Shims, revisited and revised!

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Posted : 8/29/2010 8:14:58 PM

Thanks for bumping the saddle thread, HS!

I have made a fastening system for my shims that does not involve Duck tape! [oh, that is just SOOO not redneck anymore

. ]

I used FRESH shims from an English Cashel Tush Cush, pretty much the same principle but I had to taper the back end a little more. My originals have layers of duct tape and a lot of nicks on them from hard use on 2 different saddles. The saddle in the photos is an ancient Circle Y saddle with full QH bars I am using fot the petite Haflinger, Shelly, who has the same confo issues as Sweet P: wide back, narrow shoulder with no withers.

So, first, fresh shims:

the side I worked on will face into the saddle

nice tapered edge for the top/edge at center of saddle
<a href="http://s832.photobucket.com/albums/zz241/susnakela/?action=view&current=DSCF2891.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/zz241/susnakela/DSCF2891.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

And now, the end product! Cute red burlap is 'grippy' and tough to protect the foam shims

Here's how they fasten:

one strap goes over the cantle from inside to out, then Velcros on to the shim. I can adjust the height and forward placement this way.

The other goes through the saddle rigging and velcros back on. This puts tension on and keeps the shim from shifting up, down, front or backwards.

From the front. See how the shim only fills the space under the bar?

From the top. In the future I could use webbing that matches the saddle.

hunterseat

Posted : 8/30/2010 12:52:16 AM

I have a friend here who just bought a lovely Haffie mare! She's very excited and was talking about researching saddles for the big girl. I suggested she come over here and look at some of your threads so I bumped a couple. [ ':)'

] She got the mare for her grandson, actually. VERY gentle, like Peach, I imagine.
Are you expecting a baby, btw?

3equines

Posted : 8/30/2010 1:07:47 AM

Haven't had a vet confirm if Sweet P is pregnat, she was bred in April and has not been in heat since then....

What I have found with the Haffies is that they all are hard to fit a saddle to but they all are a little unique when it comes to individual confo. If I could see pics of your friend's Haffie I could get a pretty good guess about what ball park we are looking for. I have had the best luck with the Dakota wide gullet Walker gaited horse saddle. It fits Peach like a glove, and it fit both Sweet P and Gibson well when using the SMX Ortho Sport pad. But Shelly and her full sister Crystal are just runty little things, and the Dakota saddle swallows them whole.