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msar-riders - Re: [MSAR] saddles

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Subject: Mounted search and rescue

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  • From: "Laurie Hanahan" <lhanahan@mindspring.com>
  • To: "'Mounted search and rescue'" <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [MSAR] saddles
  • Date: Fri, 27 Nov 2009 22:27:22 -0500

On mountain horses, using a treed saddle just doesn’t work on many of them, even those designed for “gaited” horses.  Though we started out in a Tucker at 2 yrs old, by 3 we were in a Bob Marshall.  The Bob Marshall started out ok, but as we gaited more distance and shoulder/withers grew more muscular, the only solid piece in the Marshall saddle (the endurance pommel) was too snug causing pressure points.   A well known saddle fitter in VA concluded that the Sensation was the only saddle to use on my mountain pleasure horse (at 4 years old).  At 6lbs, you can’t get much lighter, it is well made and can take the workload we encounter both with MSAR and long distance mountain trail rides.   I did replace the padded inserts after 4.5 years to insure my horse’s comfort, as well as the memory foam inserts in the Skito pads (the manufacturers recommend replacing the inserts on both the saddle and Skito pad every a few years if you ride significant mileage). 

 

Every horse is different, every saddle is different.  I would take in all the information that you can find, weed out those that definitely won’t work for you and/or your horse’s needs, and demo the rest.  Most manufacturers offer a trial/demo model of their saddle, now (off season) is a great time to put in your orders for demos.  Depending on your riding style, amount of gear you carry, terrain, average distance – you will be able to figure out what will work, what won’t and what accessories you will need.   

 

It is a constant learning process, isn’t it!  J  Lucky Ebay is around to sell off those items that aren’t of use anymore! 

 

Laurie Hanahan

TROTSAR

 

 

From: msar-riders-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:msar-riders-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Deb Rarig
Sent: Friday, November 27, 2009 19:58
To: msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: [MSAR] saddles

 

Hello to everyone.  I am new to the MSAR list.  I am newer than new to MSAR.  I was introduced to the prospect by my local canine SAR group (STRIKE K-9).  I am getting my horse in February, with a long-term goal of involvement with MSAR.  In front of that, I must log many, many more trail miles as a rider, and my horse as well.  But, in looking at tack, I am already thinking about something that will equip us for training.  She is a mountain horse (short back, high withers), and I am looking at a Standard Trooper Saddle with Rocky Mtn Horse tree and western style rigging from Jack Haggis Saddles out of Ontario Canada (www.haggissaddles.com). Anyone out there familiar with the saddle?  Have one?  Recommend something else in particular?  I read a comment on an MSAR site about the need to be sure the saddle has an integral skirt so that saddle bags do not work up under the saddle.  Other than that, is there anything else to keep in mind when outfitting a horse for MSAR training/work?

Thanks,

Deb

 

Debra Rarig

Montandon, PA

dlrarig@dejazzd.com

 




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