If this isn’t a slap right on top of the head.
I bought NINE saddles before I found one that fit my appy girl. Sellers around here don’t let you try a new saddle before you buy (might mess it up you see). Did try a few used ones which wouldn’t do at all. NOW the one I’ve ridden her with for the past three years no longer fits. A friend gave me a saddle pad, white, and I used it with this saddle. Nearly croaked when I pulled it off and it looks as if the only contact was right in the front, a thin line, and right where my big behind sits.
I had given away three of the saddles I bought so can’t try those. Sold two so they are gone. Had four left here. One is too wide, one is too narrow, the one no longer works for her but one fits PERFECTLY. The perfect fit is a cheap synthetic english saddle and it fits to a tee BUT :lol: that sucker SQUEAKS…LOUD. I absolutely cannot stand it. Can’t even stand a small squeak but this…is the mother of squeaks. No tell ing how long it is going to take me to find a saddle that fits this gal and it looks like I might be stuck with “squeaky” until I do. My daughter suggested that I use the spray cooking oil and oil the sqeaky places everytime I ride. Can’t y’all see me now…in my bottle bag instead of a bottle of water I will carry a spray can of no stick cooking oil. On long rides I might have to take a “spray break” ever so often. I am so desperate that I’m even considering trying a western saddle that a friend has offered and I don’t do western!!!
Whatever I do I will never again buy a saddle that I can’t try out first…heck I may end up bareback on the trails. :lol:
:lol: If you’re on the trails here in Ga. and you hear squeaking a mile away do come and say hello.
Oh that is no fun at all. I’ve been there.
There used to be a WONDERFUL tack shop here that actually sent a saddle fitter with a truckload of saddles in your specified price range to your barn. He would throw them at you so fast you didn’t have time to think or read labels - just ride and feel. They applied the cost of this towards the purchase of the saddle and gave you a week to change your mind.
Of course, they went out of business. I’m REALLY not looking forward to the next time I have to do this.
That sounds heavenly. I sure wish we had something like that around here.
I’ve been having the same problem, so don’t feel bad 
. So far I had tried all 6 of my saddles and borrowed a couple and bought a couple before I found THE ONE. It turned that the Bob Marshall treeless is the best fit for my, dippy backed,& wide shoulder T.W. pony. Also, the pony part means she is short backed as well. Since I’m planning on trail riding her and prefer a little more saddle, I had tried western saddles (including a gaited saddle) in addition to my english saddles. Then I found this site and started reading about treeless and decided to try it (after a little more research of course). I lucked out and found the endurance BM through a friend and bought it sight unseen. The price was great and I figured if it didn’t work I could sell it. I was amazed how well it fits her:D, however, it is a 14.5 inch seat:mad:!?! I ride in a 17.5 in. eng. and 15.5 west. and though I could lose a few pounds that is pushin’ it. We are using on short rides only for the moment until I sell something so I can replace the BM with one that fits me. Happy saddle hunting, I know your pain:cry:.
I would try baby powder under the flaps before I would try cooking oil. Is is an English or Western synthetic? If it’s English, sometimes the stirrup leathers will create a squeak on the synthetic.
A Bob Marshall may be the way to go with you as well. They are very comfortable and fit most horses. My barn owner trail rides a huge amount and rides mostly in her BM endurance saddle. She also has a flex panel endurance that works with most of the horses that she rides.
Squeak o boy try some baby powder:lol:
Saddle-fitting can be a nightmare. My mare has been developing muscle tone and a lovely topline, but just recently her saddle is pinching her shoulders. Fortunately I have a Schleese and it can be adjusted, including the tree. Seemed like an expensive purchase initially, but well worth the fit and the ability to adjust to the horse as needed. http://schleese.com/ I’m not sure if you ride english or western or endurance, but do check out their saddles and the video clips on their site. 
Definitely baby powder… not oil…
We never let a customer buy a saddle until we’re positive it fits… even if I have to bring a truck load out to your horse. 
