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 Georgia Peach
Posts: 8338
    
Location: Georgia | Hi guys! It’s been a while since I’ve been on here but I need the knowledge of BHW. I’ve been riding my coming 5 year old in a Lynn McKenzie special but it leaves dry spots (the hair is rubbed) on her whithers and she has become cinchy recently and just generally ill when riding. She is VERY mutton withered and slightly downhill. I did a lot of research, talked with a Martin rep and went up to a local western store and purchased a Martin FX3 with a 7” gullet. I have it on a 5 day trial so I'm not technically allowed to ride in it, just sit it on her and determine if it fits. Well I put it on her today and in my opinion, it does not look like its a good match. The pommel is super high and the saddle seems tilted forward on her. I sat in it with a pad on and I felt thrown forward even more so than I do when riding in my LM saddle. What do you guys think about the fit? Based on the pictures, what changes need to be made? Where do I go from here?
Note: She is standing in a hole. She isn’t quite this downhill. I didnt have anyone to hold her so she had to stay tied.
I edited to add just a tiny bit more information.
Edited by Runninbay 2018-12-12 8:16 AM
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 martin1.jpg (90KB - 568 downloads)
martin2.jpg (94KB - 257 downloads)
martin3.jpg (93KB - 259 downloads)
martin4.jpg (93KB - 243 downloads)
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 Expert
Posts: 5293
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I have 2 pretty mutton withered horses and went through several saddles. My Charmaine James Wide trees fit amazing! I use them with saddleright pads. Are you sure its the tree thats not fitting or maybe the seat that YOU don't like? |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | I have no pictures 
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Georgia Peach
Posts: 8338
Location: Georgia | Southtxponygirl - 2018-12-11 6:13 PM I have no pictures
Oh no! Let me try again! |
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Georgia Peach
Posts: 8338
Location: Georgia | FLITASTIC - 2018-12-11 6:00 PM Runninbay - 2018-12-11 2:48 PM Hi guys! It’s been a while since I’ve been on here but I need the knowledge of BHW. I’ve been riding my coming 5 year old in a Lynn McKenzie special but it leaves dry spots (the hair is rubbed) on her whithers and she has become cinchy recently and just generally ill when riding. She is mutton withered and slightly downhill. I did a lot of research and went up to a local western store and purchased a Martin FX3 with a 7” gullet. Well I put it on her today and it definitely doesn’t fit. I sat in it with a pad on and it felt even worse than it looked. I was very leaned forward and she seemed even more ill than normal. Where do I go from here? Based on the pictures, what changes need to be made?
Note: She is standing in a hole. She isn’t quite this downhill.
I have 2 pretty mutton withered horses and went through several saddles. My Charmaine James Wide trees fit amazing! I use them with saddleright pads. Are you sure its the tree thats not fitting or maybe the seat that YOU don't like?
Everything I have read says you should be able to fit no more than 3-4 fingers between the withers and the pommel. Well I can fit about 6 on this one.
Edited by Runninbay 2018-12-11 5:29 PM
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Still cant see them, can you Flit? |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | OK your bottom link is working and I will see if I can post the pictures for you..
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2cp9mkl_th.jpg (4KB - 257 downloads)
2pqltur.jpg (97KB - 272 downloads)
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Georgia Peach
Posts: 8338
Location: Georgia | Southtxponygirl - 2018-12-11 6:31 PM OK your bottom link is working and I will see if I can post the pictures for you..
Thank you!!! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 890
| What pad & size are you using ? I personally like the 1/2 inch pad. The thinnest pad the better fit if your saddle fits well. JMHO. Maybe talk to Rocky Road about pad fit to a saddle. She is wonderful.
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Georgia Peach
Posts: 8338
Location: Georgia | okhorselover - 2018-12-11 9:08 PM What pad & size are you using ? I personally like the 1/2 inch pad. The thinnest pad the better fit if your saddle fits well. JMHO. Maybe talk to Rocky Road about pad fit to a saddle. She is wonderful.
I have a 1/2” five star that I bought specifically for her because I was told the thinner the better on mutton withers. |
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Gettin Jiggy Wit It
Posts: 2734
| Runninbay - 2018-12-11 5:25 PM
FLITASTIC - 2018-12-11 6:00 PM Runninbay - 2018-12-11 2:48 PM Hi guys! It’s been a while since I’ve been on here but I need the knowledge of BHW. I’ve been riding my coming 5 year old in a Lynn McKenzie special but it leaves dry spots (the hair is rubbed) on her whithers and she has become cinchy recently and just generally ill when riding. She is mutton withered and slightly downhill. I did a lot of research and went up to a local western store and purchased a Martin FX3 with a 7” gullet. Well I put it on her today and it definitely doesn’t fit. I sat in it with a pad on and it felt even worse than it looked. I was very leaned forward and she seemed even more ill than normal. Where do I go from here? Based on the pictures, what changes need to be made?
