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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 507
Location: Lost in the corn of Iowa. | Brief history- My 6 yr old mare had a rough start. She at some point flipped over on a hot walker and fractured her withers. I've had her vetted and x-ray'd and she's sound for barrels just has a nice bumpy wither area. She bucked my off last spring and I ended up with a broken collar bone out of it. And I'm thinking it was a combination of her hurting and being a brat because she wasn't ridden for 2 yrs. When I mean hurting I mean by her being out of adjustment because I really don't think she was brought back with vet or chiro work after the hot walker accident. A former friend of mine "trains" colts and took her for the time I was off and rode the snot out of her, but in the meantime my very stocky and think mare came back to me looking very TB build and skinny. I've kept up on her being vetted, teeth and chiro work since I've owned her. She has been x-rayed where her fracture is and the wither area is sound. Meaning, it's not fused or kissing anywhere so she is sound enough to run and ride. There isn't any inflammation there.
2 weeks ago I took her to a chiro and my sleeps at the trailer kinda horse left the chiro a fire breathing dragon. I was not happy with the end result. I had never used this one before and I probably won't use her again. She was visiting a local barn and is 3+ hours away so it's no huge loss. I had another chiro look at her last night and she readjusted all the stuff the 1st chiro did. I got my happy horse back.
So this brings me to my question. The chiro really worked on her shoulder and looked at my saddle fit. She suggested a saddle with 3/4 rigging to help keep pressure off of her shoulder area. Because my mare has a really thick shoulder area also, I mean very muscle'y (sp). The saddle I have fits her back really nice but it's pushing in on her shoulders in the front so it's making her grouchy and bucky. Kinda can't blame the girl. But it fits everywhere else. I tried a wide gullet but it's too wide for her. And so my question is, is there a decent brand of saddle out there that has either 3 way rigging, or 3/4 rigging. Everything I'm finding is 7/8 rigging. I'd really like to find something to help her feel happy when I ride her. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
ETA: So far I'm only finding the Josey Ultimate saddles, which are nice. I'm just wondering if there's anything else out there as to brands. Thanks.
Edited by Girls_Gotta_Jet 2014-05-17 8:00 AM
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 Hog Tie My Mojo
Posts: 4847
  
Location: Opelousas, LA | Try one of Meleta Browns saddles, she has a new tree for a horse with a flat back and her original tree. She is WimpyB on BHW and I bet you could send her pics and she could tell you which saddle will work best for your horse.
There is not another saddle out there that will free up a horses shoulder like hers will, they are super well made and reasonably priced. She will also send you a trial saddle to ride for a week or so if you just want to try one out.
Other saddles that may work would be a Caldwell, Black Rhino or Lynn McKenzie (Double J). |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 507
Location: Lost in the corn of Iowa. | Thanks, I'll look into those brands. |
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Meanest Teacher!!!
Posts: 8555
 
Location: sunny california | it might be cheaper to take your saddle to a saddle maker and have them change the rigging for you |
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 pressure dripper
Posts: 8699
Location: the end of the rainbow | Honestly if it's tight in the shoulder I doubt a change in rigging will really help. It's the flair in the bars you need to look at. I've heard good things about the meleta brown saddles and I love my lynn McKenzie wide tree for exactly that reason. I think lynn & meleta both have videos you can youtube regarding saddle fit.
