cashel seat cover - ICK! Need other options

[Fantastic]

Tried out my brand new <>worthless<> cashel seat cover while on a long trail ride yesterday. The darn thing fishes around while you're riding. My saddle is a 17", and it really doesn't even cover your entire saddle seat. Darn thing kept slipping back, and my crotch was right on the front edge of the device. The straps that hold it on don't do their job, and the material that covers the foam is some sort of cotton stretch jersey stuff. It's also way too thick - felt like I was riding on a Maxi-pad. (can you say "SURF BOARD", anyone?).

I think I lasted an entire 15 minutes before I ripped if off my saddle and threw it to my friend so she could attach it to her saddle horn. Luckily I was not riding my big mare with the "9" camel like walk! Last time I took her out on the trails my crotch was very sad!:cry:

Recommendations for a seat cover for trail rides anyone?

[HollysHobbies]

I have ye ole ancient sheepskin cover--doesn't seem to slide, doesn't seem to make my butt sweat any worse than usual--I use it on a passier dressage saddle on OTTBs for hacking and basic dressage.

I wound up trading in my X-country saddle (which I'm not doing these days) for a comfy on the bum, low-level jumping saddle, so that I could hack (which I do often) without discomfort.

I was looking for a gel-like seat cover, but didn't really find much, so I'm watching to see what COTHers recommend!;)

[whicker]

what part of the saddle is causing the problems? seat bones, spine, under the leg/groin, forward crotch? Is the saddle level? what kind of saddle?

[Fantastic]

Hey whicker, my saddles are all Custom Saddlery saddles. They are level. They fit the horses, and they fit me. I never get rubs or sores anywhere because of the above (proper fit), and I never get a sore back (even though I did fracture my neck years ago in college).

I normally trail ride up/down hills, galloping around my property, but just not for 2 hours straight at the walk only.

It was the 2 hr long trail ride earlier this year on my mare with the huge strided camel-like walk that made my crotch sore. Like I said, she has a super walk! Well, try riding an entire 2 hours at the walk *only* on a horse with a big undulating walk! My hips were swinging and pelvis rolling. Rather ouchy in the nether region by the time I dismounted. That's why I decided to order a seat cover, and Cashel was cheaper and looked interesting. NOT!:mad: Cheaper is the key word. Goofy attachment straps and cotton jersey material would never hold up for regular long term use!

I was on my fei horse on Sunday when I decided 'what the heck, why not use the new Cashel seat cover?'. He doesn't have a 9 camel walk like that one mare, so I really didn't need the seat cover. I just figured wth, why not? Tried riding in it and ended up asking myself WHY???

DOn't get me wrong; I do love a lot of the Cashel products. Many are 'now why didn't I think of that?' products, and are quite lovely. Just not the seat cover. ICK!

[Shawnda N]

Try to find one of the sheep skin seat covers. While on a week long trail ride in France (5 - 6 hours a day) I had brought mine with me, and Thank God I did. The saddles we used were in good condition, but with very little seat padding left. By the 3rd day, people were trying to steal my sheep skin pad !

[Fantastic]

Thanks for the tip about sheepskin! Now, hopefully I can return this PIECE!

[whicker]

Real sheepskin is great. It wicks and cushions, doesn't slide, long wearing. No sweat puddles on your saddle.

I have a broken back, so I put thin layers of poron under mine in key areas, atatched with double sided carpet tape. I am unfortunately hyper-sensitive and hyper-mobile, so I am like a canary in a coal mine.

[sayyadina]

Heather Moffett makes a seatbone saver which is supposed to be nice. If its anything like her saddles...

[PaddyUK]

Heather Moffett makes a seatbone saver which is supposed to be nice. If its anything like her saddles...

You took the words right out of my mouth.

They often turn up on EBAY UK or you can order direct from Heather

http://www.enlightenedequitationshop.com/seatbone-saver-hipsaver-backsaver-pads-and-latex-toppers-8-c.asp

Paddy

[Bank of Dad]

As usual, COTHer's provide great solutions. I too am having issues with the Cashel pad, although I had an old one I used in the same saddle for years without problems. Maybe they're using newer cheaper materials, or our shape changes????
I tried the sheepskin pad but felt it made the saddle feel too small, I am pushing the limit on this saddle anyway, but that's another story.