Gullet Width

[goldpony]

Tkleather1 & Bruce. Thank you. I will look into the Ricotti pad.

[bruce johnson]

Here's kind of how it was explained to me, using some examples that might go to the exteme to illustrate the point.

If you have two mating/matching/"nesting" surfaces, it does in fact raise it up more in front due to the difference of the vertical angle going through a steeper angle in front vs. a flatter angle behind. The rub is in the top surface. if the gullet is too wide, and you add more padding you are getting closer but not to the point of raising the front at all. The flatter surface in the back is raising.

The analogy given to me was using a set of bowls as an example. Turn over two nesting bowls. If you stretch a sockhat over them, they will raise up more than the thickness of the sock because they are being lifted by the vertical component of the thickness of the sockhat at the angle where the bowls would touch.

Next, take a nesting set of bowls and for argument's sake, take one smaller and one two sizes up (or three sizes up to really illustrate the point). The smaller bowl is the horse, the larger bowl is a saddle with the width too wide. This would be the extreme example of the saddle resting on the withers and no bar contact. Stretch a sockhat over the smaller bowl and set the big bowl over it. It is still too wide/big for contact and the bowl is not raised. The only place it gets closer is at the top of the bowl. and to translate this to narrow horse - on top of the spine and not further out where the bar pads would be. (Another assumption at this point is that with most thick pads of 1" there is some sort of wither relief over the spine so there is no raising up there if the bar pads don't contact). As you add more padding (another sockhat) it begins to fill in starting at the top and eventually you get some contact further and further down the sides, which is now start to correspond to where the bars are making contact with the horse in real life. But in the meantime, most horses are flatter where the back bar pads are contacting, and that area has been raised everytime the padding has been added. Does this make sense?

[JRedding]

I'm glad you weren't insulted because I am enough for both of us now. "I need advice from experts" well pardon me all to hell lady. My twenty years in the saddle trade isn't much of a qualification compared to what you've got under your belt I now know. God bless the poor guy who made that saddle for you, he'll need it before he gets rid of you lady.

[goldpony]

I'm glad you weren't insulted because I am enough for both of us now. "I need advice from experts" well pardon me all to hell lady. My twenty years in the saddle trade isn't much of a qualification compared to what you've got under your belt I now know. God bless the poor guy who made that saddle for you, he'll need it before he gets rid of you lady.

JRedding, Oh dear! These were my exact words " I need advice from experts - LeatherWorkers is the best!" JRedding you are part of LeatherWorkers! YOU are part of the group I am seeking advice from, and I appreciate the time everyone has put into this post!

[goldpony]

Bruce,

I have order a 3/4 wool Ricotti pad. It will probably take at least a week before I receive it. Thank you for the suggestion.

[Billy H]

JRedding, your words of breaking in a saddle or saddle blanket are so true!

Regardless of how good the Saddle Maker,every new saddle needs a little bit of sweat and dust.

About 4 years ago I made a saddle for the best Cowboy that I ever new ( my Dad ), I have never seen a man so comfortable on horse back. Unfotunately he never was able to break the saddle in.

His horse of many many years had to be put down and health took both mind and body. After letting his ashes go to the wind I sat on his saddle trying to figure out what I should do with his saddle.

My dad would have said " saddle up boy! a saddle on a stand and not on a horse is a crying shame ". So I grab it off the stand, put it on top of a nice little mare. Well the saddle fit pretty good but not perfect.

The Shearling needed to be compressed, Skirts fit nice but needed some sweat to truly take shape of the horses back, fender and leathers have Twist and Wrap but needed some miles and sweat to truly take shape

to my boot and leg. I really worked hard on that Ground seat (turned out really nice), but after a month in the saddle----- man it sits really well.

I tend to be a wind bag sometimes, sorry guys!

JRedding words of giving a Maker a chance are so true, we put our hart and soul into these saddles, we want them to be injoyed for generations. Have a good weeked, regards Billy

[GrampaJoel]

Billy H

JRedding words of giving a Maker a chance are so true, we put our hart and soul into these saddles, we want them to be injoyed for generations. Have a good weeked,

regards Billy

Yep!

[goldpony]

Hi guys. I have been riding in my custom saddle for over a month now. I trail ride six days a week. I am hoping a longer cinch and the Ricotti pad will make a difference.

[Billy H]

Hi Goldpony, Hey I was not directing my story toward you, just relating a experience that I went through not to long ago.

I hope you get things worked out. Billy

[goldpony]

Billy, Me too - after spending US$4,000 for a custom made saddle.