Saddle for youngster query....

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Maisy

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I am intending to lightly back my 3 yr old this Summer.....he has a pretty short back, so there is *no way* my saddle from my mare will fit him. I have a 'self adjusting tree' saddle (synthetic) for my pony, but its only about 14.5/15" which my backside only just jams in!!!

I am weary of trying to squeeze into the pony saddle in case it alters how he feels any aids etc, plus it probably wont be that easy to get out of in a hurry!! I dont mind getting a saddle for him, but will he grow out of the saddle, or will he only grow within a saddle size, adjustable by a flocking??? I really would rather not having to end up buying 2 saddles!!!

I hope that makes sense!
 
why not just buy a wintec for him rather than a leather as then at least he can change shape and you can change the gullet on the wintec rather than buy a leather and it only last you a few months as it no longer fits
 
I back my youngster this year too. He is a Freisian and short backed with very low withers at present. I was on the look out for thorowgood cob with fish or an adjustable gullet. My bum can fit into a 16.5. I have tried acouple of saddles on him the best fitting one is a 16.5 thorowgood endurance non adjustable, wide fitting which is suitable for cobby types but it was alittle high for him in the withers. I personally would go for an adjustable tree or the fish system so you have abit of leyway then he grows.
 
Try a thorowgood - the cob saddles are a good design for flat wide horses and they have shortened panels. The newer types have the changable gullets. The Wintec cob might suit (but not if he's really wide and flat) but they, like all wintec, come up very long - a 16" wintec panels are the same length as a 17" thorowgood.

Alternatively get a treeless. One of the better treeless saddles (the freeforms are good) are comfortable for both of you, will allow him to change shape and can be fitted a little longer that a tree's saddle, giving you a little extra room.

I have a very short backed cob who is rising three and will prob be lightly ridden at the end of the summer (depends how he looks) and he'll be started in my Freeform.
 
Unfortunately having to buy 2 (or more) saddles is all part of owning a young horse. You are about to start the education that will start the horse off for the rest of its life- a well fitting saddle is VITAL if you want the horse to be comfortable andthe rider to be safe. Obviously a saddle with some adjustability is better than none but if a horse needs several saddles in its first few years of work then thats allpart of owning a horse, just like shoeing and vets fees!

Have a look at the thorowgood saddles, they may suit your horse. Personally i wouldnt touch a wintec unless your horse has a banana shaped back to match the tree! And the panels are often rock hard.
 
I bought a saddle company saddle 17.5" for my youngster. She is short in the back, and I am quite tall so find 17" too small. I bought the saddle company saddle as they are adjustable and not too expensive. However it was just too long for her, backed her with it but when we wanted to do more work I was unhappy with the length. So sold and bought a wow saddle, now I can have the 18" seat and she has the 17" panels, it doesn't look odd and I can change and adjust it as she grows or if we want to change discipline. So far working out very well and no issues with her back. She's increased one gullet size since xmas. Second hand wow saddles aren't to pricey, they keep their resale value and it should last a long time or for another horse.
 
I agree with the recommendation for Thorowgood cob saddles. I got one and also a Treefree very good (2nd hand) treeless. I backed her in the treeless and then a while later started using the Thorowgood. I had intended to sell both and buy a 'proper lovely leather treed saddle' but found she loved the Thorowgood so much I ended up selling the treeless (which was ace but I just didnt use it) and 3 years later Im still using the Thorowgood. So you might not have to get another saddle later, tho you might decide/want to.
 
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