Treeless Saddle - HELP, please!

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Tobes

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My daughter has just purchased a Barefoot Cheyenne which she is planning to use for her old pony when she takes him out hacking.

The pony has definitely lost a little muscle over his back as he's got older, more so around the withers. He is also a little croup high, always has been.

Daughter purchased the special Barefoot pad to go under the saddle, and when placed on pony's back, the saddle looks as though it's tipping forwards a little. (cantle slightly higher than pommel).

Apart from that, it all seems to fit really well. Pony and daughter both seem very happy.

Will this cause any issues, or should I be looking into getting some sort of riser pad to lift the front up a little?

Thank you
 
Tobes said:
My daughter has just purchased a Barefoot Cheyenne which she is planning to use for her old pony when she takes him out hacking.

The pony has definitely lost a little muscle over his back as he's got older, more so around the withers. He is also a little croup high, always has been.

Daughter purchased the special Barefoot pad to go under the saddle, and when placed on pony's back, the saddle looks as though it's tipping forwards a little. (cantle slightly higher than pommel).

Apart from that, it all seems to fit really well. Pony and daughter both seem very happy.

Will this cause any issues, or should I be looking into getting some sort of riser pad to lift the front up a little?

Thank you
Click to expand...

I've been tinkering with the fit of a Cheyenne since just before Christmas, but on a big horse with some withers but an otherwise flat back. I've been advised to use shims that are bulkier at the front than at the back (I am using a Haf pad with removable shims). Not sure which pad you got? There's one that can be shimmed and one that can't - it is the Physio pad vs the Grandeur pad? You might want to speak to the Barefoot supplier to get some advice on what's best :)

ETA - I found the saddle really uncomfortable for me before adjusting the shims. The horse seemed very happy, but I was tipped forward. Since adjusting, it now sits more level and I have to say I am finding it lovely... I didn't think I'd like it as much as my deep seated dressage saddle, but it is much nicer! (I did have to move the stirrup position though - saddle tipped me forward and stirrup position didn't allow for a nice long leg until I tweaked it).
 
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Thanks for your reply.

It's the normal Barefoot pad she has got, not the physio one.

From looking at the physio one online, it doesn't look as though you can shim the front more than the back? Although I might be wrong.

Would a wither pad or equivalent work in addition to the Barefoot pad?

Should the cantle and pommel always be perfectly level?
 
Tobes said:
Good idea.

Would it hurt to get shims and attach them to the current barefoot pad, to raise the front of it a bit?
Click to expand...

I think this would work. The key thing is that any graduation needs to be nearest to the saddle and furthest from horse's back, and that there's no "ridges" you can feel through the pad.
I've actually cut open an old Shires riser pad and used the material in it cut to fit my Haf pad, building it up at the front.
 
Brightbay said:
I think this would work. The key thing is that any graduation needs to be nearest to the saddle and furthest from horse's back, and that there's no "ridges" you can feel through the pad.
I've actually cut open an old Shires riser pad and used the material in it cut to fit my Haf pad, building it up at the front.
Click to expand...

So the extra shimming needs to go in between the saddle and the Barefoot pad.

How do you go about 'building it up' then?

I think we are using the right pommel, it's the wide one. We took it out and held it on his withers, it looked like it lay pretty well.
 
Tobes said:
So the extra shimming needs to go in between the saddle and the Barefoot pad.

How do you go about 'building it up' then?

I think we are using the right pommel, it's the wide one. We took it out and held it on his withers, it looked like it lay pretty well.
Click to expand...

My pad has Velcro pockets with shims. I just cut out an extra shim about half the length of the full length one, and put it in the front of the pocket over the wither area :)

Might be worth double checking your pommel insert, it is definitely a reason for the saddle tipping forward if it's too wide - my lad is a chunky 17hh but takes the medium one?
The template thingy I used is half way down this page... http://www.barefoot-tack.co.uk/barefoot-cheyenne-6-p.asp
 
Thank you, I will double check the pommel insert tonight.

If it's correct then I'll have a go at shimming the front.

I think Barefoot do replacement shims, but I don't think the regular pad has pockets, so I would have to attach them some other way?
 
Also, how do I know which pommel insert is in there now?

I think it's the wide one, but will there be a mark on it or something so I can be sure?
 
Serephin said:
The barefoot pad should have pockets for the shims.
Click to expand...
I've got the same as you with the Grandeur pad. The velcro is right at the front of the pad.Nearly impossible to see due to the pad fleece. Mine is also very hard to open up, which isn't a bad thing. You should be able to get different thicknesses of insert for the pad, although I've heard that camping roll material works just as well. Just trim to shape.
 
Tobes said:
Also, how do I know which pommel insert is in there now?

I think it's the wide one, but will there be a mark on it or something so I can be sure?
Click to expand...

They seem to have N, M or W written on the middle (and, thank goodness, R and L at respective ends as well, otherwise I'd never have got it back in to the pocket the right way round!).
 
On my drytex Cheyenne, the cantel is higher than the pommel by design, and the medium pommel insert was too narrow. i took the pommel insert out, and then stuffed the area with as much padding as I could get in (aka their soft pommel but free).

The cantel still is higher, but that's the way they are made, I think.
 
The cantle is also slightly higher than the pommel on my barefoot too. I'm not sure if it's supposed to be like this, and have wondered if I should add more padding to the front too.

I keep meaning to get someone to take a picture once I'm on board, because I wonder if once there is weight in the saddle, it levels out - have you checked this OP?
 
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