Question for Friesian Owners - Saddle Fitting

[DappleDown]

Hi.

I need to buy a saddle for my newly arrived Friesian, unfortunately saddle fitters are none existant where I live so have to buy online. Am considering a Kent & Masters as is leather and adjustable.

The saddle I currently have is a medium/medium wide Black Country (lovely saddle but I will have to sell it to help fund it's replacement) but I think it 'pinches' on the points (I have taken her shape with a flexi curve).

My question is:

A) Do any Friesian owners out there have any recommendations for me - would the K&M S Series suit her build better, or their standard range - or any other make?

B) Is there another way to judge the fit - and note any pressure points, of my current saddle?

I know without seeing her it is hard to comment, hence asking Friesian owners who are familiar with the build. She is 15.2hh, slightly broad across chest, not long in the back (but not particularly short either). She does have withers, low ish but she is not flat backed.

Thanks for any help.

 

[alainax]

Are you going for GP? Shoulder clearance is a big consideration. My Kent and masters GP didn't have enough clearance for him. Now in an ideal dressage saddle.

 

[DappleDown]

Hi, thanks for the reply, yes, a GP.

 

[alainax]

Do you have Facebook? There are a few good friesian groups where saddles are often discussed and advertised.

 

[DappleDown]

Thanks alainax, good idea. What would I type in the search field to find them?

 

[alainax]

There is
Friesian horse owners
Competing friesian horses uk
Friesian horse accessories for sale
Friesian horses *kfps foals*

 

[Wheels]

Are there no saddle fitters even travelling to your area?

Where abouts are you?

Getting the fit right for a Friesian can be quite complicated because when they are static some can look like they have a curved back, when they move they can change shape quite substantially

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

I ve had a Collegiate dressage saddle on one of my mares and a Bates GP on the other which doesn't impede shoulder movement or development.

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

It will help with your search if you can establish why your current saddle is pinching ie too narrow or too wide. Both will cause pinching, too narrow and the saddle will feel tight over the ends of the points (and there may be a gap of air between the panels and the horse, near the top of the panels), too wide and the saddle will dig in behind the shoulders, feeling tighter at the top of the panels and slightly looser underneath the ends of the points.

 

[DappleDown]

Thanks for replies.
I've also contacted K&M to ask about their S Series and their Cob saddle, no reply as yet.

 

[Equi]

Any friesian I have dealt with has had extra wide or xxw dressage saddles. Kieffer is adjustable but most I know use a wintec Isabell tbh.

 

[HufflyPuffly]

My two are part breds admittedly, but one is in an Equipe and the other in the original Kent and Masters. Both need different trees/ panels/ fit, despite looking similar and both being MW width, getting a fitter or knowing how to fit yourself is so important I've found!