Potential saddle fitting issue

[Cloball]

So I've found a fantastic pony that is everything I was looking for BUT she's currently in an 16 inch wintec and my butt is right up against the cantle. I am 15% weight wise including tack but she's got a short strong pony back and I'm 5'6 size 10 with a sizeable bottom. Is it a lost cause saddle wise? I have a couple of terrible photos I can PM. I've never had my own saddle before I've always just ridden in what ever saddle fitted the horse so I'm not what size saddle would fit me. ?

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

How big is the pony?

 

[Barton Bounty]

Depends on where the saddle sits on the pony as long as its not past the last rib really. But you do get saddles with deeper seats that are nice and compact so would enable you to feel comfortable but still be shorter on the back ?

 

[shortstuff99]

Wouldn't be a deal breaker at all, there a few saddle companies now that can put a bigger seat on a shorter panel.

 

[SEL]

I think it's worth asking a saddler what they think looking at the photos. If your weight is right at the back of the saddle then you may be putting pressure on the wrong part of the back - not going to be comfy for you or the horse.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Suggest you get a suitably qualified saddle fitter in to take a look. A professional will be able to assess both horse & rider and recommend saddles that would be a good fit for you both.

Suggest you do this asap and especially bearing in mind that any saddle fitter worth their salt will be very much booked up, especially now leading up to Xmas. I've had to wait six weeks for mine so I'd suggest you crack on.

 

[Cloball]

The pony is a 13.3 fell.

How big is the pony?

 

[sbloom]

I seldom recommend putting a shorter panel on, 1/2" can be okay in some cases but it nearly always is a big compromise as it doesn't move the rider forwards so the weight becomes more concentrated on the back edge. A deep seat nearly always means less room for the rider, and even if it feels okay it's much more likely to tilt the rider's pelvis if they sit anywhere near the cantle. In my experience an open seat would be a better bet.

I would consult with your own saddle fitter, or a specialist in fitting ponies, saddles have a different amount of room (I have fitted plenty of people your size and larger into one particular 16" model), and take up a different footprint, for the "same" seat size. And then there are forward balance saddles which do carry the rider further forwards so the normal rules don't apply....

 

[cauda equina]

If she can't go bigger than a 16" I wonder if 16" in a different make or design might work better for you; I ride in a 16" K&M PC Long Leg but I'm only 5'4

 

[Cloball]

Do you think a saddle fitted would mind offering an opinion considering I haven't actually bought the pony yet?

 

[Flame_]

Not a lost cause but potentially could be. IIWY I'd try a fairly straight cut, shallow seated very well balanced/ if anything perhaps with a slightly high cantle design. You need to be comfortable, especially if you're going to do any endurance. Ask the members of your local endurance group for fitter recommendations, lots of people ride mounts as small as they can get away with so it's a problem they'll have some ideas about.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

A show saddle may work better lots of ponies are shown by taller riders and seem to be fine.

 

[irishdraft]

Different saddle designs can make a big difference, wow saddles can put a bigger seat on smaller panels which might work .

 

[GoldenWillow]

I've found Wintecs to have a big footprint as such, the ones I've known the panels have extended out more than many other saddles so a different saddle may have a bigger seat size but the same footprint. MY cob would need a 16" Wintec but my 17" AH saddle fits him. I've also found the seat size variable between different makes, I can fit in some 16" saddles and struggle to fit in with some 16 1/2", I'm 5'4" 56kg.

 

[SEL]

Do you think a saddle fitted would mind offering an opinion considering I haven't actually bought the pony yet?

You can pay some to do an online assessment based off photos. Might be worth dropping @sbloom on here a message. I think she charges a fee but at least you wouldn't end up buying a pony you can't ride

 

[rara007]

I expect she could take a 17 inch show saddle that would take you much easier Could be worth a saddlers opinion but I doubt a fell and a size 10 are incompatible.