Dressage saddle for a wide cob?

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equestriansports

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Hi all! Pony is currently out of action :( we believe he's damaged his back. I had a lesson with him and he started bucking in canter (I got catapulted haha) but I'd previously felt like my saddle was slipping forwards. Anyway, my instructor got on him and he was even worse which is totally not his character in the slightest. We ended the lesson after this and she gave me the number of a lady that fits saddles and is a chiropractor so will ring her later. However, my pony has a very short back (he's about 13.1/13.2 and built like a tank) he's currently in a 15.5 inch saddle but this doesn't fit me or my rather my rather large bum. It offers me no support which I'm finding I need right now. I'm continuing with lessons once sorted but I feel that knee rolls may be beneficial temporarily. The problem is he is very, very round and changes shape frequently so I'd prefer something adjustable whilst I try and get some weight off of him and he's young so still growing. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what saddles to try? Thank you.
 
Another vote for AH saddles http://www.ahsaddles.com/

They're not made to measure but they are specialists in fitting wide natives, cobs etc. They're really good, even if they can't get a fitter to you they are great over the phone and with templates, videos etc.
 
A straight rather than cut back pommel will give you extra bum space - the saddler I can think of that makes them is Barrie Swain - beautiful saddles and brilliant on wide flat backed horse but expensive and difficult to get hold of. My size 20 friend has one on her short backed cob - I think it's a scant 17" but it also has a wide seat so she finds wonderfully comfortable as does the horse.
 
The biggest issue I tend to have is the stirrup buckle digging into my thigh. On some of the albions there's like a block there so don't think that would work. I think I'd have to custom a dressage saddle; I have exceptionally short legs. How do treeless saddles work? I'd be using the saddle for showing too, only local little shows though.
 
You could trial a Solution Smart dressage saddle, which are suitable for competing - not all treeless saddles are.
I have one, and love it. : )
 
This is an older Barrie Swain dressage saddle with a tree and half panel. It was made for my massive RID who had a huge shoulder movement and was wide.

Initially I hated it and it creased me, but once I got used to riding in the correct position it was fabulous. I lost the horse before I had finished paying for it and it has been in the tack room ever since. I am not the sure the poster above is right in saying they are difficult to get hold of saddles, no one was remotely interested when I have advertised it. They are very bespoke and probably a risk to buy second hand. A saddler I spoke to told me most saddler's won't try to adjust them and they need to go back to Barrie. How true that is I don't know.

Heather%20Moffatt%20saddle%20001_zpshqislwon.jpg
 
Have you thought about a gp? they give you more bum room. I have the old version of the albion k2 jump for my 13.3hh wide new forest. It has more undercut panels so you can have a longer seat without the saddle being too long if that makes any sense. It was expensive but its adjustable and amazing quality. You can get junior flaps put onto some saddles if you have short legs, its worth calling up the makers. also you said the stirrup buckles dig into your thighs, try t-bar stirrup leathers. Can be a faff to adjust at first but no buckle under your thigh :)
 
Heather Moffett vogue every time for me - no point getting custom made as its only custom made for the min its fitted, then the horse moves, grows muscles /loses muscle loses weight etc etc....

The vogues support the rider and flexes to accommodate changes in the horses shape.
 
As a long-legged rider on a short-backed mare, I also have a Heather Moffett (a FlexEE, in our case). The HM aren't technically treeless; it's a flexible leather tree.
 
I have this very sam problem with my very short backed warmblood - My fat bum needs a generous 17.5" (ideally 18") but her little short back can only take a maximum of 17", again, ideally would be 16.5" - so we have a wow saddle, I can have my 18" seat and she has 17" panels.

Wow isn't everybody cup of tea but it suits our situation. They are completely interchangeable which means I can have 2 saddles in 1 just by changing the flaps from Dressage to Jump, the rest stays the same.
I have not tried any of the other suggestions above so this is just what works for me.
 
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AdorableAlice said:
This is an older Barrie Swain dressage saddle with a tree and half panel. It was made for my massive RID who had a huge shoulder movement and was wide.

Initially I hated it and it creased me, but once I got used to riding in the correct position it was fabulous. I lost the horse before I had finished paying for it and it has been in the tack room ever since. I am not the sure the poster above is right in saying they are difficult to get hold of saddles, no one was remotely interested when I have advertised it. They are very bespoke and probably a risk to buy second hand. A saddler I spoke to told me most saddler's won't try to adjust them and they need to go back to Barrie. How true that is I don't know.

Heather%20Moffatt%20saddle%20001_zpshqislwon.jpg
Click to expand...

http://specialistsaddles.co.uk/ just sell used Barrie Swains. Kay Humphries and people trained to fit by her are always on the look out for second hand ones too.
 
I tried a Heather Moffatt, took it in exchange for a Barefoot saddle. It was one of the pre-gullet versions.

I hated it. Just couldn't make the thing fit; the way it looked from looking at it from the ground was totally different to the way it sat on the horse's back 10 mins into the ride, and even after asking a very knowledgeable friend to help me (she's an equine physio), I still wasn't happy with it. The other thing was that it never sat the same way twice, it always felt different on the horse every time I rode in it.

I sold it in the end as was just so infuriated by it.

Sorry don't know what to suggest really. AH saddles are very good and have a good reputation, I guess they'll have a dressage saddle. They ARE lovely saddles and are made especially for cobs so that's the first place I'd go if I were looking.
 
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