I need help!! Highland pony saddle woes

[Louby]

I have a 5yr old (June) Highland pony and Im having awful problems getting a saddle to fit. He has a Ray that fits him but doesnt suit me, I despise it lol and have been on the search for a dressage or VSD/GPD as no saddlers in my area have anything suitable. I really didnt want to go down the M2M route given his age and obviously the cost but my house now resembles a saddlers as I now have 4 saddles to sell! I could kick myself as the value of these saddles probably exceeds a M2M and I definitely need to sell or part ex them, or risk Divorce lol if I want to get one made.
Any recommendations of what works with a barrel pony please, with a rising croup, preferably not ££££ or a suitable saddle brand that would take a quality saddle in part ex?? My worry with M2M is I wouldnt have ever ridden in one, so wont know if I get on with it first. Ive tried and got one with the H & C tree, and its just too flat for his rising croup, also not wide enough!
Im a dab hand with Sports Horse type saddles but not Natives and my hips dont appreciate the wideness of the twist on the Ray!
Thanks in advance, virtual Wine, beer and lots of choccy sent for getting this far

 

[Fjord]

Friends who had Highlands have done well with Ideal and Black Country. When I had a very flat backed Highland on loan the saddle fitter said she liked a challenge normally, but now she'd changed her mind. She asked if I'd considered breaking her to drive instead! ?

 

[smiggy]

This is not the answer you want but having had a highland, a fell and a trad cob, would say just stop messing about with secondhand and get a m2m from a brand that specialises in native type saddles. You will save money in the end and also your hips.
I use dressage saddles, for my fell I had a m2m ideal dressage made, I now have a ( well 2) Fiona cork dressage.
the saddler will usually bring one for you to try .
honestly, saved all my saddle woes getting decent saddles made that fitted

 

[Gloi]

I wouldn't get a m2m for a good while yet he's likely still to widen out as he matures.

 

[shortstuff99]

If you need a made to measure go for something like a WOW as that alters for anything so you wouldn't need to buy another as he changes.

My very flat barrel, youngster (PRE) has a Bates GP that works very well and a WOW dressage.

 

[Louby]

Friends who had Highlands have done well with Ideal and Black Country. When I had a very flat backed Highland on loan the saddle fitter said she liked a challenge normally, but now she'd changed her mind. She asked if I'd considered breaking her to drive instead! ?

Thank you, Id love the BC GPD having seen one on a Highland at a dressage comp. I just wish Id gone down this route in the first place

 

[Louby]

This is not the answer you want but having had a highland, a fell and a trad cob, would say just stop messing about with secondhand and get a m2m from a brand that specialises in native type saddles. You will save money in the end and also your hips.
I use dressage saddles, for my fell I had a m2m ideal dressage made, I now have a ( well 2) Fiona cork dressage.
the saddler will usually bring one for you to try .
honestly, saved all my saddle woes getting decent saddles made that fitted

Your totally right! I was concerned with him being bum high a M2M wouldnt fit him for long and had wanted to wait for him to mature but finding a saddle for a Native is completely different to getting one for the Spirts Horse types Im used to! Thank you

 

[Louby]

I wouldn't get a m2m for a good while yet he's likely still to widen out as he matures.

This is what I was thinking too but Im really struggling, its not just his width, Ive found saddles wide enough but his rising croup just doesnt seem to go with the usual XXW saddle and the flat trees, so they bridge

 

[Louby]

If you need a made to measure go for something like a WOW as that alters for anything so you wouldn't need to buy another as he changes.

My very flat barrel, youngster (PRE) has a Bates GP that works very well and a WOW dressage.

Thank you, Im not familiar with how WOW works, sizing etc, I realise they basically come apart, or words to that effect lol!!! Bates are too flat for him, as is the H&C tree et etc etc. I think I give up lol!!

 

[onemoretime]

Thank you, Im not familiar with how WOW works, sizing etc, I realise they basically come apart, or words to that effect lol!!! Bates are too flat for him, as is the H&C tree et etc etc. I think I give up lol!!

