Advice on dutch wb please

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caramac1988

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Ok so new horse is 16.1hh 4yr old potential bsja horse when talking to a saddle fitter today about getting a jumping saddle it was as if he was trying to put me off because she's a wb she's got a lot more growing to do I mean I know she's gona fill out but will she be huge? And what kind of work load do you do on a 4yr old like maximum ? Worried I do to much with her but I'm not jumping anything huge about 2ft just now it's just she has a massive jump like jumps a good 3ft over the jump :s xx
 
She will be changing her body shape as she gets older and fitter and he's a wise man he could have taken your money and you would be going back to hime next year and the year after for either nrew saddles. Listen to his advice, it's his livelyhood to make the right decisions and at 16.1hh at 4 she still has a lot more growing to do.
 
Well, my 5.5yo DWB is still growing (was a shade under 16.2 in Jan, now a little over 16.3 and just gone bum high again), and she has a stack of filling out to do still, so I'd be wary about spending a lot on a saddle if I were you - better to get something that fits well now and then get the jumping saddle once she's finished growing
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Yes, your saddle fitter is correct. Warmbloods do take longer to mature and often dont stop growing untill they are 6 or 7. One large WB I had didn't develop withers untill he was 6!

A 4 year old is still a baby and you certainly don't want to be doing too much with her for a while yet especially if you want your horse too last. You might be better off getting a good second hand GP saddle for now and see how things go but IMO the jumping you do with your horse at this stage should be just training and fun stuff.
 
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Ok so new horse is 16.1hh 4yr old potential bsja horse when talking to a saddle fitter today about getting a jumping saddle it was as if he was trying to put me off because she's a wb she's got a lot more growing to do I mean I know she's gona fill out but will she be huge? And what kind of work load do you do on a 4yr old like maximum ? Worried I do to much with her but I'm not jumping anything huge about 2ft just now it's just she has a massive jump like jumps a good 3ft over the jump :s xx

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Point one - that is a GREAT saddle fitter and you should stick with him!!! he didn;t just take your money and know that he would be back to sell you another one in six months time.

My Dutch Warmblood by Grand Prix SJ Opan looked like a 3/4 TB when I bought him at 4 and at 7 he is more like the build of a 3/4 draft. His chest is 6 inches wider between the front legs than it was at 4. He has grown an inch and a half and hasn't stopped yet. If I hadn't had WOW saddles he'd have had four saddle changes by now.
 
Ditto the above. I have just bought mine her first saddle that has been fitted to her, because she has changed shape so many times and at the age of 9 she has only just outgrown that gawky youngster look. I have been borrowing saddles and using saddles I bought for previous horses until now. She may not have had her own saddle but she had a large collection of other people's for a while!
 
My KWPN is 4.5 years old and I've only had him 4 months and he grew out of his first saddle I bought him after about 7 weeks!! (The grass was loads better and he had a much bigger field!)
Looking back at the photos I took of him when he arrived and looking at him now, he is SO much wider already! (Not fatter!)
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He's about 15.2/15.3 but has yet to shoot a wither and is bum high. My saddler has been fab. They lent me a saddle to borrow as he was obviously still going through a massive growth spurt (brand new dressage - no charges) and has now found me a fab little GP (shop soiled so 20% off but basically brand new and only a little bit more expensive than my original one) and will buy back my first saddle I got from her for the price I paid
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They knew I wanted a GP as he needs to have an all round education and I won't be doing anything that really requires a proper jumping/ dressage saddle for a good few years yet. (I am hoping he will be able to go on to do advanced-medium level dressage and Novice eventing, so not just hacking.) Could have sold me 2 very nice expensive saddles (I love shopping even though I can't afford it!
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) but instead, has sold me a relatively inexpensive GP which has lots of options for adjustment as he grows.
Consequently, I will be returning to them when I do want to buy a nice posh dressage saddle....*ssshh......don't tell OH*
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I really must take some measurements of him to see how much he is actually growing........although I don't really want to know how tall he is....I'm only little (5'1'') and only set out to buy something about 15h (he was advertised as 15h, but wasn't!, but after I rode him I fell in love and had to buy!)
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