Advice on first pony saddle for a loan pony please

P

PONYPC

Well-Known Member
Joined
18 February 2012
Messages
62
Visit site
We have just taken on loan a 12 2 pony at a livery yard in South Herts. Our daughter is a small eight year old and has problems kicking past the saddle flaps as her feet do not reach below or to the side of them. We have seen a few saddlers advertised in Herts, although some seem to have both new and second hand general purpose saddles from 500 pounds up and we are unsure whether the second hand ones would have smaller flaps to accommodation our daughters legs. Someone recommended we get a synthetic saddle as our daughter may find it easier to pass her controls on to the pony. She does seem to lack less control on this pony, than her last one whos saddle had smaller flaps although we understand they have to grow their bond. I guess it could be a costly mistake getting the wrong saddle, but feel it only fair to both rider and pony to get the right one, any advice or recommendations would be very welcome, may thanks J :)
 
I know some children who at that age, are still using a cub saddle, they are under £100, or a thorowgood pony saddle, which I use on my mare, which has very short flaps. This is also inexpensive.
 
Ditto the Thorowgoods pony saddle. Lovely well-designed saddles for the pony and they come in short flaps and standard flap lenghts. They also have adjustable gullets so more likely to fit (although not guarenteed as the panels and tree still have to suit). They come up regularly second hand and also have a fairly high resale value if you sell on later.
 
Pony pad. Mines 7 with long legs so flaps not a problem but I think ponypads are good for their seat at that age. Mine gallops & jumps in one without probs. Failing that the thorowgood ones are usually quite good. But if she's small take extra care, mines tall but thin & I find the seats on a lot of 15" saddles are too big for her so she slides down with inches between her & the pommel, even though the saddle fits pony & a bigger child. So make sure you check if its a 15", 14" ones are harder to come by. Or ask owner if you can have shorter flaps made for current saddle if its otherwise a good fit.
 
My 3 year old has an 11.2hh Welsh.
When younger she had a cub saddle but now has a thorogood pc saddle.
Her legs don't reach past the flaps but pony responds.
He is an excellent pony.
But I like the synthetic, being lighter and easy to care for.
 
Many thanks for your replies, Thorrowood seem to be updating their saddles, although Wintec seems a good alternative:)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top