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Red Bull Agressive
Posts: 5981
   
Location: North Dakota | This is my brand new Meleta Brown (new wider, flatter tree) saddle that I've had since March but haven't gotten to use yet. It's the only saddle I've found that fits his shoulders and everything looks/feels perfect except I feel like the very back of the saddle is sticking up kind of a lot. Under the cantle it is still making good contact but the very back inch or two I can fit a good 2 fingers between the saddle and pad (which is 3/4". I need a 1/2"). Also I have not ridden in this saddle yet so idk maybe it's just perched because I just set it on top of him for pics.
ETA Please excuse his ugly neck bulge....he's very out of shape.
Edited by cavyrunsbarrels 2015-05-21 11:28 AM
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| I would ask Meleeta about this. |
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 Buttered Noodles Snacker
Posts: 4377
Location: NC | I always worry when I see the saddle sticking up bothers me a lot. but then I go to races and see a ton of people's saddles sticking up, so not sure if it is as bad of a thing or not. Good luck hope you find a good resolution. I am sure Meleta will help you get it figured out she is awesome. |
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Veteran
Posts: 294
| Maybe its just a little too wide in the front. You could probably shim it. |
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  More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | Pictures would be good. Ask the expert. Meleta is a wealth of knowledge. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| What does the saddle do when you don't have a saddle pad on? How does it feel when you feel under it?
Personally I don't like gaps as I find my horses have had more back issues, injuries due to the saddle hitting their back when running.
As others have said speak to the saddle maker as she will know the saddle better then any one else |
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Red Bull Agressive
Posts: 5981
Location: North Dakota | I'm trying to get the stupid pics to load. I KNOW it is not too wide in the shoulders. It's the first saddle that feels good up there. |
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Expert
Posts: 2531
Location: WI | Okay, off topic but is yours a Crates? I stopped at a Crates vendor in April and they told me Crates is no longer making the Meleta's. |
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Red Bull Agressive
Posts: 5981
Location: North Dakota | linds - 2015-05-21 9:52 AM
Okay, off topic but is yours a Crates? I stopped at a Crates vendor in April and they told me Crates is no longer making the Meleta's.
Yes if I remember correctly I bought like the second to last one they had made. That was back in March. She said Crates raised the prices sky high so she's looking for a new company to make her saddles. |
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 Mature beyond Years
Posts: 10780
Location: North of the 49th Parallel | I just bought a Meleta and mine pops up a tiny bit in the back. I'm just going to shim mine. I'm a broke college student so we're gonna have to work with what I got. |
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 Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | Where you say you need a 1/2" pad, I'd try it with a 1/2" pad first then see. Where the front fits him correctly, that extra 1/4", by the time it reachs the back of the saddle has graduated/elevated it some what. JMO. If that doesn't work, then try shimming. :) |
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 Firecracker Dog Lover
Posts: 3175
| Is that pad a Bio Fit pad with the built up area on each side of the withers? If so I'd try a regular pad and see if that makes the entire saddle fit better. |
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 A Lady with Fight
Posts: 2701
Location: NC | If it fits great without the pad, then it's the pad. Get a 1/2 regular wool contour pad. |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | I agree if the saddle is a good fit without the pad that you are using I would go with a thiner one to see how your saddle sits, and another thing to since you dont ride and the saddle is new the fleece underneat is still really fluffy I think untill the fleece get some of the air out of it and it settles your saddle will have a better fit. |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Do you have a picture of your horse without a saddle? |
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 I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
Location: In the Hills of Texas | Is this a 15" seat?
Nice saddle...I loved the one I had but it didn't fit my current horse and I sold it. I was hoping they would start making a smaller seat.
