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

[Polos Mum]

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

Thanks I've discovered he's very happy bitless so english format competitions are off the cards anyway at least for the next few years.

I will give her a try - are they not really heavy (again maybe my knowledge is out of date - like WoW's) ?

 

[TPO]

Thanks I've discovered he's very happy bitless so english format competitions are off the cards anyway at least for the next few years.































































































































































































































































I will give her a try - are they not really heavy (again maybe my knowledge is out of date - like WoW's) ?

They can be but Jennifer stocks and fits a really lightweight western saddle. I think the brand is Tucker and the model is perhaps Allegany

 

[BSL2]

Have you looked at Balance International, saddles?

 

[horsimous]

Ive had three horses where there was little point in getting a saddle initially. For all of them I spent quite a few months leading out in hand, long reining and lungeing to build up strength and muscle. Initial riding was bareback for short periods of time and for one of them I bought a suede bareback pad for the trot/canter work. After that we progressed to actual saddles. They were all very green but we built up the relationship slowly so riding bareback was pretty safe.

 

[Mahoganybay]

Until I got on top of the cause of my mares ulcers and then treating the ulcers she would constantly change shape / drop weight.

I had a Albion Platinum Ultima that had two head plate changes, total reflock, point straps added/taken off before I sold it on as it was either up her neck, moving side to side or hurt my back.

Followed by a Amerigo Cervia which sort of fitted my mare on occasion but was awful for me. My saddle fitter came once with 20 different saddles and none fitted

So I bought a Thorowgood Cob GP (lovely and light saddle) and a Prolite Pad with Shims. The pad supported her back, I could alter the width of the saddle and play with the shims as and where she needed.

I used this for 2 years whilst everything healed, settled and she worked correctly to build muscle.

I now have a Kent & Masters Dressage saddle that fits her perfectly that I use for schooling, lessons and competition and I still use the Thorowgood with the Prolite for hacking.

 

[flat3]

How about a TCS?

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

He looks a bit like one of my Arab's I would be working on his core and thoracic sling to get him to lift up in front and then his core will strengthen, pole work even in hand reversing over them is really good if you can get him to do it, if you look on line there are some stretches for the thoracic sling and sbloom on here recommends a few people that specialise in it.

I can see why saddle fit is an issue if your not already using one an anatomical girth may help, I can't ride mine without one and I use the nuumed shim numnahs I find they are better than the prolite.

 

[sbloom]

BTMM may be a bit marmite but a year since it was released I've yet to see anything else come close.

Plus this https://m.facebook.com/story.php?st...kwggLuh82U84zPph3G9RwzHnpQW6J2l&id=1023434539 is the biggest issue I see with other approaches.

This lady posts brilliant stuff about horses' balance and saddle fitting https://www.facebook.com/equimetric, I really hope to go shadow her in Switzerland or get her to come here, we have a not dissimilar approach but her knowledge and understanding of this is why beyond mine.

 

[Polos Mum]

Thanks all - My physio has suggested some good exercises - walking (in hand) with his legs on either side of a pole is harder than it should be ! and lots of backing up in a soft relaxed way, raised poles etc.

I will look at more of this and plenty of riding and leading and maybe bareback for the 1-2 20 min rides a week that I'm looking to do to mix it up and get some weight carrying muscle
I think he would find in hand school work dull 5-6 days a week and I feel like we did that all last summer and it made no difference at all when I've tried to put a saddle on almost 12 months later.

 

[Polos Mum]

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.

I don't think I can ever be 100% certain - there's nothing obvious - so it would have to be bilateral I think

There are no subtle signs - no toe drag (barefoot so it'd be really obvious), no tail swishing, he has a lovely attitude and marches along hacking with his ears pricked and his poll in line with withers in a relaxed position, no uneven wear on his boots.
He has fidgeted when I've put some saddles on but some have really rubbed him (even in a 20 minute trial !) so that is clearly pain related.

He detested the bit (dentist said he might because his mouth is tiny) and he made that VERY clear, so I would hope if something was up I'd spot it.

I could try a bute trial I guess, but buting to cover saddle fit issues seems mad !

 

[teapot]

Have you tried an adjustable synthetic that you can pad to horse's needs?

Not ideal, but as horse continues to develop and grow you may welcome the adjustability.

 

[Polos Mum]

I have tried more than 20 now - with a different padding / girth (studd girth, ergo girth - 2 different types, with elastic, without elastic) combos too.

Synthetic, air bags, forward cut, straight cut, long, short, serge pannels, treeless - the list feels endless which is why I'm feeling so down about it.
Also the potential combinations (different pads, different girths) are endless too - there are some great suggestions on here I've not tried (western, Auz stock, different makes of treeless) - but finding them as they get more niche is difficult and the £££'s are really mounting up.