Have a look at the Andrea Hicks saddles they come in 8 different width fittings. I have 2 one dressage and one GP they are very comfortable.

 

[Louby]

Have a look at the Andrea Hicks saddles they come in 8 different width fittings. I have 2 one dressage and one GP they are very comfortable.

Thank you! I just need to sell. part ex a saddle or 2 first unfortunately x

 

[shortstuff99]

Thank you, Im not familiar with how WOW works, sizing etc, I realise they basically come apart, or words to that effect lol!!! Bates are too flat for him, as is the H&C tree et etc etc. I think I give up lol!!

Basically you can change every part of a wow independent of each other so they can fit most shapes.

Have you looked at Kent and Masters cob saddle? Bit more curved then then Bates.

 

[SEL]

I've got an old Ideal here that came off a Highland. It's wide with more of a hoop tree shape than the upside down V

 

[smiggy]

Your totally right! I was concerned with him being bum high a M2M wouldnt fit him for long and had wanted to wait for him to mature but finding a saddle for a Native is completely different to getting one for the Spirts Horse types Im used to! Thank you

I had my ideal made when my fell was five and it lasted four years , till I decided to change it .
the m2m often are reasonably adjustable , by the specialist fitters.
I also find the mono flap dressage seem to sit better and be more flexible, if that makes sense.

 

[Caol Ila]

For something completely different, I ride my built-like-a-brick-sh1thouse Highland in a TreeFree saddle with the widest headpiece they make. So far so good.

I feel your pain with a youngster, though. Currently riding away my four-year old PRE in a Lamfelle bareback pad so I don't end up looking like a saddler's shed and poorer than I already am. At some point, she will get a real saddle but making that a problem for Future Caol Ila.

This is him in his TreeFree, with my PRE standing behind him (I was swapping from one horse to the other). He has a wither, but the saddle has a gullet, despite being treeless, so it sits well clear of his withers and spine.

 

[Louby]

Basically you can change every part of a wow independent of each other so they can fit most shapes.

Have you looked at Kent and Masters cob saddle? Bit more curved then then Bates.

Yes, sadly I have an ex demo one to sell Saddler says it technically fits but it just wont stay where it should

 

[windand rain]

Had one m2m for my girl it's 24 years old and is still the best fit on her she is 27. I also really rate black country saddles and if I can find a rider for kitten may well invest in one. She is currently being ridden in an old wintec xxw. Her problem is she has withers so a lot of flat ones don't fit

 

[Louby]

Had one m2m for my girl it's 24 years old and is still the best fit on her she is 27. I also really rate black country saddles and if I can find a rider for kitten may well invest in one. She is currently being ridden in an old wintec xxw. Her problem is she has withers so a lot of flat ones don't fit

I think I need to just bite the bullet and go M2M I could really do with selling at least one of mine to go towards it first. I will learn one day

 

[Louby]

For something completely different, I ride my built-like-a-brick-sh1thouse Highland in a TreeFree saddle with the widest headpiece they make. So far so good.

I feel your pain with a youngster, though. Currently riding away my four-year old PRE in a Lamfelle bareback pad so I don't end up looking like a saddler's shed and poorer than I already am. At some point, she will get a real saddle but making that a problem for Future Caol Ila.

This is him in his TreeFree, with my PRE standing behind him (I was swapping from one horse to the other). He has a wither, but the saddle has a gullet, despite being treeless, so it sits well clear of his withers and spine.

View attachment 106809

Fab piccie!! Ive just not been able to get my head around treeless! I tried a friends for size, but it was a cheaper one and did look impressive for the money but I just imagined the front bit, pommel would have rubbed. Yours looks totally different though. Thanks for sharing

 

[Louby]

I had my ideal made when my fell was five and it lasted four years , till I decided to change it .
the m2m often are reasonably adjustable , by the specialist fitters.
I also find the mono flap dressage seem to sit better and be more flexible, if that makes sense.

Thank you, I really need to sell at least one saddle or be able to part ex against a M2M. I had a recount, Iv got 5 to sell, lesson learnt lol!!!

