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FAQs - Saddlery
My saddle fitted my horse well but now it is sitting lower on the horse's wither and back. Is the saddle tree broken?
We have over 1300 of our saddles out there and as yet we haven't had one broken tree from horse related accidents. (Only two have been broken - run over by trucks.) We recently had one broken knee pad (not bad out of 1300 saddles).
Mostly we find in these situations that the horse has lost condition from work or shortage of feed. A solution is to use a pad with a cutaway wither section to lift the saddle higher off the horse's back. (See the Koda felt saddle pad with leather chambers, Code SB05, on our Saddle Blankets page.)
If the style of horse you are riding has a high wither, the best solution is to have a saddle built with a thoroughbred tree to give the extra clearance. See our Choosing a Saddle page.
How do I look after my new saddle?
What is the difference between saddle fenders swung from spring bars and fenders swung from the tree?
Spring Bars are similar to those on a flap saddle with the fenders under the flap instead of over. Spring Bar fenders give more freedom of movement, especially forward, so someone who has been riding in a flap saddle would adjust to them easily. The Spring Bar fender has the added safety advantage that if the rider gets thrown and hung up, chances are that the fenders will slip off the spring bar.
Fenders over the tree are designed for a person who likes to ride fairly straight up and down, dressage or western style. Our saddles have a rock bar where the fender strap goes over the tree which has a pivoting affect as the fender moves back and forth with the leg. We have found that whichever style people choose they soon adapt to it.
Do I need to use a flank girth?
It depends on:
- The type of country you are riding in (hilly or flat country);
- The style of horse you are riding and whether the saddle fits the horse well;
- If the horse is inclined to buck;
- Your personal choice.
We recommend that you try without, especially with our cable rigging which balances the saddle really well.
How tight should I girth my horse?
Overly tight girths can cause great discomfort to the horse with reduced performance and more chance that they will misbehave or buck. If the saddle fits the horse well and is positioned correctly, girth up firmly from the near side and go to the off side to check the balance of the saddle and girth up slightly if necessary. You will notice that the girth will have some slack after some time in the saddle. That is ideal; it allows the horse to move more freely. A well fitted saddle with the correct saddle cloth doesn't need to be girthed up very tight.
What guarantee do you give with your saddles?
We simply say you'll be satisfied no matter what. If you're not satisfied, we're not either. If you have a problem we want to be the first to know. You can be confident that you won't be left with a saddle that doesn't suit you or your horse.
Does neatsfoot oil rot stitching?
It may have done when threads in saddles were made from hemp. Threads in saddles today are all synthetic so it is not an issue.
How much do your saddles weigh?
On average about 11kg mounted depending on size and mounts. This compares favorably with many felt lined flap saddles which can weigh 16-17kg, and western style saddles, which often weigh over 30kg. We are careful not to compromise strength to save weight. If you desire an even lighter weight saddle we can use lighter weight leather and fittings, saving about 2kg. Also, our slimline saddles are a bit lighter.
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