Best adjustable saddles for a youngster

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Perfectpony07

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Been looking for a second hand saddle to start my youngster in, obviously looking for something adjustable with hope of it lasting us a few years. But not looking to spend a new price fortune until she’s finished growing.
I’ve looked at Arenas, wintec 500, thorowgood t8, Kent and masters. And honestly I’ve looked so much my head hurts.
Obviously be getting a saddler out to fit it, likely go with a 16.5inch to play safe as she’s only 14.1h atm.

Any experience with what works with young ones?
 
I bought a used Bates Innova that had the CAIR removed and replaced with wool. My horse also just fit that tree shape, so it worked. I upgraded after about 2-3 months but that's mostly because I wanted something different.
 
I've sat in a K&M GP and dressage and that was a no! I'd be damaged goods if I kept riding in one of those. The GP was a bit more tolerable, but still.

I do ok with Fairfax though.
 
Mines in a TG currently and that fits us well. I’ve given up with K&M. Had one for my other horse and it was a lovely saddle but not the right shape for me. Replaced with an older model in a different cut and my lord was in uncomfortable 🤣 definitely worth getting a fitter out that holds a few brands so you can find the best style for your horse though
 
I wouldnt necessarily go for an adjustable saddle for a youngster. I had that idea too and thought that would be best so I got a saddle fitter and none of the adjustable saddles would fit him.
He has an Albion K2 adjusta which can be adjusted by albion.
So I would only use a saddle that fits to be honest.
 
Definitely still one that fits. Bates/Wintec and K & M/Thorowgood come under the same respective umbrellas. Would you look at a treeless option? Again it still needs to fit but might be easy to make small adjustments with shims as needed. IF you do go down that route go for a quality brand
 
I bought a tekna saddle for mine.

It's ultra light weight, adjustable gullets and the saddler was impressed with how it sat/was made for a low cost saddle. I had the flocking adjusted a little as it bridged a little to start with and spent some money on a girth to keep it stable on the roley poley pony.. All in all I've been really impressed with it. I'll be upgrading next year when he's 6 and hopefully won't change shape to much more.
 
Equi said:
Having recently got rid of my k&m I’m prepared to say it hurt my 🌸 more than I realised. My friend sat in it once and said she didn’t know how the hell I tolerated it.
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Another one. I sat in my friends K&M for half an hour and felt it for 2 days. Pony liked it tho! More padding on the underside is more important I suppose!

My saddle fitter is independent, carries second hand stock and will buy back any saddle she has fitted -10% which is still going to be expensive if the best saddle is £1500 but at least you're not stuck with trying to sell them yourself! Definitely ask around and see what local saddle fitters have good reputations for things like this. I messed about with adjustable wintecs and "is this fine" saddle checks with the local guy everyone uses for far too long, a saddle fitted by someone excellent at her job has made a massive difference.
 
It’s really going to depend on the tree/panel type. I’ve got a really useful bates sj saddle that has gone on most of my sportier ones, but was no good for the flatter more barrel shaped one!
 
I really really sooh wish I'd known about the Total Contact Saddles when my girl was a youngster; she got through so many saddles between being a just-backed-and-riding-on 4yo and the age of about 8yo it was just crazy.

You can trial these saddles before purchase if you are in the UK; also I would recommend getting the seat that goes with them as well (my personal preference, but lots of people find they don't need it).
 
dorsetladette said:
I bought a tekna saddle for mine.

It's ultra light weight, adjustable gullets and the saddler was impressed with how it sat/was made for a low cost saddle. I had the flocking adjusted a little as it bridged a little to start with and spent some money on a girth to keep it stable on the roley poley pony.. All in all I've been really impressed with it. I'll be upgrading next year when he's 6 and hopefully won't change shape to much more.
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I bought a tekna gp, brand new for little money and when it didnt fit I sold it- on , still unused lol. It was a lovely saddle
 
I'm toying with the idea of going for a Total Contact Saddle for my lad if you are open to the treeless route?

Otherwise - if you are wanting a treed saddle - it's best to go for whatever fits your horse the best. I find adjustable saddles are very hit and miss as to what they fit, so I'd go with a saddle who's got a decent variety of brands in stock :)
 
Before the saddler came out to fit my (then) unbacked boy she asked for pictures and videos - I guess so she had an idea what to bring. I decided to go down the route of second hand saddles that I could sell on rather than trying to get one that could change shape with him.
 
