me 5'5" long thigh, him 13.2 short back, saddle fit?

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dorito

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Well, the title says it really, but to expand slightly - I viewed the most cute and adorable gelding the other week, but have not taken things further because my knees were sticking forward over the knee rolls of his saddle! and I did think that a saddle to fit both of us would be an issue. He's quite short backed and not awfully wide; whereas I have long legs for my height.

So my head says it's a no-go but I was actually rather smitten...is there any hope or do I just need a slap?!

thanks in advance.
 
How old are you and is he? Are either of you likely to grow anymore? Unless he is the perfect pony or likely to grow and take your leg up I would maybe look elsewhere nothing worse than feeling like you are riding too long/short
 
ha ha I seem to have come across as a love-struck teenager (just shows how bad I have got it!) but no, I am a mature person who will only grow widthways, if at all.
Mr Gorgeous is 8.

Don't know anything about icelandic saddles I'm afraid, a quick google suggests some of them may have larger panels than 'usual' and it seems this is a slightly controversial idea...I would be wary of going too unconventional.
 
as a self certified pony squisher myself, there are things that can be done! I recommend getting in touch with Sbloom on here - she's a qualified saddle fitter and as she fits a lot of native types, what she doesn't know about accomodating adults on ponies isn't worth knowing. She's lovely and sorted me and my boy out :) I'd definitely recommend having a chat with her. If you want I can PM you her number?
 
Do you know what size the saddle was that you were riding in? I have a 13.2hh short backed pony in a 16in saddle. I am 5ft 4in and it fits me fine. Saddler said he could go up to a 17in at a push but that would be too big for me then. I think it is worth at least looking into it further as there may be scope for a slightly bigger saddle.
 
Don't forget you can also have a saddle made with shorter panels and a longer seat. My saddle is officially a 15", but it was made in such a way so that I can ride in it with no problems. It has a sweeping seat that rides like a 16", with larger cut flaps over a pony underside.
 
I think it was a 16" working hunter whereas I'm used to a 17" gp or at least a 16.5 at a pinch.

Fransurrey, I was vaguely wondering about your suggestion but it's kind of crystallised for me that I don't really want to go custom-made, have had some awful saddle-buying experiences including a made to measure for my previous horse, by a master saddler - which was by far the worst saddle we ever had.

Was kind of hoping others would chip in with success stories about off the peg saddles and similar horse/rider combos, but it doesn't look like it. I need that slap evidently.
 
what do you want the saddle for? I use a thorowgood endurance on my ponies (Exmoors, 13.1h-I am 5/5 as well). They have short panels although he takes a 17inch fine. can't show in it-can ride in it :)
 
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