Saddle fitting

[avaandponies]

I'm in Ireland and I'm planning on buying my first rideable pony soon but I have no clue on saddle sizes. He is a 14.2hh Connemara x, I don't know what he is crossed with but he seems like a more traditional Connemara than slim. I know it can vary I just would like to know a rough size. I am planning on using saddlesireland.com and if anyone has used them before, reviews would be great

 

[sbloom]

I'm so sorry but there is no one way for even a professional to assess and fit a horse, let alone trying to DIY. There are models that say "as long as the saddle is in balance and doesn't go beyond the back rib then the size is good" and tell you you need a 17" or whatever. First there's a debate about what constitutes "going beyond the back rib", and then much of saddle fitting ignores where the rider is LOADED within that area, and there's good evidence that loading the rider further back is actually the problem and that loading the rider more forward, a saddle that sits them naturally more at the base of the wither and it matters not whether the back of the saddle extends a bit far. Then there's the fact that a 17" saddle can vary hugely in terms of how much space it allows YOU, but also the fact that the area of the horse's back that the saddle covers can vary hugely within one seat size...

Then there's how to fit the rider (ideally neutral pelvis, comfortable, fully supported, and more or less over your feet depending on whether flat work or jumping)....and treeless...and, and, and...and that's without even looking at width, clearance, tree shape, twist and rail width and shape, panel shape etc and then there's budget....

In short, can you get professional help?

In terms of basic seat size I've fitted Connies and crosses, of that size, in anything from 16 to 17.5...and now 18" equivalent in treeless...

 

[teacups]

It’s a complete nightmare, OP. Saddle fitting has gone from the days of ‘one saddle fits all’ to something which is so complex, with so many variations, that we are told only a professional can advise which of the myriad different options will fit.

That professional will then only advise on a limited number of saddle brands. They are not available for months ahead. They will more often than not want to sell you a brand new saddle. They also do not always agree with one another!

If you wanted to get a second hand saddle to try, you’d have to spend hundreds of pounds buying it; wait for the saddle fitter to be available who will then tell you it does not quite fit, and then try to sell on the saddle which does not fit. You could spend years doing this. It also results in saddles almost becoming a waste product since they are so hard to sell on, and second hand values are low.

For someone like me who has not grown up in a horsey family, and has come to horse ownership later in life, all I want is to get on and ride, without my horse having a sore back. The message I receive is that I should not even remotely attempt to understand saddle fit but leave it to the professionals. I find it very frustrating as I’d love to try out more different saddles, but the practical difficulties and finances preclude it.

There are of course plenty of horse people who do know about saddle fit, but the advice on a forum like this will always be - and that is how it should be on a public forum - that you should get a saddle fitter out.

Apologies as this post is not completely helpful in terms of your original question. Hopefully someone else will come along and have useful comments on saddlesireland.com

 

[avaandponies]

I'm so sorry but there is no one way for even a professional to assess and fit a horse, let alone trying to DIY. There are models that say "as long as the saddle is in balance and doesn't go beyond the back rib then the size is good" and tell you you need a 17" or whatever. First there's a debate about what constitutes "going beyond the back rib", and then much of saddle fitting ignores where the rider is LOADED within that area, and there's good evidence that loading the rider further back is actually the problem and that loading the rider more forward, a saddle that sits them naturally more at the base of the wither and it matters not whether the back of the saddle extends a bit far. Then there's the fact that a 17" saddle can vary hugely in terms of how much space it allows YOU, but also the fact that the area of the horse's back that the saddle covers can vary hugely within one seat size...

Then there's how to fit the rider (ideally neutral pelvis, comfortable, fully supported, and more or less over your feet depending on whether flat work or jumping)....and treeless...and, and, and...and that's without even looking at width, clearance, tree shape, twist and rail width and shape, panel shape etc and then there's budget....

In short, can you get professional help?

In terms of basic seat size I've fitted Connies and crosses, of that size, in anything from 16 to 17.5...and now 18" equivalent in treeless...

Thank you, I will try get professional help it's just that there aren't many in my area.

 

[avaandponies]

It’s a complete nightmare, OP. Saddle fitting has gone from the days of ‘one saddle fits all’ to something which is so complex, with so many variations, that we are told only a professional can advise which of the myriad different options will fit.

