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 Three in a Bikini
Posts: 2035
 
| Does this group have any advice on the best barrel saddle brands for hard turning horses?
I am currently using a Triple Creek and while the fit is perfect, I am having a REALLY hard time staying in the saddle around the turn and then getting both hands back on the reins after we resume forward motion.
*See video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGTDtEOTMNw
It takes me one to two strides to accomplish this, and I feel like if I were more secure it would be less of a struggle.
My saddle is also fully tooled with a stingray seat so I know this doesn't help... but I thought I would stop by and ask the experts before dropping any $$$$.
Thank you in advance!!! |
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12838
       
| I can link this with my phone and I have no electricity to use my computer. Go to Josey Reunion 2017. Look at kissyourmoneygoodbye. That is my trainer. She is about as big around as a soda straw. She rides with a 14 inch seat. That mare leaves the barrels hard. What I am saying is make sure that your seat is large enough. My saddle is a 16 inch seat because that is what my trainer recommended. I am not so vain that I thought my bucket would fit in a smaller seat. I wanted to ride better. Also joseys has a saddle that is called a hip hugger I think that my trainer likes for her huge powerful horse. It has a dished out cantle so you sit deeper behind you. Tight saddle seat is not what holds you in. It is your weight in the stirrups. |
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 Three in a Bikini
Posts: 2035
 
| My saddle size is not a concern but thanks for the tip. Just looking for brands that encourage a more secure seat. :) |
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 Dog Resuce Agent
Posts: 3459
        Location: southeast Texas | Shorten your stirrups. I used to ride with long stirrups. At a Connie combs clinic they ratcheted my stirrups up that I felt like my knees were in my chest. Not quite but that was the feeling. |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
    
| Play around with your stirrup length. I also recently shortened mine quite a bit and now find it much easier to not only stay with him but also hustle him.
I also shortened my reins considerably and that gave me a lot less to have to handle between cans - I think if your elbows are coming out between 1st and 2nd to change hands and get your reins back, they're too long, but that is also more of a personal preference thing.
The saddle size point is valid, if we have no room to brace and slide our hips forward in the turns, the tendnacy is to just hit the pommel and tip forward. However play with your stirrup length first, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.
Edited - if you feel like you're sliding around due to the seat and tooling, while shortening your stirrups will help with that there's also a product called saddle tite that can help add grip. A glycerin bar rubbed on your saddles jockeys and the inside of your jeans will provide a similar effect, but not quite as sticky. I used the saddle tite all the time in my previous English riding life when I had new boots or a newer saddle.
Edited by OhMax 2017-05-30 8:18 AM
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
              Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | My Pozzi's by Double J saddlery I love and Caldwells. You need to get your hands on one and try.. I have a Deb Sibley that is fully tooled and boy its really slick so I know what you mean. My Caldwell has the Elk seat and you stick to it.. |
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12838
       
| OK, at school now and have electricity. Here is a video of my trainer. She has already qualified the horse for the finals so she was just cruising. Note the amount of room in her saddle. that is so she can get bak in the sadddle properly. This is a Josey Ultimate
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liv6dLJNO5I#t=152.04051
If you look at videos of the futurity trainers their saddles are roomy. |
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Impressive!!
Posts: 1954
        Location: Idaho | I bought a Coats original for my hard turning mare and it was the best thing I did... I can get up and forward quickly and stay out of her way. Also, maybe the new Tami Semas saddles, I heard they ride similar to a Coats! |
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Impressive!!
Posts: 1954
        Location: Idaho | See and in my professional opinion, there is way to much room in that saddle... she is moving around a whole ton and she isn't able to get ahead of her horse, she is almost a half second behind her horse. Everyone has a different opinion on what fits right, my rule of thumb is I want 1 finger between my thighs and swells and 3 between my pelvis and swells. I want to be able to sit down and get up quickly without pulling on my horses face or sloshing around in the saddle. JMO I ride a 14" Coats saddles. |
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 Born not Made
Posts: 2931
       Location: North Dakota | Kry5ta1 - 2017-05-29 9:59 PM Does this group have any advice on the best barrel saddle brands for hard turning horses? I am currently using a Triple Creek and while the fit is perfect, I am having a REALLY hard time staying in the saddle around the turn and then getting both hands back on the reins after we resume forward motion. *See video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGTDtEOTMNw It takes me one to two strides to accomplish this, and I feel like if I were more secure it would be less of a struggle. My saddle is also fully tooled with a stingray seat so I know this doesn't help... but I thought I would stop by and ask the experts before dropping any $$$$. Thank you in advance!!!
I agree to shorten your stirrups.
You have to learn to leave the barrel turn WITH your horse, or slightly ahead. I was just at a Ryan Lovendahl clinic and what he said makes a lot of sense to me. As your horse is about to power out of the turn and head to the next barrel, you should be putting your toe DOWN on your outside stirrup and PUSH off to get up and out of your saddle.
I think Sherry Cervi is an excellent example. See her outside foot as Stingray is about to leave the turn? She's actually got her toe down, ready to push off and get her body up. You can't push your body "foward" as your horse surges forward if your heels are down. You just can't.


