After 4 dressage saddles I'm giving up!

flying solo

flying solo

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Sorry mini rant coming.......

Having a fat pony with a short back is a nightmare! We've now purchased 4 different saddles online (saddle fitter would fit it before being ridden in, he just doesn't stock them) and I've some how ended up with a gorgeous brown leather one which is narrow-medium!! Not medium-wide as stated on the advert!! Guess I'm stuck in my wintec forever :-(

Ho hum back to the drawing board......
 
Hello stranger! How's S? I'm looking for one at the minute, it's difficult because the seat can only be 16.5" maximum. I'm bidding on a couple on eBay at the moment and if none of these fit I'm going to look into getting a M2M. I need some recommendations as it's not something I have thought about till now.
 
I have the same problem, I currently have a borrowed close contact saddle that has a 17" seat but has a much shorter 16.5" panel. We are confident she will take a 17" panel so it is just going to be a case of going MTM for her. I have been looking at the heritage dressage saddles for her but I am also interested in the Thorowgood T8 Cob dressage that we think might do her... i am biding my time though she is only 4 and we have a loan of the above mentioned saddle for as long as we need.
 
flying solo said:
Hello stranger! How's S? I'm looking for one at the minute, it's difficult because the seat can only be 16.5" maximum. I'm bidding on a couple on eBay at the moment and if none of these fit I'm going to look into getting a M2M. I need some recommendations as it's not something I have thought about till now.
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He's fabby. Seems to love his new digs and we're out to parties a bit early this season (at SNEC yesterday, Cousland this coming weekend).

I have never tried these, but would be tempted to look in to a treeless saddle ? I may be wrong in saying this but i think you might get away with a slightly larger seat without the tree? Won't be cheap, but perhaps especially with a young horse that will be still changing shape that it might be a good investment?

If you do go M2M, I would def check Ideal. A friend had one fitted to her horse who is 15.1, XXXW (not fat, but a very broad backed stallion), very short coupled with a massive shoulder, and a very tall (5'10) rider. They used parts of one saddle with parts of another, cost her something like £1000-£1500 (which is cheaper than a new quality treeless, I think).

So are you looking to specifically do dressage with T or are you just fancying a deeper seat or to free up the shoulder? You might find it easier finding him a WH saddle to suit - they tend to be more of a flat seat but will free the shoulder. Still straight enough cut to do dressage and look the part.
 
Yeah i heard you ans lindsay had moved to karens! You where at the old place for years.

Not looking to do dressage, just have a better seat I've always hated the feeling my current saddle gives me, almost feel perched on top of him if that makes sense? It's my birthday in two weeks hopefully if I speak nicely to OH he'll get me a M2M he's fed up waiting on saddles to arrive off the Internet ;-) x
 
flying solo said:
Hello stranger! How's S? I'm looking for one at the minute, it's difficult because the seat can only be 16.5" maximum. I'm bidding on a couple on eBay at the moment and if none of these fit I'm going to look into getting a M2M. I need some recommendations as it's not something I have thought about till now.
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I'd never recommend M2M unless your really have to - buying from stock is always best if you can - and you have loads of options in between buying off ebay and having a custom made saddle. I fit ponies mostly so I work with smaller seated dressage saddles quite often. You might even find that with the right brand (ours are pretty short panelled) you'd be able to get a 17" to work. I fit for Native Pony and Phoenix saddles but there are other bench made saddle companies that may have something to offer. Just find a good fitter that stocks makes that might work - obviously without knowing more about the shape of your horse it's hard to comment further.
 
It's difficult to describe him, he's not fat.... Just a cob! Little bit of a flat back but with a wither. My saddle fitter doesn't have much stock in his size and I've yet to have faith in a few others in the area after seeing their handy work. I'll have a look in to the two saddles you mentioned sbloom thank you x
 
If your Wintec fits him well why not go for a Bates Caprilli with adjustable gullets. I got a nice one from ebay a few months back and totally love it:)
 
Can you not get a good fitter out? Otherwise you're still in a crap shoot - even if saddles are described correctly how are you deciding whether they will fit or not?
 
Sbloom- I can tell roughly if it fits or not then I phone the saddler who then comes to confirm. I don't ride in saddles that haven't been checked before hand and I have both ponies checked every 3-4 months depending on weight gain or loss.
 
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