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Barton Bounty said:
I bought a tekna gp, brand new for little money and when it didnt fit I sold it- on , still unused lol. It was a lovely saddle
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They are. And as mine is only a 15inch seat it has a generous length of flap (sorry I tried to think of any other word - mind in the gutter) compared to other makes of the same size.

Only down side is it is plastic so you do get a little sweaty on a hot day/long ride in certain areas (sorry it not getting any better!) and there isn't room in the seat for me and a seat saver or sheep skin.
 
dorsetladette said:
They are. And as mine is only a 15inch seat it has a generous length of flap (sorry I tried to think of any other word - mind in the gutter) compared to other makes of the same size.

Only down side is it is plastic so you do get a little sweaty on a hot day/long ride in certain areas (sorry it not getting any better!) and there isn't room in the seat for me and a seat saver or sheep skin.
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Flaps and sweaty 🤣🤣🤣

I only sat in mine once I was gutted, If Orbi hadnt grown a wither then I would have been fine lol 🤣
That remind me, I need to sell the spare gullets i have for it lol
 
Barton Bounty said:
Flaps and sweaty 🤣🤣🤣

I only sat in mine once I was gutted, If Orbi hadnt grown a wither then I would have been fine lol 🤣
That remind me, I need to sell the spare gullets i have for it lol
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They aren't easy to get hold of now as there isn't a UK distributor anymore. You won't loose money on them. When/if I sell mine I will sell as a complete set to avoid people being put off by that issue.
 
My girl was backed last year in a racing saddle and was going beautifully. Saddler then suggested T4 thorrowgood but a few months down the line it caused massive bucking episodes even going 200m down the road. She is ID x Welsh so very flat backed so it just slipped forwards!
Turned her away for last 6 months. Got on her last week for first time using a Total Contact saddle and wow, what a difference! No girthiness and walked down the road with no issues. Just ordered her one with the seat pad too! Wish I had never put the flipping thorrowgood on her now!
 
My youngsters had 'curvy' backs and I backed them in a Wintec. I like it as it is very light. One then went into an Isabel Werth dressage Wintec pretty quickly and the others into various other saddles. You can probably tell that I own too many saddles!
 
I've currently got a T4 cob thorowgood in XXW and to be honest - I've booked the saddle fitter in to trade it in. 1 bar too narrow then next too wide so been stuck in a half pad as a compromise but its too tight at the top and too loose at to bottom of the bar, so the shape is just wrong on the gullets for her. saddly this rules out thorowgood, kent and masters and fairfax as the all work on the same gullet system. Im justing going to trade in as and when she needs from now. Will be following this post for ideas, but hoping my saddle fitter will soon bring some better options along ..
 
Perfectpony07 said:
Been looking for a second hand saddle to start my youngster in, obviously looking for something adjustable with hope of it lasting us a few years. But not looking to spend a new price fortune until she’s finished growing.
I’ve looked at Arenas, wintec 500, thorowgood t8, Kent and masters. And honestly I’ve looked so much my head hurts.
Obviously be getting a saddler out to fit it, likely go with a 16.5inch to play safe as she’s only 14.1h atm.

Any experience with what works with young ones?
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Bates/ Wintec adjustables, some have wool flock, some the Cair panels, and there are range differences in the finish quality, but do find someone who knows what they are doing to get you sorted out.
16.5” should be plenty unless you’ve got a big bottom! Good luck
 
It's interesting to see various mention of the Total Contact Saddle.
That's what I plan for mine in the next month when I start backing him.

I ride my 23 yr mare in it and she goes great. I've used it for 1.5 yrs and just had physio - no issues.
 
fidleyspromise said:
It's interesting to see various mention of the Total Contact Saddle.
That's what I plan for mine in the next month when I start backing him.

I ride my 23 yr mare in it and she goes great. I've used it for 1.5 yrs and just had physio - no issues.
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I just wish mine had been backed in a TCS and I hadn’t used the adjustable Thorrowgood! 🙈🥲
 
Barton Bounty said:
I did offer the girl but she declined 😂
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I don't suppose you still have your spare gullets? I've just bought reggie a tekna saddle thinking I was clever as I have all the gullets from Robins saddle, but it turns out pony saddles have a different gullet system to normal size saddles 🤦‍♀️

So if you have the red ones I would be interested in them x
 
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