Saddle fit opinions

[poiuytrewq]

Opinions please!
This is girthed up. I use a poly pad type under when ridden.
Not the very best photos sorry but what do you think from what you can see. I’ll add the behind one but on looking at it the horse wasn’t straight ?‍

 

[poiuytrewq]

In fact ignore the last one. It’s so bad that maybe gives a false impression

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Doesn't look great it's not level it's up at the front so I would say it's too narrow and it's not sitting flat on the horses back at the back personally I wouldn't use it.

It looks like it may be put on too far forward which won't help with how it looks either.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

On the sixth picture you can see the saddle is sitting on the shoulder it needs to come back but I think it will still be too narrow

 

[poiuytrewq]

On the sixth picture you can see the saddle is sitting on the shoulder it needs to come back but I think it will still be too narrow

Ah yes, I’d redo but I’ve just put him out!

 

[ihatework]

Doesn’t fit

 

[Sossigpoker]

I'd say the tree is too narrow

 

[poiuytrewq]

I could actually cry.
Because the horse has put on weight, just the wrong saddle for him?

It was fitted by a recomended fitter but when I first bought him and he’d stressed off a lot of condition. That’s back on plus some now he’s settled.
Saddler came back end of March as I wasn’t happy it was fitting, widened and adjusted/removed flocking. She did say if he got wider it couldn’t be widened further.

 

[Rowreach]

As well as not fitting, that left panel is compressed.

 

[poiuytrewq]

As well as not fitting, that left panel is compressed.

Maybe a stupid question but it’s a bit chicken and egg.
I have a long term hip problem, left hip.
It’s recently been really bothering me riding.
Could I have done that or could that be causing my worsening issue

 

[poiuytrewq]

They are different aren’t they. I’m almost relieved by this but as I’ve almost dreaded riding it’s that uncomfortable

 

[Rowreach]

Maybe a stupid question but it’s a bit chicken and egg.
I have a long term hip problem, left hip.
It’s recently been really bothering me riding.
Could I have done that or could that be causing my worsening issue

I'd say that given the side view which means you can't be sitting in balance, plus your hip problem, then if you've been riding in that saddle for a while the compression is likely to be a result of that.

Is he at all tender behind the left shoulder?

 

[poiuytrewq]

I'd say that given the side view which means you can't be sitting in balance, plus your hip problem, then if you've been riding in that saddle for a while the compression is likely to be a result of that.

Is he at all tender behind the left shoulder?

No, he seems pretty happy to be poked and prodded anywhere. He does have a chiropractor apt next Friday.
The flocking was only done 6 weeks ago though, would it happen that fast?
The photos weren’t after riding just taken for this purpose.
When you say the side view means I’m not in balance do you mean because the saddle isn’t?

 

[Rowreach]

No, he seems pretty happy to be poked and prodded anywhere. He does have a chiropractor apt next Friday.
The flocking was only done 6 weeks ago though, would it happen that fast?
The photos weren’t after riding just taken for this purpose.
When you say the side view means I’m not in balance do you mean because the saddle isn’t?

Trying not to be too blunt ? but all angles of your pics show a poorly fitted saddle - was it reflocked remotely did you have a saddle fitter out? It's perfectly possible to compress a panel fairly quickly.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Trying not to be too blunt ? but all angles of your pics show a poorly fitted saddle - was it reflocked remotely did you have a saddle fitter out? It's perfectly possible to compress a panel fairly quickly.

Flocked and widened here on site, then put back on the horse and I got back on.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Also this isn’t a saddle that I already had or came with the horse. It was fitted and bought for him in I think November

 

[TPO]

View attachment 92464
They are different aren’t they. I’m almost relieved by this but as I’ve almost dreaded riding it’s that uncomfortable

Yup they are. It's very common so always worth inspecting a saddle off a horse to check for symmetry from above/underside/front/behind.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Yup they are. It's very common so always worth inspecting a saddle off a horse to check for symmetry from above/underside/front/behind.

Your right. I’m very p’d off with myself. I’ve known we had a issue for a few weeks but blamed everything bar the saddle as I thought it too recently done.
I’m guilty of chucking the pad on and that hides an awful lot. It was only today I got back from a short but pretty horrible ride and decided to go over everything properly.

 

[TPO]

Your right. I’m very p’d off with myself. I’ve known we had a issue for a few weeks but blamed everything bar the saddle as I thought it too recently done.
I’m guilty of chucking the pad on and that hides an awful lot. It was only today I got back from a short but pretty horrible ride and decided to go over everything properly.

Don't be too hard on yourself. You paid a professional for a service and that saddle isn't fit for purpose probably from date of manufacture.