Each one I ride in for 20 mins on a simple hack loop and either they horribly rub and break the hair on his back (either side of spine - spine clearance is an issue I think) or I'm so crippled by shoulder pain I can't ride anything for a week !

I rode him all last summer - 2 x a week and I've never sat in the same combination of saddle / girth / padding more than once because not once did the either not rub him or hurt me !

 

[Marigold4]

I have tried more than 20 now - with a different padding / girth (studd girth, ergo girth - 2 different types, with elastic, without elastic) combos too.

Synthetic, air bags, forward cut, straight cut, long, short, serge pannels, treeless - the list feels endless which is why I'm feeling so down about it.
Also the potential combinations (different pads, different girths) are endless too - there are some great suggestions on here I've not tried (western, Auz stock, different makes of treeless) - but finding them as they get more niche is difficult and the £££'s are really mounting up.

Each one I ride in for 20 mins on a simple hack loop and either they horribly rub and break the hair on his back (either side of spine - spine clearance is an issue I think) or I'm so crippled by shoulder pain I can't ride anything for a week !

I rode him all last summer - 2 x a week and I've never sat in the same combination of saddle / girth / padding more than once because not once did the either not rub him or hurt me !

You can try my older Torsion if you like. I'm not using it at the mo. Happy to post if you pay postage.

 

[cauda equina]

I have tried more than 20 now - with a different padding / girth (studd girth, ergo girth - 2 different types, with elastic, without elastic) combos too.

Synthetic, air bags, forward cut, straight cut, long, short, serge pannels, treeless - the list feels endless which is why I'm feeling so down about it.
Also the potential combinations (different pads, different girths) are endless too - there are some great suggestions on here I've not tried (western, Auz stock, different makes of treeless) - but finding them as they get more niche is difficult and the £££'s are really mounting up.

Each one I ride in for 20 mins on a simple hack loop and either they horribly rub and break the hair on his back (either side of spine - spine clearance is an issue I think) or I'm so crippled by shoulder pain I can't ride anything for a week !

I rode him all last summer - 2 x a week and I've never sat in the same combination of saddle / girth / padding more than once because not once did the either not rub him or hurt me !

Have you tried a Christ Lammfelle?
I rode my youngster (short back, croup high, shoulders not symmetrical) for nearly a year in one until he grew into a proper saddle

 

[flat3]

I know they aren't everyone's cup of tea, but a TCS is designed to fit any horse...

Total Contact Treeless Saddles

Total Contact Saddles

total-contact-equine-solutions.myshopify.com

 

[SEL]

I have tried more than 20 now - with a different padding / girth (studd girth, ergo girth - 2 different types, with elastic, without elastic) combos too.

Synthetic, air bags, forward cut, straight cut, long, short, serge pannels, treeless - the list feels endless which is why I'm feeling so down about it.
Also the potential combinations (different pads, different girths) are endless too - there are some great suggestions on here I've not tried (western, Auz stock, different makes of treeless) - but finding them as they get more niche is difficult and the £££'s are really mounting up.

Each one I ride in for 20 mins on a simple hack loop and either they horribly rub and break the hair on his back (either side of spine - spine clearance is an issue I think) or I'm so crippled by shoulder pain I can't ride anything for a week !

I rode him all last summer - 2 x a week and I've never sat in the same combination of saddle / girth / padding more than once because not once did the either not rub him or hurt me !

Do you have shoulder pain in any other situation because getting the same pain in almost every situation is a bit odd. Is he moving straight?

 

[TPO]

It's possibly just the angle of the photo and how he's standing but in it he looks quite straight through his hocks.

If that is the case that can make them quite short stepping behind because they have a smaller range of movement. That can make the movement quite choppy and that is possibly jarring your back rather than how the saddles fit you.

Another thing with QH builds is that because they tend to be croup high and downhill English saddles can get thrown/slip forward and the points of the tree can jam on the scapula. This can make them step shorter too and again that can be quite jarring. Sbloom is best placed to advise on that type of conformation.

Of course every chance I'm totally off the mark because a photo I'd just a snapshot and he's not stood up etc.

Can you find a saddle that fits him but hurts you? If you do it might be worth trying some sort of shock absorbing pad. I don't have any experience but have heard good things about Avacallo (sp?). Might be worth trying a shock absorbing pad for him too? Maybe something like a VIP pad or is it that thinline pad?

 

[tda]

Have you tried a Christ Lammfelle?
I rode my youngster (short back, croup high, shoulders not symmetrical) for nearly a year in one until he grew into a proper saddle

Sorry to hijack thread but if anyone is selling a Christ Lammfelle I'm looking for a pony size one

 

[cauda equina]

Sorry to hijack thread but if anyone is selling a Christ Lammfelle I'm looking for a pony size one

I'm hanging onto mine, sorry!

 

[maya2008]

My honest suggestion having read your detailed latest reply is:
1) get someone else to ride this horse, in a saddle setup that suits the horse, and see what the shoulder pain is all about. Do they have the same problem as you?
2) ride the horse bareback yourself and see if that gives you shoulder pain.

