The western saddle - pics

[harleydales]

Here is the saddle I was on about - what do you think?
Ignore my position, I know it's not pretty!!!
Is it in the right place? I think it's too far forward in the first pic

[jacquidales]

It does look quite forward in that first pic. Where is the concho sitting in relation to his shoulder grove?

[linparris]

I would love a western but am put off as I don't know how to work out the size etc.Any advise much appriciated! (for wide dales mare)

[Debbie]

Grab the saddle and yank it backwards another inch or two. That leather tab dangling from the concho (convienently there to slot the rest of your cinch through, so its not dragging) should sit in the pocket behind the shoulder. You're right, he's got more than enough length of back for the saddle.

My next question, once you've gotten the saddle back on him, can you take a 3/4 pic, to better see the clearance around his withers and the front of the saddle?

[harleydales]

Excellent, thanks Debbie and Jacqui, that's what I thought when I looked at them again.
The concho is probably in front of the shoulder groove.

When it's further back, there is plenty of clearance at the withers and shoulders.
The girth/cinch is then further back than on an English - is that right? There's a good bit of space between the bck of his cshoulder and the front of the girth/cinch.

[Debbie]

Yep, you'll find the cinch does sit further back than the english girths, even if the rigging is set for 7/8, but that's okay....doesn't seem to bother the horses any.

Glad to hear there is clearance around the withers if the saddle's placed further back. You should actually feel it 'snug' into place when you've got the saddle placed properly. Its a very subtle feel, though. Do be sure you pull the saddle pad up a little into the gullet over the withers, as he's got such high ones. No sense having the clearance if the withers are going to be pinched down by the saddle blanket.

Lastly, is there a second cinch for your saddle?? I know many people go without, but ideally being a western saddle, there will be a second cinch to balance the rigging.

[harleydales]

There's a second one furhter back on the saddle, is it called a flank cinch? Do you recomend I do this one up too then? It doesn't have a strap though, that could be a problem!

I'm always very careful with my normal saddle to pull the numnah well up because of his withers, so it will automatically happen with the western saddle too.

I've bought some books on western and it looks as hard work as English! Poor Mike still has to have the shoulder hips heel in line, I haven't told him that yet!

Might try with the saddle again tonight....

[zeldalithgow]

This is a good place for western stuff www.deepwatertack.co.uk we got most of our stuff from them, John was really helpful

[Debbie]

When doing up the second cinch, be sure that its cinched up last, and is the first one undone. Also, and this is critical ~ be absolutely sure the two cinches are connected underneath the belly! Usually there's a strap connecting the two, and the most convienent one I've found is the strap has a little snap, so you can just clip it to the D on the front cinch. The reason its critical these two are clipped or fastened together is because otherwise, the second cinch can work itself back to the flanks and become a bucking strap ~ NOT what you want ~ ever!

LOL...yep, its still the same ole head, shoulder, hip, heel line...although a lot of cowboys will slouch in the saddle and assume a chair position.

[rebeccajane]

I love that Western tack site Zelda, do they do the bridles in Dales head size?

[zeldalithgow]

We got one for Prince just one of the in stock sizes it fits Prince fine I'll see if I can find a pic of him in it
This is it without pony lol it is on the smallest fitting - I would say Prince has a normal sized Dales head maybe on the smaller side of normal


I think Deepwater do custom made stuff

[harleydales]

We tried the saddle again last night - I'm not totally convinced that it's right, but there is clearance over the withers and space round the shoulders. He went well and he felt like he was striding out a bit more than usual. But he hadn't been out for a while so it could have been high spirits.
Mike really likes the western saddle, feels more secure in it. He was sitting in an armchair for a while, but I dropped his stirrups and moved him forward a bit and he could see it was better.

I'm going to try to get someone to come and look at it, and if it doesn't fit, look for a different one - it's worth it to keep Mike coming out!

One more query Debbie, I tighten the cinch like tying a necktie. But I really struggle to get it tight enough. Am I doing it wrong?

Thanks for all your help and advise guys!

[zeldalithgow]

Jane have a look at www.deepwatertack.co.uk in the "How To" section they show you how to rigg a saddle it might help

[harleydales]

So they do - never spotted that yesterday. I will peruse it and print it off!! And take it with me next time more to the point!


Edited to say it looks like I do tie it right, and I should be able to hitch it up but I can't!
Maybe I could be un-traditional and use the buckle instead til I get the hang of it. Takes me so long to put it on the poor horse is bored silly!

[Debbie]

I was taught to tie, so for me, any use of the buckle, no matter how secure, always seems unsafe to me. .... just a personal hangup I'm sure, but it doesn't seem secure until its tied

One of the things is that you create the knot loosely first ...and those illustrations were brilliant!!! I usually tighten the cinch in three stages, giving the horse time to relax and let out its breath, and also for the horse to move about a little and let the saddle completely settle. When I tighten, I grab the topmost strap and pull it out towards me, then up, then feed the extra through the knot (retighten the knot in otherwords). If you tighten the knot straight away, you'll just have to loosen it to get the excess snugged.