Just an fyi I love my McKenzie w/ a cut back pad on my mare with badly busted up withers. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 507
Location: Lost in the corn of Iowa. | Well today I fitted her with a few different saddles. Mine is obviously not fitting right since it's pinching and causing her pain. I agree that a little wider flair may probably help instead of just changing the rigging alone. What seemed to fit her like a glove was a Crown C 8 1/2", and with the rigging in the 3/4 position it is where it fit her the best pressure wise. So now I am just looking for something similar with a nicer price tag. Unfortunatley, I have a family and life and I just can't afford a Crown C right now. But the plus side is, I love to shop for saddles :) |
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Veteran
Posts: 238
| I'm continually being told to try a Maleta Brown saddle, but I can find no one in my area with one to try. I literally rode in over 10 saddles this weekend and soooooo sick of the hunt. I don't have the funds to continually buy and sell saddles and wait for them both directions and shipping etc. Is there anywhere that you can try the saddle? |
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Rad Dork
Posts: 5218
Location: Oklahoma | Girls_Gotta_Jet - 2014-05-17 2:25 PM Well today I fitted her with a few different saddles. Mine is obviously not fitting right since it's pinching and causing her pain. I agree that a little wider flair may probably help instead of just changing the rigging alone. What seemed to fit her like a glove was a Crown C 8 1/2", and with the rigging in the 3/4 position it is where it fit her the best pressure wise. So now I am just looking for something similar with a nicer price tag. Unfortunatley, I have a family and life and I just can't afford a Crown C right now. But the plus side is, I love to shop for saddles :)
There is a FB page dedicated to Martin saddles for sale. Maybe you can find something in your price range on there! |
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Hog Tie My Mojo
Posts: 4847
Location: Opelousas, LA | SpottedT - 2014-05-19 9:12 AM I'm continually being told to try a Maleta Brown saddle, but I can find no one in my area with one to try. I literally rode in over 10 saddles this weekend and soooooo sick of the hunt. I don't have the funds to continually buy and sell saddles and wait for them both directions and shipping etc. Is there anywhere that you can try the saddle?
PM WimpyB, she has trial saddles she will ship to you. You will pay shipping but you also get to ride the saddle for a week or so. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 507
Location: Lost in the corn of Iowa. | Thanks. I will definitely do that. After my setback this past saturday, I'm definitely on the search hot n heavy. My mare has had enough of the saddle I have and she face planted me in between 1st and 2nd. And I feel it today!!!  |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 507
Location: Lost in the corn of Iowa. | Barnmom - 2014-05-19 9:26 AM
SpottedT - 2014-05-19 9:12 AM I'm continually being told to try a Maleta Brown saddle, but I can find no one in my area with one to try. I literally rode in over 10 saddles this weekend and soooooo sick of the hunt. I don't have the funds to continually buy and sell saddles and wait for them both directions and shipping etc. Is there anywhere that you can try the saddle?
PM WimpyB, she has trial saddles she will ship to you. You will pay shipping but you also get to ride the saddle for a week or so.
I just sent her a PM. So I hope I can get some help at least. Thanks Barnmom :) |
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 Big Gun
Posts: 2216
Location: Texas | Longneck - 2014-05-19 9:21 AM Girls_Gotta_Jet - 2014-05-17 2:25 PM Well today I fitted her with a few different saddles. Mine is obviously not fitting right since it's pinching and causing her pain. I agree that a little wider flair may probably help instead of just changing the rigging alone. What seemed to fit her like a glove was a Crown C 8 1/2", and with the rigging in the 3/4 position it is where it fit her the best pressure wise. So now I am just looking for something similar with a nicer price tag. Unfortunatley, I have a family and life and I just can't afford a Crown C right now. But the plus side is, I love to shop for saddles :) There is a FB page dedicated to Martin saddles for sale. Maybe you can find something in your price range on there!
What's the name of the page for martins for sale? |
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Rad Dork
Posts: 5218
Location: Oklahoma | I believe it's Martin Barrel Saddles For Sale. I'm no on FB, but I have googled before and I think I mfe it to that page before! |
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  Crazy Chicken Chick
Posts: 36132
| Barnmom - 2014-05-17 8:34 AM Try one of Meleta Browns saddles, she has a new tree for a horse with a flat back and her original tree. She is WimpyB on BHW and I bet you could send her pics and she could tell you which saddle will work best for your horse.
There is not another saddle out there that will free up a horses shoulder like hers will, they are super well made and reasonably priced. She will also send you a trial saddle to ride for a week or so if you just want to try one out.
Other saddles that may work would be a Caldwell, Black Rhino or Lynn McKenzie (Double J).
The new tree is DA BOMB!!! |
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Saddle with 3/4 rigging?