Ive been wondering how to get over the saddle slipping problem, and then eureka. I remembered that in the loft id got a bareback pad id bought years ago from robinsons.
Anyhow I took it and tried it on jim this morning, just walk and a bit of trot, then a couple of little circles, ''it stayed put''
no slipping, and for the first time ever I was able to ride him without migrating west.
BUT
The girthing system is awful, the buckles dont hold the girth strap in place 'they come undone', and the stirrups are a western style that are very narrow. The webbing stirrup straps have huge buckles that dig into your legs, because there isn't a saddle flap to protect the legs. Really its not much good for anything really other than a stop gap.
SO I took it to my saddler and asked him to think of a way of making it usable. This is the solution he's come up with.
He's going to remove the webbing girthing system, put on 2 large D rings one at each side and fit proper leather girth straps. Then he's going to make me a pair of short stirrup leathers with running keepers that will hold the leathers in place and stop them coming undone. Ill use a pair of safety stirrups [ I must have some somewhere]
its going to be ready on Saturday.....And then off we go. How exciting....
We had a good laugh about my balance, he said that by the time jim is a 'normal' width and able to be fitted with a made saddle, ill have the most wonderful balance.
or ill end up on my head!....
The things we have to do.
