New saddle time

Bobbly

Bobbly

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So, new baby horse is working well and has been getting used to wearing a saddle to do lunge/long rein work in. The one I have been using is not good enough for proper riding use.
She's a four (may) year old WBxID/TB, I've usually migrated towards Ideal saddles and just wondered what people might suggest for her? I'm hoping to lean towards showing/wh/low level dressage so nothing forward cut......
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Do you have a photo of her showing her back shape including her wither? I fit a model of saddle that is a deep seated and larger blocked WH saddle, people love it for showing/hacking/dressage and popping smaller fences, or even WH if you don't mind jumping in a straight cut saddle :), so it is possible to find one perfect saddle to do what you want!
 
I'd only get an adjustable saddle for a 4 yr old. She's probably going to grow some more and she'll definitely change shape over the next 18 months.

You could go with something reasonably priced like a Wintec and invest in a more expensive saddle in a few years time or you get get a more expensive but adjustable saddle now like a Prestige
 
what bantry said :D

I bought a second hand prestige gp when my youngster was 3.5, we have had one adjustment when he reached 4. He is now off on winter hols but when he comes back to work in the spring I would think we will need another adjustment.
 
She looks like she'll take a moderate seat, she's not super flat but not got a significant wither either. Her spine doesn't look super wide either. Many showing saddles would be too flat and too close contact, a WH may be better but look for something that isn't TOO curvy, the rear panel should make a bit of a wedge shape, sitting flat against the back, and the seat should have a decent flat spot as well - too many are really sharply curved in the bottom of the seat which isn't helpful on many horses at all.

I'm not allowed to recommend the saddles I fit, so can only give you general pointers :D, I would say that any wooden treed saddle can be adjusted, a handful of times, and for many horses and ponies that is enough. Many saddle fitters will not do this adjustment though. The company I work with has made these adjustments for many years without a problem so I leave it to you to decide why other saddle fitters won't do them! I prefer wooden trees in many ways - more stability, more choice of shape, synthetic trees are only produced in certain shapes and sizes. If one truly fits your horse well, then go for it, adjustbility can be a bonus as long as the headplate isn't adjusted without looking at other aspects of fit. Babies have softer backs than older horses and are more vulnerable to muscle damage, so the saddle must fit really well which means stable in work. Be prepared that it will need checking very regularly.
 
Thank you very much, I did wonder about the Albion VSD? I don't know what trees they are on, We did have our fitter sell us a Mark Todd jumping saddle once and he was able to adjust the width of that on site, is that what you mean? What types of saddle would be adjustable? I'd rather buy a leather one, hate Synthetics, even if I have to change it further down the line.
 
You need to buy from a fitter who will adjust the trees, all wooden trees are adjustable a few times, it's only the fitters or companies won't do it! I do it on site. I think the Mark Todd might be synthetic on the GFS trees.

I personally think that a nice WH is much more elegant than a VSD - the high cantle on a VSD isn't very subtle for the show ring, but if it fits and does the job then go for it. I don't fit them so an not sure what shape the tree is.
 
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