Advice on saddles

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flips

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East Sussex
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I've got a 16hh 4 yo very very skinny TB. He's very recently off the track and has no topline and is quite poor condition. I am in the process of getting weight on him but would like to ride him as well.

The problem is I tried several saddles on him today and even with pads etc he was obviously not comfortable.

I am going to get a saddler out - any recommendations for the East Sussex area? but he is hopefully going to change shape quite quickly and I was wondering what you would do?

Is there a good saddle for this kind of situation or am I going to have to bite the bullet and simply have his saddle re-fitted/ changed regularly?

Hot chocolate with mini marshmallows for getting this far
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Hi Flips
I had this problem with an ex racer too. I looked and looked for a leather saddle but could not find one to fit. I am not a fan of synthetic saddles but in desperation I tried a Thorowgood T4 3D High Wither and it fits him like a glove and it is also 'suprisingly' comfortable for me!
The T4 3D Version is good as it has the interchangeable gullets and also the fish inserts so you can keep changing the saddle to fit them as they change shape.
 
Had same problem last year and bought bates saddle with changeable gullet.Shes put on loads of weight and condition and I have changed to medium /wide.I will be having fitter out soon to see if another saddle I had for old horse will fit , bates are good for reselling.
 
DON'T get a saddle that will fit later but not now, hell, what are you on about?!
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I agree with the Thorowgood suggestion above, or they make a range of leather saddles if you prefer. It doesn't matter what sort of saddle you go for, they must always be checked, reflocked on a regular basis, at least yearly. Your horse could probably do with it checking every three months for the first year.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I've got a 16hh 4 yo very very skinny TB. He's very recently off the track and has no topline and is quite poor condition. I am in the process of getting weight on him but would like to ride him as well.



[/ QUOTE ]

I wouldnt be ridng him at all in this condition.

I would spend the next 4-6 weeks feeding him and letting him chill out a bit (he's only 4) and then I would start lunging/long reining to build up his topline. Only when he got to a stage where he actually had some muscle and fat to sit on would I actually get a saddler out to try a range of saddles to see what fit best.
 
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