Do I request a new saddle or fork out myself?

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shadowboy

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Ok, little orange one is starting to become the dressage horse I hoped for but she is lurching forward into canter when asked from a lovely trot (feels like when a horse spooks) I thnik this is caused by an ill fitting saddle as i can only fit one finger down the gullet when mounted (the collection before the canter must be uncomfortable hence the lurching) anyway her saddle has been provided with her as part of her trial. The trial ends december 31st 2007 after which I have the option to purchace or loan for a further 12 months. In the contract it says she is provided with a medium fitting thorowgood maxam- and if the loanee (me) breaks anything that has been supplied- I have to replace it. Do you think I should go out any buy a new saddle? Or is the owner resposible for this? I dont know if I am going to buy her yet, as whn this mare is good shes amazing, but shes sooo marish at times i'm still deciding if she's worth the stressy mare antics! I have two months to decide- BUT SHE NEEDS a better fitting saddle am I responsible for the purchse of it? I dont want to be cheeky and ask the owner, but at the same time I dont want to throw £500 at her if I'm not going to keep her! What would you do?
 
I think you need to advise the owners of your concerns regarding the saddle fit. I doubt the owner will go out and buy another saddle as they are in the process of trying to sell her, but they may have one that fits her better. Could you not use a riser pad to keep the mare more comfortable?
 
No tell the owner it doesn't fit and that you can't properly try her out if she is uncomfortable in it.Say you need a replacement well before the trial end date. Do you have a contract of any kind with the owners?
 
I would at least raise your concerns to the owner and take it from there. For now I agree that the best thing to do is put a front riser pad underneath, they are about £20 and it should ease the discomfort while you are waiting for a decision.
 
Thanks guys, I will email her now and see what she says. Little mare really tried hard today so I want to make her comfy. Are these pads the ones that are made by Wintec? like a foamy sort of material or am I thinking of completely the wrong thing?
 
The Wintec ones are about £19.99
If you've got a roller pad you could try that under the points of the tree until you can get a proper riser pad/change the saddle.
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Hope you get it sorted.
 
You don't need to spend 500 quid n a new saddle... an old 2nd hand synthetic could be got for under 100 pounds (LESS THAN 2 PHYSIO VISITS). If you bought a cheapo 2nd hand saddle that fits you could sell it on for as much as you paid for it if you don't buy the horse, or you buy the horse and want to upgrade. If you bought a wintec synthetic dressage saddle with changable gullets it would be a useful piece of kit for any horse you have. They are great for the winter. That way you can save your posh saddle for competing.

Phone your local saddle fitter an explain your situation, they might have something. Tell the owner that the saddle does not fit and is affecting her way of going. If the horses back is damaged or her attitude soured they will ultimately take a loss as her value will drop.

I wouldn't fiddle about with risers unless you know what you are doing as they can alter the fit of a saddle in very strange ways depending upon the shape of the horse and the saddle.
 
I bought a prolite adjustable front riser pad on my saddlers advice. It comes withtwo sets of pads, so you can use the thick ones thin ones or just use as a plain gel pad. Shop about on the internet though, I got mine for £ 40 + £ 5 p & p. It has completely solved my problem.
 
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