Thanks again!
Barbara - in snow covered KY
--- In haflingerfriends@yahoogroups.com, RkyMtnTrls@... wrote:
>
>
> "...Anybody have any experience with these saddles on their
> Haflingers?...."
> .
> Hello, Sue -
> .
> I did a search for the Simco Haflinger Saddle - and found a photo and stats
> of it here - _www.haflinger.net/saddle.html_
> (http://www.haflinger.net/saddle.html) Says it's a 6 3/4" wide gullet ... and a skirts are 24 1/2"
> ... and the seat comes in 15 1/2" or 16" (no larger.) If you click here,
> at the bottom of the description, it shows the saddle on several Haffies -
> _www.haflinger.net/specialhafl.html_
> (http://www.haflinger.net/specialhafl.html)
> .
> You've probably seen this site already ;-) I posted it for the folks
> who might be following this thread, and like to see ;-)
> .
> I don't have a Simco Haffie Saddle ... but based of the stats on that site
> ...
> .
> This would not work for my girl EllieMae ;-) She is rather short in
> height (13.2 hands), a VERY short backed (length), wide in withers & back
> (side to side) - she is old style drafty built. She also has a tad dip in
> her back, which just adds to the saddle fit woes. You can see what I'm
> talking about in the third photo ;-)
> _www.rockymountaintrails.net/TrailBuddies_ (http://www.rockymountaintrails.net/TrailBuddies) She is my
> mountain trail "pony" - we fit great together well, we're both short n' stout
> (grin!) I am a hair under 5' myself ;-)
> .
> Ellie ended up taking a Cashel Swayback Shaped Pad (
> _www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=9e8d0467-fe6f-44f8-93b8-fa18b9af46ca_
> (http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=9e8d0467-fe6f-44f8-93b8-fa18b9af46ca) ) I
> ordered from ValleyVet - as they had the lowest price on the internet which
> I could find ($95.95, free freight.) I use a white felt pad liner (mine
> is only 1/4" thick, otherwise looks just like this -
> _www.statelinetack.com/item/synthetic-blanket-liner/SLT901242/_
> (http://www.statelinetack.com/item/synthetic-blanket-liner/SLT901242/) ) which I got on eBay for $10.00.
>
> .
> *Both* the Pad and the Liner had to be cut down in size - as both were far
> bigger than the saddle we use. I simply measured while she was saddled up
> - making sure to leave plenty of over lap from the close contact saddle to
> the pad & liner ... used sturdy house scissors to get the custom fit done
> ;-) The important reason I use the 1/4" thick felt pad liner - is
> only because I do not like having the Cashel's synthetic material directly on
> her back - because of over heating, etc (as I mentioned, we ride rugged
> mountains - and summer time it can get hot under that saddle!) ;-) I
> know the manufacturer advertises you can use it directly on the horse's back
> - but I feel it traps far too much heat. The thin liner is for Ellie's
> comfort and safety.
> .
> Although Down Under Saddle Supply will recommend their pads - the only one
> that would help with Ellie's dip was very pricey - and it really would not
> help with a slightly sway back all that much. My opinion differs from the
> store's, of course - but other than the pad - their saddle has proven
> perfect fit for us! ;-)
> .
> With her VERY short wide back length - finding a tree that was not too
> long from withers to loin was a BIG problem. She was saddle fitting checked -
> and "the word" was she needed under 24" length. Well, very very few treed
> saddles are that short in length - and I was VERY uncomfortable with going
> treeless (safety reasons - keeping in mind I ride very rugged mountain
> terrain on a ROUND rolly-polly "pony" - no amount of breast collar & crupper
> can help us on a treeless ;-) I'm not knocking those who can safely use a
> treeless - it's just not a option for Ellie & I, for safety reasons. ;-)
> .
> I finally found the perfect saddle (for us) - in fit and reasonable cost
> (now sold at $565.) It is a type of Australian Stock Saddle - but a very
> specific type. My former Aussie was a standard general type - and it was far
> too long for Ellie's short back. Which is why I was saddle shopping for
> my new girl's new saddle ;-) Another good point, the seat size also
> came in my, aahhhhhh, "ample" seat size of 19" (Aussie saddles measure 2"
> bigger than a Western measurement - so 19" Aussie is equal to a 17" Western -
> yep, like my girl Ellie, I am short in height and broad o' butt! LOL!)
> .
> The Kimberley Lite Rider (with horn - I won't have a hornless saddle) is
> from Downunder Saddle Supply (Denver, CO store - national saddle shop for
> Australian saddles.) photo of it here, 16th saddle down -
> _www.downunderweb.com/store/Saddles_Aussie_Kimberley.html_
> (http://www.downunderweb.com/store/Saddles_Aussie_Kimberley.html) The KLR is their
> "economy" version - with their Down Under Longreach Endurance (with horn) being
> $925 - same everything, except higher grade of leather,
> _www.downunderweb.com/store/Saddles_Aussie_DownUnder.html_
> (http://www.downunderweb.com/store/Saddles_Aussie_DownUnder.html) The KLR is still VERY sturdy leather -
> just not the "cadillac" in cut.
> .
> I hauled Ellie to DownUnder Saddle Supply - it was about a 3 hr round trip
> for us. They could not believe that my tracings were done correctly -
> LOL! (At her withers, 10" further back, and 10" further back from there - not
> just one tracing at the withers.) But yes, she really is shaped like
> that! :-)
> .
> Her withers needed an 8" chamber (called gullet in Western saddles) -
> that's the beginning for a draft horse width! So for this short n' broad
> Haffie - the Simco Haffie Saddle would be pinching her withers quit a bit.
> Ellie's back being so short that any saddle length over 22" length would cut
> into her hip - means the Simco's 24 1/2" would be too long for Ellie (cutting
> into her hip.)
> .
> So, although I don't have a Simco - based on the stats I looked up for it
> ... if you have a very short and wide Haffie (like under 14 hands) ... be
> careful of the gullet width and tree length! ;-) Just 'cuz it says
> "Haffie" doesn't mean it will fit all Haffies! ;-) And the Simco also
> comes only in 2 seat sizes, neither ample enough to fit me ... so that was
> another thing to watch out for. Important to fit you, as much as the horse!
> ;-)
> .
> Best wishes for your saddle hunt,
> Sher & Ellie in CO
> (http://www.downunderweb.com/store/Saddles_Aussie_Kimberley.html)
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
------------------------------------
Community email addresses:
Post message: haflingerfriends@yahoogroups.com
Subscribe: haflingerfriends-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Unsubscribe: haflingerfriends-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
List owner: haflingerfriends-owner@yahoogroups.com
Shortcut URL to this page:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/haflingerfriendsYahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/haflingerfriends/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/haflingerfriends/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
haflingerfriends-digest@yahoogroups.com
haflingerfriends-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
haflingerfriends-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
