| Title: | Equine Notes Conference |
| Notice: | Topics List=4, Horses 4Sale/Wanted=150, Equip 4Sale/Wanted=151 |
| Moderator: | MTADMS::COBURN IO |
| Created: | Tue Feb 11 1986 |
| Last Modified: | Thu Jun 05 1997 |
| Last Successful Update: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
| Number of topics: | 2080 |
| Total number of notes: | 22383 |
Hi!!! I'm in the deep south - New Zealand to be precise - n yep,
we even have horses. I've a 3/4 Arab mare, 14.2 (with new shoes
on!!) 9 years old n she goes by the name of Zeus (no I didn't name
her!!) She has the typical "Arab" temperment n combining that with
the moody mare syndrome means she is quite a character. I've had
her for 10 months now n have been riding English, light dressage
schooling to settle her down mixed with trekking (which naturally
hyps her up!!)
Have a question which someone may like to give their opinion on
- Zeus is extremely supple n has also been used as a stock horse
which gives me the idea of riding western but am in two minds whether
she is too light (cos of her breeding) to carry a Western saddle
n me (I'm 7 1/2 stone). She has no leg or back problems, fit as
a fiddle but ...... anxious mother here not wanting to put too much
pressure on her "baby". Your thoughts on this wud be appreciated
n also any info as to whether there is any way to make a Western
saddle which looks "normally Western" but is lighter than normal
without going to kids sizing (my English is a 16 inch).
Soooo ... to Western or not to Western!!!!!!!!!
Trudi (n the surname is too ghastly to repeat!!)
| T.R | Title | User | Personal Name | Date | Lines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 438.1 | Western Should Be O.K. | GENRAL::BOURBEAU | Tue Nov 03 1987 10:53 | 16 | |
Trudi,,there are light Western Saddles,but I don't know a brand
name offhand. You might look into an Australian stock saddle.They're
getting very popular here and are sold as part of something called
"The Outback Collection". They're lighter than regular western saddles,
but heavier and larger than most English saddles.
As far as going western,I don't think that you should have any
problem. Many western stock horses are only 14.2 and handle the
bigger saddle just fine. The western saddle is heavier than the
English saddle,but since it's longer and broader,a good one will
distribute the weight evenly across the back,rather than concentrating
it in the middle. This is assuming,of course,that the saddle fits
properly.
Just my two cents' worth,
Good luck,
George
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| 438.2 | Saddle Ideas | BSS::ZINN | Tue Nov 03 1987 11:46 | 5 | |
Hi. A horse can normally carry 25% of its weight without any strain
at all, so I don't think you'll have a problem. If you can find
one, the barrel racing style of western saddle tends to be much
lighter than the roping or show type (easier to sit, too.) An
alternative might be a cavalrytype or the Australian stock type.
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| 438.3 | Thanks | NZOV07::THOMAS | Tue Nov 03 1987 23:36 | 10 | |
Thanks for the positive replies. Also puts a friends mind at rest
who was wondering if his horse was too small for him n Western saddle.
Conflict now with my husband as to who is going to ride Western
first - he is looking at a quarterhorse this weekend with buying
definately in mind. Ye gods, it'll be the three kids next!!
Anyway, thanks very much
Trudi
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