has anyone ever sold a horse because they couldn't get a saddle to fit ....

[Marigold4]

Was that a Smart saddle?

Yes, tried two x Smart saddles with different bases, then tried an older one - a Pro I think? Fitter sold it to me for a £1200 but the panels had deteriorated so it kind of started to fold in the middle in canter. He wasn't happy in any of them but the last one caused him back pain.

 

[SEL]

I'm interested in how many people are recommending Torsion (apologies for jumping on post). I got horrendous backache and gave the pony a sore back in a Smart saddle when it was on trial. This pony is 13 and also bum high, downhill with a forward girth groove. She has a bespoke saddle gathering dust because it put me in a funny angle and my lower back was agony.

She seemed to go ok in an ancient Ideal saddle but it was too long and I could feel some heat building up at the back of it so it wasn't a long term option. Same saddle 16" gave her sore withers

So OP you have my sympathy!

 

[ponynutz]

Yes, and we finally settled on a GP Thorowgood and a good saddler who flocked it as well for us regularly.

 

[ROMANY 1959]

Have you tried an australia stock saddle. So comfy to ride in

 

[FitzyFitz]

I have a hopelessly badly conformed pony, he was super bum high as a youngster. I started off in a Freeform treeless saddle (similar thought to torsion, same deal with shimmed pads underneath but much narrower twist for the rider) but after a nightmare time with standard GP's he ended up in a Specialised saddle, its a western/trail style one with quite a variety in tree shapes but the whole panel underneath comes off and can be fitted really precisely, as many times as you need. Franco-C saddles have the same underside and a different variety of tree shapes/lengths. Bit rubbish for jumping and too weird looking to show in past a local level, mind!

 

[Polos Mum]

I like the idea of treeless - but looking at them I think they are as tricky to fit properly as tree'd saddles - to get all the pads / shims and supports right.

Auz stock saddles are lovely (I rode in those in SA for a long time) but not easy to source and £2k a go on new saddles to ride in them for 30 mins and find they rub might bankrupt me / result in divorce.

Perhap I try harder with another fitter who might come at it with fresh eyes and have a creative idea. Now just to find one that's going to actually turn up

 

[Michen]

Haha- yes!!

I got to the end of the road with saddle fitting on Bear. I had ploughed soooo much money into it. Eventually I loaned him out with the caveat that they would have to shell out the 2k for the saddle that we knew would work (I'd already spent 1500 on the same saddle that was ever so slightly different, but that difference was enough not to fit).

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I like the idea of treeless - but looking at them I think they are as tricky to fit properly as tree'd saddles - to get all the pads / shims and supports right.

Auz stock saddles are lovely (I rode in those in SA for a long time) but not easy to source and £2k a go on new saddles to ride in them for 30 mins and find they rub might bankrupt me / result in divorce.

Perhap I try harder with another fitter who might come at it with fresh eyes and have a creative idea. Now just to find one that's going to actually turn up

It sounds like his back is under developed and if his croup high the saddle with naturally go forwards, so if there is no top line or muscle its sitting in the wrong place so uncomfortable for him and you.

Have you considered using a shim type numnah that will help lift the saddle up and the shims act like missing muscle until he develops his own, I have used this concept on a horse that had muscle damage with a Lavinia Mitchell saddle, they fit them slightly wider then shim the numnah to make it fit its more like a remedial fit.

it totally worked for my horse I was at my wits end with saddles and getting no where, Lavinia could see the issue immediately and I ended up buying one of her saddles, was the best thing I ever did and I have one for my other horse now as well although there was no issue with his back it is the only one that doesn't slip and move about on him.

 

[tda]

I like the idea of treeless - but looking at them I think they are as tricky to fit properly as tree'd saddles - to get all the pads / shims and supports right.

Auz stock saddles are lovely (I rode in those in SA for a long time) but not easy to source and £2k a go on new saddles to ride in them for 30 mins and find they rub might bankrupt me / result in divorce.

Perhap I try harder with another fitter who might come at it with fresh eyes and have a creative idea. Now just to find one that's going to actually turn up

Have you tried Sarah Steel, or Angela Brock?

 

[Rowreach]

Yes, tried two x Smart saddles with different bases, then tried an older one - a Pro I think? Fitter sold it to me for a £1200 but the panels had deteriorated so it kind of started to fold in the middle in canter. He wasn't happy in any of them but the last one caused him back pain.

