Dressage saddle for small horse

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Polonaise

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So new horse (well, just, more pony really!) is quite short backed with a big shoulder, I have a 17.5" Ideal Roella which I love but is too long for him, currently riding him in a 17" Ideal Jessica which I don't like as much and still looks quite "bulky" on him when set far enough back not to interfere with his shoulder. He's fitting a wide in both the Ideals, I have short legs but wouldn't get my backside in anything smaller then 17".
Any suggestions? Would be willing to consider new or second hand, want a nice saddle but not wanting to spend mega-bucks!
 
both of those saddles have quite long panels that stick out at least as far as the back of the seat, the Roella appears to have panels that sit actually behind the back of the seat.

Your best bet is to find something where the panels are shorter, that would enable you to have the correct seat size for yourself without making the saddle too long for the horse.

Not sure what your budget is - might be time to find a saddler with as many options as possible and try a few out.
 
Define mega bucks?

Equipe Emporio would be a good shout. Fig is in a 16.5" and they come up small. It's a monoflap too, so is light and slimline.

Having handled and ridden in a few, I think the Ideal models tend to come across as heavy and bulky.
 
Thanks, I have an old equipe grand prix (jumping) saddle which I love but they're not cheap these days. Think absolute limit would be 2k, prefer to spend nearer half that! Suspect this wont be an easy task and he's changed shape quite a lot since I bought him so not rushing into anything just want an idea what to keep an eye out for.
 
You would get an excellent condition equipe / prestige / amerigo second hand for £1200 to £1600 depending on model and age. All are decent saddles

Try looking on saddles direct for an idea of prices
 
Look up makes of pony dressage saddles, we fit adults into smaller saddles (including dressage) all the time. You can have an extended cantle on a given seat size, plus a shorter panel design, as others have said, will help. You may also need a fractionally more forwards flap, and possibly a high placed knee block, if you can't get a bigger flap overall onto the smaller seat (there is a limit to these things!).
 
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