And... Saddles for *short* backed ponies

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Eceni

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So - to keep this apart from the Kay Humphries thread

I think pretty soon I'll be looking for another saddle (again)

Pony is very short-backed - takes a 5'3" - 5'6" rug. she's 13.2 and fairly round, tho' has a wither (Welsh C)

I'm 5'1" and weigh 8.5 stone, so fairly short, but not too huge an arse.

I want to school, hack, do TREC - but I've always ridden in dressage saddles since I was a kid and want to maintain a true ear/hip/heel alignment as per classical riding. I *loathe* GP saddles.

anyone know anything that might fit the bill - and which I can get in South SHropshire?

ta

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I've just got an Ideal VSD in a highland & cob shape. It would be perfect for hacking and le trec, and is fairly forward cut in the flaps.
It's designed for the rounder, flatter horse and because the seat is fairly flat it's meant I've been able to go from a 18" to a 17.5" without noticing the difference. Mines got long girth straps but i think they do them with short as well.

Not sure on stockists in shropshire though...

The other shape that would probably suit you is a WH-type saddle. I've got an ancient Heritage saddle, and my saddler refused to let me waste my money on a dressage saddle as he thinks my WH will give me just as good a position as it's quite deep seated compared to the Ideal.

The DH samber saddle is a decent, not too expensive WH type saddle to give you some idea. I've done Le trec on it with my other horse, and it's one of the comfiest saddles I've sat on.
 
Well, I have a 14.3hh cob, very short backed, and two Wintecs, a dressage 500 17.5" which a saddler once told me was more of a WH cut, and a Wintec wide 17". The wide has more knee roll, but you can still ride long in it - it may suit you, and it should be the right width for your pony. I had long straps put on it, and had them fitted at the point and at the back, so it's more anchored. The wide has four short girth straps, again I use the first and last straps as the riding where I live is very hilly.
Pic of the dressage saddle
LucyHarley-1.jpg

And pic of the wide on the same horse, although not a good pic it should give you idea of leg position.
DSC00486-2.jpg


Out of the two I prefer the dressage, as I too like the classical seat, I get backache from a GP, although I don't suffer with the Wide.
 
Thank you..... I'm not sure there's a right shape of tree for her - but it can't be impossible. Found myself seriously thinking of Heather Moffat and treeless which was a scary concept.

will have a look at native pony saddles...

thanks

E
 
The only 2 saddles which my short backed horse didnt buck me off in (!) was a Kings GP / Event saddle and a Wintec 500 Dressage one. I tried others with my saddler like Bates etc. and he chucked me off pretty quickly!!
 
She doesnt sound impossible to fit - at least she has a wither. Round ponies with no wither are the nightmare ...

Being short backed isnt a problem fitting her - it is whether or not you fit in the saddle and that your weight is evenly distributed.

I think the native pony saddles are pretty expensive but think you can get them second hand - also the leather and quality is good so worth the money.
 
sounds very similar to my pony (13.1, 5'3 rug although she is big shouldered with no wither) i have got a WH verona saddle company saddle from www.bettersaddles.co.uk
they did a 16.5 seat which is pushing it a little bit on her back but i can just about get away with it, and adult flaps so my leg fits a little better.
its not the most comfortable in the world for me but its incredibly light which i wanted for her. I'm not sure if they do dressage versions i know they do WH & GP so im sure they do
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a couple of pics but hard to see what it looks like with my fat arse in it !!
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http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d173/vicki1986/Hunting/n516220160_2055563_5915.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d173/vicki1986/Hunting/untitled4.jpg
 
You can get the 16.5 in a dressage. There are two versions - the pony and adult version. The seat is the same (16.5") but the seat is actually wider on the adult version.
 
I'm in a similar situation though myself and pony are slightly bigger - me in particular
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I currently ride in a 17" Jeffries Stamford WH but pony is changing shape and it looks like his current medium fit is too tight (actually waiting for saddler to call as I type). Also, my instructor thinks my flatwork would improve considerably with a dressage saddle so I'm trying to work out what to do at the moment.

Someone has pointed out the Jeffries Bramham Junior GP out to me http://www.ejeffries.co.uk/saddles/Jeffries-Braham-J-GP.html though classed as a GP might be suitable??

