ClaretCarrot
Active Member
I'm planning on getting a treeless saddle. I'm only at the research stage but i'm struggling with choice. Firstly my budget is reasonably limited, so a barefoot saddle would be pushing my budget. Definitely cant spend more. I am fussy and I dont think I could cope with second hand unless its practically new and immaculate.
I have 2 horses. 1 is a short backed 14.3 who is very round and has no wither. He has old injuries which currently limit the amount of activity I can do on him. He has a tendency to tense his back up and shorten it further but it does improve reasonably well with warming up gently for about 15m. He has been extensively vet checked, I have no aspirations for him other than to get him to lose weight and gain fitness for his health. I think a ghost quevis would suit for its lightness and shortness. I have tried using just a bareback pad but i'm not at all confident without stirrups.
The other is 15.2 with a normal wither and a normal length back. He has a weak back which he had when I bought him. He literally had a saddle mark imprinted on his back for the first 6 months. It has improved but there is still visable muscle wastage beneath where the back of the saddle sits. He has been also been vet checked and physio etc. I would like to have a saddle I can jump in. Nothing massive. 80cms would be my bravest height. I was thinking a barefoot saddle for him. A Cherokee or nottingham for the knee rolls.
What is the difference between cherokee and nottingham?
I could keep my treed saddle for competing in SJ or XC but for every day riding I want something I can pop a few jumps in without having to change saddle.
Ideally i'd like to just have to buy 1 saddle that would suit both, but I have a feeling the barefoot would be too long on the first horse, and the ghost wouldnt be ideal for jumping the second horse. Apologies for the crazy lady long post. Any advice greatly appreciated, along with any suggestions of brands I havent thought of. I wont be able to buy the 2 saddles at the same time, so my budget cant be doubled by just buying 1. It will take me many months to save up for the second one. Thank you!
I have 2 horses. 1 is a short backed 14.3 who is very round and has no wither. He has old injuries which currently limit the amount of activity I can do on him. He has a tendency to tense his back up and shorten it further but it does improve reasonably well with warming up gently for about 15m. He has been extensively vet checked, I have no aspirations for him other than to get him to lose weight and gain fitness for his health. I think a ghost quevis would suit for its lightness and shortness. I have tried using just a bareback pad but i'm not at all confident without stirrups.
The other is 15.2 with a normal wither and a normal length back. He has a weak back which he had when I bought him. He literally had a saddle mark imprinted on his back for the first 6 months. It has improved but there is still visable muscle wastage beneath where the back of the saddle sits. He has been also been vet checked and physio etc. I would like to have a saddle I can jump in. Nothing massive. 80cms would be my bravest height. I was thinking a barefoot saddle for him. A Cherokee or nottingham for the knee rolls.
What is the difference between cherokee and nottingham?
I could keep my treed saddle for competing in SJ or XC but for every day riding I want something I can pop a few jumps in without having to change saddle.
Ideally i'd like to just have to buy 1 saddle that would suit both, but I have a feeling the barefoot would be too long on the first horse, and the ghost wouldnt be ideal for jumping the second horse. Apologies for the crazy lady long post. Any advice greatly appreciated, along with any suggestions of brands I havent thought of. I wont be able to buy the 2 saddles at the same time, so my budget cant be doubled by just buying 1. It will take me many months to save up for the second one. Thank you!