Does this saddle look too narrow?

yaffsimone1

yaffsimone1

Well-Known Member
Joined
15 October 2011
Messages
331
Location
Herts
Visit site
I havent had this TB mare long, she was delivered to me at the begining of the week. She has been out of work for a year so needs muscle building up.

Im looking for a temporary saddle for her whilst she builds up. I took the coat hanger template and saw my lovely lady at Sandon. Out of three saddles, this ones seems to fit the best, although i will ask my saddlers opinion i would like some other expert opinions too.

Does it look too narrow at the tree?

it doesnt tip and the front or back, seems to be balanced, good clearance along the spine, what makes me think it isnt right is that it is very high at the wither

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/album.php?albumid=5750


I appreciate any input
 
Last edited:
crystalclear said:
I would say yes - it's tipping back. Where you sit should be parallel to the ground
Click to expand...

Would you say it is tipping back alot, and much too narrow? or maybe removal of some flocking will sort it out?

I havent paid for it yet and will hunt for a slightly wider one, it will just be a shame because its really comfy but i know her comfort come first
 
How many fingers are you getting between the pommel and his back? I'm thinking 4(In fact, i'm thinking whole hand!) minimum is 3, but that's when you're sat on his back.
It does look perched on his back, maybe attach girth and look again?
 
yaffsimone1 said:
Would you say it is tipping back alot, and much too narrow? or maybe removal of some flocking will sort it out?

I havent paid for it yet and will hunt for a slightly wider one, it will just be a shame because its really comfy but i know her comfort come first
Click to expand...

The tree is too narrow. Removing flocking will do no good. In future though, you need to girth the saddle up to judge the fit. but this one is way too narrow, obviously. Contrary to popular opinion, most mature TBs are medium wide in saddles. A small proportion are medium, particularly when young, but most are medium wide. My TB gelding measures 'wide' .
 
Shadeyoak said:
How many fingers are you getting between the pommel and his back? I'm thinking 4 :confused: minimum is 3, but that's when you're sat on his back.
It does look perched on his back, maybe attach girth and look again?
Click to expand...

Its 4 fingers before sitting on her back, i will girth her up tomorrow and add more photos.
 
I'm no expert but I agree with crystalclear. I think it is tipping back slightly too.

I also think that it might sit too low when you are on board. In the picture of the withers there doesn't look like there will be much clearance once it's girthed and with rider on.

Sorry

Saddle fitting is a nightmare.
 
As mentioned above, taking flocking out wont help. It's too narrow. It looks as though the saddle may also restrict shoulder movement due to it tipping but of course hard to 100% tell from pictures.
 
Diddleydoo said:
I'm no expert but I agree with crystalclear. I think it is tipping back slightly too.

I also think that it might sit too low when you are on board. In the picture of the withers there doesn't look like there will be much clearance once it's girthed and with rider on.

Sorry

Saddle fitting is a nightmare.
Click to expand...

Nevermind i will take it back. Measuring the wither with a coat hanger appears to be a rubbish method, placing it inside the tree would suggest the three i have should fit, but all the saddles have come up too narrow.

Someone suggested getting one maybe a bit too wide and pad it out, this will give her muscles rooms to develop? and when she does fill out it should then fit nicely. This is what ive been told, though ive always been told a properly fitting saddle and buy another when they change shape.

Also i havent got on her yet. She hasnt been ridden for nearly a year and i dont plan on getting on unless the saddle is perfect. I dont want to giver her additional reasons to have me off!
 
Faracat said:
Barge pole.

There have been several posts RE the horrors that have been found inside these cheap saddles.
Click to expand...

I guessed as much. Dont get me wrong im not trying to take the cheap route, but if she is going to change shape a number of times over the next few months i would like to keep costs as low as possible. Once she is fit i will buy a nice kent and masters or similar
 
I think you just need to get a sadder out yaffsimone1. You want a saddle that fits, whatever stage of development the horse is at. And im really not convinced about the bigger saddle theory.
 
amymay said:
I think you just need to get a sadder out yaffsimone1. You want a saddle that fits, whatever stage of development the horse is at. And im really not convinced about the bigger saddle theory.
Click to expand...

I have a saddler, but he doesnt sell second hand saddles so ive got to get 3 or 4 in for him to fit and i wanted to get some that were close to a good fit as possible. I could have called him out to fit these, though it would have cost me £60.00 to have him tell me what you guys /girls have, thats why i thought i would post on here first.
 
amymay said:
I think you just need to get a sadder out yaffsimone1. You want a saddle that fits, whatever stage of development the horse is at. And im really not convinced about the bigger saddle theory.
Click to expand...

