saddle fitting help please!

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Christmas_Kate

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We've decided to buy ponio a proper saddle. ATM he has the thorowgood safari saddle, which is fab, but slips like hell now he's lost weight.

I'll fully admit i've never had to fit a saddle before, it's always been done for me. And way back then, if the saddle wasnt quite right you just shoved some foam underneath!

The only saddle we're going to be able to get within our budget is a synthetic. His safari measures 14" from front to back and the same from stud to back (diagonally) so I assume it's a 14" lol. In which case we need a 14" saddle, any bigger and it would be too long. (see pic)
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I'm heading towards buying either the rhinegold xxw or the shires Hi lite gymkhana pony wide. The shires has a flexible self adjusting gullet, which I think might be better, as a wide will fit up to a very very wide.. (and comes with girth etc)

so, would I be better to go for the flexible gullet or the non flexible and getting a saddler out to fit it? there's 100 pounds difference in price.
 
TBH Katy, given the size and weight of the children who are likely to be riding that pony, go with whatever suits your budget and is the straighter cut - it isn't as though your little jockey could do any real harm.

If you were putting a 14stone adult on a fine TB horse my response would be quite different
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Thanks. This is what i wondered, with small children riding him would it be as crucial that it fitted perfectly (as in being fitted by a saddler). I think I might go with the self adjusting one
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It is unfortunate that shetlands are over looked in the saddle fitting department, no matter what size the jockey an ill fitting saddle is an ill fitting saddle and it can hurt and cause damage!
It is every owners duty to do the best for there horse and not cut corners and it is every horses right o have tack that fits! It is no wonder there are so many grumpy shetlands in the world!
 
You can indeed cut non slip stuff to size, go to Halford's (or similar) and buy some off a roll, you can put same stuff in your car boot to stop things sliding around in there!

On the saddlie fitting front though, completely different issue. It should fit. Those synthetic ones often don't fit front to back, they can be too curved upwards as though for a sway back. Even though the width seems fine.

If it isn't being ridden for long periods of time, can they not ride on a pad? I know a tiny who learned to ride very well like that.
 
Our shetland (many moons ago) used to have a little leather saddle with a half tree. Looked a bit like a racing saddle but it didn't slip too much.
 
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