Pony shopping update, saddle musings and all the fancy clothes.

[HayleyUK]

Thanks for all the help and advice on pony shopping in Ireland and vetting etc.

She flew through and arrived at the ungodly hour of 3:30am Wednesday. Wandered into the stable and tucked into hay like she’d been there her entire life, and I was back in bed by 4:10. Bramhams of Buckingham were amazing if anyone needs a transporter!

Popped her over to Crow Wood yesterday to have a look at some saddles and tick some boxes off around travelling, arena hire scenario, loading and waiting nicely on the trailer. Realised she’d not been ridden in 10 days and lunged once since she got there so expected a bit of fire breathing...
She muttered under her breath, had a squeak at her reflection in the windows and cracked on like a pro.

Utterly thrilled with her so far but now need to find the right saddle.

She’s very wide and very flat, so most things just kinda rolled around on top when we moved, or were just horrendously wrong.. we eventually got to an ideal - the base model - which was like riding bareback!! Hoping we can get the right tree but with a deeper seat and a block crafted for her, so watch this space.
Recommendations for saddles for table top ponies always welcome!!

Ive got a GP to play with whilst the ideal is scoped and hopefully ordered, so riding is a go!

Pics to follow when I can work out why my phone won’t upload then

 

[Midlifecrisis]

Lovely to hear..my tabletop mare is in a Bates GP.

 

[tda]

I like Ideal saddles for wide ponies ? hope she continues to settle well

 

[sbloom]

Wide and flat really isn't such a problem, I would search for specialist wide horse fitter. The changeable headplate saddles always seem very attractive but tree shape is critical and you'll find very few options meaning only a few really wide horses and ponies actually fit them, no matter how wide a headplate you put in.

 

[gallopingby]

Ideal saddles are often good for wide flat backs.

 

[jj_87]

I am close to crow wood and they don't often have much of a selection in for wider flatter horses .. in my opinion also find they will sell you what they have
I really like my Sue Carson for my highland, but looked at a couple of ideals and a black country too.

 

[RJS]

I am a big fan of flair for difficult to fit horses. The Sue Carson pony saddles are amazing and IMO well worth the money. As I am short legged too, it can be suited to me as well... I would love to upgrade to the Sue Carson Darcy... I had a sit on one at Badminton last year and its just lush

 

[sbloom]

Some horses don't like Flair, we (more than 60 years experience between us) don't find air works better than flock, on average, for very wide horses, in fact the reverse. There are of course many different ways of fitting saddles but we do see "trends" like this (trying to think of a better word!).

Not sure if it's only air panels but I see a lot of honking great rear gussets, usually air filled, that, to me and other wider/flatter specialist, smack of compensation for too curvy a tree. Curvy trees are for higher withers hence tend to have larger gussets to balance them. I remember seeing a saddle fitted on a croup high horse, XXW fit, with 6 fingers clearance in front but was still tipping forwards because the tree wasn't flat enough and the rear gusset too big. Really common.

 

[McFluff]

My saddler put together an ideal for my wide flat backed mare. They have two flatter trees that she looked at - H&C and FWB. Mine ended up on FWB. If wide fit, a hooped tree may be better too (apparently!). They were able to make it suit me, so it was sort of a mono flap Jessica with a flatter seat. If you like more support, then a susannah based design may be better.
A good saddler who can see the tree shape and build up round that is worth their weight in gold. My saddler likes that ideal will make up to order. Black county were another that we looked at that she felt had the right type of tree.

 

[sbloom]

My saddler likes that ideal will make up to order.

Pretty much all bench made makes in the UK will make to order, I have to say I favour buying from stock wherever possible, then you know exactly what you're buying and have better consumer rights but none of that matters if the saddle DOES end up being a perfect fit for both of you of course

 

[McFluff]

Pretty much all bench made makes in the UK will make to order, I have to say I favour buying from stock wherever possible, then you know exactly what you're buying and have better consumer rights but none of that matters if the saddle DOES end up being a perfect fit for both of you of course

Fair point. I should have said that said pony went nowhere near anything off the shelf. It was fascinating watching my saddler work out which tree and which cut would give the best fit for both of us. She was spot on. Loved that saddle. Sadly lost the horse, so saddle is back with her looking for a unicorn to fit to!
Hoping new boy is more normal...

 

[HayleyUK]

Thanks everyone for the replies!

We’ve ordered an ideal with a few tweaks, can’t wait for it to arrive now!