Western Saddle questions for mum and Badger ...

GinaGem

GinaGem

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Unfortunately mum had a fall off Badger yesterday, she's ok but bruised. She was having a bad day (she's got Alzheimers) just wasn't with it and Badger nipped round and she came off the side. We know now if she's having a day she'll have to go on lead rein (she was on the lunge) however my question is whether she would be more stable in a western saddle - particularly as we could get her holding the pommel rather than the reins and also save her hanging onto Badgers mouth or mane for balance.

If this is a good idea do they need to be fitted like English saddles and if so does anyone know of a fitter in the Kent area or that would travel to Kent?

Any other info/advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Oh and another thing - we can now highly recommend the mountain horse body guard jacket, she was wearing it when she fell and i do think it protected her lower back, the lower panel was tucked right under her bum when she was on the floor!
 
Sorry just had to put these on to prove that they still love each other, these were taken today!
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Yep, western saddles still nee to be properly fitted, but not sure of anyone who does it?! Years ago we had one done by mail order, by sending off template drawings of the pony's withers, bak etc. It was shocking and didn't fit the pony it was intended for...
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eta we had it for a group of disabled children, and when it was fitted, sorted out etc, it worked very well for them.
 
Glad to hear your mum is okay, just bruised
Have you tried using a balance strap which hooks between the d rings on the front of the saddle ?
As for western saddles I know nothing about them so cannot help

He looks adorable in the pics
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Thanks, I thought they would need to be fitted. Good to know they work for disabled riders too - I've ridden in them on holiday and felt very secure.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Glad to hear your mum is okay, just bruised
Have you tried using a balance strap which hooks between the d rings on the front of the saddle ?
As for western saddles I know nothing about them so cannot help

He looks adorable in the pics
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[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah we have a balance strap already but when her reins get long she lifts her hands to balance and drops the strap - i thought a big pommel might encourage her to keep hold of it and make her feel more stable.
 
A very nervous and unbalanced friend rides her cob in a treeless saddle purely for the reason it makes her feel more secure. Hers is like this one ........ http://www.equinewhispers.co.uk/shopping/libra-hack-about-treeless-saddle-p-234.html

Having ridden her pony in it myself it certainly feels very secure and is quite built up at the front to the point i think i would have struggled to fall off forward, i managed to pop a small jump in hers and actually found it very comfortable.
Pleased your Mum is ok x
 
Yes, western saddles do need to be fitted, both to the horse and rider. There are an awful lot of really dodgy western saddles around, especially on ebay (there are one or two nice ones as well but you need to know what you are looking at)

If you do want to go down the western route, which I think would be a good idea for your mum, please enlist some knowledgeable help to find the right saddle for them both.

If you go to www.wes-uk.com you will find a list of Western Equestrian Society Area Representatives and Western Riding Instructors (two in Kent) who should be able to steer you in the right direction.
 
The other thing that might be an option for your mum is an Australian Stock Saddle. Its got a horn like a western saddle, and a high cantle like a dressage saddle, and big knee rolls. Stock saddles are VERY hard to fall out of (trust me, i could fall off a table top, but even I felt secure in my friend's stock saddle). They are cut more like an English saddle than a Western saddle, so generally not as heavy.
 
I used a Western Saddle some years ago, as I thought it might help with my knee problems. It certainly does give you something to hang on to, the only thing I didnt like about it were the stirrups - they were the traditional wooden ones and I felt that there was a high chance my foot could get stuck if I started to take a tumble. Also, because they hang in a more fixed position, I got terrible ankle ache, but that might just be my rubbish joints!
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I had to do a template thingy with some flexible rubber strip stuff over the withers and down the shoulders, and then I took that to the Western Saddler.

I am so sorry your Mum took a tumble, thank goodness she wasnt hurt or frightened.
 
