Cheap saddle options for wide, flat-backed horse

[HashRouge]

I am currently quite stressed about my share horse's saddle. It is a rather old western saddle, which I refer to as "the monstrosity". It is not a great fit on him but what worries me the most is that the panels are lined with sheepskin, but due to the age of the saddle there are bits along the gullet where the leather edge pokes through and I think it's pressing into his back. I noticed a slight lump on his back the other day which I am now paranoid has been caused by the saddle, though he didn't seem bothered by me poking and prodding it. He's such a genuine boy, I hate to think that he might feel any pain when I ride him. BUT I know what his owner will say if I talk to her about it - she doesn't have the money to do anything about it. So I'm wondering about buying him something cheap and cheerful myself. Has anyone got any suggestions for a style/ make of saddle that suits a wide, flat backed horse? I'd probably be looking to pick up something cheapish on eBay then get a saddle fitter to come and check it - something with an adjustable gullet would be ideal. Or possibly a treeless, if anyone has any decent recommendations. I only hack him 3-4 times a week.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

How wide is wide? And how cheap is cheap? Wintec makes a wide saddle, and they're generally flat, and cheap. I can't stand riding in a Wintec, but others have no problem with them!

 

[TPO]

If you contact Jennifer Sheerin via Western Tack Trader on FB she will help me then fit of the western.

Fat Cob was just fitted with a newT4 cob thorowgood saddle. I thought he would be impossible to dit because he is so grossly fat but that in XW fits really well.

It was £495 new so I'd imagine they are a couple of hundred second hand.

 

[AutumnDays]

I bought a second hand Thorowgood T4 cob for my mare, who's got a back like a table top, fits her well (saddle fitter checked too). It cost me approx £300, but is in fantastic condition.

 

[Kizzy2004]

There are many saddles suitable for a flat backed pony however some may be more suitable then others depending on the pony. I would get a fitter out first to take a look and they will be able to recommend a suitable type for you to look for otherwise you may get something that isn’t suitable and then you’d need to sell the saddle and get something else.

The saddler may even hold 2nd hand tack and have something in stock.

 

[HashRouge]

Thanks guys, Wintec and Thorowgood are both good ideas to look at. It doesn't have to be the world's best saddle as we only hack, I just want something comfortable for him. Saddle fitter first is a good idea, I'll see if I can get some good recommendations for the local area. In the meantime my sister is going to send me my Christ Lamfelle bareback pad, fingers crossed his owner will let me use that on him!

CC - he's really wide! He's an Arab but probably as wide as most cobs. I tried my sister's Kent and Master's saddle on him a while ago and he had to have the second widest gullet plate. Sadly the tree was completely the wrong shape for him though.

 

[Kizzy2004]

Wintec do a wide saddle but I find they tip the rider forward.

Thorowgood are generally good but you’d likely need the cob version as this is on a flat tree, I currently have the thorowgood compact on my native youngster whilst looking he’s constantly changing shape, he’s flat backed on broad but has a slight wither and short backed so can’t take the length of a cob version as they start at 17 inch

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Thanks guys, Wintec and Thorowgood are both good ideas to look at. It doesn't have to be the world's best saddle as we only hack, I just want something comfortable for him. Saddle fitter first is a good idea, I'll see if I can get some good recommendations for the local area. In the meantime my sister is going to send me my Christ Lamfelle bareback pad, fingers crossed his owner will let me use that on him!

CC - he's really wide! He's an Arab but probably as wide as most cobs. I tried my sister's Kent and Master's saddle on him a while ago and he had to have the second widest gullet plate. Sadly the tree was completely the wrong shape for him though.

I find the synthetic gullet change saddles just don't fit Arabs, they are generally the wrong shape and often don't go wide enough, both mine need xx wide one is flat backed typical barrel back Arab, if I was looking I would try black country, ideal, Heritage, symonds, I currently have a Heritage working hunter on one of mine it's quite straight cut though as I use it for showing but you can get a more gp style if that's what you like, the other one is a totally different shape high wither with a more dipped back so his got a Lavinia Mitchell and he needs a more curvy tree and they come really wide.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

What is your budget?

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

The used native pony saddles Facebook page sell wider saddles might be worth looking on there.