Saddle help

[Lynnskatz]

Hi I have an 18.2hh shire gelding who is high withered and bum high with big shoulders, a saddle fitters nightmare. Does anyone know what make of saddle would suit him best? My saddle fitters thinks I may have to get one made for him which i will do if cant find cheaper alternative.

 

[Floofball]

Not a saddle fitter - but have you thought about a balance saddle? They are wide fitting with pads and shims to adjust fit in areas that are needed. I also had a similar shape horse that did well in a Keiffer medico tree infra red adjustable saddle too. Good luck with with him, he’s gorgeous even if a saddle fitters nightmare!

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Not a saddle fitter - but have you thought about a balance saddle? They are wide fitting with pads and shims to adjust fit in areas that are needed. I also had a similar shape horse that did well in a Keiffer medico tree infra red adjustable saddle too. Good luck with with him, he’s gorgeous even if a saddle fitters nightmare!

Agree they are good saddles and do come really wide, Lavinia Mitchell who worked for Balance now makes her own saddles with a similar concept, I use them on both of my Arab's which are not easy to fit and both quite different and they work really well they are also extremely comfortable saddles.

 

[Barton Bounty]

He looks like a big gem of a horse!
Have any of your friends got any saddles to try on?

so the last yard I was at had shires and massive percherons, biggest touching 19hh

they varied in size and shape and they used a variety of saddles, from wintec wide to cheap crappy ones.
Big shoulders and high withers usually id swing towards thorowgood they have amazing saddles, very reasonably priced! ?

 

[Lynnskatz]

He looks like a big gem of a horse!
Have any of your friends got any saddle to try on?

Unfortunately not, im currently riding him in a saddle company saddle which isnt the worst fit but would like to try a different make that might fit him better x

 

[Barton Bounty]

Unfortunately not, im currently riding him in a saddle company saddle which isnt the worst fit but would like to try a different make that might fit him better x

I edited my post, added more info.

 

[Birker2020]

I have an Ideal Apex saddle for my high withered boy, I had to put a 'fish eye' gel pad in the gap over his shoulders as he had muscle wastage. The saddler flocked the saddle so it fit him better underneath to cater for this.

My saddle isn't a high withered saddle I think it was more a case of positioning it in the right place on his back. I was told I, along with lots of other people put saddles too far forward. As Lari has quite a long back I could afford to have it sit slightly further back.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Ohh birker hes a handsome boy

 

[Birker2020]

Ohh birker hes a handsome boy

Thank you, he's such a lovely lad, my world. I'd give my right arm to ride him again - for more than three seconds before getting bucked off!

 

[Barton Bounty]

Thank you, he's such a lovely lad, my world. I'd give my right arm to ride him again - for more than three seconds before getting bucked off!

Awww :-(

 

[ycbm]

If be putting a WOW with double deep panels on him but I'd also be contacting @sbloom for her pointers to ground work to lift the shoulder cradle/ thoracic sling to try to raise his back into his wither a bit more.
.

 

[Birker2020]

but I'd also be contacting @sbloom for her pointers to ground work to lift the shoulder cradle/ thoracic sling to try to raise his back into his wither a bit more.
.

Yes that's a good idea what YCBM suggests OP.

It wasn't something I wanted to pursue anymore having already put many painful months into rehabbing which followed on from rehabbing my previous horse continually over many years, but if you have the time and patience its a good idea.

 

[sbloom]

Yep, his back doesn't look brilliant I'm afraid (really common, not many of us really SEE it), if you search my content on here you'll see my groundwork recommendations.

The healthier the back shape the easier they become to fit, and it's easier for the horse to improve, if you follow the right programme (don't start anything that uses a gadget!) if they don't have the burden of our weight, and the saddle complication. Sadly saddles are only ever mitigation, they can never actually improve a horse's way of going.

There are wide horse specialist brands and fitters out there, but even their off the peg options may not be cheaper than M2M but might have a 14 day trial and ultimately be more successful. If a fitter is worried about a horses shape you're best to find one who isn't. But if they're not telling you about the condition of your horses back, how much he'll change and that it's best to do that before getting a saddle or with a temporary remedial saddle, then you may also want to look elsewhere.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I can recommend the ground work sbloom suggests I've been doing very similar with one of my horses who has a high wither dipped back croup high who has been out of work, it really has improved his back and posture.

 

[thefarsideofthefield]

Have pm'd you