Saddle Skirts

[LonnieChambers]

Hello Just wanted to see what everyones thoughts were on how much rise in the back of your skirts you realy need. Are do you think you realy need it any more. I have always been told to make sure you block your skirts when I am pounding them on to fit the tree nice. But after you block your skirts out, how much rise do you realy need. I have looked at over over 100 different saddles from different saddle makers, and I see a lot of difference. The rise in the skirts, it seems like every one is a little different.

Thanks

Lonnie Chambers

[Ben]

Lonnie,

I have only made a few saddles but here goes. You want to block the rear of your skirt such that when you install your rear jockeys they cover the rear bars, tugs, and lay down nicely on the skirt. If you do not have enough rise you will have a space between your skirt and rear jockey. This space is not pleasing to the eye and also leaves an avenue where stuff can get up under the jockey.

Ben

[LonnieChambers]

Ben

Thank you for replying back. What do you think about the rise under the saddle skirts in the back. Where your skirts are laced together. How much rise do you think you realy need to stay with the cuvature of a animals back. So your skirts dont rub a animal in the center of his back. I sometimes think you should go with the flow of the rock that the tree maker has put in the bars on the tree. Well I hope I am making sence. Let me know what you think. Thank you

Lonnie

Lonnie,

I have only made a few saddles but here goes. You want to block the rear of your skirt such that when you install your rear jockeys they cover the rear bars, tugs, and lay down nicely on the skirt. If you do not have enough rise you will have a space between your skirt and rear jockey. This space is not pleasing to the eye and also leaves an avenue where stuff can get up under the jockey.

Ben

[Ben]

Lonnie,

I think that if you block your skirt in the rear such that the rear jock lays down on it the entire assembly will follow the rock of the bars which will in turn follow the back of the horse. Here are a few pictures that might help in the discussion.

Ben

[LonnieChambers]

Ben

Thanks once agin for your reply. Nice saddles. I see what you are saying. My saddles have about the same amount of rise. This topic came up from a friend that has been building saddles for about 30 years we had a discusion over the phone about the rise in the skirts. If you look at different saddle makers. Some of them block there skirts a little more than others, and some are pretty flat. You would think that there would be some consistency in what we are doing these days, from one saddle maker to the next. Well thank you and I hope to talk agin. Well here is a pic of the last saddle I made. If there is anything you see That I could change let me know. I have never apprinticed under anyone. I have visited many saddle makers over the years off and on.Once agin thanks.

Lonnie