ENDURANCE RIGGINGS VS TRAIL RIDER RIGGINGS

What are trail rider riggings?  Trail rider riggings are standard on the barrel and trail saddles.  The girth rigging is attached to a strap that connects to the front AND back of the saddle.  This is a similar effect to centerfire rigging, where the girth exerts even pressure on the front and the back of the saddle.  The stirrup straps/rings, are attached to the front of the saddle. Trail rider riggings can be placed on endurance saddles, by request.  Since that usually places the stirrup ring on top of the girth ring, you may want to move the stirrups back 1" as shown here. (Note that in the picture to the right, the stirrup was pulled back so you can see the whole set up)

What is endurance rigging?  The standard endurance girth rigging is attached to the front of the saddle.  The stirrup riggings are then attached to the front AND back of the saddle, allowing for even weight distribution when posting and riding in two point. Pictured is a 15" saddle.  NOTE:  Explanation below on stirrup ring position regarding saddles that are 15.5" and larger.

No matter which girth rigging you have on your saddle, the placement of the ring in relation to the pommel stays the same.  It falls somewhere between 7/8 and 3/4 rigging on a western saddle.

MOVE THE STIRRUPS BACK?

I am often asked if the stirrups should be moved back in an endurance saddle.  The stirrups are automatically placed further back, in a centered position.  You may prefer the stirrups to be moved even further back.  However, doing so might make you feel as if you are tipping forward. 

Refer to the pictures below, so you can see where the stirrup hangs centrally in a standard endurance saddle.  In the endurance saddle the stirrup ring is placed approx 1.5" back from the FRONT edge of the girth ring.  In seat sizes 15.5 and up, the stirrup ring is moved backward proportionately to keep the stirrups in a centered position (see the box below).  In the trail and barrel saddles, the stirrup ring is placed approx 1/2" back from the FRONT edge of the girth ring, for a more foward stirrup (Again, in larger seat sizes, 15.5" and up, the stirrup ring will be moved back to keep the same proportion). For those who ride gaited horses, or trail ride without posting or two point, the standard barrel/trail postion is perfect. When the stirrup rigging is moved back, the girth ring stays stationary.  It does not move.

(Stirrup position shown on a 15" saddle).

Keep in mind, that in LARGER seat sizes (15.5" and larger), the stirrup rings are automatically moved further BACK in order to keep the stirrup placement consistent (This is so on all BM models).  Otherwise, you would end up with stirrups far in front of you. See the pic below.  These pictures compare the stirrup rigging in a 15" endurance vs a 16.5" endurance.  You can see in the pictures to the right, that although the stirrup ring is further back in the 16.5", the stirrups still fall centered, at approximately the same point in the saddle.