HH Saddles Ciara
The HH Saddles Ciara impression pad testing is completed.
The facts...
- HH Ciara 16" western seat (two sizes too big for me), 17" western panels
- rider is myself (approximately 5'2 and 140 lbs). Horse is Uno.
- walk, trot, canter
- EDIX synthetic western pad.
- NO inlays or shims
- first picture shows the after ride picture of the saddle aligment. I honestly had a conundrum around which test to post. I decided on the full rigging test because, even though it's NOT the rigging that's most appropriate for Uno's conformation, it's the rigging that many used to western saddles will be inclined to use
-Top of the picture is front of the saddle, left panel is left side of saddle, right panel is right side of saddle.
The second picture shows the impression pad when we rode with it between the saddle and the saddle pad. This is the best way I can measure the weight distribution capabilities of the saddle itself.
This test shows excellent spinal clearance and good weight distribution for an unbroken in leather tree saddle. You will see slightly more pressure at the front of the panels, back of the panels and along the lower edge of the panels. Even with my weight in the saddle, the least amount of pressure was along the tops of the panels, along the spine directly underneath me. Especially considering the alignment of the saddle shown in the first picture, I think this is a very impressive test. The saddle was NOT aligned with his girth groove, but still tested very well.
After seeing this test, I didn't feel it was necessary to do a test under the pad, the saddle demonstrated that it disperses weight excellently on its own and relies less on the pad than most non rigid tree options and treeless options.
The HH Ciara has multiple iron bar positions that are attached to the leather tree, there is no metal suspension arch between the right and left sides of the saddle as is common in leather tree saddles.
I am using the Port Lewis impression pad.
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