I agree with you that the saddle must fit at any stage. Ive had just heard different opinions and want to do whats best for her.
 
Why don't you get a saddle would an adjustable gullet? It's best not to 'bodge' saddle fits as its really important that they fit well. If you got a saddle that's too wide, no matter how much you pad it out, the risk is the saddle would too forward, making no contact with the back panels then when you ride it will bang down on the horses back causing many issues. Even if you padded it well this will still happen. Are you able to find a different saddler who has different saddles to try? Web down here in Cornwall we have about three saddlers
 
yaffsimone1 said:
Nevermind i will take it back. Measuring the wither with a coat hanger appears to be a rubbish method, placing it inside the tree would suggest the three i have should fit, but all the saddles have come up too narrow.

Someone suggested getting one maybe a bit too wide and pad it out, this will give her muscles rooms to develop? and when she does fill out it should then fit nicely. This is what ive been told, though ive always been told a properly fitting saddle and buy another when they change shape.

Also i havent got on her yet. She hasnt been ridden for nearly a year and i dont plan on getting on unless the saddle is perfect. I dont want to giver her additional reasons to have me off!
Click to expand...

You are not supposed to take the measurement at the wither. You should feel the back of the shoulderblade and measure an inch behind that point vertically up. It is no wonder all the saddles have been too narrow.
 
Wagtail said:
The tree is too narrow. Removing flocking will do no good. In future though, you need to girth the saddle up to judge the fit. but this one is way too narrow, obviously. Contrary to popular opinion, most mature TBs are medium wide in saddles. A small proportion are medium, particularly when young, but most are medium wide. My TB gelding measures 'wide' .
Click to expand...

Will disagree with your their Wagtail - the majority of TB's are generally medium to narrow/medium.

New Zealand TB's are generally more substantial than the UK TB's - there are the odd few that fit a medium wide but all the TB's I had in the school were either mediums or narrow/medium.
 
Tnavas said:
Will disagree with your their Wagtail - the majority of TB's are generally medium to narrow/medium.

New Zealand TB's are generally more substantial than the UK TB's - there are the odd few that fit a medium wide but all the TB's I had in the school were either mediums or narrow/medium.
Click to expand...

All of mine have been medium wide except one and he was really weedy .
 
Please stop with any assessments of this saddle - it is much too far forwards and is sitting on the shoulders not on the back. Move it back maybe a couple of inches, girth it up firmly and THEN assess.

Even if it was in the right place NEVER judge whether a saddle is too narrow or not from whether it is in balance - many too narrow saddles may be down at the back, but there are other reasons for that problem, including putting it too far forwards!!!

A photo from the front, a little further back than the one where you're holding the mane out of the way, would be good but it needs to be well lit to be able to see the actual shape of the horse and the angle of the pockets of where the tree points sit.
 
sbloom said:
Please stop with any assessments of this saddle - it is much too far forwards and is sitting on the shoulders not on the back. Move it back maybe a couple of inches, girth it up firmly and THEN assess.
.
Click to expand...

Phew! I was scrolling through hoping you'd have arrived to say this. My fingers were itching wanting to push it back! To me it looks like it won't be a bad fit when placed correctly
 
sbloom said:
Please stop with any assessments of this saddle - it is much too far forwards and is sitting on the shoulders not on the back. Move it back maybe a couple of inches, girth it up firmly and THEN assess.

Even if it was in the right place NEVER judge whether a saddle is too narrow or not from whether it is in balance - many too narrow saddles may be down at the back, but there are other reasons for that problem, including putting it too far forwards!!!

A photo from the front, a little further back than the one where you're holding the mane out of the way, would be good but it needs to be well lit to be able to see the actual shape of the horse and the angle of the pockets of where the tree points sit.
Click to expand...

Oh thank goodness you've arrived :D OP, listen to sbloom ;)
 
Tnavas said:
Will disagree with your their Wagtail - the majority of TB's are generally medium to narrow/medium.

New Zealand TB's are generally more substantial than the UK TB's - there are the odd few that fit a medium wide but all the TB's I had in the school were either mediums or narrow/medium.
Click to expand...

Goldenstar said:
All of mine have been medium wide except one and he was really weedy .
Click to expand...

My Nh Tb was wide - extra wide. It just goes to show that you can't fit saddles by breed. ;)
 
I don't know where you are in Herts but if you are Stortford side I have a saddle here I borrowed to try on my youngster and it is too narrow for him (but he is mahoosive). You are welcome to give it a try.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top