Cub Saddles

[Sprig]

Tell me about cub saddles please. I know nothing!
I have a new 14.2hh pony which my 3yo son would like to ride occasionally. The original plan was to just get him some short stirrups and let him use my saddle but then I thought about cub saddles and wondered if one would be appropriate, but I really know nothing about them. Do they have trees? Can you just pop them on any size pony? I obviously want to do what is best for my pony. She is my riding horse and my son would only be sitting on her and being led round for fun, not riding as such. I did think the advantage of a cub saddle would be that obviously the seat size would fit him better and he would feel more secure (my saddle is a 17"). Pony is in a Wintec cob xxwide, if that makes a difference, so no doubt he will struggle a bit to get his legs round her anyway, although he is quite tall.

 

[Spring Feather]

I bought a cub saddle for my daughter when she was around 18 months old. It was okay and got her out of the basket saddle she'd been 'riding' in previously. They don't really have a form to them, they're just a step up from a felt pad tbh. They don't give children much security or seat, but as I say they're fine for just being led around in-hand. My daughter rode in hers for a few months but once I started riding out with her (ponying her pony alongside my horse) I felt that a proper made saddle was what was necessary to help her advance so I had a gorgeous custom made leather saddle made and she must have ridden in that saddle till she was around 10 or 11 years old I guess. So, for a short term, slow speed riding thing, they're fine but faster work, no I wouldn't have a whole lot of faith in them.

 

[WelshD]

Most of the 'Cub' type saddles have removable panels underneath so you reposition them to get the gullet width you need so in theory should be ok

In saying that I would personally go for a suede pad type saddle (always a few on ebay) with proper girth straps (as one with an attached girth will probably not go round a big pony) these are grippy and commonly used on bigger ponies