This message is from: "Sue Harrison" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hello everyone....well I went for my first honest to goodness trailride (with others) on Misty, my Arabian mare. She was a little handful for the first little while. I was second (behind hubby) and two other geldings were behind me. Misty bounced all the way down through the first part of the trail! I had had enough by this time and asked Randy to take me back home. Then the other two riders walked ahead of us while we were discussing taking my mare home, when she instantly calmed down. She simply would not tolerate the strangers behind her! We set out again with the other pair out in front and I could not believe the difference! I would have enjoyed myself immensely if it were not for my poor knees...especially the right one. After a 2 1/2 hour ride and two tylenol 3's.... rubbed knees with "deep cold rub" I am still in agony! I have ridden a very few times in the past two years.....and have also put on a few pounds....surely not enough that my 15 inch western saddle is too small...but it sure seems that way! It is a roping style saddle with the curved fronts on the tree...and each step she took bumped my "fat little legs" (~: My knees were also killing me after even a short ways. Randy got off and shortened the stirrups...that helped with me bumping the front curved part of the saddle....but ohhhhh my poor knees...although it did help them a wee bit....I kept dropping the right stirrup and letting my leg hang down.....I didn't know whether they felt better bent or straight! How much spare space (without me in it) should there be in the saddle seat? If I get a bigger seat will the skirt then be too long for my short backed Arab? and also Storm when the time comes? He appears short backed to me....are Fjords normally shortbacked? Is it possible to get a saddle that will fit a dainty 14.1 hh Arab and also a round little Storm? with a big enough seat for chunky short little me????? If Arabs are good for heavier riders then it would seem as if a bigger seat for me would still fit my short backed Arab? Misty was not a bit sore in the back so my saddle must fit" her" ok....but there sure is a problem for me. I was diaginosed with Fibromylgia a few years ago and have sore achy knees and joints anyway. So between the too-small saddle,and sore knees I had a miserable time of it. It was a beautiful day and the wind was blowing just enough to keep the flies away. My mare was an angel and my misery was certainly not her fault. If anyone out there has any ideas...oh yes what would a wintec western saddle be like do you think? I looked them up and it looks like a real pain to change the gussets. What seat sizes do they come in? It mentioned something about medium and large.....what would that be in inches? Sure hope someone out there can help......Sue in N.B. (Desert Storm's mom)
Sure
