Saddle help please!!

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Christmas Crumpet

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New horse arrived 2 weeks ago, had saddler that day. She has always fitted saddles well to my horses.

Horse is a bit bum high, not a huge wither and pretty flat backed. Saddler said no point in getting new saddle, horse is 6 and will grow. So fitted one of my saddles to her. She said to pad up because she had fitted it slightly wide.

I feel very unsecure in the saddle as it moves from side to side. Horse is less developed on off side. No matter what pad or numnah is underneath, its still not secure.

Took her hunting on Tues and it had ruffled the hair at the front of the panels in an oval shape which I can only presume it would do if it was moving from side to side. If I pad it up too much it then seems to be too narrow.

I have rung and left message for saddler and am more than prepared to buy a new saddle (as I was the day she came out). Yes I know the horse is going to grow but I want to feel happy and secure from day 1.

Any ideas what might suit a horse of her shape?
 
What type of horse is it? I would have thought that by 6 she would have finished most of her growing. Perhaps the saddler meant that as she muscles up she'll become a wider fit? But if that's the case then a new saddle can still be fitted, as the basic shape will remain the same, only the width of the gullet will need changing. So from that perspective I would start by trying a Thorowgood or wintec with the changable gullets.
 
Hmm if she's a cob then she might keep growing, but I've never had one, so can't advise on the saddle!

I'd be unhappy with the situation as it is, though. The saddle doesn't sound like a good fit, and at that age (or any age!) it's important that you're not causing any damage with an ill fitting saddle. I'd get the saddler back out if I were you. If she can't find a saddle to fit your horse, I'd try someone else - Don't let her fob you off!

Good luck :)
 
I would ask the saddler if she does Kent and Masters cob saddles.
I bought one for my 4 year old when I got him, they have a slightly flatter saddle tree than a standard K&M, and interchangeable head plates (about £20 a go) so if she muscles up with more riding they can just make the saddle wider by changing the headplate.
I now have a collection of headplates as we've gone up 3 sizes since I first got him!
 
I have a wide ISH and have found the Thorowgood Cob T4 very good. I think I was up to XXW headplate in mine lol! If your mare is going to keep changing I would look at something v adjustable like the Thorowgood or the K&M [leather version]. They can have panels put in for asymmetry.
 
Splish & Masons mum said:
I would ask the saddler if she does Kent and Masters cob saddles.
I bought one for my 4 year old when I got him, they have a slightly flatter saddle tree than a standard K&M, and interchangeable head plates (about £20 a go) so if she muscles up with more riding they can just make the saddle wider by changing the headplate.
I now have a collection of headplates as we've gone up 3 sizes since I first got him!
Click to expand...

I'm with this, I got a K&M cob GP for my very flat-backed, broad shouldered, no withered TBX, and it fitted him like a glove.
 
I was also going to say try a Kent & Master's saddle too, i have a HW GP saddle and i love it. The saddler has said that theyre so popular for a leather saddle, due to the changeable gullets and not too expensive either.
 
I bought my boy last Aug just backed (ID x Cob, 5 yrs). He was a similar shape to yours. I had a new Bates gp saddle fitted which has interchangable gullet. It fits both of us like a dream. Would highly recommend it. Also, I bought a Kent and Masters for my last mare and hated it. Each to their own though!
 
Ditto trying the Kent and Masters saddle or, if it's too expensive, then try the thorowgood T6 (looks and feels like leather) or the T4: they're exactly the same just made of synthetic material. Or if you want to go really upmarket try the Fairfax saddle: again exactly the same but make of top quality leather.

They don't fit all horses but they're a good fit on many and are adjustable as the horse grows or changes shape.
 
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