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  Discussion on Cashel Soft Saddle
Author Message
Member:
Mpurdy

Posted on Tuesday, Feb 1, 2005 - 10:37 pm:

Has anyone ridden in the Cashel Soft Saddle? I got one for Christmas and in general I like it, but I wondered if anyone else had "issues" with it.
Thanks,
Margo
Member:
Kthorse

Posted on Thursday, Feb 3, 2005 - 6:52 am:

Hi Margo,
Are they the saddles that are supposed to be like bareback and go for around $300.?
My girlfriend wants one.
What issues do you have with the saddle?
I am curious also if anyone has one of these saddles.
Katrina
Member:
Mpurdy

Posted on Thursday, Feb 3, 2005 - 11:09 am:

I can descibe my problems with the saddle and when you see the list you will think, "Boy, that sounds like a bad piece of equipment and she must really hate it" But the fact is all the problems can be resolved or reduced with a change to the saddle rigging. I am trying to determine if it is unreasonable to ask Cashel to change mine (for a fee) if I send it back to them. The saddle can be bought for less than $250.

Saddle comes with chinch ring ahead of stirrup ring attachment. That puts the stirrups so far back that I find it hard to believe that anyone can feel balanced when using the stirrups where they are. Instructional letter which came with the saddle points out that it is made so that you can swap position of chinch and stirrup because they are made to be removed -- that is the the strap parts, not the rings or the part that holds the rings.

Fine, I did that and the position is much more natural. But it created the following problems:

1. Since the small ring for stirrup strap is placed higer than the large ring for cinch, using the lower cinch ring for stirrups makes them hang much lower. I have them adjusted as short as they will go and I would really like them to be shorter. The top of my half chaps get caught on the lower edge of the saddle. Ditched the half chaps and used low boots to solve that problem. Then I found that my half chaps had been protecting me from the buckle on my girth on the right side - the girth being attached to higher stirrup ring changed it's normal position.

2. Continuing with the stirrups, since they are on a bigger ring than they were suppose to be, there is more play and they swing more easily. Normally I do not have to think much about keeping my leg still, but this way I do.

3. The smaller ring for the cinch strap is too small to allow wrapping around it more than once; at best it is doable, but challenging. And as I mentioned, it is also higher on the saddle. I thought having it farther back was going to be my biggest complaint, but that doesn't seem so bad.

The best part about riding in the saddle is the sitting trot - heavenly. Naturally putting it on and taking it off is a treat because of its light weight.
Margo
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