FAQ's for Saddles & Bareback Pads

GHOST SADDLE FAQ'S

What Ghost Sizes are Available?

Ghost Offers 3 sizes -
Standard Size 2 - for riders from ladies NZ pant size 12 - 16. Similar to an 18.25" English Saddle
Piccolo Size 1 - for riders up to ladies pant size 12. Similar to a 17" English Saddle.
Bambini Size 0 - child size or very small adults. Similar to a 16.5" English Saddle.
Bambini shown in picture above with pommel and cantle shims under seat to decrease seat size even more.

Ghost Basic Measurements

For all measurements please see the link here
Base Panel Measurements:
Standard - 58cm
Piccolo - 53cm
Bambini - 51cm
Seat Measurements:
Standard - 36cm
Piccolo - 31cm
Bambini - 29cm

Do Ghost Saddles Have a Weight Limit? 

Yes, Ghost Saddles recommend a maximum weight limit of 80 - 85 kg. If you weigh a little more, and are a balanced rider on a well built horse, do still get in touch and we will see what we can do to make Ghost work for you.

Do Ghost Saddles Fit Every Horse?

While we believe that no saddle will fit every horse, the Ghost saddle is one of the most versatile and adjustable saddles that fit a wide range of horses. Wide horses are a specialty for Ghost, but Ghost can also work to provide clearance for higher withered horses (see below for more info) Feel free to get in touch with us to see if you and your horse may be suitable.

Do Ghost Saddles Work for High Withered Horses?

While the earlier Ghost saddles we feel were not so suited to high withered horses in NZ, with the continual improvements Ghost have made, especially to the base and base panels, the latest Ghost saddles are working very well for high withered horses. Of course it all depends on your horses individual confirmation, the rider, and riding style, but if you have a horse with high withers, and are interested in Ghost, do get in touch, send some pictures and we can help advise if the Ghost saddle could work for you both! 

Do Ghost Saddles Need a Special Saddle Pad/Blanket/Numnah?

Yes, we recommend a quality treeless saddle pad to go underneath your Ghost Saddle. Depending on your horses confirmation and choice of base panels, you may get away with a thinner pad or sometimes no inserts in your treeless pad. this will be advised by your dealer. Ghost make awesome pads at a great price.

What Size Girth Do I Need?

Please make sure your Girth is long enough! The girth should sit about one - two hands width (depends on the size of your hands!) above your horses elbows, or about 2 - 3 inches below the saddle skirt which is where the girth guard should sit when fully girthed up.  Remember girths are also measured buckle to buckle, not end to end, so do allow a little bit extra.

For Ghost Saddles & Bareback Pads we use a dressage girth, so when converting from a regular girth subtract 20 inches, so if you usually use a 48 inch, for a dressage girth you will use a 28 inch.

When a girth is too short and lower than what is stated above, the horses Elbow and/or Triceps can rub on the buckles which will cause quite a lot of discomfort. 

Do Ghost Saddles Offer a Clear Spine Channel?

Thanks to the base panels which attach via industrial strength velcro to the bottom of the Ghost base, Ghost offers excellent spinal clearance. The base panels are filled with high quality foams which are crafted with 3 layers to offer the best shock absorption and back protection. Comprising of a thin layer of formo (a stiff white/grey material) a layer of 2 or 2.5 cm blue foam with excellent weight distribution and response-time properties (which remain at all operation temps) and a single layer of a softer, shape-forming black foam, the Ghost panels can also be positioned to provide the correct gullet width for your horse.

Do Ghost Saddles Spread the Riders Weight Effectively?

Ghost Saddles do a very good job of spreading the riders weight, and have shown excellent pressure distributing properties in pressure reading scans. The base, the core of your GHOST saddle is made from layers of strong and flexible material. The Ghost base is flexible where needed, but semi-rigid in the right places to keep a narrow twist for the rider, distribute weight where the horse is able to carry weight, and provide a structured pommel lifted over the horse's withers. The stirrup bars and girthing system are built into this base. The V-rigging effectively distributes the forces from girths and stirrups across the entire base. There is no pressure across the spine.
The Base is made from:
  • Micropell (synthetic leather)
  • Montecchio (fabric from Nylon and Polyurethane)
  • Carbon fibre and kevlar (think bullet proof vests) with reinforcements around the stirrup bars and rigging
  • Biothane Granite (belting)

The velcro on Panels contain several layers of shock absorbing material. One of those layers is fairly rigid, and helps further distribute the rider's weight along the entire length of the panel.

Do Treeless Saddles Slip & Slide?

Some certainly can. As a result of the design of the structural base used in the Ghost saddle, the Ghost saddle is typically very stable side-to-side as well as front-to-back on most horses. Of course there can always be exceptions.

Some dealers recommend riding with a breast-collar for added security, especially on steep hills. They are many ways to help prevent saddle slipping, your dealer will assist you in fitting your saddle properly :-)

BAREBACK PAD OR FUR SADDLE FAQ'S

Can I Use Stirrups With These Bareback Pads?

All Ghost - Cavallin bareback pads do have the ability to add stirrups, though we recommend light stirrup use only - please note bareback pads are used for a bareback riding experience rather than used for extensive riding activities, where more pressure is put in the stirrups. The stirrup rings are for alignment and rider balance. They do not provide the additional security afforded by treeless saddles for lots of stirrup heavy use. 

What Cavallin Bareback Pad Sizes (Mandriana & Toscana) Are Available?

The Cavallin Pads come in 3 Sizes:
  • Standard Size 2 - for riders up to size 16 (NZ ladies pant size)
  • Piccolo Size 1 - for riders up to size 12 (NZ ladies pant size)
  • Bambini Size 0 - for children