Pregnant mare needs a saddle!

[Kirstineridesagain]

My pregnant mare is arriving in January. She will be ridden lightly by my children and myself until she's closer to her due date. Only light hacking, also walks in hand. She's a young, healthy mare and I want her to be fit for the birth of her foal.

I don't have a saddle for her, and with her changing shape I'm wondering what to get her. A TCS is one option, I guess. My daughter has a Zoe Snape pad which she really likes, they come in bigger sizes so that would be another. Any other ideas? I could potentially borrow a saddle and get a fitter to check it's okay, as well.

 

[FieldOrnaments]

Your best bet is not to get a saddle fitter out who also carries second hand saddles in stock with them. It might be worth asking about brands with adjustable gullets.

 

[Jenko109]

I would just use a treeless for now.

They resale super easy too if it's not generally your thing.

Although you may be converted

 

[sbloom]

I would probably look at some sort of treeless but choose carefully and ideally buy through someone that can either fit it for you, or advise you correctly remotely.

 

[Kirstineridesagain]

So the Wintec might be okay, that's treeless isn't it?

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Wintec are not treeless, I would just use the pad you have or buy something similar for now just make sure the pad underneath is good and comfortable.

 

[sbloom]

So the Wintec might be okay, that's treeless isn't it?

No it has a plastic tree and changeable headplate. It has to be fitted correctly, and that doesn't just mean the right headplate chosen. Forgive me but it sounds like you should definitely get help if you're thinking of getting anything else for her, a lot of people find saddles just overwhelming to learn about and it's a blind spot, good to learn as much as possible wherever you can.

 

[Kirstineridesagain]

You're right, I'm definitely a saddle novice. When you've never owned a horse, it's not something you pay much attention to - you just ride in whatever the horse you're riding comes with.

 

[cauda equina]

If you are just doing light hacking a Christ Lammfelle sheepskin saddle might work

 

[PurpleSpots]

When you've never owned a horse

I'm so sorry to ask, and please forgive any offence caused by this as it is meant as genuine support for you and your new horse.

Do you have any experience with foaling, or do you have experienced foaling help on hand?
When is the mare due to foal down?
Has she been in work recently?
How old is she?
What breed/type is she?
What sort of work has she been doing recently, and (purely asking for horse-related reasons, it's not a dig or attempt to pry, it may just be to wait until Christmas is out of the way!) why is she arriving in January rather than sooner?
What will she be doing between now and January?

The answers to the above will give a better idea of the situation so it's easier to give more specific and helpful suggestions.

 

[exracehorse]

I'm so sorry to ask, and please forgive any offence caused by this as it is meant as genuine support for you and your new horse.

Do you have any experience with foaling, or do you have experienced foaling help on hand?
When is the mare due to foal down?
Has she been in work recently?
How old is she?
What breed/type is she?
What sort of work has she been doing recently, and (purely asking for horse-related reasons, it's not a dig or attempt to pry, it may just be to wait until Christmas is out of the way!) why is she arriving in January rather than sooner?
What will she be doing between now and January?

The answers to the above will give a better idea of the situation so it's easier to give more specific and helpful suggestions.

Agree

 

[exracehorse]

OP. Can I just check. That you have bought. Presumably unseen?, a horse that is being imported after Christmas. And is in foal ?

 

[Kirstineridesagain]

We're away for two weeks over Christmas, so rather than her arriving in mid December, she's arriving in January.

I have people with foaling experience in my horsey circle. Some further away, some at the yard.

I might move her to a stud with other mares in the spring. She's due at the end of June.

She's been in light work, though has had a foal this year. The saddle would mainly be so that my children can have a sit on her for little walks, not for any hard work. She's an Icelandic from a very reputable breeder, I know the horse's full history. The breeder comes recommended and breeds quality horses that are quite famous.

It's quite common to import Icelandics unseen.

I realise that the British way of doing horses is a bit different to the Icelandic way. It's a small world and not full of dodgy dealers, although of course they do exist.

I think I'll stick to the Icelandic community when asking for advice, as they know the breed the best.

 

[Kirstineridesagain]

If you are just doing light hacking a Christ Lammfelle sheepskin saddle might work

That's my thinking. We don't tend to stand in the stirrups much anyway, so that might work (I know you can create pressure points if you do in a Christ Lammfelle).

 

[FieldOrnaments]

We're away for two weeks over Christmas, so rather than her arriving in mid December, she's arriving in January.

I have people with foaling experience in my horsey circle. Some further away, some at the yard.

I might move her to a stud with other mares in the spring. She's due at the end of June.

She's been in light work, though has had a foal this year. The saddle would mainly be so that my children can have a sit on her for little walks, not for any hard work. She's an Icelandic from a very reputable breeder, I know the horse's full history. The breeder comes recommended and breeds quality horses that are quite famous.

It's quite common to import Icelandics unseen.

I realise that the British way of doing horses is a bit different to the Icelandic way. It's a small world and not full of dodgy dealers, although of course they do exist.

I think I'll stick to the Icelandic community when asking for advice, as they know the breed the best.

In fairness to previous respondents to the thread none of this was apparent from your OP and those voicing concerns over your setup and experience were only seeking to ensure both the mare and foal's and your own wellbeing as breeding isn't something to be undertaken lightly.
I'm glad you seem to have a plan, and knowledgeable people around you. All the best with the new horse when she arrives, Icelandics are fantastic little horses.

 

[sbloom]

Be REALLY careful with saddle advice from the Icelandic community, too many are fitted with too long saddles, set back, with a rear balance point (ie the rider's weight concentrated under the back half). Have a look here https://www.facebook.com/annie.dillon.92 for the BEST Icelandic owner and trainer and her adventures, she has an amazing in hand course.

(No need to mildly insult everyone by saying you'll only consult with others for advice, there is a ton of good info in here, we all play along pretty nicely, and of course some questions will indeed need the Icelandic community to help you, but I suspect there are a few owners on here too).