mulesuk

O.K. I've asked this on Mule Skinners but I need as much imput as I can.
I have confidence with my saddle fitting especially since Malaga spooked and bucked

This is what Malaga thinks!

The general consensus is it is too far foreward and blocking his shoulders but how do I stop it slipping foreward.I've been told to throw away the rope britchen but I don't fancy a "thong" (Crupper )especially if it comes into play going downhill!
Baring in mind Malaga has tiny withers and no shoulders what can I do? Those of you who ride,what helps you overcome this problem.I place the saddle further back but after I've girthed up it still works its way foreward as he moves.

A crupper is really not the good way to hold the saddle on his place.
I use such like this and the problem is history...

Thanks Mano,I think it ight have to be britching,I fancied the Tuff Enuff one http://www.tuffenuff.org/britchen.htm
but I notice yours is done up differant (To the back girth rings,whereas I've always attatched Sarah-lees to the girth)What make is yours?I wonder if I could get a set in webbing

in Germany most of them rigging in this way

but for the moment, i will keep the swiss rigging system

So,are we talking the breeching from Hotten Tot as I call them?
http://www.hue-hott.de/index.php?javasc ... 027fbf7235

Sorry can't get a direct link to the breeching you'll have to use their search

jj you read my mind this is just what i have been researching and thinking about.... recently... love the piccys btw.. especially the one of malaga bronking off LOL....

I saw libby at the Bath and West Show recently and was looking at the Libbys driving harness to see if i could adapt it to saddle breeching... as i would like to 'ride and drive' Nector bee and wondered if I could use a driving harness to drive and ride (secure a saddle)

I wonder if they would make a 'british' version of a mule breeching for us to save importing fees?

My vague ideas so far have been an elastic breast strap?
An elastic breast strap ? with martingale attachments to attach to d rings?

Is that a western saddle? do you have the option of a back girth(forget the name? )

I love Libbys stuff.I have a crupper and it is so soft but way too long (Think it was meant for driving) and I' not happy about cruppers though.
I thought of her driving harness breeching but I don't think she does "specials"
The saddle is a Bob Marshall http://www.sportsaddle.com/noflash/gall ... llery.html
It has the ring for a back girth but I haven't seen any people using one .Liz doesn't see to use it on Millie

I need to get Moon into her britchen very soon - I got mine from Crest Ridge saddlery (they have an ebay shop - see http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Mule-Saddle-Breec ... 7C294%3A30 as I fine their main website almost unsuable as so slow) - not tried it on her yet though.

Very grateful for the alternative rigging suggestions though - I'd never thought of running the lowest, longest side straps anywhere other than the cinch.

Thanks!

Right,been playing around with tack again this evening
Sorted out Sarah-lee's breeching that Trionna made for me,I know its too small but Malaga was in a good mood

Is this saddle placement better? I know why you chose that back ring for yours Mano....You don't have to fiddle around with the girth all the time,yes? At present I tried out the girth as I wasn't happy with the back ring idea whe I used it but with proper fitting breeching and a calmer mule I think it would work.
How tight should it be round his backside? I think I remember something about slipping a hand width in it but that might've been something else
Also Mano you still haven't confirmed where yours came from as if it was from Europe it might cut down import costs
Anyway Malaga seemed a bit happier with the set up even if I did feel he was being tied in because it was too small for him....Sarah-lee had a much smaller backside!

I've found somewhere where they do breeching in this country at last
http://www.plasequestrian.co.uk/
They just want measurements and colour and will send it

Great tip off, thanks jinglejoys

Tried Moon's britchen on her Tuesday and it's the right size - I presume the height should be like driving breeching, half way from dock to hock distance?

Alas the saddle I intended to put her in next (health moffatt Fhoenix) - she's currently hacking out happily in a racing saddle - lacks D-rings at the back, and I suspect it isn't going to sit down on her back. She doesn't like it being put on cf the racing saddle, but as she is suspicious of anything new (her back is fine, BTW) we'll have to long rein her in it to see if she doesn't like it because it's new, or whether she finds it uncomfortable or weird even without a rider. I suspect the former but we'll see. (I'll have the Fhoenix for sale if that's the case, just bought Jack a treed dressage saddle so can't really justify handing onto the Fhoenix unless I'm using it on Moon)

Next in the batting order is my Bob marshall treeless - I just swapped my one with horn for endurance one without - which has a gratifying selection of D rings and we'll see how that goes....

And if that doesn't work I'll have to see what the nice man from Chester saddlery thinks of!

Thats what Malaga is wearing, a BM
Interesting about her reaction to a differant saddle...that's when I got bucked off Malaga,trying out my Rebecca Softride on him Trouble was I didn't listen to him and he spooked at "something" If I'd've listened to his body language on the ground I wouldn't have got on but I was focussed on trying out the saddle and once I got on it was sooooo comfy I didn't want to get off for a mear thing like Malaga being as tight as a drum!

Yep, that's Moon with anything new. She can arch her back in a most impressive fashion!!!!!

I have emailed 'Libby' regarding possibly looking at manufacturing a driving/ riding harness for mules in the uk( I am hoping it could be used combined so that you would only need one harness to do both riding and driving?... and the response i got was fairly favourable... Although they are busy with shows etc over the summer come autumn time they would be happy to look at designs and research etc.... What do you guys think??

I believe they would be interested on your thoughts and ideas, photos and problems with excisting tack so let rip, its a perfect time for muley input in the uk and to give our beasties a bit of tailor made confort and us less likelihood of a flying landing each time we have to source and try new products!!! .......

I'd be prepared to buy breeching from Libbys her tacks great and very comfy as I bet she'd use Neo...whatever its called on the breeching.

http://www.buttecreekoutfitters.com/horsemuletack.html
Is this of any use to you Elkay scroll down to Crupper/Breeching Adapter? Theres another type here
http://www.longridersgear.com/catalog/i ... ath=79_115