New pony doesn't come with saddle - advice on best next step please

[Hel23]

Subject to vet I should be bringing my new 14.2 sports pony home at the weekend but his saddle (which is a v expensive Bates close contact) doesn't come with him. Current saddle is medium gullet. I will contact my saddle fitter (who is also master saddler) for their advice but they are usually booked up so unlikely to be able to visit immediately.
What measurements should I be taking from his existing saddle and any bright ideas on how to fill the temporary gap? Sat a K&M pony club saddle on him (from my current loan pony) which gave good wither clearance but I didn't sit on him...
I'm feeling a bit confused and don't want to start our relationship with an ill-fitting saddle - any advice appreciated!

 

[sbloom]

I would strongly suggest looking at all your options, I've yet to see anything other than a very high withered pony that takes a medium (and even then I'd go MW and pad in most cases, so many are that "narrow" because they lack muscle), most are wider, you may find that Googling brings you more options in terms of brands for ponies, fitters etc.

There's no sure fire way to know what will fit him even temporarily if you're not sure on saddle fitting in general. Sorry I can't be more helpful, but you may find other fitters/options are quicker than your current fitter anyway.

I would do some groundwork to help him settle and for you to bond with him, I have a page of links to various groundwork websites etc if you want to let me have an email address in a PM, and if you can afford it I would get a bareback pad like a Christ Lamfelle, you can use it when your saddle needs adjusting too.

 

[Polos Mum]

Saddle fitting is a delicate art! Width, clearance (enough but not too much), bridging, tree shape and length, panels shape and size, your seat size vs. horses back length (the saddle has to fit both of you) - it's a mine field. One brand's 'medium' is totally different to the next and you can have saddles mechanically altered a bit of width so even if something is stamped 'medium' it might not be. If you don't have some sensible experience it's not something to have a go at with your new pony on day one.

I would call around other local fitters and see who can come out the soonest with a sensible selection of saddles within your budget.
I've had saddlers come, look at the horse, go back to their car and bring out the 'perfect' saddle, sit it on - then whisk it off again because it was horrible. Even knowing saddles and looking at the horse - until you try them on it's impossible to guess!

I would ride bareback / ground work / settling in time until then.

 

[Hel23]

I would strongly suggest looking at all your options, I've yet to see anything other than a very high withered pony that takes a medium (and even then I'd go MW and pad in most cases, so many are that "narrow" because they lack muscle), most are wider, you may find that Googling brings you more options in terms of brands for ponies, fitters etc.

There's no sure fire way to know what will fit him even temporarily if you're not sure on saddle fitting in general. Sorry I can't be more helpful, but you may find other fitters/options are quicker than your current fitter anyway.

I would do some groundwork to help him settle and for you to bond with him, I have a page of links to various groundwork websites etc if you want to let me have an email address in a PM, and if you can afford it I would get a bareback pad like a Christ Lamfelle, you can use it when your saddle needs adjusting too.

Thanks

Saddle fitting is a delicate art! Width, clearance (enough but not too much), bridging, tree shape and length, panels shape and size, your seat size vs. horses back length (the saddle has to fit both of you) - it's a mine field. One brand's 'medium' is totally different to the next and you can have saddles mechanically altered a bit of width so even if something is stamped 'medium' it might not be. If you don't have some sensible experience it's not something to have a go at with your new pony on day one.

I would call around other local fitters and see who can come out the soonest with a sensible selection of saddles within your budget.
I've had saddlers come, look at the horse, go back to their car and bring out the 'perfect' saddle, sit it on - then whisk it off again because it was horrible. Even knowing saddles and looking at the horse - until you try them on it's impossible to guess!

I would ride bareback / ground work / settling in time until then.

Thanks yes it is a complex subject and I've never had a horse not come with a saddle before (and if they have I've obvs then had checked by fitter pdq). Reputation of fitters is also so variable too!

 

[gallopingby]

Subject to vet I should be bringing my new 14.2 sports pony home at the weekend but his saddle (which is a v expensive Bates close contact) doesn't come with him. Current saddle is medium gullet. I will contact my saddle fitter (who is also master saddler) for their advice but they are usually booked up so unlikely to be able to visit immediately.
What measurements should I be taking from his existing saddle and any bright ideas on how to fill the temporary gap? Sat a K&M pony club saddle on him (from my current loan pony) which gave good wither clearance but I didn't sit on him...
I'm feeling a bit confused and don't want to start our relationship with an ill-fitting saddle - any advice appreciated!

Why doesn’t the saddle come with him? Would have thought the best option would have been for you to buy the saddle assuming it fits you and the pony? Or are you looking for a cheaper option ie older saddle?
contrary to belief most horses don’t come with tack, it’s usually sold for an additional price.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Tbh I like to get my own saddle and then I know it fits, I have seen so many horses that get sold with saddles that just don't fit, I would get a fitter out with a selection of saddles that you trust and has been recommended, I also agree with sbloom a medium width saddle is really not that wide, especially as his a Connie they can be quite wide so chances are it doesn't fit anyway.

Sorry don't know why I thought he was a Connie!

 

[Hel23]

Why doesn’t the saddle come with him? Would have thought the best option would have been for you to buy the saddle assuming it fits you and the pony? Or are you looking for a cheaper option ie older saddle?
contrary to belief most horses don’t come with tack, it’s usually sold for an additional price.

Previous owner didn't want to sell saddle as hoped it would fit her new pony...

 

[Hel23]

Tbh I like to get my own saddle and then I know it fits, I have seen so many horses that get sold with saddles that just don't fit, I would get a fitter out with a selection of saddles that you trust and has been recommended, I also agree with sbloom a medium width saddle is really not that wide, especially as his a Connie they can be quite wide so chances are it doesn't fit anyway.

Sorry don't know why I thought he was a Connie!

thanks, got my fitter coming out on Mon so she will hopefully have something suitable

 

[eventinghenry]

Does owner have the new pony already? What I did with mine was to “loan” previous saddle until we found one that fitted him, then gave it back to the owner (but granted, this doesn’t work so well if pony isn’t local and you can’t fairly easily drop saddle back!)