22" saddle article in H&H and vet's comment about heavy horses...

[WestCoast]

On the subject of Frieisian horses, although I'm very fond of telling people that Bree is a war horse, the modern friesian is bred as a carriage horse really. A lot of their strength is for pulling and their back is a little long for carrying real weight.

Paula

 

[Flame_]

I wonder has anyone ever ridden in, or fitted, a western saddle? They have much larger seats and very long panels that go right back over the loins, yet the horses seem to manage OK.

Yes lots of us have. Western saddles are designed so that part of the skirts extend over the loins and some of the length is taken up at the front over the shoulders. The actual seats where the, er, bulk of the riders' weight rests are really similar sizes to english style saddles. Those saddle-seat saddles are a whole other can of worms.