Am i a complete plonker when it comes to saddles?!

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ellieplatt

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Basicly i've just got my new boy, and I need to buy tack ect, but what inch should i be looking at? I was told it was based on your weight? Is this correct? I'm around 8 and half stone, (size 8) not amazingly tall around 5'6. He's a TB 16.1hh, fairly high whithered, so a narrow fit.

I'm planning on getting something of the net, then getting the local saddler out to fit it properly, but i just need an idea of what to look at. I'm looking for a jumping saddle and seen a few I really like, but i'm just unsure on the inches ...

Help please :(
 
It has nothing to do with your weight. It is to do with your size - ie height, length of leg and bum size. I am 6ft, so I have an 18 inch saddle. I choose a saddle with long saddle flaps too - they can vary. The width fitting will depend on your horses dimensions. You sound like you need to find a good saddler to bring out a selection of saddles for you to try. It is important it fits you AND the horse.
 
Hi - i was told it was based on your height, weight etc, but its also to do with you leg length etc.
I would get a saddler in to look at your horse (and you) and give you advice on what would be correct. It would be a right pain to buy something on the net and then it be completely wrong and you are left with it.
I am 5'2" and 8 stone. My horse is a 15'2 ISH/ID. Currently have a 17" saddle, but was advised could do with a 16.5" as i am small build and it would help my bum/leg stick to the saddle.
Anything under 17" i was told was considered a pony saddle, but not sure if this is true.
I cannot recommend enough getting a professional out to help you at the start. I know it means paying for the visit twice, but def money worth spending!
Good Luck
 
I'm around the same size as you and I ride in a 17" fine. I'd get your saddler to come out and measure your horse so they can recommend saddles to you. He's not necessarily a narrow fit just because he's a TB and high-withered.

There's a website called saddles direct where you can take several second hand saddles on trial before you buy. I did this and got my fitter out at the same time so he could fit the most suitable one for me.
 
Since most saddles aren't adjustable for the horses fit and even those that are have their limitations.
You should get your saddler out first to find out what will fit your horse. It's quite possible that he has high withers but could still be a medium or even a wide fit.
The inches part relates to both you and the horse, depends on your size, how long the horses back is in proportion to the rest of it and also the style/manufacture of the saddle.
So saddler first then go from there.
The wrong fit of saddle can ruin your horse completely.
 
Hello!

Thanks for all the replies everyone, I honestly had no idea about saddles, i've always had a horse that come's with all the tack ect and now and again if everyone was sharing a visit from the saddler i'd get him to have a check over ect and always told me everything was fine.

But i will deffinately get a saddler out now, thank you everyone!
 
i would suggest that you get the saddle fitter out to bring you various saddles to try before you buy one online, the one i use would bring a van full and only a handfull will fit the horse and usually only 1 or 2 of thease will fit me,
 
Just a word of warning, any decent saddler should arrive with a selection of saddles to try, they should look at the saddle with the horse stood up and you should get an opportunity to ride in the saddle (try walk, trot and canter on both reins to make sure you are happy, check the saddle hasn't slipped forwards or sideways, isn't too close to the withers, etc.). Ideally they should have 3-4 saddles you can try out ridden, unless your horse is a really, really unsual shape. Take your time, the whole process takes a long while but it is worth it. The saddler should then take an imprint of your horse's back to record the shape he was when he fitted the saddle and offer to come back in 3-6 months if you buy a new saddle to re-check the flocking. Many modern types of saddles have an adjustable tree nowadays which is well worth the investment as most horses change shape all the time.

Good luck, saddles are a nightmare!
 
I am 5 ft 4 and weigh nearly 9 stone. I don't have very long legs and I have had a 17" saddle for the past 20 years. I have a 17.5 which fits hippo shaped cob very well but it does feel a little big for me, probably because I am used so used to the 17". If you have long legs then you will probably need a 17.5 but I suppose it depends on the saddle style/fit.
 
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