Opinion please: saddle length on youngster

Spyda

Spyda

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This is purely for saddle length comparison (neither saddle shown is 'fitted', just borrowed for length comparison) and both could possibly be positioned an inch or two further forward, but....

Do these saddles look too long for this horse? I know they are different style saddles but that aside, one is 17" seat and the other is 16.5". To me they both look a tad close to his loins than I'd prefer, but I cant imagine having to look for a 16" or smaller saddle to fit him comfortably! He's a 3 year old 15 hand Connie x TB (to make 15.1 - 15.2)

Luckily I'm only 5'1", with very short legs, so could technically get away with a child's saddle, but I was hoping the brown Bates saddle in photos would be a suitable sort for him when saddle fitting time comes. Problem is, I do endurance, so the saddle he eventually wears will need to be comfortable for both he and I over 80 - 120 km eventually. I cant afford a bespoke saddle or WOW type and if he's only going to be confortable in a saddle that will ultimately be too small in the seat for me, I may need to consider selling him on and looking for another prospect. ��

Objective opinions please on length (not style of saddle):



 
they do look very long on him!

He is very very compact looking for a connie x tb!!

Mine is the same breed and is a lot bigger!! was supposed to make the same height as yours but is a good 16'1 (5yrs old) but he was defo bigger than this at 3!!
 
Neither could be positioned an inch or two further forward otherwise you'll be inpingeing on his shoulders. I think they're both too forward as it is and the second one looks far too big.
 
You can get bigger seats on smaller panels - for e.g. a 17" seat on 16" panels. Lots of companies do these - AH, Albion, Jeffries, Ideal, Heritage Saddlery; to name only a few!

AH Native Pony Saddles would probably be your best bet, I don't know if they do endurance saddles though.

I agree that both saddles pictured look to be too long, though it's difficult to say for certain without being able to feel the last rib.
 
I think they are both too long but they do not appear to fit or suit his shape, it may be that when you find a saddle that suits he will be able to carry something of 16.5 or 17inch with no problem, he will also still be growing and that can make a difference.

I would be careful about buying a childs saddle, we have a pony here with a saddle I would call a childs saddle it is a well know make for native breeds and bought new for him, it fits the pony ok but is too small for an adult rider which results in it constantly slipping to one side or other, in my view it is just too lacking in depth to ever be much use, that is despite him losing weight and gaining a wither.

He has turned into a lovely little horse, I think I remember you getting him a few years ago.
 
Too long as far as I can tell without putting my hands on him, but don't panic, he's still growing. My boy has grown a lot of length over the last year (he's now five). I have used a barefoot saddle on him though as he was very foal like in his proportions for a long time (long legs, short back).
 
Thanks all. Bloody nuisance he's stayed so short coupled. He's still in 5'6 rugs (5'9 at a push) and has a dumpy conformation. I want to start working him soon, so shall have to find something that suits him but like I say I don't have limitless funds to find a unique saddle for a tricky shaped horse.
 
I agree, both saddles are way too long. If the smaller one is 16.5 inches, then I would say you would need no more than a 15 - 15.5 inch saddle, sorry. Luckily you are small and so that should be okay for you (if you are not overweight). Other than that, you could try treeless.
 
Mmm... 15" saddle to back him with, it will have to be then. I'm 8.5 Stone, 5'1 and size 8/10, with very short legs, so hopefully I'll fit. Not great though is it I'd be a lot happier in a 16.5" and will have to keep my fingers crossed I either win the lottery so can afford a bespoke saddle to suit the both of us or that he grows a little more over the next year or two. That said, he's stopped growing this year and is filling out width wise, so I am not hopeful that he's going to be a particularly 'slow grower'. Most likely he's reached the majority of his adult height and length by now. His dam was only 14.2 (and as a well bred pure connie, all ancestry behind her are that height or smaller) and his sire was 15.1 (and again, without much height in his ancestry either, despite being TB.)
 
I still think that he'll grow. This was my boy at four (yes, seriously). I'll try to get a current one without a fly rug (all I can find sadly), but he really has got longer. :) Have hope.

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We have a very short backed new forest X, saddler recommended a wintec Cair, it's 16.5", despot my misgivings about synthetic saddles it fits him well and I find it comfortable too, (I'm about 5'10",with long legs)" it's also fairly straight cut so does not go up his shoulder.
 
Slightlyconfused said:
Where is his last rib? You need to feel for that and if the saddle is on it or over saddled is too long.
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As above, no longer than the last rib

Find his last rib and mark along spine with chalk, then measure from the point where the button would be on the saddle, to the mark you've made.

Now you have the ideal length for your saddle.
 
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Kezzabell I think that is a great example and that the OP is likely to see similar changes. my square 14.2 welshie in 5'9 rugs can take a 17".
 
ester said:
Kezzabell I think that is a great example and that the OP is likely to see similar changes. my square 14.2 welshie in 5'9 rugs can take a 17".
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Untill I put these pics up, I never realised how much longer he'd got!! people keep telling me he's going to get bigger still, including the saddle fitter! Scary when he was only expected to make 15'2 haha

He was a 6'6 rug in the first pic and he's now a 6'9
 
My 5yr old square cob who is 6ft in rugs can take a 17.5" now, he was backed and had a 17" up until May of this year. He went up a rug size from 3 to now as well, might actually be 2 rug sizes when I try last winters rugs on him this year
 
Probably both too long, probably both too curvy, but impossible to tell without having hands on him as already said. The TG compact is a very curvy tree, very high cantle and not much seat space, personally I think you are better going for the smaller seat size in the cob tree, though it doesn't fit everything they say it does and is a long way from how I fit saddles. I will say, as a fitter for AH Saddles, it's not necessary to go M2M to get a good fit, it may equally be possible to pick something up used (we're always happy to advise what models you can look for from photos etc), but many good saddles are available from stock. Not all horses grow in the ribcage length sadly, but there are many variations on shorter panels and larger seats out there that may work.
 
A massive thanks to everyone who's taken time to comment and offer advice, and encouragement for him likely to 'lengthen' more over time. Really appreciated. I dont plan doing much under saddle with him this year, just lightly back him towards the end of the year before winter really sets in and then start proper work next Spring. I obviously want his 'backing' experience to be a comfortable one so will look for a suitable old banger of a saddle which is fit for that job and then save my pennies for a 'proper' riding saddle for him early next year. Hopefully another 6 months will have allowed him to mature a little more. Fingers crossed.

Thanks again everyone. You're all brill. :)
 
A banger of a saddle is a good idea! Rather spend pennies on one that fits perfectly but looks tatty and save the pounds for when he has fully changed shape and you can splurge on a forever saddle :)
 
EQUIDAE said:
A banger of a saddle is a good idea! Rather spend pennies on one that fits perfectly but looks tatty and save the pounds for when he has fully changed shape and you can splurge on a forever saddle :)
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agreed, wish I had done this, rather than spending a grand on mine!! I've had 5 different saddle fitters and 7 fittings to get it right in the last year and a half!!

Started with a wide, down to a medium wide, down to a medium, up to a medium wide and now in a wide again! I was never happy with it being any narrower. it defo fits the best now.
 
As a saddle fitter, I would say that both saddles are loo long for him. If you want a saddle for endurance, then look at a Swinging Fender Australian Stock Saddle. They have panels similar to a Western and length is not so much of a problem. They don't block the shoulder either, as the shoulder moves under the panels.
 
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