You jumped in a sidesaddle that didn’t have a reinforced tree? I realize that it would likely break the tree but would you hear a big “crack” over a fence? Or do the horns break off? Have you ever seen a saddle that’s been broken from improper use? Just a curiousity type question.
That’s a good question, I’m interested to see what the answer is too.
I think the only crack you’d hear is your back breaking!
Plus, the damage you could do to your horse’s back.
If you know the tree isn’t reinforced, just don’t jump in it!
Hmmm maybe I should have worded that differently. I didn’t mean to imply that I was considering jumping in a saddle that wasn’t reinforced. I was asking the question because I got to thinking the other day. Kind of a hypothetical question that could very well happen. Say you have somebody, completely new to sidesaddle and they buy one of those really cheap junky saddes and they don’t know the difference between a reinforced saddle and one that isn’t. Or maybe they don’t even know that there are different trees for different purposes. I know not to jump in something that isn’t reinforced, you know it, but what if somebody didn’t? I hadn’t ever heard of any stories of trees being broken so I was curious. That’s all.
Jumpin a sidesaddle not designed for jumping will break the gullet iron. The sidesaddles designed for jumping have a bar of steel right behind the gullet iron that gives extra strength to the gullet and the entire sidesaddle. Usually they are about an inch wide or one and a quarter inch. they are usually about 1/2 inch to 3/4th inch thick. They are hammered out thinner on the ends and are riveted through the wood of the tree. They give the saddle much more strength than the ones made for Park seat or Saddleseat as it is called today.
Champion & Wilton and Martin & Martin both, made a very lightweight show type sidesaddle that only weighed 18 pounds. If those are used for jumping the front will spread or break at the gullet. How do you tell if it is a Park seat sidesaddle? Have a Qualified saddler take the front stitching where the panels are sewn to the saddle loose and pull the gullet liner back at the front and check for a “Hunting Bar”. Fox hunting and jumping sidesaddles were usually heavier than the Park seat sidesaddles.
Some of the Paki sidesaddles are stressed for jumping. Some are not. In fact most are not. I don’t think the horns will fall off but the gullet may spread or break. Once the gullet goes then the rest of the tree is distressed. The bars going back to the cantle may break from the twist on them. Then in turn they may break loose from the cantle.
So I’d suggest if you wish to jump in a sidesaddle look for one that is made for it.
Look them over carefullly before you buy.
Get advice from an experienced sidesaddle person.
A good mentor will save you alot of grief and expense.
Most who have ridden for some time have seen the sidesaddles that do not hold up.
Regards, S
[QUOTE=Brigit;4460902]
Hmmm maybe I should have worded that differently. I didn’t mean to imply that I was considering jumping in a saddle that wasn’t reinforced. I was asking the question because I got to thinking the other day. Kind of a hypothetical question that could very well happen. Say you have somebody, completely new to sidesaddle and they buy one of those really cheap junky saddes and they don’t know the difference between a reinforced saddle and one that isn’t. Or maybe they don’t even know that there are different trees for different purposes. I know not to jump in something that isn’t reinforced, you know it, but what if somebody didn’t? I hadn’t ever heard of any stories of trees being broken so I was curious. That’s all.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=sadlmakr;4463050]
Jumpin a sidesaddle not designed for jumping will break the gullet iron. The sidesaddles designed for jumping have a bar of steel right behind the gullet iron that gives extra strength to the gullet and the entire sidesaddle. Usually they are about an inch wide or one and a quarter inch. they are usually about 1/2 inch to 3/4th inch thick. They are hammered out thinner on the ends and are riveted through the wood of the tree. They give the saddle much more strength than the ones made for Park seat or Saddleseat as it is called today.
Champion & Wilton and Martin & Martin both, made a very lightweight show type sidesaddle that only weighed 18 pounds. If those are used for jumping the front will spread or break at the gullet. How do you tell if it is a Park seat sidesaddle? Have a Qualified saddler take the front stitching where the panels are sewn to the saddle loose and pull the gullet liner back at the front and check for a “Hunting Bar”. Fox hunting and jumping sidesaddles were usually heavier than the Park seat sidesaddles.
Some of the Paki sidesaddles are stressed for jumping. Some are not. In fact most are not. I don’t think the horns will fall off but the gullet may spread or break. Once the gullet goes then the rest of the tree is distressed. The bars going back to the cantle may break from the twist on them. Then in turn they may break loose from the cantle.
So I’d suggest if you wish to jump in a sidesaddle look for one that is made for it.
Look them over carefullly before you buy.
Get advice from an experienced sidesaddle person.
A good mentor will save you alot of grief and expense.
Most who have ridden for some time have seen the sidesaddles that do not hold up.
Regards, S[/QUOTE]
Wonderful! Thank you! That’s exactly what I was interested in knowing. I wasn’t sure exactly what would break. The other question I was going to ask was how you tell if they are reinforced, but you answered that too!
It’s almost too bad that there isn’t a mark on the saddle or some way to more easily tell if a saddle is reinforced for jumping or not.
Thanks again!
