Saddle for ex-racehorse

WannabeMum

WannabeMum

Member
Joined
2 July 2024
Messages
21
Visit site
I bought my ex racer 4 weeks ago and he's settling in well. He's had the chiro, body scoring, weighbridge, farrier and is ready to go. We're doing some in hand groundwork and lungeing. He's coming up for a bit and bridle fitting soon, after which the next step is the saddle - I'm guessing he's never had anything other than a racing saddle on him. I last rode him back in August (before I bought him), so it's been 11 weeks now since he's been ridden (he was turned out at the racing yard).

Obviously, I need a saddler to come and fit a saddle on him, but there is no frame of reference for what works for him. Needless to say, he'll need measuring etc etc, but I'm wondering if he's going to freak out with a different saddle to a racing one? I haven't been on him for a long time, although he was very good and easy going when I did ride him. I really don't want him throwing a fit the first time I get on him hahaha!!

Thoughts/hints/tips on how to approach this??

Thank youuuuu 🥰 :)
 
Congratulations on your new boy. Id get a saddle fitter firstly to help you with what is going to potentially fit. He is going to change shape the more you do work with him so you need to be prepared for that and the fact that the saddle might not end up being the permanent one for him, it may only be the right now saddle for him. All this is also dependent on his age? If he has stopped growing 🥰
If he is straight off the track then yes the saddle will be different for him, so I would go back to basics and treat it like I was backing from the beginning 😊

We also love pictures on the forum so look forward to seeing him ☺️
 
you need to get a saddle fitted and then spend some time long reining,lunging and leaning over him in that saddle.

generally they accept normal saddles well but best to be safe than sorry.
 
It depends. Flat horses probably spend most of their lives in half tree exercise saddles (saddles used for racing are different from exercise saddles); however many NH horses may have been ridden in all sorts. A lot of trainers prefer full tree saddles, which probably don't feel much different from a GP saddle to the horse, except for shorter flaps. Some horses will have been hacked to and from the gallops with a normal stirrup length and are used to feeling legs on their sides, some aren't. I used to ride out for a yard which often sent NH horses out for a day's hunting (to freshen them up) and they wore normal GP saddles for that. Other yards have someone come in and do flatwork or poles/grids and they might wear a regular saddle, depending on the rider. So basically you can't assume! Depends on whether your horse was flat or NH, where he was pre-trained, and where he was in training etc. etc.

To get the most from the saddle fitting I'd be inclined to try a GP saddle on him beforehand - pick something (borrow if you can) that seems a good enough fit, and pad it adequately/appropriately, then you can have a couple of rides first away from the spotlight of the saddle-fitting and can then get the most out of the fitting on the day as it won't be the first time you get on. It's not perhaps the most correct way to do it, but so long as the fit seems fundamentally OK, you are unlikely to do much harm in the space of a couple of short rides. By all means lean over first etc etc. The chances are he'll find it less 'new' than you're expecting.
 
My YO used to work at a racing stables and most of her horses now come from racing. I have never seen her horses upset by the change of saddle but she has some years of experience. She mostly events but does have dressage saddles too. Generally she seems to use Ideal jump saddles.
I suggest this as a possible starting point only, because, horses!
 
Barton Bounty said:
Congratulations on your new boy. Id get a saddle fitter firstly to help you with what is going to potentially fit. He is going to change shape the more you do work with him so you need to be prepared for that and the fact that the saddle might not end up being the permanent one for him, it may only be the right now saddle for him. All this is also dependent on his age? If he has stopped growing 🥰
If he is straight off the track then yes the saddle will be different for him, so I would go back to basics and treat it like I was backing from the beginning 😊

We also love pictures on the forum so look forward to seeing him ☺️
Click to expand...
His last race was July and he's 10, so I hope he's stopped growing (he's already 16.2 haha!). Maybe that's the best approach... to work with him with it on before getting on him...?

I've tried to update my profile picture with the handsome boy, but because I'm new, I can't yet (weird!). Anyway, here's him on his first day in his new home...

IMG_0091.jpg

and this is him playing at being a giraffe LOL!!

