Saddle help - short backed horse/long legged rider

Tiarella

Tiarella

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Hi Guys,

Now I have finally learnt how to post pics (thanks faracat!) I was wondering if anyone would be able to advise on a saddle suitable for my little mare.
Bit of background info - had little mare just over a year, came to me with stubben saddle which tipped back a little, used prolite pad with back risers to help build muscle, now sits level with just a plain prolite pad. Unfortunately stubben jump saddle is just no longer suitable, is a bit long, makes her tight and choppy behind and just doesn't really 'fit' anymore - she has had saddle for 12 years in previous home. Between April and now she has had time off due to injury but lost very little muscle. Now in 'full work' but cant do proper full work as currently riding in a sheepskin bareback pad which little mare loves but cant compete in.

Saddle issue - She needs 16/16.5", I have uberrrr long hip to thigh and just cant squeeze myself in a kiddies saddle!

current saddle - pic taken last September when using back risers...
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squeezing my butt & legs into 16" dressage saddle...
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little mares general body condition at the moment....
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Obviously I have a saddle fitter involved and will get it fitted properly. I was just wondering if anyone had the same problem themselves and what saddle they use. I think it'll be the prestige/amerigo/equipe (2nd hand!!) route.
 
im a long legged rider who rides and owns a titchy pony (5'7, 13,3hh) We recently bought an albion k2 jump old version, which has more undercut panels allowing for a bigger seat size, so i have a 17 inch and its not too long. The forward cut flaps mean that my legs aren't hanging off the saddle! i would really recommend a jumping saddle, as they accommodate the leg length without having to go up a seat size. Both pony and i love it!
 
Thank you both, it'll def be a jumping saddle as need to replace current jumping saddle. I would never fit in a GP!!

Went to saddle fitters today just so I could sit in some saddles and both agreed Albion would just be too broad for her mini back.

I am just struggling to find suitable brands that can accommodate us both within a reasonable 2nd hand price range.
 
Have you tried kent and masters? not the best quality but for the price they're great, and if you look after them they do last, and theres a big market for them second hand. i understand the albion problem, fits leo perfectly as he has a back like a table with a wide/extra wide gullet! :eek:
 
I did used to have a Kent and masters for my new forest and really like the saddle. I have looked at website and the 16/16.5" are junior/pony club saddles so flaps are too short and not sure I want a pony club badge on it at my age haha!
 
haha! you can contact most saddlers if you find a saddle you like and ask them to put longer flaps on for you if needed.
 
You can get saddles made where the panels are shorter than the seat, if that makes sense? My dressage saddle has 16.5 panels with a 17.5 seat.

Another option would be to look for an Amerigo/Equipe/whatever in the seat size you need with +2 (or more) forward flaps - they'll be more forward cut than standard panels. Rare and expensive second hand though.
 
DirectorFury said:
You can get saddles made where the panels are shorter than the seat, if that makes sense? My dressage saddle has 16.5 panels with a 17.5 seat.

Another option would be to look for an Amerigo/Equipe/whatever in the seat size you need with +2 (or more) forward flaps - they'll be more forward cut than standard panels. Rare and expensive second hand though.
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I know wow saddles do this but haven't heard of any other brands. Ahh thanks for that info about +2 - I see them on some saddles for sale and did wonder what the +2 meant! I am yet to find a decent brand saddle in a 16/16.5" at all.
 
I was in your situation not long ago. I had a 17" Wintec GP that fit my 16hh very short backed mare fairly well but I was squished into it (I'm 5'11") and always looked "perched" on top of her. I ended up buying a saddle from Berney Bros in Ireland and I LOVE it. It's an 18" seat with the panel shortened as much as was feasibly possible and it's made an incredible difference to both of us. In 6 weeks we've gone from her working with ger head way up in the air, avoiding the contact and hollowing her back to just this week starting to accept the contact, working through her back and enjoying her work. Maybe this is something your saddler could do for you? Best of luck with it!
 
