Saddle fit woes - very bum high?

[MasterBenedict]

Looking for some advice/ideas from anyone that has a bum high horse. My 4 year old is very bum high, and although I know he will grow a bit, I have resigned myself to the fact that he will probably remain this way, at least a little bit (from looking at sire & dam).

So I have a bit of a dilemma when saddle fitting, as everything ends up being cantle high! He is quite flat backed with practically no withers. Has anyone got any saddle suggestions or ideas? I'm loathe to use shims and pads if possible, as I prefer the idea of a well fitting saddle to start with.

Some pics for an idea of conformation (sorry if they are huge I'm on my iPad and can't change the size)-

This is his current saddle, which is the closest I have found to fitting him but is far from great!! It's an Ideal wide with a spring tree and he goes very nicely in it, but it doesn't really suit me.

Peanut MnM's for grabs!

 

[buddylove]

Aww bless him, I think you probably need to speak to a specialist in fitting saddles for his type. SBloom would be able to advise what he needs!
He's lovely (but please don't be offended, he reminds me of a Belgium Blue)!!

 

[Meowy Catkin]

He's very much a stock horse type. It might be worth asking on a US forum, but I have seen this type of horse in close contact style jumping saddles with a flat tree and thin panel depth at the back. Maybe ask for saddlers who specialise in fitting to similar wide, low withered, flat backed types eg natives and arabs. SBloom will hopefully see this thread.

 

[cobgoblin]

You're not going to like this, but our bum-high horse didn't have a good saddle fitted that lasted any time until he was eight ( still got it 2yrs on, a record!). Before that it was a question of refitting or changing the saddle every few months. Funnily enough the Ideal was one of the brands that fit, so if this saddle fits your horse at the moment I would stick with it until you have to change because it probably won't be very long.
Love his colouring!

 

[Molly'sMama]

Treeless/total contact until he grows out of it? Otherwise Ideals do seem to be good ones to go with for adaptability, our Ideal Jessica fits pretty much everyhorse on the yard

 

[hippocobamus]

I'm going to sound like a broken record, but what about looking at the SMART Native saddle. Not only should it fit him, even when he does change shape, but you should be able to get yourself comfortable too as you can change the balance for the rider without interfering with the fit for the horse.

I love mine. It's been a godsend for hippocob, and although he's not as bum high as yours, I wouldn't describe him as uphill either!

 

[Annagain]

Sorry can't help saddle wise, but just wanted to say he's lovely! What beautiful markings, and the added bonus is all the worst parts for dirtiness (I own two greys!) are all brown!

 

[Firefly9410]

The saddle in the pic looks a bit too far forward to me like it is on top of his shoulder not behind it. He is beautiful. I like his kind eye and he looks a nice shape to sit on so I would ride bareback but I realise this is of no help to you sorry!

 

[Sukistokes2]

I am at work so I can not see the photos but on what you have said I would go for a Heather Moffatt Fhoenix to start with and look to get out Sbloom or colleague at a later point, when he has settled. The native saddles are amazing but you would be buying new and prob changing again in a relatively period of time.

 

[Asha]

My 6 yo is very similar. He loves his close contact Phillipe Fontaine ( type of stubben I think ) I don't like it, but those who jump him do, so for me, I bought an old Albion dressage saddle and had it altered to fit, he goes well in this too. Both wide as well ��

 

[Joyous70]

I might get shot down in flames for this but here goes.

My old spotty boy was bum high and the saddler told me he needed a high wither saddle, despite having no withers, the panels at the back of the saddle were deeper which kind of made up for the gap so to speak, not sure if this was sales blurb to get me to buy a new saddle however, this is what he had and he seemed to go well in it.

 

[sbloom]

I'd go for as flat a tree as you can with a plain, non gusseted rear panel that is as shallow and short and curved as possible. I'd not go to get more clearance in front to compensate (the high wither curvier approach) but look to get the rear of the saddle down. The QH type shapes are not easy to fit, everything runs forwards, but this seems to suit this sort of shape and I find that the two versions I fit work well on short and/or croup high horses.