PM me if you want to have a look at my WH - don't think I'm that far from you
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My sisters sec C is very similar to yours - she's 13.1hh and has a very short back - and she has a saddle company saddle with a 15" seat (which luckily sister is slim enough to fit into!) which fits her beautifully. This is a pony who had a lot of issues when we bought her some obviously due to a poorly fitting saddle in the past but she seems very happy in this one. Not sure if this is any help to you (your signature indicates you've tried one and not liked it!) but thought I'd share my experiences as they sound very similarly shaped ponies!
 
I have found SC saddles fit welshes very well - but I think it all depends on the fitter as well. I think Eceni said that she had tried every adjustment and still wasnt happy with it.

Some horses do take a bit of time to fit. One of mine was easy - took template, adjusted saddle, put it on and it was perfect. The other one was a nightmare. Took template, adjusted saddle, put on did not feel right. Take off - same procedure. It actually took me about 3 weeks to get the fit right, because the flocking needed to bed down more in his and as it kept bedding down further, the saddle sat differently. Got there in the end, but thankfully I am a SC fitter otherwise I would have gone nuts calling the saddler out every week!
 
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thankfully I am a SC fitter otherwise I would have gone nuts calling the saddler out every week!

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YOu wouldn't like to come to Shropshire, I suppose? For - say- three weeks, or so?

thought not....

thanks to all for their advice... will follow up - the 17" Wh will be way too big, but thank you to CHUMSMUM for the offer.

I'll have a look at the Jeffries. Also looking at WOW (again - still lust after those, just a scary, scary price) and some by the Arabian Saddle Co. Also Free n Easy which seemed as if they might be good - did a search under 'Endurance' and those were the ones that came up.

will keep working on it.

glad someone's happy with SC - it may well be that if we'd persevered, it would have been OK. Think I probably scared the fitter by wanting it right.

sigh

thanks all

E
 
[ QUOTE ]

its not the most comfortable in the world for me but its incredibly light which i wanted for her. I'm not sure if they do dressage versions i know they do WH & GP so im sure they do
confused.gif

a couple of pics but hard to see what it looks like with my fat arse in it !!

[/ QUOTE ]

cracking pics
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- thank you - like the stars on her quarters...


Just called the Saddle Exchange and might well look at a 'Comfort Saddle' or a Native pony saddle from them

have heard the guy's not too good on after-care - anyone know if it's true?

E
 
I dont think you scared the fitter by wanting it right - the difficulty in fitting the saddle is when it is new and you cannot know 100% how it will bed down. If you were that bit closer to Essex I would come up just for the challenge of it!

The flocking in SC saddes is so soft, it really does act differently for each horse - for example, 1 of mine hasnt been reflocked in a year and the other one had to be adjusted after 3 months and completely reflocked after 9 months. I would say I rode in the first one a lot more, but because of the shape of the second horse the flocking acted differently - no coincidence that he was also the harder one to fit!

If you truly are not happy with the fit then I think you are right to get something else. Just be careful that the tree matches the shape of your horses back. Lots of trees are built for warmbloods and TBs and definitely do not suit natives. I find that with SC I can get them to fit both, but this is because I have different girth strap arrangements, flocking, panels etc. To a certain extent the standard model will fit any horse, but I find that I can get a better fit by adjusting parts of the saddle (as it is designed to do).

Good luck and let us know how you get on. With respect to your other question I have never used them so have no idea!

If you want to pm with the exact problem and photos of your saddle I can let you have my opinion!

By the way, are you Greek by any chance?
 
Thank you - will take some pics over the weekend when OH is finished with the camera (big day at the studio tomorrow)

and

Greek? I'm Glaswegian, living in England. Where did Greece come into it?

v confused....
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E
 
A flexible design works with short backs because the back of the saddle lifts as the horse's back moves, avoiding pressure and bridging.
A larger or taller rider can then comfortably ride a smaller horse without having to squash themselves into a seat that is too small.

Try a Solution Saddle. They do a range of conventional looking saddles that are great for showing and competing, including a straight cut model called the Freestyle.
 
short backed ponies are a nightmare, mine is 15hh with high withers, and has a 5ft9 rug, a 17inch saddle looks to me like it goes to far back, but I'm not convinced my bum would fit in anything smaller
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We've got 2 saddles, a jumping and a VSD type, think the VSD one fits him best but i find it so uncomfortable and it's VERY difficult to jump in!
 
Your username is Greek - so thought you might be as well.

Look forward to seeing the pics - if you just send a pm with pics of the horse from both sides and behind (standing as square as poss) and then with the saddle on ungirthed from all sides and also the front so I can see both sides.
 
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