Saddle fitting a youngster or in rehab

[Debsflo1]

Just a thought but how do you have a saddle fitting with something unbacked or in rehab when you can't do a full ridden check in all gaits.
I can't be the only one.
Tia

 

[sbloom]

You have a static check and agree to have the fitter back out as soon as trot is sufficiently established, I ask for photos to be sent to me of the rider on the saddle to see how it sits, if some time has passed before first being sat on I also ask for photos of the saddle girthed up before the rider is due to get on the first time. Then regular saddle fittings, in an ideal world monthly, but 2-3 monthly as a minimum.

 

[HobleytheTB]

I walked and did one big circle in trot on each rein when my horse was coming back into work. Then got it rechecked once horse was able to do more etc.

 

[sbloom]

I walked and did one big circle in trot on each rein when my horse was coming back into work. Then got it rechecked once horse was able to do more etc.

I've actually been in attendance at backings, so yes, if you can sit on them, or have an extra pair of hands so, if they appointment goes well, you can, then it's possible to do a tiny bit of ridden work.

 

[Birker2020]

I've actually been in attendance at backings, so yes, if you can sit on them, or have an extra pair of hands so, if they appointment goes well, you can, then it's possible to do a tiny bit of ridden work.

Generally, if you were to buy a youngster could you get away with reflocking an existing saddle or is it more beneficial to to purchase/borrow something with an interchangeable gullet?

Looking at my options horse hunting and think I'm going to have to start looking at four/five year olds now as the prices seem well out of my budget. I know that's a lot older than an unbacked youngster but just thought I'd ask the question.

 

[sbloom]

Generally, if you were to buy a youngster could you get away with reflocking an existing saddle or is it more beneficial to to purchase/borrow something with an interchangeable gullet?

Looking at my options horse hunting and think I'm going to have to start looking at four/five year olds now as the prices seem well out of my budget.

Too many unknowns, if you happen to have a saddle of the right length, width, tree and panel shape then sure, it can be reflocked. I'm not the biggest fan of the changeable headplate saddles, I prefer a used wooden treed saddle but the market is so difficult with everyone selling direct and cutting out the saddle fitter.

Changeable headplate saddle - is the tree and panel the right shape? If it is then no worries but don't imagine it will always fit because the width can be changed, I find that once a horse has changed 1.5-2 width fittings it is highly likely to need something completely different anyway. They can be useful for seasonal change but really they don't buy that much advantage for a horse changing over time, unless you're able to change them yourself at the exact right time, but even then, very few people can tweak the flocking themselves!

 

[Polos Mum]

I got my youngster used to roller, then saddle that was OK to my untrained eye (just loosly girthed up) a couple of times

Then saddler came and fitted him without anyone getting on

Then 2 months of long reining mostly, leaning over, etc.

Then saddler back when I could get on and walk around the school a couple of times.

This is a good reminder as I'm now able to trot and hacks are up to 40 mins so she needs to come back for third fit - mid way through the breaking process.

 

[Birker2020]

Changeable headplate saddle - is the tree and panel the right shape? If it is then no worries but don't imagine it will always fit because the width can be changed, I find that once a horse has changed 1.5-2 width fittings it is highly likely to need something completely different anyway. They can be useful for seasonal change but really they don't buy that much advantage for a horse changing over time, unless you're able to change them yourself at the exact right time, but even then, very few people can tweak the flocking themselves!

Thanks for the reply, I get what you mean with the above, I had a previous horse who had high withers so the narrow gullet of the Wintec which I had at the time suited his withers and gave clearance but as he was actually a medium wide fit it didn't help. In the end out of desperation the saddle fitter (who I no longer use) suggested a front riser with the medium wide gullet but unfortunately it meant the riders weight was then transferred to the back of the saddle causing soreness.

 

[sbloom]

Tree and panel shape are critical, sadly these headplate saddles have made people focus way more than they should on just width. NO horse should be in a narrow saddle IMO, and I would say I'd want everything in MW upwards generally, with appropriate padding and in hand work to build the back muscles. If padding is used correctly then the saddle should be padded to be level an in good contact with the horse's back, not tip it back and place pressure at the back.

 

[Birker2020]

Tree and panel shape are critical, sadly these headplate saddles have made people focus way more than they should on just width. NO horse should be in a narrow saddle IMO, and I would say I'd want everything in MW upwards generally, with appropriate padding and in hand work to build the back muscles. If padding is used correctly then the saddle should be padded to be level an in good contact with the horse's back, not tip it back and place pressure at the back.

Thanks for explaining. I dumped the Wintec years ago, much prefer my Jeffries Falcon saddle.

 

[Debsflo1]

Our horse is a youngster but is unhappy ridden so after a workup is likely to have si joint medicated and rehab.
Prior to this he was in ridden work but we don't have a saddle as wanted to discount that as the issue although probably wasn't the cause.
He will be rehabbed but obv need a well fitting saddle.
Hopefully we can do it with lots of monitoring with saddler.
Thanks all