[QUOTE=ponygrl25;3986927]
I’ve been having the same problem, so don’t feel bad . So far I had tried all 6 of my saddles and borrowed a couple and bought a couple before I found THE ONE. It turned that the Bob Marshall treeless is the best fit for my, dippy backed,& wide shoulder T.W. pony. Also, the pony part means she is short backed as well. Since I’m planning on trail riding her and prefer a little more saddle, I had tried western saddles (including a gaited saddle) in addition to my english saddles. Then I found this site and started reading about treeless and decided to try it (after a little more research of course). I lucked out and found the endurance BM through a friend and bought it sight unseen. The price was great and I figured if it didn’t work I could sell it. I was amazed how well it fits her:D, however, it is a 14.5 inch seat:mad:!?! I ride in a 17.5 in. eng. and 15.5 west. and though I could lose a few pounds that is pushin’ it. We are using on short rides only for the moment until I sell something so I can replace the BM with one that fits me. Happy saddle hunting, I know your pain:cry:.[/QUOTE]
One inch doesn’t seem as if it should make much difference but it does doesn’t it?
I ride a 17 and a half in an english and I’ve tried the 16 and a half and feel stuffed in the seat. It feels even worse if the saddle has a deep seat.
[QUOTE=GallopingGrape;3988623]
Definitely baby powder… not oil…
We never let a customer buy a saddle until we’re positive it fits… even if I have to bring a truck load out to your horse. :D[/QUOTE] :lol::lol: Ever thought about moving to Ga.?
Ok!! Thanks, all, the baby powder it is. NOW if you hear squeaking, see a cloud of white and smell something wonderful on the trails you will know it is ME. Doesn’t look as if I’m going to be able to ride at all this week but will report on how the baby powder does first chance I get. Thanks again.
ps. :lol: and I’M the one who won’t ride with the gal with the jingle bells on her horse.
My squeeking makes her sound quiet as a little baby bunny. Guess that’s what I get for being so mean. 
[QUOTE=Sanely Eccentric;3987020]
Saddle-fitting can be a nightmare. My mare has been developing muscle tone and a lovely topline, but just recently her saddle is pinching her shoulders. Fortunately I have a Schleese and it can be adjusted, including the tree. Seemed like an expensive purchase initially, but well worth the fit and the ability to adjust to the horse as needed. http://schleese.com/ I’m not sure if you ride english or western or endurance, but do check out their saddles and the video clips on their site. :)[/QUOTE]That IS a good looking saddle!
PJ is such a good person that she recently gave 3 of her saddles, in great condition, to Lori at sunkissedacres.
Maybe you should buy another horse to fit some of those other saddles? And ride the appy bareback?:lol:
[QUOTE=cloudyandcallie;3988872]
Maybe you should buy another horse to fit some of those other saddles? And ride the appy bareback?:lol:[/QUOTE]
:lol::lol::lol: On the last saddle hunt I was on I threatened to sell the horse, go to this friend of mine who is a horse trader. Sit down with the saddle I had and tell her to “start bringing horses. First one this saddle fits I’ll take.” Think that might be easier.
I’ll find a saddle to fit…did it once I’ll do it again. I honestly wouldn’t mind riding this little cheapo IF it would be quiet. It fits the horse perfectly and it very comfortable to me…it’s just SO loud!! Maybe the baby powder will quieten it down and then I can take my time finding a good saddle.
[QUOTE=pj;3988860]
Ok!! Thanks, all, the baby powder it is. NOW if you hear squeaking, see a cloud of white and smell something wonderful on the trails you will know it is ME.[/QUOTE]
:lol:
Switch to a Bob Marshall treeless. That’s what I did. :lol: After 3 bajillion saddles that all caused white hairs or short strides or back pain, I finally went treeless. Went through 3 different treeless before getting to the BM, and it is heavenly. The most comfortable, secure, and great fitting saddle I’ve ever put on a horse.
I used a saddle fitter and bought a saddle that supposedly fit the horse PERFECTLY. But the problem is anytime you have a tree in a saddle, if that horse loses or gains a few pounds, the whole thing is screwy again. Twice I’ve used a pro saddle fitter, on two different horses, and on both ocassions, it didn’t last more than a couple months before I had a sore horse and dry or white patches again and I was back at square one. The horse’s conditioning changes continuously throughout the year, so I have no idea how a person can think they can get a professional saddle fit, and it will just “last” for 6 months or a year or whatever.
