mulesuk

Anyone out there using a treeless saddle[Torsion style or similar] who has difficulty with it going forward in steep terrain despite a crupper?
We have not found a treed saddle which will stay put even with a double girth but found our trekker saddles are very comfortable for rider and mule[they have a gullet clearance built in rather than relying in a to provide the clearance across the spine]
They seem to stay in place with a 2nd girth rigged like a western saddle.
We use the normal dressage type v-girthing ,in addition to this a surcingle type broad strap[Equestrian webbing,7in wide,doubled in a v-shape is passed over the saddle,under the removable seat cover and fixed in place with velcro.
This system is described in the army manual to prevent girth galling and to prevent the trooper sadle from riding ionto the shoulder.
Sewn onto the webbing are 2 girthstraps either side [they come down just behind the riders thigh]so I can use a second girth to go just behind the widest part of the mules belly,it is very important to use a connector strap between the girths so it does not slip back and turns into a bucking strap!
Equally it is important to place it far enough back so it does not slip forward and join the front girth.
The girths are both tightened equally,this seems to be tolerated well if done gradually.
I will try and post a picture once I can get one as days are so short and not much riding gets done.

Deffinately need a picture!
I used double girths with Sarah-lee's Trooper but added breeching just in case (The first fun ride I did her saddle started to undress itself over her neck Luckily being a sensible Hinny she just positioned herself sideways on the hill and told me to get off and sort things out! )
At present Malaga just has this rig up but we haven't done hills yet!

Photos....

Sarah-lees back girth was slightly further back than that,but that is further back than most riders have them.
I copied the way the donkeys were tacked at the Gypsy fairs and Dave has a good picture on his site.I could ride Sarah-lee in a loose girth when I got the set up right.
I found this the other day
http://www.muleinfo.com/ go to saddles and click on Saddle Fit by Marlene Malcher,she actually advocates the further back cynch