Non leather/ animal product saddle or bareback pad

[Wheresthehoofpick]

Bit of a complicated one but I need a hive mind solution.

My son is Autistic and has severe OCD which is sensory driven.

He used to love riding but is now virtually housebound due to his sensory needs.

He can’t bear the thought/ feel of leather or animal products.

My sweet cob mare is a total saint with him - she has a brilliant wow saddle and is a total barrel and impossible to fit. (Saddle number 5 I have bought for her in 6 years )

I guess I could get a Wintec or such like to fit her but I was wondering about some kind of bareback pad. Is there such a thing that offers some kind of stability for hilly hacking not made of animals? My son prefers the feel of bareback but doesn’t like the feel of her hair. There seem to be a lot of ideas if you Google it but I have no idea what might work. I haven’t got money to burn on experiments.

I have an old Wintec that I could possibly try and fit to her but I suspect it would constantly move.

He is a very tall but slight 11 year old - she is 15.1 and as wide as she is tall, zero wither.

 

[loz9]

Would a total contact saddle work? They do synthetic versions. You pad underneath to suit so could avoid the hair & also feels like riding bareback.

Synthetic saddles

Home of the ultimate treeless saddle

total-contact.co.uk

 

[muddybay]

Bit of a complicated one but I need a hive mind solution.

My son is Autistic and has severe OCD which is sensory driven.

He used to love riding but is now virtually housebound due to his sensory needs.

He can’t bear the thought/ feel of leather or animal products.

My sweet cob mare is a total saint with him - she has a brilliant wow saddle and is a total barrel and impossible to fit. (Saddle number 5 I have bought for her in 6 years )

I guess I could get a Wintec or such like to fit her but I was wondering about some kind of bareback pad. Is there such a thing that offers some kind of stability for hilly hacking not made of animals? My son prefers the feel of bareback but doesn’t like the feel of her hair. There seem to be a lot of ideas if you Google it but I have no idea what might work. I haven’t got money to burn on experiments.

I have an old Wintec that I could possibly try and fit to her but I suspect it would constantly move.

He is a very tall but slight 11 year old - she is 15.1 and as wide as she is tall, zero wither.

I rode in a synthetic wintec for many years and it supported me great! Maybe see if you can get that to fit your mare, I rode a sharp horse in one and I jumped to 90, hacked for miles and did xc. I prefer my saddles now but I wouldn't write off the wintec if you can get if to fit her

 

[catembi]

I have got premier equine saddles & only the girth straps are leather? I have got the dressage & jumping versions & really rate them.

 

[Wheresthehoofpick]

Would a total contact saddle work? They do synthetic versions. You pad underneath to suit so could avoid the hair & also feels like riding bareback.

Synthetic saddles

Home of the ultimate treeless saddle

total-contact.co.uk

Would a total contact saddle work? They do synthetic versions. You pad underneath to suit so could avoid the hair & also feels like riding bareback.

Synthetic saddles

Home of the ultimate treeless saddle

total-contact.co.uk

Thanks I have joined the FB page - I will see if anyone has one we could try.

 

[Wheresthehoofpick]

I rode in a synthetic wintec for many years and it supported me great! Maybe see if you can get that to fit your mare, I rode a sharp horse in one and I jumped to 90, hacked for miles and did xc. I prefer my saddles now but I wouldn't write off the wintec if you can get if to fit her

Thanks I will give this another go. He is so light and rides for such a short time that it won’t have to be a perfect fit on her.

He has just gone outside in the garden for the first time in months. We finally have some sunshine here. The awful weather and mud - which to him stinks has been never ending.

 

[Kaylum]

Have a good look at your wintec before you use it as they can disintegrate where the gullet fits. Seen a few do that.

 

[Palindrome]

may be a synthetic Barefoot saddle?

 

[Highmileagecob]

Would making a cover to fit your saddle work? Maybe a slightly padded fabric? Lay it over the saddle and cut round it, adding around three inches for a seam allowance. Turn an inch of fabric in, and sew all the way round except for the last inch. Run a length of elastic through the seam and tie or stitch the ends. Sew the last inch. Cut two slots for the stirrup leathers to feed through, and maybe swap leathers for synthetic. Easier than fitting a saddle to a cob.....

 

[Clodagh]

Would making a cover to fit your saddle work? Maybe a slightly padded fabric? Lay it over the saddle and cut round it, adding around three inches for a seam allowance. Turn an inch of fabric in, and sew all the way round except for the last inch. Run a length of elastic through the seam and tie or stitch the ends. Sew the last inch. Cut two slots for the stirrup leathers to feed through, and maybe swap leathers for synthetic. Easier than fitting a saddle to a cob.....

Adapt a saddle cover intended for storage?
Good idea, but I think OP said her son is against leather as a thing and not just as a texture.

 

[Wheresthehoofpick]

Would making a cover to fit your saddle work? Maybe a slightly padded fabric? Lay it over the saddle and cut round it, adding around three inches for a seam allowance. Turn an inch of fabric in, and sew all the way round except for the last inch. Run a length of elastic through the seam and tie or stitch the ends. Sew the last inch. Cut two slots for the stirrup leathers to feed through, and maybe swap leathers for synthetic. Easier than fitting a saddle to a cob.....

Thanks great idea. We have tried this - but he feels sick at the thought of the leather underneath him. It’s very complicated!

 

[Wheresthehoofpick]

Some great ideas here. I am going to post in some local FB groups to see if we could borrow some to test. The sensory thing is really hard to manage. Horses used to be such a positive force in his life.

 

[Wheresthehoofpick]

Very hard to manage for us as a family too. I live for being outside and my two mares and have a child who can’t bear it without having panic attacks and vomiting.

 

[Sleipnir]

The Ghost brand make lovely vegan saddles.

 

[Highmileagecob]

Very hard to manage for us as a family too. I live for being outside and my two mares and have a child who can’t bear it without having panic attacks and vomiting.

It's a tough one. Is he able to work out coping strategies, or are the issues too extreme at the moment? I'm guessing the leather aversion is all part of the OCD.

 

[Wheresthehoofpick]

It's a tough one. Is he able to work out coping strategies, or are the issues too extreme at the moment? I'm guessing the leather aversion is all part of the OCD.

We are working with a psychologist and a psychiatrist. It’s a long and complex process.

Yes the leather is about the idea of animal skin and his sensory profile I think.

 

[GoldenWillow]

Is wool texture ok? If so a Christ Lamfelle sheepskin pad could work, I find they give a fair bit of support and stability.

 

[Highmileagecob]

You might be better to source a Barefoot synthetic treeless, and consider removing the pommel profile to give a wider fit. Make sure you pad it properly underneath to give the saddle it's correct shape and support. A size 1 should fit your son.