for life

 

[JenJ]

One word of caution I would give with using the CL only is that if you use stirrups with it, the pressure wouldn't be distributed particularly well. The TCS however is specifically designed to allow stirrups to be used without the additional bulk of a traditional saddle.

 

[JenJ]

Sorry I just read my garbled post, and yes, what you have done is what I mean! I am only ever going to pootle about for pleasure and escapism, and comfort for both of us is the main thing. If it works I'd want it to be her set up for life

The combination is SOOO comfortable!

 

[JenJ]

The only difficult thing with the set up is taking a £300 saddle pad and cutting bits off it!!!

 

[AutumnDays]

The combination is SOOO comfortable!

Brilliant, there is a light at the end of the tunnel of frustration

 

[AntiPuck]

There are a fair few people in their FB group using this combo, in case you hadn't seen it yet - maybe they can help?

I use a TCS but not with the CL pad

 

[AutumnDays]

There are a fair few people in their FB group using this combo, in case you hadn't seen it yet - maybe they can help?

I use a TCS but not with the CL pad

What padding do you use with the TCS? I'm considering one regardless, they look like they'd suit us

 

[rabatsa]

Would the person whose pad you borrowed be up to swapping her old one for your new one?

 

[AutumnDays]

Would the person whose pad you borrowed be up to swapping her old one for your new one?

No, that one was really on its last legs. I think it's going to be repurposed!

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Could you put more holes higher up on girth straps or are they already to the top?

 

[AutumnDays]

Could you put more holes higher up on girth straps or are they already to the top?

The are already at the top. Looks like I will keep advertising it, and the shimmed, lined numnah that I got with it and go back to the drawing board. We've done most of our stuff bareback for now, we should manage for a bit longer... Just kicking myself a little for spending so much! Oh well, that's horses!!

 

[AntiPuck]

What padding do you use with the TCS? I'm considering one regardless, they look like they'd suit us

It's quite dependent on horse/rider - my horse has a high wither and I have prominent seat bones so I use more padding than some, but it would be excessive for a round cob type. I use an Equitex half pad, then a shimmed sheepskin-lined numnah, and a rear riser half pad on top.

I'd suggest going to the FB group and looking at the #paddingoptions hashtag to see what people are using for horses similar to yours.