New dressage saddle report + Photos

[CastleMouse]

Headed out the the yard earlier this afternoon to try out my new (well secondhand really) dressage saddle which arrived this morning... It seems to fit Ali quite well, although I'll get my saddle fitters opinion just to make sure... Schooled Ali in it for about 40 minutes and I absolutely love it! Ali seemed pretty happy with it as well as I got some fantastic work out of him

Here are a few pics (the colour of it looks strange in some photos which is due to the bizarre lighting outside)...

As you can see it needed a good clean, it looks great now after soaping and conditioning though

 

[MillionDollar]

The cantle is sitting a bit wierdly. I wouldn't use it until your saddler has had a look. Nice saddle though

 

[clairencappelli]

Im sorry to say this and dont shoot me down but that doesnt look as if the tree is the right shape and doesnt fit the horse.

The panels look hard and the tree curves up at the back and isnt touching the horses back ( it looks like an old stubben ).

The issue is unless the panels are deep enough they cant be adjusted and the panel are quite thin on that saddle.

Id get someone to see it asap before using it but it doesnt look right to me.

 

[Louby]

Sorry but I dont think its right either. Maybe its not wide enough? as although the 'front on' piccy looks like it fits lovely it seems a bit perched and the back isnt sat right. It looks like if you lunged him in it then the back would not be on his back, if you know what I mean. Im guessing the gullet isnt wide at the back or the panels are quite narrow. But then Im no saddler

 

[CBAnglo]

I agree - the tree is too banana shaped and the panels far too narrow for your horse. It looks as though it is perched on your horse's back rather than sitting on either side of the spine. If you post a back view this would be clear.

If your previous saddle was a bad fit e.g. too narrow, then he will go well in this saddle for a short while before he finds this saddle uncomfortable as well.

 

[CastleMouse]

Thanks everyone for the opinions

I'll be contacting my saddle fitter to schedule a fitting

[ QUOTE ]
If your previous saddle was a bad fit e.g. too narrow, then he will go well in this saddle for a short while before he finds this saddle uncomfortable as well.

[/ QUOTE ]
My other two saddles (A Frank Baines GP and a Stubben Siegfried close contact saddle) fit him perfectly (they were both professionally fitted)... If he was in serious pain he'd certainly be the type of horse to let you know (sorry if that comes across as rude as it isn't meant to

)...

 

[CBAnglo]

Oh, I dont doubt that he wouldnt - most horses do!

I didnt mean my comments to sound rude either - I didnt want to imply that his previous saddle didnt fit! I just meant that in some cases where a horse is magically transformed by a new saddle, it doesnt mean that the new saddle fits - it just fits better than the old one!

He looks like a lovely mover (from the pics in your sig) and I noted that you were just trying the saddle on and were waiting for your fitter. This is sensible as if you had put it one and he started bucking/rearing you would know not to bother getting the fitter out! Wish more people would take your approach!