Saddle fit advice please

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TT55

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Following on from my post asking about Berney Bros saddles, I decided to fork out for one and it arrived today.

Can i have your opinions on the fit please? I think it's too narrow and hence too pommel high? Annoyingly, the majority of polo saddles only come in one width! :mad:



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Too high in front and not level at the front either - if you look at the top picture, the piping is about an inch further down on the right, so subsequently the skirt is as well. I don't think is a trick of light/picture either as the rest looks level and even if you draw a line from top to bottom.

ETA - the saddle probably come in about one size because they are all made for a particular size and shape. Yours is a bit chunkier possibly than what the saddlers are envisaging
 
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twiggy2 said:
why not get a saddle fitter and buy one that you know fits?

that one does not fit at all
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^^^ this. You can ask for advise on here but no one is an expert and if they are then they wont be able to clearly tell from a photo. An average call out for a saddler is around £40 I think (is in my area anyway)
 
I'd be sending that one back, agree with above, this saddle is not made in symmetry at all and does not fit your horse either IMO ( but I'm not a saddle fitter ).
 
Those who have said about the lack of symmetry... you're right. I didnt notice that before! I thought maybe it was the picture and maybe she wasnt standing completely square (dont think she was) but i just checked the saddle on the back of the kitchen chair and it's definitely not symmetrical! It's going back! Shocking given the amount it cost!
 
can you not buy a similarly cut saddle that fits and have the extra layer removed? set a trend by riding a horse whilst doing one of the most physically taxing jobs in a saddle that fits.
 
I don't know anyone who is ever concerned about the fit of polo saddles - one size goes on all. Oddly, they all look like that on all ponies. I've just left a place that did some polo ponies, and it is hard to plonk a ill-fitting saddle on a pony, but we had to do it. Maybe the 'only 7 mins chukka' won't harm, is their motto..

Not sure what to suggest really.
 
Doesn't fit in the slightest.

The panel you want is called an Owen panel (unless my memory fails me!). It's not solely a polo thing and you could easily get it on most saddles if you have one made. You could prob get one altered too. Although I thought a wide flat seat with a narrow twist and no knee roll was what makes a polo saddle?

Is there a reason you want a polo saddle?
 
Fools Motto said:
I don't know anyone who is ever concerned about the fit of polo saddles - one size goes on all. Oddly, they all look like that on all ponies. I've just left a place that did some polo ponies, and it is hard to plonk a ill-fitting saddle on a pony, but we had to do it. Maybe the 'only 7 mins chukka' won't harm, is their motto..

Not sure what to suggest really.
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I've been borrowing one and it's nowhere near as bad as this one. The tack rooms are always full of different riser pads, thats how they seem to do it!

It's weird because my mare is by no means an unusual shape, so i dont know why it would be so hard to find a saddle to fit!

Kallibear said:
Doesn't fit in the slightest.

The panel you want is called an Owen panel (unless my memory fails me!). It's not solely a polo thing and you could easily get it on most saddles if you have one made. You could prob get one altered too. Although I thought a wide flat seat with a narrow twist and no knee roll was what makes a polo saddle?

Is there a reason you want a polo saddle?
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Don't think i could afford to get a whole saddle made :( im no expert on polo saddles, but the no knee rolls thing is key i think.

The reason i'm after a polo saddle is because i bought this mare for polo and although i would like to try a few other things with her, 90% of her work will be polo.
 
I've still got a old Barnsby PC approved saddle (pigskin) with a half panel flat seat and no knee rolls 17"/17.5" I think, and still in good condition, you can have that for 50 quid! Probably fit as well as or better!
 
Get in touch with Balance International and get them on the case. If all polo saddles are like this, and people are willing to pay a reasonable amount for them, they'll design one. They've just brought out a western saddle, so they need a new project! Their speciality is comfort for the horse.
 
Bobbly said:
I've still got a old Barnsby PC approved saddle (pigskin) with a half panel flat seat and no knee rolls 17"/17.5" I think, and still in good condition, you can have that for 50 quid! Probably fit as well as or better!
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Ooo do you have a photo? Although if it's 17" not sure my bum will fit!

Kallibear said:
But you could play polo is a normal WH surely? A show saddle has very little knee roll and bulk.
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Yes i have been looking out for one. I actually saw a second hand show saddle that would have worked a treat, except it was kids size! Will have to have a look and see if any of the local saddle fitters do something similar...
 
When I played polo with Uni, a lot of the ponies seemed to be in GP style saddles - or at least I don't remember them being any different to the saddles I rode other horses in! If anything, some of them had pretty decent knee rolls - more along event style I think - that allowed plenty of movement, but gave you some grip.

Depends on your style, and I only played Uni level, but I actually preferred something I could sit 'in' rather than just perched 'on'... And of course event saddles come in more sizes!
 
Why not also ask a saddler about having the sweat flap removed and the bottom of the front panel taken off. It might not cost a fortune and means you could get pretty much any saddle.
 
I have played in 'normal saddles' too... problem is, with knee pads on you cant roll your knee into the saddle to get into the proper position for hitting from. They work ok, but it's by no means ideal.

Although i am considering getting a 'normal' saddle for the time being while i search for a decent polo saddle.
 
Not sure that many suppliers sell different width polo saddles at all unfortunately.
There is a nearly new medium fit suede polo saddle for sale in Hertfordshire (iPad won't let me copy a link though)
 
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Don't know if it's any use to you - I think black country make polo saddles? I'm 99% sure someone I know when I used to play bought some from them.
 
debsandpets said:
Not sure that many suppliers sell different width polo saddles at all unfortunately.
There is a nearly new medium fit suede polo saddle for sale in Hertfordshire (iPad won't let me copy a link though)
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Yes, thank you, I have spoken to that person already. This saddle is supposedly medium fit too and it's too narrow!

One More said:
Don't know if it's any use to you - I think black country make polo saddles? I'm 99% sure someone I know when I used to play bought some from them.
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Yes they do and I just noticed that one of the local saddle fitters stock Black Country saddles... No prices puts me off a bit though!
 
Patrick Wilkinson has some polo saddles. I have just bought a saddle off him and as I'm miles away he sent it and let me try it before deciding. I think he keeps a fair few saddles in stock as was the only place I could find the saddle I wanted without waiting weeks and weeks.
 
TT55 said:
Yes, thank you, I have spoken to that person already. This saddle is supposedly medium fit too and it's too narrow!
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Ok, worth a shot. Had this had been 4 years ago, I had a lovely wide La Polera polo saddle for sale ..........
Not sure if they are easy to get hold of in the UK ?
 
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