My chap is really short backed and I have a 17inch K&M S Series jumping saddle which he's really comfortable in. However, I'm only 5ft so I don't have to accommodate lovely long legs. I find the quality fine for a relatively inexpensive saddle (I bought it new). I've had it for over a year now and it's still in excellent condition. I use it virtually every day for hacking (I have a Thorogood dressage saddle (same tree apparently) for flatwork which I only do once in a blue moon) and I also use it for competing (SJ and XC) so it's very well used. I went for K&M for two reasons. 1. I only had a limited budget. 2. My saddler said the tree was just the right shape for him. I'm very pleased with it. They also have the adjustable gullet.
 
aoifemcd said:
I was in your situation not long ago. I had a 17" Wintec GP that fit my 16hh very short backed mare fairly well but I was squished into it (I'm 5'11") and always looked "perched" on top of her. I ended up buying a saddle from Berney Bros in Ireland and I LOVE it. It's an 18" seat with the panel shortened as much as was feasibly possible and it's made an incredible difference to both of us. In 6 weeks we've gone from her working with ger head way up in the air, avoiding the contact and hollowing her back to just this week starting to accept the contact, working through her back and enjoying her work. Maybe this is something your saddler could do for you? Best of luck with it!
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Just had a look at berney bros saddles and they do look good and decent price but I'm not sure if the trees will be too flat for her back. Did you do a made to measure with them? Send off template?
 
My 15.3 Appy is best in a 16 1/2" saddle, I am 5'6", with most of my height in my legs, by the saddle fit calculator thingy, I should have at least an 18" saddle! I have a Jeffries WH saddle and we manage reasonably well, but I have to gaurd against sitting too far to the back of the saddle, but I tend to ride quite long and try and make sure that I keep the ankle, hip, shoulder alignment right, which works out quite well.
 
Tiarella said:
Just had a look at berney bros saddles and they do look good and decent price but I'm not sure if the trees will be too flat for her back. Did you do a made to measure with them? Send off template?
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They're fabulous saddles and really reasonably priced. I was looking at k&m and it worked Out €200 more expensive than the berneys which I knew I would love so I went with them. They sent me an email of what measurements and templates to take and I brought them down (but could have done it all via email) and discussed what I needed. I got to sit in different saddles and we went through what I needed for the mare. Five days later it was made and I have it six weeks now and absolutely love it! I think they use different trees so could have one to fit? My mare is almost full Tb and it's perfect on her.
 
YorksG - I totally know what you mean about sitting too far back. I find myself keep correcting myself and sitting more central in the saddle but I think it's because I don't fit in the stubben saddle I sit further back wedging my legs to fit in the flaps so my knees don't go over, which obviously won't help her back!
 
I've been in this dilemma twice over: 14.1 endurance pony and 15hh Lipi-x mare, both very short-coupled. I'm 5'5.5" with very very long legs. Mare is now in a 16" Heather Moffett FlexEE, which she loves and which works well for me because I can ride long. Pony is about to trial a very strange treeless saddle, which I will report back on. It comes in GP model, too. I think it'll be tricky for you because of the need for a jump saddle, but there are several makes that allow shorter panels with longer seats. One that was recommended to me was Ideal.
 
Im really liking these berney bros saddles and can't really go wrong at just over £500! I am going to email them first thing tomorrow morning :) those who have the saddles which one did you buy?
 
Tiarella said:
I know wow saddles do this but haven't heard of any other brands. Ahh thanks for that info about +2 - I see them on some saddles for sale and did wonder what the +2 meant! I am yet to find a decent brand saddle in a 16/16.5" at all.
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Albion do! Mine is an SRS Kollection (?) dressage saddle, they're a few years old now though. I think Ideal do too, and Andrea Hicks Saddles. Harry Dabs maybe as well. Finding them second hand can be difficult though. You could try asking around on the BSJA facebook page as there are a lot of tall teenagers riding ponies who might be able to recommend brands.

It might be worth contacting the guy who runs Heritage saddlery as they do M2M at very reasonable prices - less than you'd pay for a 2nd hand Equipe/Amerigo. The +2 flaps would be a good shout but you'll need to sit in one first to figure out what works for you. They seem to be more popular in the USA but import taxes would be ridiculous!
 
Tiarella said:
Im really liking these berney bros saddles and can't really go wrong at just over £500! I am going to email them first thing tomorrow morning :) those who have the saddles which one did you buy?
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Mine is an international GP with memory foam seat. I've had two other GPs in the past from them. One was at least 30 yrs old and was still going strong when I had it!
 
Tbh i wouldn't bother with a made to measure unless you absolutely have to as its so hard to shift them if your horse changes shape and it doesn't fit them anymore. :)
 
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