Dressage saddle for a very short backed PRE?

[ginatina]

I have a very compact 16hh PRE

In the past I’ve loved Albion saddles on other horses, so was going to try and find him a 16” version second hand Albion.

but I’d appreciate if anyone has any advice on great makes for short backed horses?

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

AH saddles do an upset panel which is good for short backs they are aimed at natives so they would really work on a pre I would think.

I have a very wide flat backed Arab and dressage saddles have been tricky as a lot are too curvy for his back, he is currently ridden in a Herritage show/working hunter but I have had a Black country that worked.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

I have a PRE who is very short backed. Very little real estate. I can't quite fit into a 16" comfortably either. At the moment he has an Amerigo and he's quite happy with this and it's ok for me too. He's not the propane tank sort and has a taller/well defined withers. The difference in height between his withers and back was sort of a struggle too.

I would also think saddles designed for natives might work too. They can also be quite short.

 

[ycbm]

WOW saddles can fit a seat one inch bigger than the size of the panel, so you can put a17 inch seat on a 16 inch panel. 16 inch panels are difficult to find second hand, so it's not a cheap option I'm afraid.
.

 

[shortstuff99]

I use WOWs on mine too.

 

[sbloom]

There are so many ways to tackle this depending on the brand. How well would you fit in a 16" saddle? If it's a big compromise for you then it will be for the horse too.

There are different panels, some brands either do well with, or get away with, a shorter panel under a larger seat/tree, in many cases it's also a compromise. The upswept panel from AH is generally meant for curvy backs, a "rehab" saddle for backs that have dropped for example, or for extremely croup high horses. Some models/brands meant for natives may indeed have a shorter "footprint" and a decent amount of space for a rider. Features such a smaller, higher placed knee blocks, more forward flaps, and flatter seats, may all help give more rider room on a smaller saddle.

However there are other approaches based on forward balance saddles which may help hugely, they tend to come with that round upswept panel shape, keeping all weight off the thoracolumbar area and meaning actual footprint is less of an issue. Many continental saddles are "forward balance" - especially French and Italian, but you have to watch for tree/rail shape as they can often be very narrow in the rails/twist. They will also ride narrow for the rider, not always desirable.

It may be that you have a short pelvis and actually really need a smaller seat, there are a few bodyworkers, biomechs coaches and fitters out there that can do this assessment for you as well as looking at your hip conformation and asymmetries, to get the right saddle for you and get you straight and working efficiently in the saddle.

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

Collegiate…still have it as it fitted my other Friesian mare…16.5 inch…light too.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

I'd try Fiona Cork saddles, depending on where you are to get to. Having seen the saddles made now, from making the tree upwards to fit the measured animal, I'm quite impressed and they do fit v well (and v comfortable to ride in)

 

[spookypony]

I have an Hidalgo and an HT for my short-arses, and am very pleased with both. My mare is very short-backed (takes 5'6" or 5'9" rugs at 15hh), and I'm very long-thighed.

 

[MagicMelon]

WOW. I had to get one for my Luso x for same reason. I had a 17" seat on 16" panels.