Jumping/GP saddle for Connemara

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Toberpatrick

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Hi All

I'm sure this question has been asked many a time but here goes...

I have a 14.1 and growing (bum high) 5 year old Connemara. He is fairly short in the back but comfortably takes a 16.5 to 17in saddle. I currently have a Kent and Master GP that I just can't get used to with its fairly high cantle. We are in the main show jumping/hunting so a saddle that caters more towards the jumping would be great. Ideally close contact with a square cantle.

It must of course cater for his breed type and his potential growth (outwards). I don't think a forward cut saddle would suit due to shoulder. I have a flexible budget and will buy new if required. We are off to the saddlers in a few weeks for templates and potentially fitting any saddle I find second hand!

All suggestions welcome!!

Thanks!
 
Have you had the connie measured for a saddle? Only asking as I have a 14.2 connie mare, had her measured & 17" is way too big for her. Did get a 16.5" which isn't right so I'm looking for a 16". Have to sell the 16.5" first though.
 
My connie's in a 17" wide saddle it fits him perfectly, not sure of the make though, i bought it off e-bay new for £120. The lady was really helpful and owns a saddle shop down south somewhere, Could find out if anyones interested.
 
Had a thorowgood cob (same shape as Kent & master) on my Connie & just didn't work out.
Got native pony & cob saddler out (s bloom on here) & have a fab well fitting comfy & very stable saddle horse going well (bought saddle In April)
Horse is also going much better, working well - was hollowing & resistant in the thorowgood.
 
We had a thorowgood whilst ours was younger but at the age of 6 its too tight and restrictive on his shoulder. He's now in a 17" saddle company saddle which is much better, I have heard mixed reviews on them though so will see how it go's but so far so good.
He's also short backed 14.3 but 5'6 in rugs! We found a lot of 17" we tried too long so I'd say it depends very much on the individual brands.
 
I have a Connie x TB and she was fitted with a MW Ideal 'Deal' saddle when she was 5. The (very popular and hard to get hold of!) saddler said she fitted lots of them to NF and Connies. No problems at all until another saddler came to pop a bit of flocking in and took it away to widen tree as he said it was too narrow and perched on her. Hmm, now to wide and down on her in front.

Original saddler coming back in a couple of weeks but in meantime have a MW Black Country event saddle on her which does perch rather but she prefers it.

Saw a friend on a Connie shaped NF a couple of days ago and she had an Albion on, no idea what model tho.
 
My Connie was a nightmare to fit as like many she has a very flat back and most trees seesaw on her. I had sbloom come out and fit a native pony and cob saddle, it was an excellent fit! So much so that I sold it with her and the girl now still has it. We had tried many saddles, ideal came closest to a good fit until she matured which iswhen iI needed native pony and cob saddle.
 
I had a Kent and masters gp for my 6yo Connie and it was just too forward cut for him - it was restricting the movement In his shoulder. I was looking for a working hunter saddle but in the end went for a straight cut Fylde. I can still very happily jump in it and he can move so freely. The difference was unbelievable.
 
I had a 15h Connemara and had a 17.5 Exselle Evolution Jump/Event saddle for him, just sold him so it isn't needed if you get what I mean, but is a lovely saddle and fitted him really well. It's cut away at the pommel so good for the shoulder.
 
In my experience large shoulders shouldn't be hindered by a correctly fitted saddle - the times where it can be an issue is if the top of the scapula is prominent and the muscle behind, at the wither, is lacking. Then a straight cut saddle is easier to fit, or you need a good thick half pad or lined numnah to help with clearance over the scapula.

As Connies are flat backed a jumping saddle should be easier to fit in many ways but it amazes me how many quite curvy saddles I replace that have been professionally fitted - if the back is flat then the tree needs to be flat as well, making the panel flat seldom makes up for too curvy a tree. Dressage saddles look deep, but one that works on a flat backed horse will have a longer flat spot at the bottom of the seat, even if the pommel and cantle are high, meaning the rails are flat.

Hope that helps and thanks for the recs in this thread :D
 
I love stubbens and would like another one for Bailey - he would no doubt be their widest fitting but I think the flat seat and close contact will suit his shape... But it seems opinions differ between everyone including saddlers!!!
 
Stubbens actually tend to be too curvy from front to back for most natives (both in tree and in panel which curves up to follow the tree at the back in most cases), they are also narrow in the bars (in the middle of the saddle by the stirrup bars) and too long in the points. More a TB fit, though I know they have a range of models.
 
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