And I agree completely with powdering the saddle! I did this on a western saddle that got wet in the river - horse laid down. Ugh. When it dried, it squeaked so bad it drove me and the horse bat shit crazy. I flipped it upside down on the lawn, and squeezed some hefty squirts of Gold Bond medicated powder all inside the saddle. Anywhere there was leather on leather, or metal on leather. For months it never squeaked again! I sold it because it made white patches on the horse, but I don’t know how long it would have gone without squeaking! The powder is the best kept secret for saddle squeak.
American-flex and how to check saddle fit
American-flex are great saddles. The panels rotate to fit the narrowest horse as well as those “table-backed” horses. The panels also have a slot at the rear attachment so that the panel will easily flex to follow the curve of the horse’s back.
Cathy at Hill View Farms in MN sells new saddles, and there is a 30 day trial period. She is very helpful and will answer any questions you have.
There is also a trading post on her website for used delrin panel saddles.
For those who don’t know how to do it:
It is always a good idea to periodically check saddle fit on the horse (Place saddle on the horse with no pad between saddle and horse and slide your hand between the saddle and the horse to feel for gaps. Look down the spine to see how the saddle sits on the back. Make sure there is at least 2 fingers width between withers and saddle gullet and never any part of the tree resting on the spine.)
After a ride the sweat marks will tell you how much surface area the saddle tree covers.
You can also check your horse for sore areas (before the white hairs show up) about 24 hours after a ride by pressing and sliding your fingertips along the areas where the saddle was riding. You need to watch your horse’s face for twitches or any other indication that they are uncomfortable. If they are really sore they may drop their back out from under your hand, there may also be a puffy spot under the skin at the sore spot.
Your saddle may fit the horse’s back but if your pad is too thick, stiff, or thin the horse can still get a sore back.
I love my American-flex saddle and have never had a sore backed horse with it and it will fit any horse I ride. Also, if I am having behavioral “issues” with my horse I know it’s not due to saddle fit.
Consider investing in the Equiform: http://www.wowsaddles.com/equiform/equiformintro.htm
There’s a similar product that Synergist uses to fit their saddles that you could try. I can’t find a link at the moment.
Or you could consider a custom saddle. I know they are expensive but how much have you spent so far? If you bought something that could be refit if your horse changes then you would’nt have to continually shop for saddles.
At least with the Equiform you would know whether or not the saddle would fit before you shelled out the money. Don’t you just hate saddle shopping? 
Saddle woes…
I thought I had already bitten the bullet by getting a new saddle (much more than I had originally wanted to spend, etc.) customized to my horse. The saddle fitter took about a zillion measurements, and yet… it makes her back sore under my seatbones and back. Sigh. Maybe the saddle fitter can fix it, but this is all very frustrating, as of course you all know. I don’t want to ride with this pad and that pad and this shimmed up and that shimmed down – a good saddle is supposed to be comfortable with no pad at all. I don’t mind using a simple padding system (right now I ride with a quilted pad and a Thinline on top of that. I’m not willing to go crazy with a zillion pads for different days, etc.
I think the saddle fitter might suggest that I go back to riding with no pad so the saddle sweats into shape more, as you’re supposed to do for the first 20 hours or so, but I’m not willing to ride without a pad and make her sore.
Anyone have any recommendations for an English AP for a canoe-shaped Arab (high withers, dippy back, though her back is getting better)? Something with wide yet banana-curved panels, maybe (though that’s pretty much what I have).
I’m too fat and she’s too curvy to go treeless. Maybe next year when I’m thinner and she’s buffed-er …
I have gone through 10-12 saddles for my Paso Fino mare. Two were custom made, and very expensive. Neither fit her I tried correction pads, didn’t work. I tried a Bob Marshall, didn’t work for us (but yeah, they are comfy!). After years of resisiting I bought a used Timberline last year…it fits!!! I just got a used Orthoflex for my husband. We love them, not everyone does, though. Anyone interested in 2 gorgeous custom made saddles that don’t fit my horse?
