Saddle for Welsh D

H

howat44

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Hi everyone!
Looking for some advice.
Currently looking for a Show/WH saddle for my Welsh Sec D Mare. She is 14 years old and I will add some photos of her if I can.
I have tried the John Whitaker Hebdon Show Hunter but it was too high at the front. She doesn’t have much wither going on.
Any ideas?
Thank you.
 
I had a made to measure for both my lass and me. She was short back and my (skinny) body didn’t fit together. That saddle was bliss. I could actually feel her. It really was most awesome thing I bought for us 😃
 
Roasted Chestnuts said:
I have a Black Country WH saddle in XW on a Euro tree for my wide backed, barrel shaped big shouldered boy 😁

It’s really comfy and I can do everything in it 😁 no changing between saddles for different things 😁
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I'd recommend having it checked if you haven't, photos are never definitive but looks to need rebalancing, lifting in front :)

@howat44 have you searched for specialist wide horse brands? Often local fitters only have very standard brands including what you've tried, none of which have the rail shape (seldom discussed) for wider flatter backs.

I'm a big fan of going as forward cut as you need to for your stirrup length and knee position, the saddle should be fitted well back behind the shoulder so not compromising the look. Show saddles can be a real compromise, they tend to sit the rider back a bit (as do many brands, not a terrible thing in itself), have forward stirrup bars, both of which can easily put some riders in a chair seat, especially on a wider ribcage or for a rider with narrow hip articulation, and then have a straight cut flap allowing no room for that forward knee...

A slightly more forward WH would be better for horse and rider in most cases.
 
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I know a lot of showing producers use either Ideal or Flyde saddles. I personally loved my KINGS working hunter saddle on my old boy, he had a wide rib cage and was a old traditional welsh D with a leg in each corner wide (drive a bus between his front legs, or what ever other phase you choose to use).

I'd recommend finding a saddle fitter who stocks WH and show saddles so they can bring a few different types with them. Natives can be less than straight forward to fit too.
 
Please look at the shape of the trees focusing the shape of the pommel used in some of these very close contact show saddles, and the shape, thickness and materials of the panels. Even the owner of one of these brands used to say they're show RING saddles and not for every day use though for some reason only to some clients.

Then also look at the posture and backs of the horses wearing them. Horses need protection from the rider and the tree. M&M Supremes (HOYS, Olympia/London) are won in the not-so-close-contact saddles but still some traditionalists say "too much saddle", the horse won't agree I'm quite sure!
 
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I loved Black Country on my natives (Welsh B and a D) they offer different trees so if you can find a fitter that carries them - recommend 😁.

I found the panels to be much kinder / softer than Fylde which I have also used.
 
teddy_ said:
I loved Black Country on my natives (Welsh B and a D) they offer different trees so if you can find a fitter that carries them - recommend 😁.

I found the panels to be much kinder / softer than Fylde which I have also used.
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I will say that IME the BCs need a bit more flocking, that super close contact look leaves the horse without much protection, but all fitters can do that :)
 
sbloom said:
I will say that IME the BCs need a bit more flocking, that super close contact look leaves the horse without much protection, but all fitters can do that :)
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I agree, this is why I don’t particularly like Fylde - as popular as they are I don’t think they can be all that comfortable for the horse.
 
teddy_ said:
I agree, this is why I don’t particularly like Fylde - as popular as they are I don’t think they can be all that comfortable for the horse.
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They do vary, and there are other super close contact saddles from other brands that are similar, hence recommending to look at the shape of aspects of the saddle. The pommel should be a nice open shape, allowing space around spinal processes, the panel should be deep enough to protect the horse from the rider and tree - if flocked it needs to be firm, if a type of foam then consider the depth, shape and hardness of it, paying particular attention to where it might place more pressure on the horse's back - and it should be noted whether the saddle can be fitted in balance, again quite a lot are designed or fitted to be low at the back so it looks like "less saddle" behind the rider from the judge's view. Not good for horse or rider.

I wish all of the showing world could see beyond saddle flap shape and wanting as little saddle as possible!
 
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