Saddle Fit- Opinions Please?

Blaise

Blaise

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Just wondering what you all though of this saddle? I'm going to start backing Lola in the next few weeks and have been looking for saddles for her. These are 2 i already have that i put on to check length, width etc... today but i'm really not sure. The havanna GP is a 17.5 inch seat and the black dressage is a 17 inch. Which do you think looks better? Does the GP seem to be slightly too long on her back?

The GP was made to fit my old 16.1 TB mare and is 10 inches D to D. It also fitted my 16.3hh big, chunky IDx. Tried it on Lola today and it seems quite tight over her shoulder? It was also really high over her withers, i could fit a good 4 1/2-5 fingers width between pommel & withers. I always thought that meant it was too narrow but i really dont see how it can be as she's only a 15.1, quite fine TBxAppaloosa.

Obviously i wont even attempt to get on her with a saddle on until a saddler has been out, checked and fitted it properly but i've been offered a couple of v. good saddles at a very reasonable price and wanted a rough idea of what may fit, and to give the saddler a few options when he comes out. If none fit then i know i can sell them again as they are quite a bargain.

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17.5inch GP

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17 inch Dressage

P5190361.jpg

Wither clearance (GP)

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P5190365.jpg


Clearance from behind

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What do you think?

Tea & biscuits to anyone who managed to get this far!! :D
 
I thought they seemed narrow- the dressage one was definitley too narrow, just wanted to try that on to see if the 1/2 inch seat length made any difference, but the GP one really puzzles me as it fits 2 horses much wider than her.
 
Agree, they are too narrow and are perched on her back. My friend has a 15.2 fine appaloosa and he has a Thorowgood T6 cob with a wide gullet! Will your saddler have any saddles they can bring for you to see?
 
From those photos i would say that the GP looks too narrow and the gullet at the back of the saddle doesnt look wide enough- the panel is sitting on the spine.

The dressage saddle has too curved a tree- there is a gap of a few inches at the back of the saddle where the saddle doesnt touch the horses back. This will lead to rocking and bad pressure distribution.

Would also like to say that when you look at saddles yourself, make sure the horse is stood square on a flat, firm surface, with the horses head in a normal position (not up or down) and straight to the front. Otherwise you cant assess the saddle properly.
 
I'd have thought they looked narrow... but she does look like she's got her head down in quite a few of the photos which would distort the picture

I wouldn't back a horse without having the saddle properly fitted, so you're right to get a saddler out.
 
heather_bambi said:
Agree, they are too narrow and are perched on her back. My friend has a 15.2 fine appaloosa and he has a Thorowgood T6 cob with a wide gullet!
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One of the saddles i looked at was a T6 cob but i discounted it right away when i saw 'cob' thinking it would be too wide but i'll definitley be having another look now you've said that.

Divasmum said:
It is honestly worth paying a saddler to come to check them.
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Not these ones, no. The black one was only put on for length & everyone else has confirmed my suspicions about the gp.

galaxy23 said:
I wouldn't back a horse without having the saddle properly fitted, so you're right to get a saddler out.
Click to expand...

Completely agree- would never back a horse without getting their saddles fitted first, the last thing i'd want to do is have a 4 yr old remembering a badly fitting saddle for the rest of it's life.


Thanks guys, your comments are appreciated :)
 
I'd just wait until the saddler comes and let him/her fit you with something, no saddle is bargain unless your a 100% sure it fits and nobody can tell you this from looking at some pictures but from the ones you have provided I wouldnt consider having either, they too perched however they will give this impresson more because your horse has its head down, but still from those angles, it looks like you could get a double decker bus either of them!

There is nothing worse than being stuck some old saddles that don't fit, you won't get much back for them, I'd save your money and invest in something newer that a qualified saddler/fitter has fitted for you and possibly something that will change with the shape of your horse (like a wintec/TG/GFS) if they fit, if not a good leather one that will sell easy and you won't loose money on should you need to change in months later or something you can easily have adjusted/flocked again.
 
They are deceiving, my "narrow" looking 15.3 mare is actually a MW/W in saddles... both look too narrow to me unfortunately, she looks a similar shape to my mare which means she will probably need a saddle with good gullet width through the length of the saddle, and thinnish panels.
 
I would get a fitter out and ask them to bring a selection, it will show you exactly what you need.

I think you are doing absolutely the right thing to do with a 4 yo, too many people use any old saddle to back horses, they just store up problems for the poor horse in the future.
 
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