Watching your video, it is evident that you are behind your horse (most evident on the second barrel). He makes his move to power out and your butt is still in the saddle. You should be UP and ready to power out with him BEFORE he makes his move.
So I don't think you need a different saddle. I think you need to shorten your stirrups and work on your "footwork" so to speak! I don't think you'll have a problem if you get your body into proper position. |
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 Born not Made
Posts: 2931
       Location: North Dakota | streakysox - 2017-05-30 10:09 AM OK, at school now and have electricity. Here is a video of my trainer. She has already qualified the horse for the finals so she was just cruising. Note the amount of room in her saddle. that is so she can get bak in the sadddle properly. This is a Josey Ultimate https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liv6dLJNO5I#t=152.04051 If you look at videos of the futurity trainers their saddles are roomy.
.....I kinda agree with flyingh. I think she's "sloshing" around too much, especially on the 3rd barrel she got left behind.
Not saying I ride perfect 100% of the time (because I don't!!), but personally, I think that saddle seat size is much too big for her. She's moving around way too much.
But ... to each his own. Use what you are comfortable with. |
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12838
       
| r_beau - 2017-05-30 5:08 PM
Kry5ta1 - 2017-05-29 9:59 PM Does this group have any advice on the best barrel saddle brands for hard turning horses? I am currently using a Triple Creek and while the fit is perfect, I am having a REALLY hard time staying in the saddle around the turn and then getting both hands back on the reins after we resume forward motion. *See video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGTDtEOTMNw It takes me one to two strides to accomplish this, and I feel like if I were more secure it would be less of a struggle. My saddle is also fully tooled with a stingray seat so I know this doesn't help... but I thought I would stop by and ask the experts before dropping any $$$$. Thank you in advance!!!
I agree to shorten your stirrups. You have to learn to leave the barrel turn WITH your horse, or slightly ahead. I was just at a Ryan Lovendahl clinic and what he said makes a lot of sense to me. As your horse is about to power out of the turn and head to the next barrel, you should be putting your toe DOWN on your outside stirrup and PUSH off to get up and out of your saddle. I think Sherry Cervi is an excellent example. See her outside foot as Stingray is about to leave the turn? She's actually got her toe down, ready to push off and get her body up. You can't push your body "foward" as your horse surges forward if your heels are down. You just can't.   Watching your video, it is evident that you are behind your horse (most evident on the second barrel ). He makes his move to power out and your butt is still in the saddle. You should be UP and ready to power out with him BEFORE he makes his move. So I don't think you need a different saddle. I think you need to shorten your stirrups and work on your "footwork" so to speak! I don't think you'll have a problem if you get your body into proper position.
Note that Sherry is not getting her butt up out of the saddle but is leaning forward
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 Three in a Bikini
Posts: 2035
 
| Thank you to everyone for the advice!
I tried a Pozzi pro on him tonight and that was a definite no go.
I will try shortening my stirrups on the existing saddle next.
The pictures of Cervi definitely give me a good visual so I will try to keep that in mind when we practice.
I always walk away from this board with good information.
Can't wait to implement some new tactics so we can improve from here. :D |
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      Location: Big Blue Skies | I bought a Reinsman pad made for thick horses with little to no withers. It had the Too Tacky underneath to help with grip. I love it! I do not have to tighten my cinch as much. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 413
   
| I REALLY love my Usher Brand saddle! It is very secure! |
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Sock Snob
Posts: 3021
 
| Make sure your saddle is not to low in front throwing your balance forward. A lot of the older saddles did that and it felt bad. Just keep trying saddles until you feel comfortable in your turns
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 Chasin my Dream
Posts: 13651
        Location: Alberta | I really like my Martin FX3 for keeping me centred....BUT what I discovered has helped me most is strengthing my core and looking I'm going...not looking down at the barrel. |
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 Total Germophobe
Posts: 6437
       Location: Montana | dream_chaser - 2017-06-04 9:34 AM I really like my Martin FX3 for keeping me centred....BUT what I discovered has helped me most is strengthing my core and looking I'm going...not looking down at the barrel.
^^^^^THIS!!! Strengthening my core helped me a lot & shortening my stirrups. I also actually went down from a 15" saddle to a 14", but the 15" was way to big for me and I was sloshing around badly. Looking where you are going helps too. |
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
       Location: Phoenix | Try a Tod Slone. They typically have a higher cantle and a sweet spot. |
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Member
Posts: 21

| All these years of riding I never knew a saddle could make such a difference. I kept feeling left at the barrel until I tried a Martha Josey Ultimate Cash. This saddle is the greatest in my book. Saddle feels broke in from day one, stirrups are set forward and its a deep seat. I never get left anymore. |
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