Dressage saddle for short chunky horse

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Bing184

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I've tried a few different dressage saddles (kieffer,thorowgood,ideal elizabeth and a country eloquence). My horse doesn't have much of a wither and is quite wide, she has big shoulders and quite a lot of muscle and a short back. Every saddle I've tried just doesn't seem the right shape. I can't get the saddle fitter out until January but was just wondering about what saddles and prices so I can get an idea about what to look for and try, the ideal saddle was the one that was the better fit, she's an irish sports horse. Thanks 😊
 
I had the same trouble with my mare, wide, big shoulders, very little wither and short coupled. Ended up with a thorowgood T8 cob dressage (half leather) and fits perfectly, been so impressed with it it bought the GP version. Kent and masters are on the same tree if you prefer full leather. I went for the T8, half synthetic/half leather as I wanted something lightweight. Very comfy and gives the feel of riding in a full leather saddle. I've tried a T4 (synthetic and suede and it just wasn't anywhere near as comfy).
 
Thanks for reply, I had the t8 dressage saddle but it just didn't sit right on her, the back of the saddle was still up in the air when girth was tightened and the front was to far on her shoulders, I tried wide and extra wide gullets and it's still not right, it's a shame because it's a beautiful saddle and so comfy.
 
A short back, unless croup high, is only a problem in itself if you need a bigger seat size than she can take. Is that the case? If the back of the saddle lifts on girthing, and you've tried a headplate that's definitely narrow enough, then the tree or the panel is too curvy. You need a flat tree to give you stability, then it will stay where it's supposed to be.
 
sbloom said:
A short back, unless croup high, is only a problem in itself if you need a bigger seat size than she can take. Is that the case? If the back of the saddle lifts on girthing, and you've tried a headplate that's definitely narrow enough, then the tree or the panel is too curvy. You need a flat tree to give you stability, then it will stay where it's supposed to be.
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Thats what my fitter told me for mine who sounds very similar, although to compound the problem hes croup high, which means he needs a saddle smaller than he can technically take. She suggested Andrea Hicks/Native pony saddles, Ideal with possibly a H&C or FWB tree, also one specific model of Barnsby, as its identical tree wise to FWB, Harry Dabbs with a hunter tree. In the end I found a KES. Not in the same league as the others mentioned, but much cheaper and came up second hand locally and is flat and very wide, its also small, so negates the croup high, big shoulder problem to some extent :)
 
I've got my short backed chunky fell in an equipe emporio, it's a monoflap and cost nearly as much as the pony (even second hand) but is amazing.
 
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