Race saddles and fat ponies

[Mousesmom]

Going to buy a racing saddle for two ponies. The one I'm buying (Zilco Full Tree Exercise Saddle) appear to have no sizing options. Will they fit mine? One is a Welsh Cob and the other is basically a miniature warmblood, not exactly thoroughbreds.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

I use my exercise saddle on everything from shetlands to Welsh cobs to racehorses. They are designed to fit just about anything that isn't 6miles wide. I would maybe find a different one to a Zilco though as it is 19" long. Old Mill Saddlery make a synthetic full tree that is just shy of 18". Half trees are comfy with enough pads under them and again will fit anything.

Just remember you can't get on from the ground in an exercise saddle as they will just roll round no matter how tight your girth is ? they also offer absolutely no way of holding you in the plate and are very much an acquired taste.

 

[sbloom]

I really really wouldn't. Some will get away with it, umpteen others will suffer back problems, short or long term. They don't fit racehorses (witness discussions about better options for exercise saddles) let alone Welsh cobs. They have a half or full tree in that does have a width, so they can't possibly be made to fit almost everything. Half trees are avoided by lots of yards for exercise, the pressure on the back edge of the tree, directly under the rider, is unavoidable. Sorry, just can't agree that they should ever be used. Why are you considering one?

 

[ycbm]

Half trees are avoided by lots of yards for exercise, the pressure on the back edge of the tree, directly under the rider, is unavoidable.

I bought a 4 year old ex racer who had a permanent bump on his back from the edge of a half treed saddle. They've always sounded like an abomination to me.
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[ycbm]

Going to buy a racing saddle for two ponies. The one I'm buying (Zilco Full Tree Exercise Saddle) appear to have no sizing options. Will they fit mine? One is a Welsh Cob and the other is basically a miniature warmblood, not exactly thoroughbreds.

Why are you planning to buy a racing saddle for ponies?
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[coblets]

I'm presuming you're considering these saddles as your horses' normal saddles don't fit with the added weight. Would a bareback pad or even a TCS be a better alternative?

 

[planete]

It is unlikely the riders will feel comfortable or very safe either on a racing saddle, they take some getting used to, very good balance and strong muscles.