opinions on the fit of this saddle please

NeverSayNever

NeverSayNever

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im posting this is behalf of a friend and would be interested in opinions:) many thanks:)

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I'm not the best when it comes to saddles but from the side on view it doesn't look straight, if this makes sense it looks like its going down at the front ever so slightly. But it doesn't look a bad fit when someone is sat on it though can you still fit 4 fingers under the pommel?
 
I can't see the pic's :( However, a well fitting saddle does not need 4 fingers under the pommell. As long as there is enough clearance for the horses wither not to hit the saddle if they drop their head/lift their shoulders (think of jumping) it will be fine. The majority of saddles that fit well do not have this muc clearance.
 
I am a bit useless at this, but would say that there isn't a great deal of clearance at the shoulder blades, although you would need to run a hand down to check & the saddle really doesn't need to be any longer for what looks like a short backed horse. I really like panels to be as broad as possible, that is a new saddle so woul expect it to settle and look less perched on the horse in time.
 
It's not possible to judge a true fit of a saddle from photos.

To me, I would say it looks a little narrow, it's sitting high, a little 'tented'. Seemes high and tight on either side of the withers. Looks narrow along the gullet and doesn't look straight in the first photo. But that is just an opinion, I am not a qualified or experienced fitter.
 
It's not possible to give any accurate advice from photo's. Checking if a saddle is right is as much about feel, as what it looks like.

Run your hands underneath the panels. Does the pressure feel even? Does it bridge? Are there any tight areas? Have you still got plenty of wither clearance when a rider is sitting on it?

It looks as though it's shifting to the right a little, which might be due to the saddle being unevenly flocked, or the horse not being completely symmetrical.

I think your best bet would be to have your saddler come out. It is strongly advised to have saddles re-flocked and checked at least annually.
 
Baileyhoss said:
It's not possible to judge a true fit of a saddle from photos.

To me, I would say it looks a little narrow, it's sitting high, a little 'tented'. Seemes high and tight on either side of the withers. Looks narrow along the gullet and doesn't look straight in the first photo. But that is just an opinion, I am not a qualified or experienced fitter.
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I agree with this.
 
I wouldn't be happy to ride that horse in that saddle- the panels don't suit the horses shape for a start before even going on to the fit.
 
I would say it looks too narrow, the panels at the back also don't look like they follow the shape of the horses back very well. If it was me I wouldn't consider it to fit and would be arranging a visit from a saddle fitter (I wouldn't feel happy to ride on it in the mean time!).
 
Ditto the rest really...it doesn't sit 'right' it's a bit narrow and is slightly to one side, the panels don't look right against the shoulder....but without actually seeing in flesh...not great way to determine..
I would suggest getting a saddle fitter out to ensure your friend gets a saddle that will fit both the horse and herself.
 
thanks all for opinions -

should point out that friend is on her umpteenth saddle trial and trying her very best to get something to fit her girl. She has also had umpteen different saddle fitters out trying to find something and this has been ongoing for months and months. Posting pics is really just to get as many opinions as possible,although it is hard to say form a pic sometimes something glares out at you that you hadnt noticed.
 
I would be a bit concerned that 'umpteen' saddle fitters couldn't come up with a good solution - where abouts in Scotland are you? Have you tried Stirlingshire? They normally appear with a very good selection and will at least leave you with a good idea of what you are looking for even if you choose not to purchase. The horse looks to have a fairly unremarkable shape, although quite a 'flat' back. I personally like Ideal saddles and I know they cater for a variety of shapes in both rider & horse.
 
she doesn't look a particularly hard shape to fit so I would be concerned about the standard of saddlers who are struggling to fit her tbh.
 
For what it's worth, i wouldn't be happy with that saddle but i'm no expert.

I would agree with everyone else, a saddler is always the best bet. However, i came across this website recently, and i thought it was really interesting and informative, particularly the clip on the bottom right of the screen.

http://www.schleese.com/9PointCheckList

Hope that helps a little

Trina x
 
Is she looking at new saddles or second hand too, we have never had a new saddle that fitted our horse (short back, quite flat but not barrelly) as everyone said not remarkable shape but just awkward they all looked to sit proud (if you see what I mean :confused:) But the saddler eventually found a nice second hand one (leather) that was an appropriate shape. Until he found it we had a 'cheap' Wintec Cob I think?!
 
friend isnt in Scotland Im afraid, and yes pony is proving a very difficult shape to fit which probably isnt apparent from pics.

Thank you for the opinions given it is appreciated - however since my friend isnt a member here herself I wont go into any more details regarding fitters etc she has had out, suffice to say however she will not rest until her pony has 100% and will not settle for any less.
 