If the outcome of this is that it’s only you with the shoulder pain, get yourself checked by osteo/physio. If you are fine bareback but not with a saddle, get a nice bareback pad and work on the horse’s posture and way of going using that to help build them up ready for something to fit you both. If both bareback and saddle cause you and other people shoulder pain, then I would get the horse checked out properly.

I would like to say that this is just a saddle problem and here is a magic fix, but it sounds like either you or the horse (or both) have something underlying.

 

[Jambarissa]

Have you considered a total contact saddle?

I know that they look like a recipe for disaster but they're very popular amongst endurance riders and it's very difficult to find a report of a bad experience.

It will fit, it won't slip and it'll at least give you some breathing room to try to develop more muscle and wait to see final shape.

I love mine for my giant shouldered beast. She is so much happier than in her hideously expensive made to measure saddle.

Theyre under £300 and resale value of around £250, definitely worth a go.

 

[JoA]

Dean and Gina from Reactor Panel saddles know their stuff. My Arab (sadly lost to laminitis 20 months ago) was incredibly difficult to saddle fit - v short backed, bum high, right shoulder more prominent than left etc etc. Reactor Panel saddle was our solution. Readjusted as he changed shape and he and I loved it. V expensive but after all the problems we'd had it was worth every penny
I am confident that when I find my next partner (taking some time) that saddle will be adjustable for him/her too.

 

[ponynutz]

I really like this video and people talking about being slightly underdeveloped and croup high reminded me of it. Majority is a professional saddle fitter talking about what makes horses difficult to fit and how they resolved it in this case.

For background from what I remember horse was a youngster 'project' and saddle kept slipping forward despite having it refit several times. The problem didn't rearise after this fitting.
I do imagine that without sponsorship this route could be quite expensive though.

(This is not me despite the similar name, I took the name inspiration when I joined up to the forum).

 

[SEL]

Have you considered a total contact saddle?

I know that they look like a recipe for disaster but they're very popular amongst endurance riders and it's very difficult to find a report of a bad experience.

Speaking from personal experience TCS don't appreciate bad reports which is why you never see them!!

Gave me horrendous lower back pain. I'd borrowed one off a friend who had it in the back of a cupboard because her horse hated it.

 

[sbloom]

It's possibly just the angle of the photo and how he's standing but in it he looks quite straight through his hocks.

Once the posture is improved those angles with improve, the pelvic angle affects the hind leg massively. So often post legged is not fixed.

I would recommend searching, on here or elsewhere, any brand/company you are recommended, and use all their brand names to search (as some have a lot!) and the bad news can lurk under one of their other names. If a company has no Facebook reviews ask yourself why, and check Google reviews too.

I would not recommend TCS, a bareback pad like the Christ Lamfelle, with no stirrups, I have no problem with and it can be a very useful thing to have in the tack room.

If you really need to ride the. That's a decent option, if you need stirrups then come panel.conateictions such as no rear gussets cam help but they need careful, remedial type fitting and are likely to work for a short while while the horse is rebalanced.

 

[Polos Mum]

Thanks all - he is definitely "conformationally challenged" not perfect by any stretch in lots of areas. He will never win HOYS nor top level dressage.

I am hoping that stronger = straighter and I can work with his less than perfect body to make him low level useful and happy.

I can get a ride without my shoulder pain - but so far only in a saddle that slips forward and rubs him !

I think he needs to go short saddle (lots of movement behind the saddle with his rear wheel drive action) and my thigh is longer than my height would suggest - hence we end up in a forward cut jumping saddle (of all things).

He definitely needs lots of ground work / poles / riding and leading to help him develop the strength and straightness to carry a rider. He also would be bored out of his mind doing just school based ground work - hence looking to try and find an interim saddle solution that will let me do 20 mins x twice a week for 2-3 months.

I will give bareback a go once he's been in consistent work a little longer - he's a recently broken spicey type and I'm heading to the wrong side of 50 !!

 

[dottylottie]

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!

sorry to drag up an old thread, but what did you find worked for her in the end? lily is also downhill with a forward girth groove

 

[Ratface]

Or a Christ Lammfelle

I've used my Christ Lammfelle on my three horses owned over the last twenty-five years. Love it, and always feel safe, whatever we were/are doing. I use stirrups on mine, as the horses were/are given to dramatic spooks, just for the fun of it!
My Christ Lammfelle has rings for stirrup leathers, so not possible for them to come off, which is a negative from a safety point of view.

 

[SEL]

sorry to drag up an old thread, but what did you find worked for her in the end? lily is also downhill with a forward girth groove

It's not that old a thread because I'm still having a nightmare!

 

[dottylottie]

It's not that old a thread because I'm still having a nightmare!

in that case, im sorry to remind you of it!