That professional will then only advise on a limited number of saddle brands. They are not available for months ahead. They will more often than not want to sell you a brand new saddle. They also do not always agree with one another!

If you wanted to get a second hand saddle to try, you’d have to spend hundreds of pounds buying it; wait for the saddle fitter to be available who will then tell you it does not quite fit, and then try to sell on the saddle which does not fit. You could spend years doing this. It also results in saddles almost becoming a waste product since they are so hard to sell on, and second hand values are low.

For someone like me who has not grown up in a horsey family, and has come to horse ownership later in life, all I want is to get on and ride, without my horse having a sore back. The message I receive is that I should not even remotely attempt to understand saddle fit but leave it to the professionals. I find it very frustrating as I’d love to try out more different saddles, but the practical difficulties and finances preclude it.

There are of course plenty of horse people who do know about saddle fit, but the advice on a forum like this will always be - and that is how it should be on a public forum - that you should get a saddle fitter out.

Apologies as this post is not completely helpful in terms of your original question. Hopefully someone else will come along and have useful comments on saddlesireland.com

Thanks for your reply, I am just finding it hard to find a saddle fitter in my area, of course I will carry on trying

 

[teacups]

Thanks for your reply, I am just finding it hard to find a saddle fitter in my area, of course I will carry on trying

Exactly the problem so many people have! Hope you get sorted <cross fingers>

ETA if you post rough area you’re in, there are quite a few members of this forum who are based in NI/Ireland, and may have recommendations.

 

[smolmaus]

If you wanted to get a second hand saddle to try, you’d have to spend hundreds of pounds buying it; wait for the saddle fitter to be available who will then tell you it does not quite fit, and then try to sell on the saddle which does not fit. You could spend years doing this. It also results in saddles almost becoming a waste product since they are so hard to sell on, and second hand values are low.

Yeah DIY is absolutely a false economy in terms of money AND time. Not to mention if you have a stoic pony that won't tell you the saddle is doing them damage.

Have you checked the master saddlers online registry? The person I use is a qualified saddle fitter rather than a saddler but she has a good selection of second hand stock as well as new. If you post a vague location someone might be able to be more helpful, I am in the North so anyone I recommended could be 300 miles away!

 

[sbloom]

Yeah DIY is absolutely a false economy in terms of money AND time. Not to mention if you have a stoic pony that won't tell you the saddle is doing them damage.

Have you checked the master saddlers online registry? The person I use is a qualified saddle fitter rather than a saddler but she has a good selection of second hand stock as well as new. If you post a vague location someone might be able to be more helpful, I am in the North so anyone I recommended could be 300 miles away!

It's a saddle fitter you need, a saddler makes and/or repairs saddles/leatherwork (I'm sure you know that and were just emphasising because of the "Master Saddlers" name on the website) but it's always worth restating.

I know saddle fitting is a nightmare, this may help explain it https://stephaniebloomsaddlefitter.co.uk/blog-and-resources/why-cant-saddle-fitters-agree. Some owners have a good instinct for what works, or they've just seen so many fitters over the years etc that they learn, and some do a decent job, especially when it's the owner/rider that gets the continual feedback, unlike a saddle fitter who is dealing with a snapshot of two dynamic beings who BOTH change daily, let alone over the longer term.

The saddlesireland website doesn't seem to want to load the page about saddle fitting advice so I have NO idea how much they can help you, but ultimately a treed and flocked saddle needs someone to flock it, so if you can't find a local saddle fitter you trust, then maybe a traditional flocked saddle isn't the right option. If you'd like to learn more about saddle fit to be able to do more yourself then the best course IMO is this

https://www.facebook.com/AugustEquine/posts/pfbid0VBwYJVv2KwgLgPSugeePYtxtsXqHrAPed5K8V4MYBQoNtvto6omggKQ7xp96ZkCel

. So many just focus on one method to fit a saddle (SMS, which most of them will be focused on in some form or another, or SaddleFit4Life which is basically Schleese brand, but a huge global training organisation) but Holly's will look at optimising balance and movement, rather than a box ticking exercise.

I think ordering saddles online without any hands on help at all, and no personal expertise, will be very challenging.