Mobile saddle blankets

[jpbab]

I understand it was common to place the saddle blanket along with your personal blanket under the saddle but as I understand that, it was meant for horse comfort as well as an easy way for a trooper to carry his blanket.

I also understand that many current reenactors will place a saddle pad under their saddle blanket.

I am having an issue with my saddle banket moving back while agressively riding. After a few canters and climbing a few embankments the saddle is way off the withers and exiting stage rear.

I have never seen this happen with any other saddle pad. My blanket is a CR Childs and I don't want to lose how good it looks under my saddle. (IMO, this is the finest replica CW saddle blanket available, even better than the original makers repro blanket)

Do you think I am just being too generous on the cinch? It appears tight enough but the looping is a little different than the western and english I've used without these issues.

[1st Maine Trooper]

Before offering any suggestions, what type of saddle are you riding, how is it rigged and does it fit your horses back properly? It is not at all uncommon to have a saddle blanket slip. The use of pads while reenacting should be avoided at all costs. Proper blanketing should be more than sufficient.
Dave Myrick

[frankstevanus]

Jeff:
I am sure your blanket is fine. One thing the 'veterans' have taught me about proper positioning of the blanket after folding is to leave an over lap of about 4 inches of blanket forward of the saddle. When you cinch down the saddle the pressure of the bars behind that overlap will keep the blanket from sliding. I have also seen guys take about a six inch overlap, then fold that overlap in half and rest the bars of the saddle on top of that.
I think the key is to experiment. Because every horse is shaped a little differently, try practicing with the blanket and saddle when you are just pleasure riding. Adjust everything to see what works best for you. Believe me, eventually you will hit the right spot and your blanket will not slip so bad and you will have a good ride.

[jpbab]

Before offering any suggestions, what type of saddle are you riding, how is it rigged and does it fit your horses back properly? It is not at all uncommon to have a saddle blanket slip. The use of pads while reenacting should be avoided at all costs. Proper blanketing should be more than sufficient.
Dave Myrick

1859 MClellan with an occasional breast collar. My instructor felt the sadle fit the horse like a glove.

I usually place the blanket over the top of the withers about an inch or two. the rear of the blanket almost cannot be seen beyond the saddle bags. This give me a good 4 inches if not more in front of the cantle.

[AZFarrier]

I believe that authenticity is essential but not at the expence of safety or the care of your horse. I'm probably speaking for every one when I say that if your mount isn't happy, your not happy. I use a second blanket on my old 18YO Rope horse. After 18 years he is starting to get a little sway backed (he's allowed). Even though he's getting old I wouldn't trade him for the world. But look at it this way, now you have an extra blanket to curl up in when out on patrol.

Andy Miller
1st CAL Cav
Arizona Rangers

[T.Kern]

Jeff:
I am sure your blanket is fine. One thing the 'veterans' have taught me about proper positioning of the blanket after folding is to leave an over lap of about 4 inches of blanket forward of the saddle. When you cinch down the saddle the pressure of the bars behind that overlap will keep the blanket from sliding. I have also seen guys take about a six inch overlap, then fold that overlap in half and rest the bars of the saddle on top of that.
I think the key is to experiment. Because every horse is shaped a little differently, try practicing with the blanket and saddle when you are just pleasure riding. Adjust everything to see what works best for you. Believe me, eventually you will hit the right spot and your blanket will not slip so bad and you will have a good ride.

Yes, place the blanket well forward but never fold it back and rest the saddle on top of the thicker fold. This creates a pressure point and will sore the horse in time. The whole idea of the saddle fit is to evenly distribute the weigh across the back. This technique was used by some who had seen modern English riders place a withers type pad in place to get the saddle off the withers. It may work a little better for that, as modern English saddles have a stuffed panel that can take up some of the extra pressure. It is a practice I strongly discourage if you want your horse to be sound over time. I do recommend two blankets because most reenactors don't ride enough to harden the horses back and can use the extra padding. Unless you have C Childs federal sleeping blanket which is thicker than the saddle blanket.
Todd Kern