I'm interested in how many people are recommending Torsion (apologies for jumping on post). I got horrendous backache and gave the pony a sore back in a Smart saddle when it was on trial. This pony is 13 and also bum high, downhill with a forward girth groove. She has a bespoke saddle gathering dust because it put me in a funny angle and my lower back was agony.

I so dislike Smart saddles, they started selling them in 2010 and the older ones were very much a work in progress.

I love the original ones and that is what I have always used, and still use (Energist, Freestyle, Jumper and GP), which are truly flexible and can be fitted to anything (with a bit of common sense and practise).

 

[millitiger]

Personally, if you haven't already, I would spend 3 months on groundwork, long lining and ponying him off another horse and get some muscle on.

Even if by some miracle you find a saddle to fit today, it likely won't fit him in another 3 weeks time, once he's doing some work.

I'd try and get him more to the finished product first so you have a better idea of what he will finish at.

 

[estela]

I have a secondhand Naylors saddle. It was the only saddle that fitted my Connie when he was young and bum high and now it also fits my latest purchase really well.

 

[sbloom]

Balance Through Movement Method groundwork, the ultimate for lifting the front end. Then reassess for saddle with someone that understands what you need from a saddle, not just the horse.

 

[SEL]

I so dislike Smart saddles, they started selling them in 2010 and the older ones were very much a work in progress.

I love the original ones and that is what I have always used, and still use (Energist, Freestyle, Jumper and GP), which are truly flexible and can be fitted to anything (with a bit of common sense and practise).

My friend raves about her second hand Energist. Her cob is moving so much better in it than the treed saddle she had despite numerous fittings.

 

[SEL]

I like the idea of treeless - but looking at them I think they are as tricky to fit properly as tree'd saddles - to get all the pads / shims and supports right.

Auz stock saddles are lovely (I rode in those in SA for a long time) but not easy to source and £2k a go on new saddles to ride in them for 30 mins and find they rub might bankrupt me / result in divorce.

Perhap I try harder with another fitter who might come at it with fresh eyes and have a creative idea. Now just to find one that's going to actually turn up

Have you got any photos? Lots of people assuming he's under developed whereas sometimes they are just built oddly!

 

[saddlesore]

I so dislike Smart saddles, they started selling them in 2010 and the older ones were very much a work in progress.

I love the original ones and that is what I have always used, and still use (Energist, Freestyle, Jumper and GP), which are truly flexible and can be fitted to anything (with a bit of common sense and practise).

Really? I have a native base and I think its fab! Why don’t you like them?

 

[Rowreach]

Really? I have a native base and I think its fab! Why don’t you like them?

Because much of the theory behind the originals, which were based on Ansur saddles, was compromised when they focused on the aesthetics and tried to make the saddles look more traditional, because that's what customers wanted. The Smart range is also considered easier for people to fit, but that means that they are often fitted poorly or not adjusted when they should be. If the fit of an original changes, it's very obvious very quickly, which means fewer sore backs and issues.

 

[sbloom]

Have you got any photos? Lots of people assuming he's under developed whereas sometimes they are just built oddly!

My personal experience is that the opposite is more usual.

 

[SEL]

Really? I have a native base and I think its fab! Why don’t you like them?

I found the channel quite narrow. I had mine fitted by an experienced fitter for the trial and their HO couldn't have been more helpful when I sent them videos but when I ran my hands down the pony's back and she tried to bite me I knew it wasn't working.

 

[DirectorFury]

Very sorry to be That Person, but your mention of one-sided shoulder pain during/after riding has rung alarm bells.

Are you certain he’s 100% sound behind? Particularly on the same side as your shoulder pain.

 

[Marigold4]

I found the channel quite narrow. I had mine fitted by an experienced fitter for the trial and their HO couldn't have been more helpful when I sent them videos but when I ran my hands down the pony's back and she tried to bite me I knew it wasn't working.

I think the narrow gullet between two panels in the Smart saddle was the problem for my horse too. I have found, with treeless, the ones without a gullet (so a continuous wrap around panel) are the best. I don't think that trying to make a treeless look like a traditional treed saddle was a good idea. Treeless saddles support the rider in a different way and this means they need to look different too.

 

[ImmyS]

I certainly have had similar thoughts with Finn the whole last year has basically been a write off as been unable to find a saddle that works or a saddle fitter that really understands Finn’s ‘type’ and his saddle needs. It’s not been a bad thing as he is only 4, so not been in any rush but equally I have been losing hope of getting sorted in the future. I have recently discovered an amazing saddle fitter who understands just what Finn/I need. Her saddles are custom so slightly daunting at spending a lot of money but she is able to make for us a custom adjustable gullet saddle - so the tree, panels, channel width and seat/flaps etc are all custom to me and Finn but it also accommodates adjustable gullet plates for his changing weight. Hoping this will answer our prayers

 

[maya2008]

I like the idea of treeless - but looking at them I think they are as tricky to fit properly as tree'd saddles - to get all the pads / shims and supports right.

