Question about a bareback saddle on a mule.

Susie wrote: Looking through Horse Circuit News I saw your bareback saddle. I am intrigued but need more info. I have a quarter type mule that is hard to get a saddle to fit. He is very stocky and wide with no wither. The problem I have is most saddles sneak forward and hit the points of his shoulder bones causing him to stumble. The remedy is to have the back cinch very tight which does work but seems to me would be uncomfortable although he never fusses. Not to mention mule saddles are so heavy. I mostly ride in a bareback pad. Your saddle looks like you could use a back cinch on it. Is this correct? The way it is shown in the picture the back is pulled forward to the front. Experience with this style rigging pulls the saddle forward. Also curious as to the stirrups, does this saddle fit secure enough that it doesn’t slip sideways if you use the stirrup to mount? Was always told stirrups and bareback pads are a bad combination. Note I am not a weekend warrior, I ride a lot and am adventurous. Any additional info would be very much appreciated. Thank you, Susie

Colin’s response:

Mules love my bareback saddle, as do horses. I have over 600 of them out there, and not a single sore back. But, yes, mules need a crupper or a breaching. It is part of what is necessary for that magnificent creature. There is no "bump" in the wither to stop a saddle going forward on a steep incline. All of my bareback pads have a back cinch ring to engage an independent back cinch, while also engaging the center fire rigging. More is better on a mule. A back cinch is a good idea.

And contrary to popular belief, mules or horses do not mind cruppers, or breaching. For some strange reason people THINK "THEY WOULD NOT LIKE IT." I have yet to meet a mule or a horse that did not accept a crupper or breaching after five minutes. But I have met people who cannot accept the idea for their entire lives! Go figure. With a breastplate and a crupper, or breaching, the bareback saddle will not go forward and it will not go back. And with center fire rigging it will not roll either. Center fire rigging moves the girth back off the folds that are behind the elbow of mules.. With this bareback saddle you will get an even sweat pattern and the mule will behave as it should because it will not be bothered by the load on its back. You will like this saddle too because you will feel every movement the mule makes -- and more important, he will feel every movement YOU make. You will never have ridden so close to a mule. Give me a call if you wish to talk about it.