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Posted on 07/14/2005 3:23:55 PM PDT by HairOfTheDog
This is a horse chat thread where we share ideas, ask for input from other horsemen, and talk about our riding and horse-keeping. We have a lot of different kinds of riders and horses, and a lot to share. In the previous threads we have had a great time talking through lessons, training, horse lamenesses, illnesses and pregnancies... and always sharing pictures and stories.
I always have a link to this thread on my profile page, so if you have something to say and can't find the thread in latest posts… look for it there and wake the thread up!
I also have a ping list for horse threads that are of interest, and Becky pings everyone most mornings. Let Becky (Paynoattentionmanbehindthecurtain) and/or me know if you would like to be on the ping list. As FreeRepublic is a political site, our politics and other issues will probably blend in…. There are many issues for horsemen that touch politics… land use, animal rights/abuse cases that make the news…. Legislation that might affect horse owners.
So... like the previous threads, this is intended as fun place to come and share stories, pictures, questions and chit-chat, unguided and unmoderated and that we come together here as friends. There are lots of ways of doing things and we all have our quirks, tricks and specialties that are neat to learn about.
Previous threads:
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread - thread ONE
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread - Thread TWO!
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread - Thread THREE!
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread FOUR
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread FIVE
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread SIX
New folk and occasional posters, jump right in and introduce yourselves, tell us about your horses, and post pictures if you've got them!
When you put on the stirrups, thread the non buckle end through stirrup bar and pull toward you. The front of the buckle should be facing you and shouldn't be backwards. If it's backwards, so is the rest of the stirrup leather and stirrup. To find an approximate stirrups length for you (English strirrup lengths are shorter than western), when the saddle is on the horse make a fist with your right hand and put it on the pommel and straighten your arm. The end of the stirrup should reach your arm pit with no excess.
And by non elastic and elastic sides I mean the girth. One side of the girth has no elastic. The other side does. The elastic part goes on the left because you tighten the girth from the left, and elastic makes it easier for you to do so. Nifty, huh?
Ok, my girth is to short so I will have to take it back tomorrow, I may have gotten to short of stirrup straps too, but since I can't cinch the horse I cant get in the saddle to see.
They let me bring home this gauge that you measure their withers with to get the right size gullet thingy in it:). I have to get a wider one of those too. The saddle came with a regular, he needs a wide.
I'm stressing here, so many straps. Even straps on the blanket. Where do all those go and what are they for. I'll get pictures.
Becky
Don't stress out, this is going to be fun for you.
You use the straps on the pads to put the girth through, it helps keep the pad in place.
Don't get a girth that's too long. Sometimes if I get something too small I'll go to the opposite extreme. Also, sometimes the fleece girths have elastic on both ends. I've never seen a leather one with elastic on both ends but they probably make them. As Beaker said, if the elastic is only on one end of the girth, it goes on the left.
WOOO HOO! You bought it! How cool!
I've read ahead a little and understand you need a new cinch... let us know if you need help with the rest of the straps and things!
I think you got answers to some of these questions as I quickly scanned down, but on the three cinch straps, you can use any two. I used to use the front two, but since I've been trying to move Bay's cinch ~back~ after the rub, I'm now using the back two. It really depends on preference and any conformation considerations which two you use, as long as you are the same side to side, otherwise I'd think it might pull catty-wampus. Some people use the front and the back, either way, the third is a spare.
I'll take some pics of mine if there aren't good instructions on threading the stirrups up through the mount.
The girth I got is the canvas type, it has elastic on one end, but it is difinitly too short. The top of the buckles don't even reach the straps. It is a 46. The next size up was 52.
My pictures are loaded now.
Becky
You're not gonna like that canvas girth, they don't keep the saddle stable, imo. You might like a fleece one.
Let's see those pics!
Is this the way the stirrups straps should look?
This is the pad I bought. I want to get one of those pretty white fluffy ones for special, but I'm spending to much now:). I'm having to order my breast plate over the internet. Pet Smart doesn't carry black ones. What are the two straps on the pad for and what goes thru them. Is this they type pad you have, does it have all these straps.
Becky
I love it!!!
On the pad, the top strap goes around the billets. The bottom strap is to thread the girth through.
Do you know if your saddle has the Cair panels? If I had gotten the Cair panels I would have had to order it, and it was $100 more. It was a tough decision, but I've already spent more then I had wanted to.
Becky
No - I'll go take some pics of mine, if I can't find an instruction online.
I think the stirrup strap is upside down. And when you get it right, you run the buckle all the way up to the top, it will meet with the stirrup bar on the saddle.
Hair, we need pics.
No - I don't ~think~ mine has the CAIR panels... first I heard of them was on the website, and that didn't make it too clear if I did or not. I think if I had them I'd know ;~D
Oh, Ok that works. Thanks. Do you think that is enough pad for 6 hours of riding at a time? I'm under the impression you don't need alot of pad with English saddles??
Becky
Pictures would be good:)
And you all think western saddles are complicated....:)
Becky
Oh, does anything go thru that little loop of leather that has the Wintec insignia on it on the stirrups flap???
Becky
They are more complicated than this! There's ~two~ cinches.... and a knot you have to know how to tie ;~D
I'm going out now to get my saddle and take some pics :~D
They (meaning western) are more complicated than this! There's ~two~ cinches.... and a knot you have to know how to tie ;~D
I'm going out now to get my saddle and take some pics :~D
If the saddle fits well, that will be enough pad. I use a "riser" pad on George. It has a big cushion in the back to raise the back of the saddle up. Otherwise on George, you always feel like you are riding uphill. The saddle that I had made for Bud is too big for Winnie so I use two pads for her.
"Oh, does anything go thru that little loop of leather that has the Wintec insignia on it on the stirrups flap???"
Good question and yes, the end of the stirrup leather goes through that little loop.
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