This message is from: Karen McCarthy <weeg...@hotmail.com>
Hey Mary, that is a cool story. Yes, Mother Hubbard skirts are excellent for shorter backs as with a reg. western saddle the (?) jockey skirt gets shoved pretty far under the shorter skirt, and there's not a lot of tooling room, so why bother to have 1.5" - 2" hanging out? Also by wade tree, are you maybe referring to the type of fork, a slick fork which is common to these trees and then people use bucking rolls? Being an english rider 1st, I really like the slick fork as it doesn't have those nasty bulges to bash your leg into. 'Course I learned in an english saddle so feel a bit trapped by a regular fork. Really hate aussie saddles - almost feels like I am locked in, ugh! Also, in these buckaroo type saddles people get really carried away with the saddle horns. Unless you are a HD roper, forget those 3" post horns. Only good for setting your B'day cupcake on once a year! A mexican style horn stays outta the way, but if you need it to dally on or hang onto, it's there. All personal preference & jmpo of course...... > From: ma...@boreal.org > To: fjordhorse@angus.mystery.com > Subject: Re: saddle dilema > Date: Thu, 10 Feb 2011 21:06:59 -0600 > > This message is from: "Mary Ofjord" <ma...@boreal.org> > > > I had a similar experience with Dry Fork Saddles in Vernal, Utah. I worked > with a fellow named Cal Cook. They asked for a picture of my horse, Mirage, > with measurements showing his very short back - 13" from withers to loin. > They also had to shave the tree to shorten it. I had to send them pictures, > with measurements so they could correctly fit the saddle to the horse. They > asked what I did for riding, how tall I was, etc. They built a saddle > around those specifications. Dry Fork Saddles makes the McCall saddle. It > is not a "custom" saddle, but the closest thing for much less than a custom. > These are good working saddles and the saddle I received is wide enough > through the gullet to fit all my Fjords. > > > > By far, this is the most comfortable saddle I have owned. When I first sat > in it, it fit me like a glove. There was no break in time. The pre-turned > stirrups were even set for my height when I first sat in the saddle. They > also suggested that I do Mother Hubbard style with only one rear skirt. > This lessens the weight and length of the overall saddle. I ordered a Wood > Post Pendleton Association tree with a swell fork for more security (never > could figure out why to buy a Wade-type tree only to add saddle falsies?). I > would reccomend these saddles highly. > > Mary O. > > > > I have tried a lot of saddles over the years to fit Fjords. So far, this > has been the best for a non-custom Western saddle. > > > Here's what we did: > > 1. Shortened the bars - in standard trees bars are too long and are the > > most > > responsible aspect for "bridging" > > 2. the bars need to curve more to fit through the back > > 3. the ends of the bars need flaring also called "rocking" @ each end, > > esp. in > > the front to allow a wider stance/gullet. > > Anyways, I know this isn't what you wanted to hear but it's just what I > > know > > from experience. > > Maybe go all english? > > Good luck, > > Karen in Oregon > > > > Important FjordHorse List Links: > > Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e > > FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw > > Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f > > > > > > > > __________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus > > signature database 5863 (20110210) __________ > > > > The message was checked by ESET Smart Security. > > > > http://www.eset.com > > > > > > > > > __________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus signature database 5863 (20110210) __________ > > The message was checked by ESET Smart Security. > > http://www.eset.com > > Important FjordHorse List Links: > Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e > FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw > Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
