Hello :) please read I have a question :)

[Ilovemyconney]

Hi there I’m new to the world of horse and hound forums but considering I bought my first foal last year (had horses since I was 10 years old I’m 24 now)

my beautiful Connemara is 2 in May and I’m hoping to bring her to England in 2022 she was born and currently in Germany

I was wondering if any of you lovely people had any suggestions on how to find a saddle to break her in, normally when I’ve had to get new saddles my horses have already been broken so can try them on them but how do you find a saddle to fit a pony that’s not had a saddle on.

any tips would be grateful I normally do all horse stuff with my mum but she’s died so this time I’m on my own no nasty comments please I’m just here for suggestions do right by my pony I have attached a photo of her

 

[P.forpony]

Welcome!

I do love a nice Connie ?
The saddle you use for breaking will be the one that forms her first opinion of them for life. Its really important to get it right!

My best advice is to get a professional saddle fitter out and buy what fits. You should have a good chat with them to let them know your pony is unbroken so the fitting will be different form a normal one. But they should be willing to work with you and get the best fit they can without seeing it ridden in.

Your job will be to ensure pony is handled and prepared well enough for the saddler to do their job, eg happy and familiar with numnah, roller, stretchy sircingle, etc, will stand quietly to have them put on and taken off and will work in hand and on the lunge happily while wearing them.

Good luck on your adventures with her ?

 

[Meowy Catkin]

Welcome to the forum.

I didn't have any trouble fitting my ready to back horses with their first saddles. They were already used to having rugs and numnahs/saddlecloths taken on and off their backs, plus I would use a roller and surcingle with a hi-viz exercise rug to walk them out in-hand, so they were used to a girth.

The first saddle tried on my gelding was a big, treeless western saddle and he really didn't take much notice. It's all in the preparation so it isn't a big deal.

I found a photo. This is the first time he ever worse a saddle. It was the correct width and had all the correct padding to ensure that it was comfortable. It was put on, he grazed happily, walked around a bit, grazed some more and then it was taken off. A good first experience.

As long as you can safely put a saddle on and girth it up, a saddle fitter will be able to come and fit a saddle. It really is vital to make sure that they have good experiences.

 

[Ilovemyconney]

Welcome!

I do love a nice Connie ?
The saddle you use for breaking will be the one that forms her first opinion of them for life. Its really important to get it right!

My best advice is to get a professional saddle fitter out and buy what fits. You should have a good chat with them to let them know your pony is unbroken so the fitting will be different form a normal one. But they should be willing to work with you and get the best fit they can without seeing it ridden in.

Your job will be to ensure pony is handled and prepared well enough for the saddler to do their job, eg happy and familiar with numnah, roller, stretchy sircingle, etc, will stand quietly to have them put on and taken off and will work in hand and on the lunge happily while wearing them.

Good luck on your adventures with her ?

thank you for your advice it is greatly appreciated I’m blessed to have a good friend who is a qualified monty Roberts instructor so she is already loading handled well with the farrier and vets as well as me leaning over her to give her belly scratch and hugs.

i am starting to long rein her and we are working on vocal cues and body language so she knows how to behave

 

[Ilovemyconney]

Welcome to the forum.

I didn't have any trouble fitting my ready to back horses with their first saddles. They were already used to having rugs and numnahs/saddlecloths taken on and off their backs, plus I would use a roller and surcingle with a hi-viz exercise rug to walk them out in-hand, so they were used to a girth.

The first saddle tried on my gelding was a big, treeless western saddle and he really didn't take much notice. It's all in the preparation so it isn't a big deal.

I found a photo. This is the first time he ever worse a saddle. It was the correct width and had all the correct padding to ensure that it was comfortable. It was put on, he grazed happily, walked around a bit, grazed some more and then it was taken off. A good first experience.

As long as you can safely put a saddle on and girth it up, a saddle fitter will be able to come and fit a saddle. It really is vital to make sure that they have good experiences.

Beautiful horse! Thank you very much we are starting all this type of work now 2-3 then she will be completely confident by the time she is 3

 

[P.forpony]

Sounds like you're giving her a really great start ?
Just keep doing what you're doing, maybe have a look into what saddles might work on her so you have an idea of budget and what you like, something adjustable as she grows might be handy.
My Connie is tricky to fit so maybe have second and third options just in case!

 

[windand rain]

Be careful not to put any weight on her back before she is nearly 4. Lots of groundwork and experiences from the floor. I dont back ie sit or lie on baby natives until they are passed their 4th birthday. You have loads of time. Her first saddle should be a perfect fit and will probably be the most expensive one you buy

 

[AmyMay]

Be careful not to put any weight on her back before she is nearly 4. Lots of groundwork and experiences from the floor. I dont back ie sit or lie on baby natives until they are passed their 4th birthday. You have loads of time. Her first saddle should be a perfect fit and will probably be the most expensive one you buy

Great advice.