New pony saddle fitting

[junie]

Hi all,

I've just got my first pony at the age of 35!
I'm looking for some experienced help with saddle fitting. I have a 17" med/wide good leather saddle and a 16" wintec chair adjustable on trial. I'll try to attach pics when I find out how to!
The leather one feels lovely but I think looks a little big for us, while the wintec is comfy I noticed it slipped back a little after riding about 20 mins.
How do people generally feel about leather vs synthetic?
I'll get pics of me in the saddle up soon

Thanks

 

[sunshine100*]

hi congrats to you!! have you got a saddle fitter out? anything else you need help with?

 

[junie]

Hi!

He's at a yard with onsite tack shop and the wintec is from the shop, the owner is helping me fit and would obviously like me to buy her saddle over the other one so I'm not sure I'm getting an honest opinion. They're both reasonably good fits, I'm just not sure.

 

[junie]

https://forums-secure.horseandhound.co.uk/album.php?albumid=7419&attachmentid=28767

 

[junie]

https://forums-secure.horseandhound.co.uk/album.php?albumid=7419&attachmentid=28766

 

[junie]

https://forums-secure.horseandhound.co.uk/album.php?albumid=7419&attachmentid=28764

 

[junie]

https://forums-secure.horseandhound.co.uk/album.php?albumid=7419&attachmentid=28765

 

[junie]

Finally got some pics up of us with the 2 saddles.

I'm sure I'll have lots more questions to come Sunshine 100!

 

[be positive]

The saddle needs to be tried on without any padding under it, we cannot really see anything from those photos as there is a big fluffy pad under them, if the person helping you fit has any idea of what she is doing she should see you ride in them without a pad as it gives a far better idea of what is going on, a pad can be used later if desired but this needs to be suitable and not used to try and make a poor fitting saddle ok.
The leather one does not look too big for you, the wintec looks a little small, I would always opt for leather over synthetic as long as it fitted, they are so much more comfortable and are usually a better investment as they hold a value if you need to sell on at some point.

 

[junie]

Thank you for the information, she didn't suggest riding without any pads, I might suggest it tomorrow.
I have one terrible pic of the leather saddle sitting on him I'll try to post here the leather saddle is quite a good price so I'd have no problem selling it if it didnt work out.

 

[junie]

https://forums-secure.horseandhound.co.uk/asset.php?fid=26692&uid=69412&d=1456513135

 

[Leo Walker]

If you put wintec cair into the search box you will find lots of good reasons not to touch a cair saddle with a barge pole! Please get a fitter, honestly, it will save you soo much heart ache in the long run!

 

[junie]

Thanks for that tip, I'll have a look online for cair info . I think the yard owner will not be happy with me bringing in external help as she fits quite a lot of saddles from her shop! But I know a saddle fitter is the best option really.

 

[catroo]

The leather saddle looks the wrong shape for the pony, too much over the shoulder. I'm not sure it will be best with helping maintain a correct riding position, it's encouraging a bit of an armchair look.

As already said, to get an idea of fit you need to see it with no numnah/padding initially

 

[Shay]

I know it is difficult - but if YO is going to be annoyed about you getting a second opinion on your saddle then that should send up massive red flags. No professional should ever be afraid of a second opinion.

And I'd echo the caution about synthetic saddles...

 

[junie]

Thanks for all your helpful info, I think I'll keep looking for a better fit leather saddle

 

[sbloom]

Can't tell much about how a saddle fits a horse from ridden photos, the leather saddle is too far forwards and down at the back, neither of which is good, and I'm just not a fan of Wintecs full stop especially on natives and native crosses. If you will always ride at that length then the amount of flap in front of your knee means you will swim about, if you're going to jump with much shorter stirrups then it's a compromise you may have to take, but something straighter cut and/or smaller will suit you better as you're sitting in the photos.

 

[showjumpingharry]

I have a wintec and use a le miux prosport riser pad underneath to ensure it has a good fit as harry is still growing so we didn't want to spend lots on a new saddle for it not to fit in a couple of months.he came with the wintec but normally I wouldn't go near one.