Hi,
I am not a saddler but have unfortunately a lot of experience in the wrong saddle fit..and sorry to say, this does not fit this horse. This is not a nasty post and I am writing this in an 'I am sorry voice'
If the rider were to sit in the saddle it would tip the rider forward as the weight is on the front of the saddle.
Also judging by the photo, although it is difficult to be totally accurate, the saddle does not follow the line of the horses spine. It looks too narrow and it would be better to try a wider saddle.
Also when I looked closely at the front of the saddle in the picture, it does not look terribly well made - sorry again - it may be better for your friend to try a good brand name saddle in either leather or synthetic....sorry again if this is not a cheap saddle...it looks it! Cheaper saddles do not normally have decent panelos at the back.
She could try David Dyer the saddler at Frogpool who will send a saddle to the template you supply. I have had success with this.
Hope this helps.
Regards
Bryndu
 
Theres no way you could tell from looking at pics unfortunatly, i hope you are getting a qualified saddle fitter to fit it rather than putting the safety and comfort of your horse in the hands of strangers on HHO! best wishes
 
From the way the saddle flaps stick out on the first pic, I would also say that this saddle is too narrow. The points of the tree don't follow the line of his shoulder. Again, not a saddle fitter, but having a wide horse I know that saddles that look like that on her definitely don't fit.
 
Baileyhoss said:
I would be a bit concerned that 'umpteen' saddle fitters couldn't come up with a good solution - where abouts in Scotland are you? Have you tried Stirlingshire? They normally appear with a very good selection and will at least leave you with a good idea of what you are looking for even if you choose not to purchase. The horse looks to have a fairly unremarkable shape, although quite a 'flat' back. I personally like Ideal saddles and I know they cater for a variety of shapes in both rider & horse.
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ooh ditto!

i bought a lovely 'Ideal' 17.5 x wide saddle for my BW mare. Its fab and service was excellent- very reasonably priced also. They brought LOTS of saddles or me to try
 
sorry but to me it looks totally wrong, i suspect you already think this on some level, it looks as if it was made for a different type of horse, and the arch is much too high indicating that it is too narrow in the gullet, a saddle should just drop on and look right, it should conform to the shape and type of the horse.
 
elsazzo said:
Theres no way you could tell from looking at pics unfortunatly, i hope you are getting a qualified saddle fitter to fit it rather than putting the safety and comfort of your horse in the hands of strangers on HHO! best wishes
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**coughs loudly ** please read my other posts on this thread ;)


Bryndu - will pass on the Froogpool contact, thank you :)
 
Probably gona be shot down in flames here - but just going by the photos, TBH it doesn't look a bad fit to me. Although it seems very high in the cantle. What does the horse think? They're usually the best judge, even better than most saddlers.
 
sorry to say this , many years ago i had a balance saddle as mentioned before, it was a disaster, lumps on backs, bucking etc, turned out the tree was twisted, but also i did't like the way it moved slightly from side to side, they are too wide in my opinion, and the one we had was made by a saddler who won master saddlers national award 8 times, just goes to show, i prefer thorowgood, no snobbery here, their trees, the simatrees are never distorted, i love them so do my horses, and i sell saddles so could have any make i want at advantageous price including devercoux, antares, hermes, keiffer and more but i choose thorowgood.
 
tristar said:
sorry to say this , many years ago i had a balance saddle as mentioned before, it was a disaster, lumps on backs, bucking etc, turned out the tree was twisted, but also i did't like the way it moved slightly from side to side, they are too wide in my opinion, and the one we had was made by a saddler who won master saddlers national award 8 times, just goes to show, i prefer thorowgood, no snobbery here, their trees, the simatrees are never distorted, i love them so do my horses, and i sell saddles so could have any make i want at advantageous price including devercoux, antares, hermes, keiffer and more but i choose thorowgood.
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its a minefield really:rolleyes:

talking about my own horse now- (not the one in this thread as this was on behalf of friend)but I ended up going for a Kent & Master and am really very pleased with it. However, I had it fitted and supplied by a very highly regarded SMS saddler in July, my horse was templated and fitted with a wide gullet. I found after a couple of weeks that i was tipping forward and it seemed low at the front. Got the same saddler back out , by the time i got an appointment i had had the saddle 10 weeks.... saddler took another template, it was IDENTICAL to the first taken, shape of horse had not changed - and yet saddler said he now required a MED-WIDE gullet and I would have to pay for it. There was no admission that the wrong gullet had been fitted the first time, just passed off with a shrug of the shoulders. Believe me this person is very well known.

I seriously have very little faith in ANY of the saddlers out there, its a nightmare knowing who to trust,
 
they should be fitted slightly high to start with because of the nature of the flocking, it compacts over the first period of riding and the saddle becomes lower, however the flocking still retains give as it should do to cushion and spread the weight, so if it was just right to start with the arch is too wide, it would become too low and tilt forward obviously.
saddlers have a duty to put things right, they owe it to the customer and horse, you have to stand up for yourself and demand it is replaced.
 
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