Rider Struggling with New Saddle

A

alijane

Member
Joined
25 May 2010
Messages
20
Visit site
Hello Everyone, I am new to this forum and I would like some advice please? I bought a brand new saddle for my son's pony last week (from a reputable company) and it fits the pony well but my son (nine) is having terrible problems finding his balance on it. He has had it a week now and is starting to get very disheartened.
We have only had the pony three weeks and he is in poor condition so we have had to use a mattes correction pad underneath the new saddle until he fills out more, which I am not sure may be contributing to the rider balance problem? We have an old saddle on loan which came with the pony, but it is not a good fit for the pony, although the child loves it.
Do I call the saddle fitter back out, or do I persevere hoping it comes together and the saddle will slowly mould to the child? Can anyone suggest a way of helping my son balance (a friend suggested a Heather Moffatt seat saver might help him?)
Thank you
 
You should call the saddle fitter (and don't wait too long, it's highly probable, that you need another saddle), because normally the rider won't come together with the saddle and the saddle won't mould to the rider.
A saddle should fit both horse and rider !!!

Few weeks ago I ordered a new saddle, and there was only one of five saddles that fits me, and took several hours for my saddle fitter to find out.
 
Saddle fit should always prioritise the horse. however if your son is struggling then it will do his confidence no good and he wont be able to build a relationship with the pony. He is too young to compromise like an adult can.

If your son rode in the saddle when you first tried it and you accepted it as ok for him then its not the saddle fitters fault. But you should contact them asap and explain the situation and see if heres anything that can be done.

It may just be that it sits him in a different position, which after onl a week its not long enough for him to adapt. Your son may just need a bit more time and some lessons to physically adapt to a change of position. Best to speak to the fitter first though
 
Thanks for that, I have contacted the saddler. He did ride on it when we had it fitted, but the stirrups were under the saddle flaps so they did not mark the saddle and I put the wobbling down to that at the time.
I have emailed the fitter.
 
I forgot to add, he had a lesson with his regular instructor yesterday and she was really unhappy that he was struggling so much - it does not bode well does it?
 
If your pony is in poor condition, why not spend a week or two allowing your little lad get to know him better from the ground while the pony puts on some weight? It could be that the pony really shouldn't be doing any work yet, especially something as taxing as lessons if it is physically unable/unfit. Definitely, the saddle must fit the rider too and to say you can't use the stirrup leathers in case they mark the saddle is ridiculous - just put some old football socks with the feet cut off over them to prevent marks.
 
Hi, thank you for your suggestions. I have the saddler coming back out on Monday to look at the saddle again. My little boy only has lessons for 30 mins at a time or is gently hacking for the same period so I don't think I am stressing the pony. Our instructor is very experienced and she would immediately stop us if she thought we were doing more than he is capable of. Having looked again at the saddle, the new one is a close contact style with a very flat seat and is also an inch bigger than he is used to. The saddle which came with the pony is smaller and more deep seated. I hadn't considered the idea of socks, and I do have some old ones so I will suggest that to the saddler on Monday if he is still reluctant to let me put the stirrup leathers over the top! Thank you. :)
 
Hi, just to update on this, the saddler has swapped the saddle for a more deep seated alternative and I now have a happy child again! Thanks for your comments. :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top