saddle for backing youngster?

Jnhuk

Jnhuk

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What do people use and why?

Going to have to think about this for my youngster this year and have yet to pop a saddle on his back but suspect the ones I have will not be suitable.

Thanks for any advice in advance
 
I have never done it before, but having the saddler out in a couple of weeks and have asked her to find an adjustable synthetic for my youngster. I dont want to spend too much but more important is for my youngster to be comfortable and keep his back in perfect condition!

He has worn a saddle before now, but not with a rider.
 
I did have an old but sound jeffries saddle, I thought I would use that for backing but it was clear it was too narrow to contemplate sitting in it. I used it for the prep work like lunging and long reining etc in case we had any problems but then I went to get a saddle fitted for the actual backing itself. Unfortunately that meant I couldn't ride in it to try it, it fit the horse well but didn't really fit me but it did the job and I fairly recently traded it in for something else, I rode in the new one at the saddlers yard to make sure it fitted us both

Edited to add, both of the saddles had trees that can be adjusted by the saddler but the original saddle didnt need altering in a year, just some flocking removed but no actual change to the width of the tree
 
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I use a good quality treeless saddle. Its flexible lightweight and comfortable for them. You're not riding long enough for any 'treeless problems' (I.e poorer weight distribution etc) to be an issue. And needing the security of a treed saddle shouldn't be an issue if you've done your homework properly. They change shape so dramatically initially that replacing a treed saddle regularly would be horribly expensive.
 
The saddle company starter saddle picked mine up at a table top sale for £100 best buy ever, has a handle at the front and very light weight. I have seen them on ebay and go for around £150. I still ride in it now as its so comfy.
 
I have a wintec, as its pretty light. Just make sure it fits well enough not to slip everywhere! (especially when leaning over etc)
A very experienced person I worked with believed in every youngster wearing hunting breastplates, just as a precaution.
 
I would get a good reputable master saddler out to fit a good quality second hand saddle, tell him your budget and get one that fits really well. IMO not a more important time than the beginning for getting a good quality saddle that is comfortable and fits. You don't have to spend a fortune as they will change rapidly at this age. I personally have a kent and masters changeable gullet on my rising 4yo.
 
a wome at my yard baks youngsters for people and they send them to her with like 1,000 pound saddles but she just posts the saddle back as there is no point buying a nice saddle for them just to buck and roll and trend on it she has what we know as the frankenstein saddle because its almost falling apart then when they stand on it and back and rear its doesn't matter the she gets a wintec on them because they're still young so they will change shape a bit hen when they go back they can wear there proper saddle
 
Wintecs, even synthetics in general, don't fit everything. Young horses have soft backs which damage more easily than older horses so it is even more important to get a good fit. Fitting an unbacked horse isn't easy as a proper saddle fitting means seeing the horse ridden in all paces. A good saddle fitter should indicate that they will need to come back and check the saddle once trot is established at least, and you must keep an eye on the saddle to see it isn't moving. Some horses and ponies come to me for fitting unbacked as they can't find anything used/synthetic.

So, until you get on, yes you can use a saddle that doesn't really fit. But as soon as you get on, you just might need that £1000 saddle. Hopefully not, but some do.
 
issibizzy said:
a wome at my yard baks youngsters for people and they send them to her with like 1,000 pound saddles but she just posts the saddle back as there is no point buying a nice saddle for them just to buck and roll and trend on it she has what we know as the frankenstein saddle because its almost falling apart then when they stand on it and back and rear its doesn't matter the she gets a wintec on them because they're still young so they will change shape a bit hen when they go back they can wear there proper saddle
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Wintecs don't fit every horse. I would not send my young horse to anyone with such an cavalier attitude to saddle fit. It is crucial that the saddle should fit from the off.
 
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Wintecs, even synthetics in general, don't fit everything
In my experience Wintecs do not fit any UK horse.
My priority for a youngster is a saddle that fits, it can be as old as the hills, leather or synthetic , but as long as it is fitted by a saddler, and routinely checked as the horse becomes fitter and changes shape.
My saddler will also trade in when they change saddle fit too!
 
issibizzy said:
a wome at my yard baks youngsters for people and they send them to her with like 1,000 pound saddles but she just posts the saddle back as there is no point buying a nice saddle for them just to buck and roll and trend on it she has what we know as the frankenstein saddle because its almost falling apart then when they stand on it and back and rear its doesn't matter the she gets a wintec on them because they're still young so they will change shape a bit hen when they go back they can wear there proper saddle
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This is such utter bull!!!!!!!!

Sorry, but this statement gets thrown around all the time and it really grates on me!

Why on EARTH is a youngster being allowed to buck, roll and tread on a saddle?! The only way I can possibly think of a youngster damaging a saddle is if it goes over backwards, in which case why on earth is it being put in such a position in the first place. If it is so freaked out by a situation to the point where it can damage a saddle, it is not ready to be backed IMO.

I have just backed my rising 4yr old, in a well-fitting semi-expensive quality saddle - it was important to me that she have a well fitting, quality, comfortable saddle to introduce her to ridden life. She has never once damaged it, apart from trying to chew it when it gets put on the stable door.

Never heard such utter rubbish in all my life. And these people back horses for a living! Beggars belief!!
 
I've backed 8 horses now and I've never had them throw themselves on the floor. I back in a saddle that fits the horse (usually a gp and synthetic)

If someone sent my saddle back because they thought my youngster would jump on it buck and rear etc etc is be taking my horse home ASAP...
 
Thanks for all the replies.

Will ask my usual saddle fitter's opinion on the couple of GP (leather) saddles that I have and start from there. One of these has flair fitted so that maybe helpful for when he changes shape IF it is right for him in the first instance.
 
I just use whatever fits, if its one I already have and there's any doubt at all then I tend to get the saddler out to double check. Having fallen off in a big way twice last time I backed a youngster due to the damn saddle slipping, Im paranoid about it now! I think for backing, it really is the time that the saddle must fit well.

Am having big problems getting something to fit my horse right now (8yo but just being backed) - my WOW has been altered professionally to fit but it sadly doesn't, it works its way up her neck due to her forward girth groove and no wither so I then bought a curved girth but that didnt work. Tried a Black Country saddle on her today and it seems to slip to the side a little. So got a saddler with a big selection coming out! Dont want to keep messing about with saddles as I absolutely dont want her to get any issues (I do stop her on the lunge the second I see its not right). Am actually getting worried I wont find a saddle for her as she's so awkward to fit or the only one that does fit I wont be able to afford... :(
 
I had a stubben I bought specifically for lucy when I backed her , fit her perfectly. She then got wider so got a wider saddle then she got narrower & is now narrower than she started in.
We've gone med wide, wide & now to medium, gets checked every 6 months & will do until she matures
 
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