As we conduct clinics at the Josey Ranch or away, one of the most common problems we see is an inefficient, unsafe or ill-fitting saddle. Saddles are inefficient when they don’t allow you to ride your best and must fit both the horse and the rider to work correctly.
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Unfortunately, it is with the saddle that many people try to cut corners to save money and that is usually a big mistake. A saddle that doesn’t fit a horse properly can make him quit working. One that doesn’t fit the rider can cause him or her to develop bad habits that effect performance. A saddle that is poorly made or too worn is a serious safety hazard. The first step in assessing your saddle and how well it works for you is to make sure it fits the horse properly. Put the saddle on the horse’s back without a pad, then run your hand up under the saddle from in front of the latigo to the skirt. See if there is contact all the way. There should be no hard bumps or depressions in the surface. Look at the front and back of the saddle, it should fit smoothly against the horse, not sticking up in the front or in back.
Next, saddle the horse and ride him until he has a light sweat under the saddle. Take off the pad and saddle and look underneath. His back should be uniformly and evenly sweaty throughout the area. Not only should a saddle fit properly, it should also be constructed to be safe and strong. Check the rigging and construction carefully on your saddle. Be on the lookout for signs of wear that will allow leather to break or tear. At least every couple of months, pull the stirrup leathers around and check for the tell-tale cracking that means the leather has become worn. Use leather conditioner like LEXOL or NEATSFOOT OIL regularly to keep leather supple and strong.
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| Students at the All Around Camp loved the Lexol products! | Cole Chandler used Lexol Saddle Cleaner to make his saddle look like new! |
Saddle Questions
Q: I got a new saddle and it doesn’t feel right to me. I don’t feel like I ride as well as I should in it. What can I do?
Prevention is the best solution here. I would suggest not buying a new saddle without trying one out like it before I buy. I want to know that the style is one that works for me. Whenever I have Circle Y produce a new style for the line of saddles I endorse for them, I always get them to make one as a sample, then I try it for a while to find out whether or not it fits both a horse and rider well. If it doesn’t, I’ll make changes in the design until it is workable and comfortable. We have many people call us and say, “I just bought your saddle and I love it!” If you already have a saddle that doesn’t feel right, you might experiment with the pads you use with it. Now there are many great pads for comfort and fit. Here are some of our favorites.
Cutter Pads |
Classic Equine Pads |
Todd Sloan Felt Pads |
Professional Choice Pads |
Sometimes, different pads or combinations of pads can effect the way a saddle feels. If a saddle throws you forward, causing your rear to come up out of the seat, sometimes the built-up pad raises the front of the saddle and changes the angle of the seat and corrects this. Also, these pads are good for a high withered horse when the saddle sits too far down on the horse’s withers. On the other hand, you may have too much padding. We have seen some situations where too much padding prevented the rider from having sufficient contact with the horse. Another suggestion-If you are riding on more than one horse, do not use the same pad because pads conform to the horses build and confirmation.
Q: My saddle just won’t stay in place on my new horse, no matter how much I tighten the cinch. What can I do?
On a horse with rounded or lower withers this can sure be a problem! I like to use a Navajo blanket underneath, with a felt pad on top. This seems to hold the saddle in position really well. Make sure the Navajo is slightly bigger than the felt pad, so that it shows outside, all the way around the felt pad. If the outside pad is larger than the blanket underneath, the pressure of the saddle can press the edge of the blanket into the horse’s back, causing him to be sore. When a saddle is slipping on a horse you want to consider using a back cinch on the saddle. This cuts down on movement and helps hold the saddle steady throughout the run. If your front and back cinch are connected closely together, you might want to give an inch or two more space between the two to help steady the saddle, still keeping the two connected to hold the back cinch away from the sensitive flank area. Another thing to try with a slipping saddle is a less bulky cinch. If you have been using a heavily padded fleece one, you might try a mohair cinch-either by itself or with a removable fleece cover. Your breast collar is another factor in keeping the saddle properly in place. It should be snug at the three points of connection-the cinch D’s on the sides and underneath between the horse’s legs. That attachment to the D at the center of the girth helps steady the saddle. Finally, if your saddle is slipping, you might want to look at your style of riding. Are you sitting in the center of the horse or are you leaning way over in the turns? Often a rider will cause a saddle to slip by not riding balanced around the barrels.
Q: What type breast collar do you like the best for barrel racing?
One that does a good job of holding the saddle in position! It should fit comfortably and keep the saddle from slipping back as the horse runs. I prefer a breast collar that is V’d in the front so it does not interfere with the horse’s breathing or shoulder movemnets. Besides that, I like to be sure that my breast collar lays flat against the horse’s chest so it doesn’t rub or sore him and is comfortable to him.
Q: What type of saddle horn works best for barrel racing?
How you use your saddle horn determines which type you will like best. There are two ways of using the saddle horn. If you push on the horn, a flatter top is better; if you hold around the horn with your hand, you might prefer a smaller horn. Personally, I have more strength holding around the horn, but it’s a matter of preference.
Q: What size seat do you recommend for barrel racing? I am 5’6” and weigh 110 lbs.
Seat size can have a real effect on the way a saddle works for you. Everyone used to think a smaller seat size was best-where the swell and cantle were both holding you in tightly. What can happen is that the back of the saddle can bump you up out of your seat. If this is happening to you, you might try a larger seat. I like to be able to have my elbow in against my body and still be able to have my hand on the horn. If I can’t do that, the seat is too small and I will get thrown forward. Remember that your saddle will really have an effect on your barrel racing, so spend as much time as you need researching what is the best saddle for you. Try out the one you are considering.