Lovely photos.
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If your mum has some stability problems then personally I wouldn't fit with a treeless saddle in any shape or form.
Have you thought about a stock saddle? The would give your mum a lot of support, and something to hang on to. I'm thinking of Jason Webb, who is in Goudhurst, who is importing some really nice saddles from Aus, and can fit them. As well as conventional stock saddles he does some "hybrid" saddles that have less bulk, and I believe sells a synthetic one also, which would be lighter. I saw the saddles at his open day, they are very nice.
I can't find reference to the saddles on his site, but I know he's definitely selling them, so it might be worth getting in touch. http://www.australianhorsetraining.co.uk/index.html
 
Thing is, a western or stock saddle is actually going to help hold her legs in place and keep her on if anything shakes her up a bit. A neck strap won't do that, and as a lot of riders tip forward when they grab them, it can destabilise their position. Just a thought.
 
Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I'd really just like something that will hold her in place a bit more if something goes wrong like it did yesterday. On a good day she spends ages trotting round and round on her own, riding is actually inbuilt (she used to hunt a 16.3hh ID before the illness) but the reactions have slowed, where a normal person would brace themselves if a horse spooks she will take longer and therefore is more likely to fall off. Hope that makes sense! So balance straps are not awfully useful as we have to rely on her reactions to hang onto them, i was thinking with a western saddle or similar it would actually be harder for her to slip off the side and the big pommel would be an automatic thing to grab.

Will def look into all the options though - the safer the better really!!!

Goudhurst is not that far from us so that might be perfect.

The only treeless i have ridden in felt very easy to roll over the side which put me off - are they all like that?
 
Hell. Just typed a long reply and the bliddy forum lost it!
2nd try... Gina, I have 3 treeless saddles and am near Swanley. If you slip me some fuel money because I'm skint and make me a cuppa I'd be happy to show you. 3 of the best I think, a Heather Moffet Vogue, a Sensation and a Freeform. I've been trained to fit treeless saddles and I probably wouldn't have sold one to your mum. While they can be perfectly stable in normal circumstances, I think with your mum's balance problems there will always be the potential for them to move too much laterally.
Jason and his wife are really nice, I'm sure if you ring for a chat and tell them how you are trying to help your mum they will do their best for you. A nice synthetic from them would be a lot easier to manage than a western saddle.
Western saddles can be really heavy. A lot of the synthetic westerns are poor quality. The Wintec western isn't bad, but I've seen them and I'm not sure the tree would be wide enough for Badger.
There, I hope this post actually works.
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Hugs for Mum and Badger.

I used to live in the USA on a ranch. Our Western saddles went from horse to horse, with big saddle blankets underneath. Flipping heavy, but really hard to fall out of. The Australian stock saddles sound a good option.
 
Thanks but if they are unstable as i felt then there is no point trying them? The weight and actual tacking up is not a problem if we can learn to put the saddle on correctly as mum doesn't do any tacking up - she purely rides nowadays so it' either me or Jo who get him ready. The other consideration is how much these saddles cost as i don't have a clue!!

I think i will defiantly contact Jason and take it from there.

Thanks all
 
Rhandir when she was Essex based came out and checked the fit of a saddle we had bought for Cairo, she also taught us to ride basic western and Cairo to have the basics. The saddle was a good fit and we also use a very good saddle pad which was £95 but worth it.

His saddle - which we hope to use on Farra is huge and is very difficult to fall out of. The kids liked to ride two up in it as it was so secure and I adore hacking out in it.

I also have a Barefoot london treeless. It is a secure saddle which I enjoy hacking and riding in, but some folks do hate them. Given the choice for security, the western beats it hands out every time.

This is the ultimate comfortable safe hack - Cairo Clydesdale in his western. Farra is as safe as Cairo and once she is strong enough to carry 16 stone, which should be this year as she will be 6 and is buliding up, OH will start to ride her.

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They are also great if you are leading another horse and it stops. That saddle horn has saved me more than once from going out the back door.

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Stinky on his first being led session - well a baby has to go when he needs to.
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hiya, glad to hear your mum wasn't badly hurt by her fall and how marvellous to hear she is enjoying riding at her age. I would recommend Susie Anderson (07714706092) western trainer nr heathfield, not far from tunbridge wells. also recommend www.westernsaddler.co.uk who is based in hampshire and travels to fit saddles or come along to a show at bodiam international arena later in the season when tack shops turn up.
good luck
 
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