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Red Bull Agressive
Posts: 5981
Location: North Dakota | It's a 15". I don't have a 1/2" pad right now so I have to order one. I'll take a pic of it w/o a pad. I didn't try yet. I also have to be VERY cautious about shimming bc he has kissing spine and his saddle needs to fit pretty much perfectly. |
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 Chin Hairs
Posts: 1028
Location: Indiana | I would give Meleta a call, she is very helpful and could answer all of your questions. I don't believe she has access to the internet at all times when she is in certain areas, so maybe call her directly and I bet you may even be able to text her some pictures. |
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 Damn Yankee
Posts: 12390
Location: Somewhere between raising hell and Amazing Grace | I think it fits absolutely horribly and you should get rid of it as fast as you can. I'll PM you my address so you can send it to me :)
Sit it with no pad, then the thinner pad. Right where your fingers are in the pic, you WANT a gap of some sort there. You don't want anything coming in contact with his actualy spine. Meleta puts quite a bit of sheepskin on her saddles and sometimes it can give it the affect of sticking up when it actually isn't. I think it looks good on him. I know Meleta just left for Wyoming so be patient, she will respond when she can!! |
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 Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | missroselee - 2015-05-21 8:21 PM I think it fits absolutely horribly and you should get rid of it as fast as you can. I'll PM you my address so you can send it to me :)
Sit it with no pad, then the thinner pad. Right where your fingers are in the pic, you WANT a gap of some sort there. You don't want anything coming in contact with his actualy spine. Meleta puts quite a bit of sheepskin on her saddles and sometimes it can give it the affect of sticking up when it actually isn't. I think it looks good on him. I know Meleta just left for Wyoming so be patient, she will respond when she can!!
What she said and I am a lucky girl, she is my neigbor for the summer |
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 Cinnamon Honey One
Posts: 6549
Location: between here and there | Heck you girls are doing a great job without me!
I asked for pics without the pad so we could determine if it's working or it's the pad. Yes, there is a lot of new fluffy wool on that saddle that needs to conform, too. It takes the place of extra padding and a great reason why I suggest just 1/2".
Her horse has kissing spine and she is concerned, which I would be too. That said, the only thing in contact with the spine is the pad, so you want to keep that in mind too. The gullet clears the spine well. I would do a check with my hands to see if the bars are in contact back there on both sides. If they are, it's the wool/padding combination causing the problem. If the saddle isn't in contact, then perhaps the saddle isn't fitting. I can only go by what I'm told since I'm not there in person. Glad to answer any questions and try to help, but I do need your help in doing it. Help me help you!
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | wimpyb - 2015-05-21 10:39 PM Heck you girls are doing a great job without me! I asked for pics without the pad so we could determine if it's working or it's the pad. Yes, there is a lot of new fluffy wool on that saddle that needs to conform, too. It takes the place of extra padding and a great reason why I suggest just 1/2". Her horse has kissing spine and she is concerned, which I would be too. That said, the only thing in contact with the spine is the pad, so you want to keep that in mind too. The gullet clears the spine well. I would do a check with my hands to see if the bars are in contact back there on both sides. If they are, it's the wool/padding combination causing the problem. If the saddle isn't in contact, then perhaps the saddle isn't fitting. I can only go by what I'm told since I'm not there in person. Glad to answer any questions and try to help, but I do need your help in doing it. Help me help you!
I love reading your replys, I learn when you come on here  |
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Blessed 
Location: Here | wimpyb - 2015-05-21 10:39 PM Heck you girls are doing a great job without me! I asked for pics without the pad so we could determine if it's working or it's the pad. Yes, there is a lot of new fluffy wool on that saddle that needs to conform, too. It takes the place of extra padding and a great reason why I suggest just 1/2". Her horse has kissing spine and she is concerned, which I would be too. That said, the only thing in contact with the spine is the pad, so you want to keep that in mind too. The gullet clears the spine well. I would do a check with my hands to see if the bars are in contact back there on both sides. If they are, it's the wool/padding combination causing the problem. If the saddle isn't in contact, then perhaps the saddle isn't fitting. I can only go by what I'm told since I'm not there in person. Glad to answer any questions and try to help, but I do need your help in doing it. Help me help you!