Note: She is standing in a hole. She isn’t quite this downhill.
I have 2 pretty mutton withered horses and went through several saddles. My Charmaine James Wide trees fit amazing! I use them with saddleright pads. Are you sure its the tree thats not fitting or maybe the seat that YOU don't like? Everything I have read says you should be able to fit no more than 3-4 fingers between the withers and the pommel. Well I can fit about 6 on this one.
something about it is too wide. The tilting forward and not sitting level. The pommel might just be built higher for a sail fin withers allowing it to have enough clearance even though the saddle is to wide... You can see where the end of bars are in the front are sitting down to much on the shoulder... The bar angle is probably to wide along with the gullet width. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 516
| Too wide of gullet and the wrong bar angle. You can see it doesn't match the horses angles just from the photo. |
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Georgia Peach
Posts: 8338
Location: Georgia | WetSaddleBlankets - 2018-12-12 12:27 AM Runninbay - 2018-12-11 5:25 PM FLITASTIC - 2018-12-11 6:00 PM Runninbay - 2018-12-11 2:48 PM Hi guys! It’s been a while since I’ve been on here but I need the knowledge of BHW. I’ve been riding my coming 5 year old in a Lynn McKenzie special but it leaves dry spots (the hair is rubbed) on her whithers and she has become cinchy recently and just generally ill when riding. She is mutton withered and slightly downhill. I did a lot of research and went up to a local western store and purchased a Martin FX3 with a 7” gullet. Well I put it on her today and it definitely doesn’t fit. I sat in it with a pad on and it felt even worse than it looked. I was very leaned forward and she seemed even more ill than normal. Where do I go from here? Based on the pictures, what changes need to be made?
Note: She is standing in a hole. She isn’t quite this downhill.
I have 2 pretty mutton withered horses and went through several saddles. My Charmaine James Wide trees fit amazing! I use them with saddleright pads. Are you sure its the tree thats not fitting or maybe the seat that YOU don't like? Everything I have read says you should be able to fit no more than 3-4 fingers between the withers and the pommel. Well I can fit about 6 on this one. something about it is too wide. The tilting forward and not sitting level. The pommel might just be built higher for a sail fin withers allowing it to have enough clearance even though the saddle is to wide... You can see where the end of bars are in the front are sitting down to much on the shoulder... The bar angle is probably to wide along with the gullet width.
See, I honestly dont know much about saddle fitting. I've been very fortunate to have easy to fit horses over the years until this one came along. So I wasn't sure if it was too wide or too narrow. I read online that if the pommel is high then it is too narrow, but like you said, it may just be a high pommel naturally. The way it sat, it definitely felt like it was swallowing her shoulders and throwing me forward.
Edited by Runninbay 2018-12-12 7:53 AM
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Georgia Peach
Posts: 8338
Location: Georgia | WiscoRacer - 2018-12-12 2:07 AM Too wide of gullet and the wrong bar angle. You can see it doesn't match the horses angles just from the photo.
I agree with you that it has to do with the angles. I'm thinking the bars need to be more upright, so instead of full quarter bars she would need something more narrow. Is that correct? This picture is a good explanation of what I feel like is happening. Thoughts?
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Georgia Peach
Posts: 8338
Location: Georgia | Also, here is the way my Lynn McKenzie fits. This is an older LM that I've had for 15 years.
And I'm going to attach a picture of her sweat marks after a ride. Thought on how this fits? Also too wide?
Edited by Runninbay 2018-12-12 8:26 AM
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LM1.jpg (91KB - 259 downloads)
LM2.jpg (79KB - 266 downloads)
LM3.jpg (91KB - 276 downloads)
LM4.jpg (86KB - 269 downloads)
LM5.jpg (78KB - 261 downloads)
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 I hate cooking and cleaning
Posts: 3314
Location: Jersey Girl | Runninbay - 2018-12-12 9:23 AM Also, here is the way my Lynn McKenzie fits. This is an older LM that I've had for 15 years.
And I'm going to attach a picture of her sweat marks after a ride. Thought on how this fits? Also too wide?
