Ridden pony owners!

[Rachael42]

Hi,
I have a chunky Shetland pony in the process of getting backed.
Im wanting to buy a saddle for him and the saddle fitter has advised he can take up to a 15”.
has anyone used Monarch pony saddles? Or used anything similar?
Ideally not anything massively expensive.
Thank you!

 

[scruffyponies]

I use a vintage flat panel hunting saddle, with a crupper, which is an essential piece of kit on most shetlands if you don't want the saddle on their neck. Used a dressage girth for ages until we found something short enough.
Initially he was in one of those cub things, which was worse than useless.

 

[Maisie53]

We use a shires Aviemore pad on our shetland cross after trying various saddles. Cheap and effective and my 4 year old and 10 year old use it.
I have just ordered a thorn pad though.

 

[conniegirl]

Zoe snape pad

 

[sbloom]

I will say as a specialist fitter of natives that I've never seen a shettie able to take a 15", equally saddles vary massively how long they are, it's impossible to give you one size of seat. Even the brand I fit has an inch range in the length of the underside in different models and panels in the same seat size.

Shetlands vary in shape so again hard to recommend, can your fitter not advise more specifically as he or she has seen the pony?