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Blessed
Location: Here |
Me Too |
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Red Bull Agressive
Posts: 5981
Location: North Dakota | Yes yes I've sent Meleta many more pictures both pad-less and with a single thickness navajo. I don't have a 1/2" pad. Basically from the lady Concho on the saddle barely touches his back. |
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Cinnamon Honey One
Posts: 6549
Location: between here and there | Yes, she sent me some great photos! From her checking the saddle is in contact to the last concho (not lady, lol) and that should be fine. This
tree has flare on the backside as well as the front. The tree ends at about 2" so the last couple inches are just leather and with the fluffy wool and
being new, I think that is what is keeping it up.
That said, with her being concerned for her horse which I totally understand, she can try riding it and if not happy, return it. I feel very strongly about
getting it right. If she isn't happy for any reason, she doesn't own it.
Thanks for the kind comments! I really appreciate it.
Meleta |
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Red Bull Agressive
Posts: 5981
Location: North Dakota | wimpyb - 2015-05-21 11:15 PM
Yes, she sent me some great photos! From her checking the saddle is in contact to the last concho (not lady, lol) and that should be fine. This
tree has flare on the backside as well as the front. The tree ends at about 2" so the last couple inches are just leather and with the fluffy wool and
being new, I think that is what is keeping it up.
That said, with her being concerned for her horse which I totally understand, she can try riding it and if not happy, return it. I feel very strongly about
getting it right. If she isn't happy for any reason, she doesn't own it.
Thanks for the kind comments! I really appreciate it.
Meleta
Oh geesh yes last concho. No mudflap girl conchos for me! |
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Blessed
Location: Here | wimpyb - 2015-05-21 11:15 PM Yes, she sent me some great photos! From her checking the saddle is in contact to the last concho (not lady, lol) and that should be fine. This tree has flare on the backside as well as the front. The tree ends at about 2" so the last couple inches are just leather and with the fluffy wool and being new, I think that is what is keeping it up. That said, with her being concerned for her horse which I totally understand, she can try riding it and if not happy, return it. I feel very strongly about getting it right. If she isn't happy for any reason, she doesn't own it. Thanks for the kind comments! I really appreciate it. Meleta
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I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
Location: In the Hills of Texas | SG. - 2015-05-21 10:46 PM Me Too
Me three! |
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Red Bull Agressive
Posts: 5981
Location: North Dakota | I just wanted to update this. After some more time on the theraplate, lunging with a chambon, hill work, etc. I gave my sister a riding lesson on Cash tonight and I think his saddle fits! The back wasn't sticking up nearly as much by the end of the ride and his sweat patterns were even it was great. I'm so excited! |
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Cinnamon Honey One
Posts: 6549
Location: between here and there | That's great! Was wondering how you were getting along! That fleece (genuine wool) doesn't relax as much as standard fleece. Course it stays that way for years and doesn't crush either which I prefer! It does hold the saddle up some that is why checking under the bars to see how the bars are in contact with the back is important - on ANY saddle. Leather on some saddles is stiffer as well and can cause the appearance of no contact. PLEASE don't start using shims on saddles without knowing how to use them properly! Too many riders are now stuffing extra crap under the saddles and have NO idea how and why! |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | cavyrunsbarrels - 2015-06-14 11:44 PM I just wanted to update this. After some more time on the theraplate, lunging with a chambon, hill work, etc. I gave my sister a riding lesson on Cash tonight and I think his saddle fits! The back wasn't sticking up nearly as much by the end of the ride and his sweat patterns were even it was great. I'm so excited!
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Red Bull Agressive
Posts: 5981
Location: North Dakota | Yeah it felt like it's taken forever to get his back feeling better (kissing spine) but thist last week he's been really moving out better than ever and hasn't had any soreness flare ups in quite a while. I figured I'd let my (much lighter) sister have the first couple rides to get him conditioned to the weight of a rider again before I get riding on him. I'm so excited his saddle appears to fit and he's been so wonderful. I just love this horse to death. |
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