Not sure what brand your saddle is but there is a brand with a red nail head that is allegedly known for similar discrepancies amongst other faults.

You've noticed now and are doing something about it so not anything else you could have done.

 

[poiuytrewq]

It’s an Albion k2
Do you think it is a case that it never fitted at all?
It certainly felt ok and the horse was happy in it at first and again briefly after alteration.
I now need a new one though and need to decide who/where to go and trust with more money ?‍

 

[TPO]

It’s an Albion k2
Do you think it is a case that it never fitted at all?
It certainly felt ok and the horse was happy in it at first and again briefly after alteration.
I now need a new one though and need to decide who/where to go and trust with more money ?‍

Based solely on the photo (and the assumption that it's a level saddle horse taken square on from behind) it doesn't look like the original stitching of the panels is symmetrical. *If* it's been like that since it was manufactured it's unlikely to have sat and distributed pressure evenly on a horse



LHS stitching meets in a sideways Y shape where top of panel meets the stitching along the back of the gullet

RHS the bottom panel meets the stitching along the back of the gullet but the top section of the panel doesn't meet at the same point

My arrows aren't very neat!

 

[Melody Grey]

Has the horse drastically changed shape/ gained weight since it was fitted? I can see how you could think it never fit to start with based on these photos. Re: the symmetry commented on above, I’d be raising that with the saddler and manufacturer. Not good enough in any saddle, let alone a brand at that price point.

 

[Red-1]

I agree that it looks like it wasn't manufactured symmetrically, but I also think this is more common than you would think!

As for fit, yes I do think it can change that quickly.

3 weeks ago, I liked the fit of baby horse's saddles, he has had them for 6 months, always happy with the fit. We changed the bit 3 weeks ago. He moves better. He has also been doing more work, and has had more turnout on grass. In 3 weeks he has changed shape. The saddle no longer fits!

I have camp on Friday and it isn't guaranteed that we will go unless I can sort something out.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Oh hell so we aren’t talking a simple flocking thing?
This is getting worse and worse.

Yes I suppose he has changed a fair bit, I didn’t realise that much though.

So my next question, what’s my next step?
Go back to the saddler I bought it from, it was second hand so no point in contacting the manufacturer… is there?
Get it looked at by another saddler?
This is so annoying, I really can’t afford to just stop with this horse at the moment

 

[poiuytrewq]

All those who have super helpfully commented, if I take some pics tomorrow if my other saddle which I suspect also too narrow, hence buying a new one, this one and post them can we discuss if there is any possibility of using that or getting it altered to keep up going.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Would it be horrific to use a saddle that’s narrow with a riser to lift it but that’s symmetrical? Very short term, and only if he is ok in it.
I’m not sure I want to not ride for weeks then hop on him somewhere new for the first time in ages and break an arm infront of the a new saddler

 

[Melody Grey]

Would it be horrific to use a saddle that’s narrow with a riser to lift it but that’s symmetrical? Very short term, and only if he is ok in it.
I’m not sure I want to not ride for weeks then hop on him somewhere new for the first time in ages and break an arm infront of the a new saddler

*not an expert* but I suspect it’ll still exert pressure in a ‘too narrow’ kind of way with a rider aboard? Two wrongs don’t make a right.

I use flair saddles which do occasionally go rogue. I have a wide adjustable synthetic saddle and a quartered shim pad with lots of options that I use briefly in the interim on both of mine while I wait for the saddle fitter.....that’s not a ‘right’ either, but has served me well over the years.

 

[Rowreach]

Would it be horrific to use a saddle that’s narrow with a riser to lift it but that’s symmetrical? Very short term, and only if he is ok in it.
I’m not sure I want to not ride for weeks then hop on him somewhere new for the first time in ages and break an arm infront of the a new saddler

Ooh please don't.

I know I'm only commenting from photos but there's so much there to unpick I think it's highly unlikely that it was ever a *good* fit. Red is right that saddle asymmetry is more common than it should be, and TPOs helpful arrows show the detail, but regardless of that I think you need a different saddle altogether that fits your horse properly and sits you in balance. Just maybe use a different fitter as well.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Ooh please don't.

I know I'm only commenting from photos but there's so much there to unpick I think it's highly unlikely that it was ever a *good* fit. Red is right that saddle asymmetry is more common than it should be, and TPOs helpful arrows show the detail, but regardless of that I think you need a different saddle altogether that fits your horse properly and sits you in balance. Just maybe use a different fitter as well.

I didn’t mean this saddle. I won’t use this again.
Is this sellable?! ?

 

[Rowreach]

I didn’t mean this saddle. I won’t use this again.
Is this sellable?! ?

Stick up some pics of the other saddle on him.