More Saddle advice please

[Fiorano]

A friend of mine has had a years treatment on her horse for back problems.

However, she has now been given the all clear to bring her back into work. Firstly, two weeks walking in hand and then introduce some very limited ridden work.

So here is the dilema for her now!

She need to re-saddle her horse. Rio is an arab x appaloosa, in good condition, considering the time off she has had, with a huge shoulder. She needs a gp saddle that will give freedom of movement of the shoulder and sit well on her fairly flat back.

With so many different saddles out there it is a bit of a mine field, so any suggestions would be happily received.

Thanks

 

[ThePony]

If she needs freedom for her shoulder then why doesn't your friend consider a working hunter? Might suit her mare? Best bet is to get a good saddler fitter out and discuss with them the shape of the mare and her previous problems - they'll be able to see what saddles would suit.
My mare has a massive shoulder and has a fairfax gp which fits her well, but her movement is enormously improved in her dressage saddle as it leaves her shoulders free to move.

 

[sbloom]

It's too hard to say without seeing the horse in question. She really should work with a good fitter who can bring out a selection of saddles for her shape of horse. I'm guessing she is a wide and flat mare - W-XW? I fit those shapes as a speciality and what works is slightly limited. If she is very flat then a good showing saddle with decent panel may well work - Ideal, Black Country etc - but there's no reason not to get a GP on her if that's what the owner would like. An Ideal H&C tree or a GFS H&C might work depending on her shape. I fit Native Pony and Phoenix saddles which have a wide selection of saddles for wide horses. If the saddle is designed from the ground up for a wide horse (and many of those of course have big shoulders) then you should be fine with a GP.

The Thorowgood/Kent & Masters/Fairfax cob tree (I think they all use the same trees) may work if she's only moderately wide and flat.

 

[wattamus]

I had this problem with my mare, i went through loads of saddles until i got hold of an Ideal VSD, its quite straight cut so it allows plenty of movement through the sholders but also is gomfortable and suitable for jumping. You can pick them up second hand for a really good price. http://www.idealsaddle.com/catalogue/saddle/12

 

[sbloom]

I did have another thought which is an Arabian Saddle Company saddle, made by Lovatt & Ricketts.