Saddle Fitting AAARGH

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nato

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My youngster is an awkward ****** to fit a saddle to. Big shoulders, high(ish) withers, and a nice big hollow between the two. He is also quite long in the back - not overly long, but I just have to be mindful that he's longer than others.

I really need a forward cut saddle as it will be required to event, but also as I am long from hip to knee. Most of these end up pressing on his shoulders due to the hollow.

The only brand of saddle so far I have found that fits him nicely is the Prestige - specifically the Meredith but have also ridden in a few other models that were OK too. He is in a medium.

Any other saddles that fit similiar to this as I continue to look for a good saddle within my budget? What do people think of the Equipe saddles for fit?
 
He sounds a bit similar to one of my boys - although he doesn't have the long back. He has an Ideal Event Wide Seat. It's a pretty popular saddle so chances are you've already tried it but worth considering if not. The other is also very wide in the shoulder but doesn't have the hollow between shoulder and wither and he too has an Event (normal seat) so it might be one of those that is suitable for a few shapes. It's not massively forward cut but I'm quite long from hip to knee with short calves (I can't ride in a dressage saddle for this reason, can't get the stirrups short enough for my short calves without my knee getting pushed over the front of the saddle) and find it fine.
 
I have an Equipe Emporio for my 5yo ISH who's fairly dainty and barely 15.2h and it fits her beautifully, and other than being a bit bum high at times, shes not difficult to fit, she has big shoulders (but saddle sits behind and clear of them and normal withers despite her size shes acctually got quite a round barrel and takes a MW (M in the Equipe range).

If the horses shape is hindering saddle fit it is OK to pad to make a difference when i was a groom at least 3 of them used prolite pads (some with shims) to make up for their obscure shapes, these were all fitted as new from Albion.
 
Thanks guys. I have the acavallo front riser gel pad which fits fine with the Amerigo I currently have, just would like to have him fit one easily! The ideal situation is this saddle will suit him as he grows so padding out until that hollow fills may not be a bad shout.
 
I would continue with the padding for now, if he seems to be widening gradually. Otherwise I would look to a saddle that's NOT high withered necessarily, some horses just don't get on with them, either won't go in them, or lose muscle, and consider a flatter treed saddle with a very short panel that you can sit an inch further back. He will be wider and firmer there. Then go for a flap that works for you, they don't always have to be super forward cut but you want a block that's above, not in front, of your knee. The if you knee does sneak over the flap it's not being twisted outwards. And the flatter the seat, especially having a low cantle, the more you can slide your seat back for SJ and XC.
 
nato said:
Thanks guys. I have the acavallo front riser gel pad which fits fine with the Amerigo I currently have, just would like to have him fit one easily! The ideal situation is this saddle will suit him as he grows so padding out until that hollow fills may not be a bad shout.
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Look at one of Kay Humphries saddles - with hers you KNOW that they are very kind to the horses backs and that they fit the horse - I bought a second hand one from her and she adjusted it for free until it was perfect - my horse is very round and suffers with saddles slipping! And with hers they can be adjusted easily as the horse changes shape. Goggle her she is amazing 😊
 
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