Need help finding a saddle. Close contact MW where to look

Wagtail

Wagtail

Horse servant
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I urgently need to find a saddle for my mare. She needs a close contact 17 inch saddle MW. She is currently being ridden in a Harry Dabbs 17.5 mono flap and she goes well in it, fits her well except it's slightly too long for her. Saddler doesn't have anything suitable so I have to source myself. Obviously, anything I buy will be checked by the saddler. I am tall and she is only 15hh and compact and it's a nightmare trying to find something to suit both of us. I have combed eBay. Maximum budget is £800 so would need to be second hand probably. Any ideas where to look?
 
DabDab said:
Saddles direct?
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Oh yes, I'd forgotten about them. I'll have a look. Thanks.

Amirah said:
Have you given up on the ghost Wagtail? Interested as I was thinking of trying one?
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Yes, and sold it to help pay for a new saddle. It was great for backing her and fine in walk and trot, but just didn't stay put when she cantered. More to do with her shape than anything. It seems the close contact saddles stay put the best on her. I loved the ghost saddle and found it really comfortable but other people have said the thigh blocks get in the way when doing rising trot if you ride short.
 
Amirah said:
Have you given up on the ghost Wagtail? Interested as I was thinking of trying one?
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I've got one that doesnt move at all and mine horse has been so difficult to fit, its literally the only saddle out of hundreds that does fit.

I had mine professionally fitted though and it is very carefully shimmed and adjusted by an exceptionally good fitter.
 
facebook, for close contact I would put a wanted post on the BD/BSJA/twitter eventing groups (depending what style you are after). Also a fair few specific saddle groups.
 
Wagtail said:
Oh yes, I'd forgotten about them. I'll have a look. Thanks.



Yes, and sold it to help pay for a new saddle. It was great for backing her and fine in walk and trot, but just didn't stay put when she cantered. More to do with her shape than anything. It seems the close contact saddles stay put the best on her. I loved the ghost saddle and found it really comfortable but other people have said the thigh blocks get in the way when doing rising trot if you ride short.
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Treeless that stay put are a problem, and two things moving are quite enough. The best one I had for not slipping was a balance soft option but it was half treed.
 
Thanks, everyone. I have found one which my saddler thinks should fit and taken a punt on buying it. It's a pessoa jump saddle nearly new. I've had one before and am pretty sure it will fit. I hope so! I don't want my mare to have too long off being ridden at this time in her education. I am borrowing the current saddle but it needs to be returned asap as well as being slightly long for her.
 
If you are tall I would think a 17" jump saddle wouldn't be very helpful unless all you do is jumping. I would think something that was perhaps keyholed with a straighter flap might be better to take your leg with a wider squarer seat and would give your horse more shoulder movement.

But I am not a saddler, just a person who has gone through a lot of saddles to find the right one!!
 
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