Taking The "slick" Out Of A Slick Seat Western Saddle

[Go2Tex]

Riding lessons! Sorry Brent, I couldn't help myself!!!

No respect. No respect, I tell ya!

[Go2Tex]

My friend took lessons (english) from a lady who used Leder Balsam on her english saddles to get some tackiness to them. I've looked online and there are a couple different brands that use that name, not sure what she was using. My dad packs mules all summer and rides a slick seat saddle, I saw he had a jar of the stuff he was using, said it's good for grip and weather. This wouldn't be a permanent 'fix' but it might be worth a try.

Yeah, now that's the ticket. Thanks for the input.

[Hennessy]

Yeah, now that's the ticket. Thanks for the input.

how aboot a shower mat one with suction cups. cut a 2inc strip measure to fit from belt under to belt[back] kinda like a g string suction cups out of course just enough traction what to call it [key]to sales my thought is cowboy tractionstring jest an idear

[Traveller]

I think you're looking for Stick Cream http://greenhawk.ca/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/scstore/p-STO0041.html?L+scstore+ptjn0476ff1da61d+1283078111.

Yup, that's what it's called, and that's what it does. The little blurb that comes with says something about your boots not wrecking the saddle but the German label also says "sit-tide creme," so I'm thinking they know that most people use it keep their butts sitting tight in the saddle.

Always seemed a little like cheating to me but heck, who needs to know. And if you land in the dust, everyone knows. Definitely the lesser of two evils.

[Newfman]

My friend took lessons (english) from a lady who used Leder Balsam on her english saddles to get some tackiness to them. I've looked online and there are a couple different brands that use that name, not sure what she was using. My dad packs mules all summer and rides a slick seat saddle, I saw he had a jar of the stuff he was using, said it's good for grip and weather. This wouldn't be a permanent 'fix' but it might be worth a try.

I use Lederbalsam on the leather seats in my Cummins Ram. It makes the leather soft and plyable, but i can't say i notice a difference in tackiness. I would actually find it annoying. My better half uses it on her Duett dressage saddle, and doesn't think it has any tack. Admittedly, I use it on my Terri Beecher made Wade saddle, (which I still think is one of my most prized posessions, thanks to the folks here) but I don't use it on the seat, as I don't, ...um.....ok, I have no idea why i don't use it on the seat! I think it does a great job protecting the rest of the leather though, and there is no tackiness anywhere. I would hate that.

Not that I have any real expertise, but I think your client needs to learn to start riding the horse, and not the saddle. Quit thinking of it as a seat, maybe?? You would have a hard time not offending them though. I had a hard time explaining to a client that she was 'too big' for her quarter horse. A lot of tap dancing and soft shoeing.

If all else fails, 2 inches of the rounded tip of a broom handle, screwed down to the center of the seat may help. Sort of a trailer hitch effect!

Yeah, I know, that wasn't very nice. Just kidding. Seems like anything 'sticky' will look messy and darken like pine tar on a baseball bat. Glue some hook and latch to the seat of thei jeans and the saddle. This way, they can get off and on, and not slide artound. :+)

The local apple orchard is having an outdoor, harvest music concert, I will see if they are willing to make it a benefit concert for you and your beloved citrus tree. Apple tress are hardier, Appletini anyone?

[David Genadek]

Riding lessons! Sorry Brent, I couldn't help myself!!!

This is the real answer but one should also check the shape of the seat . Does it have a flat spot for the pelvis or is the low point of the seat way back near the cantle? What does the fender pattern look like? Was it designed to place the legs forward?

Martha Jose used to sell Velcroe you could put on the seat and on your pants (really I'm not kidding).

David Genadek

[Traveller]

Lederbalsam is a leather conditioner and shouldn't add stickiness. If it does, there's probably something wrong with it. When you condition an English saddle with a product such as Lederbalsam and then ride in it, you'll notice a wee bit of grab on your pants for the first ride while it's fresh (particularly if you ride in full-seat leather breeches) but once it's soaked in, the stickiness is gone. And you wouldn't want to condition the saddle every time you ride or you'd break down the leather prematurely.

I know a young dressage rider who uses the Sit-Tide Creme and she says it doesn't wreck the leather but it does help glue her butt to the saddle.

I've occasionally been tempted to install a seat belt on my own saddle. I'm sure it would be way cheaper than the riding lessons I pay for over and over again. Slipping and sliding isn't my personal problem - it's staying on my Appy when he decides he's had enough and gets to rodeoing. (Those days are behind him now. For sure.)

[Newfman]

Lederbalsam is a leather conditioner and shouldn't add stickiness. If it does, there's probably something wrong with it. When you condition an English saddle with a product such as Lederbalsam and then ride in it, you'll notice a wee bit of grab on your pants for the first ride while it's fresh (particularly if you ride in full-seat leather breeches) but once it's soaked in, the stickiness is gone. And you wouldn't want to condition the saddle every time you ride or you'd break down the leather prematurely.

I know a young dressage rider who uses the Sit-Tide Creme and she says it doesn't wreck the leather but it does help glue her butt to the saddle.

I've occasionally been tempted to install a seat belt on my own saddle. I'm sure it would be way cheaper than the riding lessons I pay for over and over again. Slipping and sliding isn't my personal problem - it's staying on my Appy when he decides he's had enough and gets to rodeoing. (Those days are behind him now. For sure.)

It was explained to me many years ago about Appy's. The reason why the indians (Native Americans) were such fierce fighters in battle was because they rode Appaloosa horses. After riding and dealing with an Appy for a few miles on your way to battle, you arrived quite seriously ready to kill something!

[tollertwins]

Spray product...some horses hate the hissy noise if you decide to spray around the horse.

http://www.dressageextensions.com/ProductDetail.asp?KEY=14431

[Mechanical Cowgirl]

Never actually tried the Ledebalsam myself, just remembered something along the 'tackiness' lines being mentioned. I just got a pony a few weeks ago and while looking for a 4 1/4" snaffle bit I found Saddle-Tite under 'Spooking Solutions' on justforponies.com it's 9$ for a stick of it. They also had those grab straps for english saddles, maybe he could use a nightlatch until he gets his seat figured out?