Connie owners - what saddles to you use?

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ponypolisher

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Hi everyone,

Apologies I know this topic has been done to death.. I have searched some old threads but interested in opinions for my particular pony :)

He is a 14.2 connie rising 4. I had a wintec for backing him but have realised the tree is just to curvy.. He is very flat backed from head to tail direction, but not overly wide (he def has a lot of filling out to do and a teeny bit bum high) and with pretty non existent withers! Also I think he could do with something straighter cut for his shoulder, the wintec 2000 GP I have seems a bit too forward cut.

Really I need a changeable gullet as he is going to change shape so much so there's no point buying a nice leather saddle. I will be getting the saddler out but as what I need is probably quite specific I want to have a general idea and possibly have a saddle to try and get fitted to him.

I thought maybe a Kent & Masters Cob?

Thank you for reading wise HHOers!

:)

xx
 
We used adam ellis saddles on all our work connies we got them made wide all the way down to suit the connies flat backs
There not ridiculously over priced for a custom made saddle & he can adjust them when needed
Really nice saddles to ride in as well & can get a lot of styles of saddle
 
I had a Kent and Masters GP on mine but it was too forward cut and interfered with his shoulder - I was practically sat on his ears after 10 mins as it just kept shunting forwards. Now in a Fylde show saddle. Much straighter cut and a much better shape for him and frees up his shoulders
 
Mine is in an Ideal GP - all tglhe changeable gullet saddles I had\tried just rolled around on her back so a leather one was the only thing to fit, as she developed at 6 yrs she grew a slight wither so now its been taken in and fits fine.
 
Thank you for the replies! Ah I was worried about the kent and masters being too forward cut, the current saddle just doesnt agree with his shoulders, looks totally wrong.

Bobby Boy said:
We have a standard thorowgood gp saddle and a flexee dressage saddle, hope this helps :-)
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I was wondering about the thorowgood, is it just a normal one then not a cob - is that adjustable?

Would love an ideal or custom made mmmm!
 
I have a conny x tb (body of a conny mind), she's got barnsby saddles. Omega GP and a Kanter dressage. Fit her awkwardness very well (she's cackhanded!)
 
The one I used to own but is still ridden in my tack is in a farringdon working hunter leather saddle it has a carbon fibre tree and seems to fit most ponies. I love that saddle bought it for my highland but she rarely gets to wear it now. The other saddle she wears is a made to measure working hunter saddle I like WH saddles as they are straight cut with a slight knee roll
 
windand rain said:
The one I used to own but is still ridden in my tack is in a farringdon working hunter leather saddle it has a carbon fibre tree and seems to fit most ponies. I love that saddle bought it for my highland but she rarely gets to wear it now. The other saddle she wears is a made to measure working hunter saddle I like WH saddles as they are straight cut with a slight knee roll
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That is really interesting, dim question maybe but does the carbon fibre tree sort of adjust to accommodate different backs or does your saddler do this?

I have seen a k&m cob for a good price, but it is GP, is the general consensus that a WH style would be better and avoid GP altogether?

Oh the joys! Thanks again everyone you have been a massive help!
 
Mine is supposedly a Connie x. I tried a K2, Wow and a Black Country. He is an Ideal Impala Pro now. His shoulders are the main problem and finding a nice wide gullet the whole way down the saddle.
 
Barnsby PC saddle specially designed for natives are great my Newforest has one. Connie x Tb has a k2 jump
 
Connies tend to be very flat and, even if they are wider (XW is probably the average Connie fit for me) they don't take a wide pommel or seat, and definitely need a tree with flat rails, the bits that sit against the horse. I tend to fit them with a tree that isn't super wide anywhere (pommel, twist, seat) but at the points, and is, as I say, very flat from front to back. Stability is everything - if a saddle moves forwards, the most common issue with them, then it's not sitting where it should, will interfere with the scapula, no matter what flap shape, and will cause pressure issues especially as the saddle will usually tip back if it's up on the shoulder at the front. I would also look for a saddle with a point strap to help keep the saddle back, but the fit at the pommel/points must be perfect so as not to place pressure on the trapezius muscle.
 
Thanks everyone for your replies, it's given me lots to go on, currently saddle searching...

sbloom said:
Connies tend to be very flat and, even if they are wider (XW is probably the average Connie fit for me) they don't take a wide pommel or seat, and definitely need a tree with flat rails, the bits that sit against the horse. I tend to fit them with a tree that isn't super wide anywhere (pommel, twist, seat) but at the points, and is, as I say, very flat from front to back. Stability is everything - if a saddle moves forwards, the most common issue with them, then it's not sitting where it should, will interfere with the scapula, no matter what flap shape, and will cause pressure issues especially as the saddle will usually tip back if it's up on the shoulder at the front. I would also look for a saddle with a point strap to help keep the saddle back, but the fit at the pommel/points must be perfect so as not to place pressure on the trapezius muscle.
Click to expand...

Thanks sbloom- this is exactly what I have found although with much less understanding of the technical aspects! I am currently trying to find a saddle fitter to come out and look at him, I presume you are a fitter? Can you reccomend anyone up in Scotland that would be particularly good at fitting connies/natives at all? I have used Kay Hastilow before but years ago with my connie cross, and to be honest I did find his saddle was constantly shunting forwards and never understood why as it was professionally fitted!

Looking at some ideals/albinos/farrington WHs at the moment, the problem is being rising 4 he is going to change so much!

Thanks again guys keep them coming xx
 
I have a Saddle Company saddle for mine. It is built on a cob tree (flat) but it is wide across the back as well as the front - I hate seeing close contact saddle perched on flat back horses.

Mine was 4 when I had the saddle made and he has grown almost a hand in that time (13.2hh to 14.1hh) and so he is constantly bum high then fat and then the front end catches up. It has been widened and narrowed at least half a dozen times and I have overflocked it once (will be adjusting it again on the weekend as the front end has caught up to the last growth spurt).

The tree is meant to be for a jump saddle and is fairly flat because it is a 16.5" and ideally I needed a 17". I have dressage flaps put on mine altered the girth arrangements so that it is more like a point and balance set-up.

I use a curved girth as well - using a straight girth is not going to help and will drag the saddle forward.

I do not have problems with mine moving at all (but then I fit these saddles so I can alter them as and when he grows). He had a really awkward stage when the back end shot up overnight and he was so uneven that no saddle would have fit him so he had about a month off to level up and then I refitted the saddle.

It will really depend on what you want to use the saddle for. I don't need a deep seat for dressage and the fact that I have flocked the panels wide means that I sit closer to the horse. We hack and do little jumps (up to 3 ft) in this. When I need a proper jump saddle, I will be looking for a more specialist saddle which has the same panel as his dressage, but more to help my position.
 
Native Pony Glen WH saddle for my lad, sent lots of pics of pony with and without me sitting on him, bare back profiles and a template and they sent me one back, trialled it at a breed show and won his classes in it!
 
Not everyone's cup of tea but I bought a treeless solution saddle for my four year old Connemara. I just adjust my saddle pad as he grows and changes shape. I was concerned it would be uncomfortable but it doesn't feel any different to normal saddles :-)
 
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