We Need Answers, Not Opinions!

I was keeping this one for later, but I have seen so much misinformation in magazines and on the net that I feel compelled to speak up now!

This is about "people who write for magazines". This would also include those who set themselves up as experts on web forums. It astounds me how many people believe these self-appointed experts. They are not qualified in any sense of the imagination to talk about products and their functions that real experts have spent many years researching and developing. Of course most of the real experts I speak of just smile and say nothing, while these poor portrayers of wisdom continue to make fools of themselves and show how utterly stupid they look in the eyes of those who actually know what they are doing.

"People who write for magazines or web forums, are people who write for magazines or web forums. They like to see their name in print!"

There are hundreds of very humorous pieces of advice...here's a couple of examples.

A recent one was from a forum with a line of discussion on saddle fitting, but in particular about riggings. When asked what kind of rigging should be used for reining the advice was that "3/4 rigging was the most common for this discipline". That is so far from the truth! First of all the rigging setting has little or nothing to do with the discipline, but has everything to do with saddle fit. In fact most professional reiners use a full double rigging. A 3/4 setting would work its way forward and take the saddle with it in reining patterns. And as a note here these positions are used for reining when performing in this sport. It does not mean it is best for the horse, only best for results. The same principle applies to professional roping.

There was also a reference to a back cinch being only decoration. He excluded roping saddles, trail saddles and endurance saddles. We build trail saddles that for the most part don't need a back cinch because they fit the horse properly. Riders of trail saddles that use a back cinch usually have a saddle that wasn't built as a trail saddle in the first place and they have a saddle that doesn't fit. The same goes for endurance riders. Admittedly accessories [breast collars, back cinchas & cruppers] have their place when riding in rough terrain but only with a well fitted saddle. Riders do not always understand the true purpose of these accessories.

An article I read last year was about the best trail saddles to buy. Would you believe all the worst saddles for trail use were recommended?

In conclusion you might ask, "What makes you any different from all these writers you criticize?"

The answer is easy.......I know what I'm talking about!

One parting shot....People need to stop talking about a horse's center of gravity like it was a magic location. It's not! The center of gravity changes with 3 dimensional movement and can sometimes be outside the horse's body altogether. It has no place in the fitting equation! When talking about saddle fit and rider/horse balance we need to address the center of motion and center of balance.

Email me if you have any comments www.barnonesaddles@gmail.com