I fitted the pommel of my Torsion to my pony aged 4. She’s now 8 and can honestly say I have never used a shim or support. She had an equitex pad, then I stole the Cool pad from the smaller Torsion when we started jumping, because it is thicker and I thought that would be better. The Equitex was better when she was still growing and downhill as it is stickier, but she has evened up now. Coblet again had the pommel fitted to him, has had the same pad and pommel for 4 years. My TB had the same set-up from age 5 until she retired in her late teens. No shims, no faff, no worries if she changed shape or got fatter or slimmer - just saddle on and off we went. I muscled her up for dressage then let her down as I had kids and through it all the same saddle and pad fitted.

They are wider and it’s a different feel, but it’s you who has to adjust - always feels great for the horse! Easy to get second hand for £500 or so, often with pads etc included.

If you state your area, someone might have one you could borrow for a ride and see.

 

[Palindrome]

any chance you could use a shimmed sheepskin pad, like the Mattes, to make your other horse's saddle fit?
If he is lacking a bit of muscle, you could give brewer yeast a try. I feed my skinny one 50g a day and he soon bulks up.

 

[saddlesore]

I think the narrow gullet between two panels in the Smart saddle was the problem for my horse too. I have found, with treeless, the ones without a gullet (so a continuous wrap around panel) are the best. I don't think that trying to make a treeless look like a traditional treed saddle was a good idea. Treeless saddles support the rider in a different way and this means they need to look different too.

Interesting. I also have a thorn pad in dressage cut which obviously has no channel and I find he REALLY powers from behind when I use it!

 

[Polos Mum]

Have you got any photos? Lots of people assuming he's under developed whereas sometimes they are just built oddly!

I am sure (hopeful) he'll look stronger and muscled with some work. My physio (who has worked on him in the flesh) thinks he needs to get working

 

[Btomkins]

I wondered if he was an Appaloosa or quarter horse type with the way you described him. Afraid to say that my boy at 12 is still extremely downhill, it’s just the way he’s built - 14.3 at the front and 15.1 behind!

We have also had a nightmare saddle fitting over the years and the only brand that has ever suited has been Strada saddles. They’re a bit marmite and they have memory foam panels that soften as they warm up on the horses back. I love them. Have them for all my horses and Ben has a jump and dressage.

Unfortunately the lady that owns the company has recently retired and so they are not making any more. There are good second hand Stradas available for a reasonable price, but they fit a little differently from normal saddles (very close contact).

 

[SEL]

I am sure (hopeful) he'll look stronger and muscled with some work. My physio (who has worked on him in the flesh) thinks he needs to get working

That made me jump - looks like my now tank of an Appy when she was a baby!

That back does need to come up. BTMM is a bit "marmite" with people I know and personally wouldn't be my first recommendation for strengthening a horse but it's worth finding some of the podcasts on YouTube and seeing what you think. I have found working on horses that those who are doing a lot of canter (hunting) have very strong cores. That's probably what your physio is hoping to achieve.

What size saddle is he in?

 

[TPO]

I am sure (hopeful) he'll look stronger and muscled with some work. My physio (who has worked on him in the flesh) thinks he needs to get working

If your plans don't require a trad. itional competition approved English saddle it might be worth looking at a western saddle.







The standard trees are made for QH shape. Jennifer at The Western Tack Trader is worth contacting if a western saddle is a consideration

 

[Polos Mum]

That made me jump - looks like my now tank of an Appy when she was a baby!

That back does need to come up. BTMM is a bit "marmite" with people I know and personally wouldn't be my first recommendation for strengthening a horse but it's worth finding some of the podcasts on YouTube and seeing what you think. I have found working on horses that those who are doing a lot of canter (hunting) have very strong cores. That's probably what your physio is hoping to achieve.

What size saddle is he in?

I spent last summer riding in a different one each week He's just coming back from 10 weeks off for winter - so this is core at its worst.

But currently padding / prolite shims under a 16.5 one - that's least worse. That is my other horses tho and I'd like to get them both out.
That is a really old K2 on a flat tree - apparently like gold dust as I've since discovered.

I will pick back up on the riding and leading and pole work in hand (he really liked in hand trec) - but I'd like to be working towards a plan to ride a little.