Saddle fitting help

C

Cachee8187

Member
Joined
23 October 2009
Messages
28
Visit site
Looking for some advice!!

Tried a gfs elite on my mare today recomened by my saddlers, it was a wide, lovely saddle but you could lift it up at the back!! I had a look online to see what this means and it says if the saddle lifts at the back, the horse probably needs a saddle with either a deeper gusset or a panel that is flatter in the waist. Not really sure what this means size wise or would another make be better!!

Any help would be apprecated
 
Usually this will be because it has a curved (banana shaped) tree. Well known with the cheaper end of this make.
 
Presumably your horse has been seen by a saddler and they reccomended a GFS elite on that basis? Have they seen it on her, or have you asked them? (And are they actually any good? - there are plenty of truely crap saddlers about)

Couple of causes of saddles lifting at the back:

The tree can be too curved (as donklet said) so it rocks up. Very common in adjustable saddles because as the tree gets wider it also becomes more curved. Big problem for wintecs.

The saddle can be too wide, so sits too low at the front and tilts the back up.

The panels can be too shallow or not have a gusset at the back - these saddles are meant to curve away from the back, although they shouldn't 'rock'

They can be over-flocked in the middle but it's unsual, esp in new saddles.

They can also rock up when ridden if the stirrup bars are placed too far forwards and the balance isn't quite right.

In other words it a sign that the saddle doesn't suit the horse.

Have you had the chance to try other saddles on? A different type might suit her better.

P.s donket -just looked up the GFS elite and they aren't the cheap saddle I was also expecting - they're just under a grand new!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top