Bolly in the sun.pngIMG_0091.jpgBolly in the sun.png
 
Gamebird said:
It depends. Flat horses probably spend most of their lives in half tree exercise saddles (saddles used for racing are different from exercise saddles); however many NH horses may have been ridden in all sorts. A lot of trainers prefer full tree saddles, which probably don't feel much different from a GP saddle to the horse, except for shorter flaps. Some horses will have been hacked to and from the gallops with a normal stirrup length and are used to feeling legs on their sides, some aren't. I used to ride out for a yard which often sent NH horses out for a day's hunting (to freshen them up) and they wore normal GP saddles for that. Other yards have someone come in and do flatwork or poles/grids and they might wear a regular saddle, depending on the rider. So basically you can't assume! Depends on whether your horse was flat or NH, where he was pre-trained, and where he was in training etc. etc.

To get the most from the saddle fitting I'd be inclined to try a GP saddle on him beforehand - pick something (borrow if you can) that seems a good enough fit, and pad it adequately/appropriately, then you can have a couple of rides first away from the spotlight of the saddle-fitting and can then get the most out of the fitting on the day as it won't be the first time you get on. It's not perhaps the most correct way to do it, but so long as the fit seems fundamentally OK, you are unlikely to do much harm in the space of a couple of short rides. By all means lean over first etc etc. The chances are he'll find it less 'new' than you're expecting.
Click to expand...
He's an ex NH (6 times winner, ran for 6 years) and he was very easy and responsive when I tried him, but conscious of the time between then and now and also that he's had a lot of change. I'm definitely going for a GP saddle to start with. I'm hoping he's going to be his usual cool self... but I guess you never know!
 
Mine came out of racing as an 8 year old flat horse. The first saddle was a Thorowgood part synthetic. Never had one before but nice light saddle and I think it’s adjustable. He then moved on to a full leather GP saddle then bring really spoilt a dressage saddle and a show saddle. No issues with any but I do quite like the idea of a fairly light first saddle. Your boy looks lovely and look forward to updates.
 
Meredith said:
My YO used to work at a racing stables and most of her horses now come from racing. I have never seen her horses upset by the change of saddle but she has some years of experience. She mostly events but does have dressage saddles too. Generally she seems to use Ideal jump saddles.
I suggest this as a possible starting point only, because, horses!
Click to expand...
I guess I'm getting in my own head LOLOL! Probably worrying about absolutely nothing (hopefully!) ;)
 
humblepie said:
Mine came out of racing as an 8 year old flat horse. The first saddle was a Thorowgood part synthetic. Never had one before but nice light saddle and I think it’s adjustable. He then moved on to a full leather GP saddle then bring really spoilt a dressage saddle and a show saddle. No issues with any but I do quite like the idea of a fairly light first saddle. Your boy looks lovely and look forward to updates.
Click to expand...
I was looking at the Thorowgoods in general, mainly I guess because of the adjustable capability. Thanks for the info, super helpful and I'm trying REALLY hard not to spoil him hahaha! Also, failing miserably ;-)
 
Barton Bounty said:
He is very handsome and very fit looking 🤣

Oh yes, growing will have ceased 🥰

His withers look like my boys, high and long 🤣
Click to expand...
It seems to have posted the pics twice! His chiro was absolutely amazed by him and literally adjusted his poll and one rib and that was it. He couldn't believe he was the age he was, raced for as long as he did and was still so sound and perfect. Purely luck on my part ... I fell in love with his ears LOL!!
 
WannabeMum said:
He's an ex NH (6 times winner, ran for 6 years) and he was very easy and responsive when I tried him, but conscious of the time between then and now and also that he's had a lot of change. I'm definitely going for a GP saddle to start with. I'm hoping he's going to be his usual cool self... but I guess you never know!
Click to expand...
In that case I'd just hop on! He'll be used to all sorts.
 
Not suggesting it's the most sensible route.. but I restarted my flat horse bareback for 3 weeks while I waited for a saddle fitting appointment 😂🙈 beware the wither! 😳

On a sensible note though, don't get carried away with expensive shiny saddles. He will change shape enormously. Mine was out of his first in 4 months and then the second in another 6 months. We're now on saddle 3 which hopefully is the final one!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top