 

[Caol Ila]

Fab piccie!! Ive just not been able to get my head around treeless! I tried a friends for size, but it was a cheaper one and did look impressive for the money but I just imagined the front bit, pommel would have rubbed. Yours looks totally different though. Thanks for sharing

Cheap treeless ones aren’t worth it. That one was not cheap. Cost as much as a decent treed saddle.

Procrastinating on making long term decisions with the youngster (hence bareback pad, also in photo) because my experience with traditional treed saddles with Fin and my two previous horses was stressful, frustrating, and expensive, but finding the right treeless saddle for your horse is also a faff.

 

[planete]

You can get a fairly cheap second hand Torsion and treeless pad to use for the time being. They are good quality treeless saddles but will not break the bank second hand. Treefree have more of a twist but adding a Barefoot hip saver to my Torsion has given it the narrower twist I needed. I am now selling a nearly new Harry Dabbs made for the pony eighteen months ago and a Solution Smart that keeps trying to sit on his rump after he changed shape drastically when in work. Beware buying a treed saddle until he has muscled up, mine acquired a wither and a wide chest with huge shoulders between eight and nine years old.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I would say his very wide you don't need made to measure, I have Arab's they are wide one is xw the other is xxw, I use lavinia Mitchell saddles love them but have used black country, ideal and heritage they almost fitted well but both of my LM saddles fit and my round no wither Arab now had a saddle that doesn't move, and girthing makes a difference you need a saddle fitter that understands the wider horse which a lot don't unfortunately.

Ah saddles are good sbloom on here can help you on that front.

 

[thefarsideofthefield]

I used Derby House Samba WH saddles on all my Highlands and Fells and rode in them for everything from showing to jumping to affiliated dressage . The Fylde Mick is identical to the Samba ( designed by the same guy ) .
I have one for sale ( cheap ! ) if you're interested !

 

[Louby]

I would say his very wide you don't need made to measure, I have Arab's they are wide one is xw the other is xxw, I use lavinia Mitchell saddles love them but have used black country, ideal and heritage they almost fitted well but both of my LM saddles fit and my round no wither Arab now had a saddle that doesn't move, and girthing makes a difference you need a saddle fitter that understands the wider horse which a lot don't unfortunately.

Ah saddles are good sbloom on here can help you on that front.

Thank you, Ive tried a LM saddle and it fit great, did move and was comfortable too. I really suffered the next day, with pain all down the outside/back of my thigh. I instantly thought it was the wide twist of the saddle but looking back it could have been when I turned round quickly whilst riding and had a mini rant, arms involved too at a car that was right up our backside! Did you find it extremely wide to ride in, I think this was a size 4 fit

 

[Louby]

I used Derby House Samba WH saddles on all my Highlands and Fells and rode in them for everything from showing to jumping to affiliated dressage . The Fylde Mick is identical to the Samba ( designed by the same guy ) .
I have one for sale ( cheap ! ) if you're interested !View attachment 106820View attachment 106821

Thank you, I like the Samba, Im not sure if divorce would be on the cards though, if yet another saddle turns up lol x

 

[tda]

Thank you, I like the Samba, Im not sure if divorce would be on the cards though, if yet another saddle turns up lol x

They can be picked up fairly cheaply or a Farrington WH
If I ever ride again properly I'm getting an Andrea Hicks AH saddle

 

[saddlesore]

Have you looked at solutions smart saddles?

 

[atropa]

I feel your pain...I have a croup high Highland (not a youngster, just the way she's built unfortunately) and I have never found something to fit us both perfectly....currently in an AH which is very very comfy but still creeps forward, have a cupboard full of 3 previous saddles that need selling

 

[Caol Ila]

I feel your pain...I have a croup high Highland (not a youngster, just the way she's built unfortunately) and I have never found something to fit us both perfectly....currently in an AH which is very very comfy but still creeps forward, have a cupboard full of 3 previous saddles that need selling

Fin is slightly croup high and his Treefree saddle does not budge. He scrambles up and down some very steep, rocky hills, ones I would not go near with a domestic horse, to be honest, and the saddle is solid.