This looks like its sitting down too but not as much as the other one. She has a dry spot on her wither so I would say the saddle is putting pressure there. |
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Georgia Peach
Posts: 8338
Location: Georgia | fulltiltfilly - 2018-12-12 9:57 AM Runninbay - 2018-12-12 9:23 AM Also, here is the way my Lynn McKenzie fits. This is an older LM that I've had for 15 years.
And I'm going to attach a picture of her sweat marks after a ride. Thought on how this fits? Also too wide? This looks like its sitting down too but not as much as the other one. She has a dry spot on her wither so I would say the saddle is putting pressure there.
That makes sense. So probably the same issue as the Martin, just not quite as bad? My other issue with the LM is how long it is. I think I need a round skirt on this mare because she is short backed. I emailed the Martin rep that I originally spoke with to determine how the bars are built on the FX3 and to see if any of their other saddles had bars with different angles. My sister in law has a CJ that I can try because of what FLITASTIC said and I've heard in the past that CJ's can be a good fit too. |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Runninbay - 2018-12-12 9:05 AM fulltiltfilly - 2018-12-12 9:57 AM Runninbay - 2018-12-12 9:23 AM Also, here is the way my Lynn McKenzie fits. This is an older LM that I've had for 15 years.
And I'm going to attach a picture of her sweat marks after a ride. Thought on how this fits? Also too wide? This looks like its sitting down too but not as much as the other one. She has a dry spot on her wither so I would say the saddle is putting pressure there.
Does your sister in law have a Cactus CJ or is it a Double J? I know these two can fit different.
Edit to say I would go with a round shirt too, but the Lynn M by Double J do have a longer skirt and the Martins have a deeper skirt, so I think a round skirt would be a better fit. I have one that is short backed too and need to go to a round skirt on him.
Edited by Southtxponygirl 2018-12-12 9:22 AM
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Georgia Peach
Posts: 8338
Location: Georgia | Southtxponygirl - 2018-12-12 10:17 AM Runninbay - 2018-12-12 9:05 AM fulltiltfilly - 2018-12-12 9:57 AM Runninbay - 2018-12-12 9:23 AM Also, here is the way my Lynn McKenzie fits. This is an older LM that I've had for 15 years.
And I'm going to attach a picture of her sweat marks after a ride. Thought on how this fits? Also too wide? This looks like its sitting down too but not as much as the other one. She has a dry spot on her wither so I would say the saddle is putting pressure there.
Does your sister in law have a Cactus CJ or is it a Double J? I know these two can fit different.
Edit to say I would go with a round shirt too, but the Lynn M by Double J do have a longer skirt and the Martins have a deeper skirt, so I think a round skirt would be a better fit. I have one that is short backed too and need to go to a round skirt on him.
Thank you for confirming my thoughts about the round skirt. Im about 99% sure she has a Cactus CJ. I spoke with her and will hopefully get it tomorrow to try. I have often though about trying the Pozzi Wide fit because I have always been a Double J fan anyway. The word "wide" concerns me now though because im not sure what that entails. Can you or someone explain what makes a tree "wide"? I might reach out to Double J and see about trying one. It's a little pricey to demo one but it might be worth it. |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Runninbay - 2018-12-12 9:48 AM Southtxponygirl - 2018-12-12 10:17 AM Runninbay - 2018-12-12 9:05 AM fulltiltfilly - 2018-12-12 9:57 AM Runninbay - 2018-12-12 9:23 AM Also, here is the way my Lynn McKenzie fits. This is an older LM that I've had for 15 years.
And I'm going to attach a picture of her sweat marks after a ride. Thought on how this fits? Also too wide? This looks like its sitting down too but not as much as the other one. She has a dry spot on her wither so I would say the saddle is putting pressure there.
Does your sister in law have a Cactus CJ or is it a Double J? I know these two can fit different.
Edit to say I would go with a round shirt too, but the Lynn M by Double J do have a longer skirt and the Martins have a deeper skirt, so I think a round skirt would be a better fit. I have one that is short backed too and need to go to a round skirt on him.
Its the angle of the bars for the wide fit saddles. There is a Pozzi extra wide and I think the bar angle is 35* degree with a 7" gullet and a wide is a 43 degree bar angle with a 7 inch gullet.
If I were you and looking at a Double J wide I would call and talk to someone there that knows their saddles, I have a Double J wide with a 43 degree bar and works with my thick gelding with nice withers and I have a 10# tree and a Standard I have no complaints on these saddles. |
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