any ideas for a pooch saddle?

[Edurne]

I don't usually take my dogs with me, but riding with my paso friend who goes no faster than a walk, I was able to take the pooches. Did have to carry Zuri across the deep and fast stream, so it was a first for her and a first for Primero.
http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/Edurne_2006/IMG_0846_1.jpg

[Jasfino]

Awww.. what a sweet picture! Primero looks like a sweetheart of a horse. You need to send that in to pfhw. :D

[ErinC]

where are your eyes???

nice to see you again!
missed ya!

great picture.

[cowboy ed]

my cousin shorty has an australian cattle dog that jumps up and rides behind the saddle. he can curl up and lie there. shorty rides a spotted saddle horse. :smile:

[Linda Y]

Way back when I wasn't worried about cars killing us, I would take my Sheltie, Trace, with me when I rode. I had him where if the traffic got worrisome, or some other thing threatened, I could call him and he would come put his paws on the stirrup. I would then reach down and grab the scruff of his neck and pull him in to the saddle with me. The Springer Spaniel I had after Trace passed would do anything to go ride with me. But he was a heavier dog and couldn't be lifted to the saddle. So, I taught him 'get out of the road' and he would get on the side of the horse that was away from the road. Man, I miss those dogs. Miss being able to ride like that more. :( Thanks for sharing the memory.

[CarolU]

I used to have a dog "Chub" that was a little sawed off thing, no idea what she really was, I found her on the highway -- anyway, she would ride with me all the time. She would jump up to my stirrup and I'd catch her and put her on the horse.

You can tie a piece of heavy canvas on the back of your saddle over the rump to serve as a grippy surface for them to ride back there. Or you can ride with them in front like you are doing. There is also a back-pack kind of thing called "Pack-a-Pet" that you can buy. But your dog looks pretty big for that.

Cute...nice to see you OUT riding!

[Terry Wallace]

Not a saddle per say...but a doggie "front pack"...like a back pack you wear, but the little dog goes in the front of you... I have seen them for sale but now I don't remember WHERE...Pets mart maybe...

I need one for my Yorkie... although, on most BLM & forest trails here....dogs are not allowed....

[CarolU]

Here is one,

http://www.hammacher.com/publish/73503.asp?source=google&keyword=pet+backpack&cm_ven=NewGate&cm_cat=Google&cm_pla=GiftPreview06&cm_ite=pet+backpack&OVMTC=Broad&site=&creative=753281241&OVKEY=pet%20backpack

But, I have one my MIL bought me for my cat. Mine is nylon and not so fancy..and not so expensive either! LOL

[pnalley]

Ed,
Does Shorty live out toward Covington GA? And is he a member of Rockdale Trailblazers? Does he or did he sell OrthoFlex Saddles at one time?

There just can't be 2 Shorty's that meet that description, can there???

[AliceG]

I've seen people rig up those little soft doggie carriers to their saddles.

We had a poodle, Diesel, who would whine and beg to get a ride with my daughter, Jessica, on her POA, Barney. This photo is 22 yrs old, and Jessica (who is in the Coast Guard) would have a cow if she saw this posted! Maybe I'll have to tell her about it and make her day!
At the same boarding barn, there was a woman who taught her dog to ride on her mule's back on a bareback pad. Then she taught them to go over small jumps.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v207/pasoblonde/07-20-2006061800PM.jpg

[Beth Worden]

OMG AliceG - I LOVE that photo!

Whatever you decide please don't use a back pack kind of deal to ride with your dog. I know someone with a toy poodle that fell off (horse shied)and her little dog attached to her back did not make it. I guess a front pack might work, but I make the beagles run - even the 11 incher. I will call the little one up if "mean" dogs scare her, but just long enought to get past the bad guys.

[CarolU]

You know those second seats they have for kids to ride behind you? Those would work.

[pasolucy]

I have a 9 pound Pom that rides everywhere with us. I have made him a perch in back of the saddle and he has a harness on that is hooked to the saddle. He goes all day, if we are camping several days in a row. He will let you know when he wants down and when he wants back up. If I knew for sure how to post pictures I would try to post but we are have puter problems anyway and it probably would not work. Everyone around here recongnizes me because of the dog. Oh, you are the one with the little dog riding behind you is what I hear all of the time.

[Barbwire]

I love the pictures posted here, so very cute! :D I am not a big fan of dogs on the trail, but if everybody had little ones they carried, I would not mind them one bit.

[Beth Worden]

I LOVE dogs on the trail - If people would train their horses (and dogs), dogs would not be a problem. I DO however, dislike idiots on the trail, but, hey - it's a free country.

[cowboy ed]

yes, paula, that's the same shorty. he still sells saddles, and still has the dog.

[pnalley]

Shorty is the one we bought my husbands ortho flex from. We trailered our horses out to a huge farm in Covington, and he got to test ride it on his big App gelding.

Wow, it really is a small world.

[motorgypsy]

AWWWWW - great pictures!!!!

A friend uses a regular "broken arm" sling for her poodle. I would think it would need an additional strap to stabilize it though.

[Edurne]

Thanks for the kind comments, and Motor Gypsies that is an excellent suggestion. I used to carry my baby around in a sling type carrier and it worked wonderfully, I think the sling would stabalize Zuri quite well.
Yes Primero is the sweetest, smiliest happy grunting pony 95% of the time, as long as I ride him on a nearly daily basis, otherwise he is wild pony, bucking and spinning and opinionated to boot. Was happy that Primero accepted it so well, only two years ago he would freak if there was a dog in sight.
http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/Edurne_2006/IMG_0848_1.jpg
But look at this well dressed pooch seen outside a local gas station.
http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/Edurne_2006/IMG_0715_1.jpg

[ErinC]

how did they do that?
it looks like a stuffed animal face, but a real dog???
:?:

[Edurne]

I promise..... a breathing real live doggie.

[PattiB]

This is my Shitzu/terrier Chance. She was 12 years old at this time, she has been riding in the front of the saddle since she was a puppy, it makes her feel like a big dog. She is blind and deaf now so she doesn't ride anymore. :(
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i86/pblichmann/chanceride.jpg
I used a Wintec saddle, the material gave her a non slip traction.

[Minouri]

I love the photos of the dogs on the horses! Makes me really want to take mine.

With dogs as little as I have it would be easy to make a pouch...but I've often worried about the escape factor if the horse rolled. I like the idea of the dog being able to jump off if he needed to.

Crazy question.....but are the dogs ok with speed?

[TrueStepPaso]

Ruth...I think if you took it slow, they would become fine with it...much like our dogs are ok with going 100mph on the little (and big) boats in the ocean. Its weird at first, but then they love it! We even had one dog that you had to spell "boat" around, and the few times he got loose, he swam all the way out of the bay after my father! Thank gawd, my dad spotted us on the lawn frantically waving to him to go back for Max... :roll:

PLus, I wouldn't worry about rolling - horses don't want to fall even more than us, so the probability of that happening is extremely slim. If you stick to level areas, and familiar ground with Snowy & Scooter, then your golden.


I think these pics are wonderful!!! And, Pasolucy...PLEASE try and post your pup on board - I would absolutely LOVE to see a pic!!! PLus, I really like your way of securing your pooch...

I can't wait to start introducing my pup to riding...