Saddle musings for a red TB

Northern

Northern

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I know, another saddle thread! To be clear, I don't expect a magic solution here, but thought I might post to gather some thoughts about what to do about my red TB mare. She's 6, so still has some degree of maturation to do.

She's been out of work because she had a fight with a fence o_O, but is just about ready to start back in with some hacking out. Problem is, my saddles are no longer to her taste and the only one she did tolerate is too narrow now (IMO). I had a saddle fitter out last year who put her in a narrow (Bates) gullet which I think caused a lot of problems going forward over the last 8 months in terms of being uncomfortable under saddle (ditched that saddle as soon as I realised!). She's had a bit of time off and a vet visit, who advised to start her over poles and walking out to build her up again. She has mild locking stifle which is another reason I would really like to start her out over hills again.

I haven't been able to find someone to come out to her, so am thinking of trying to find an interim saddle I can use until I have her in a decent-ish level of work and can find a fitter who actually replies and wants my business :rolleyes:
Anyone have a similar shaped horse or situation and found something somewhat suitable? I am pulling my hair out, I do ride her bareback but it isn't fun for me due to her rather prominent wither.

Erda1.JPG

Saddle I have been riding her in for the last 2 years (quite narrow over her shoulders now, but could be widened).
Erda2.JPG

Thanks for any thoughts!
 
My horse is bigger barrelled but has always had a very prominent wither and is short coupled. The saddle that he’s always been happiest in is a Kieffer Garmisch. I had others but either he or I couldn’t get on with them. The tree can be heated to widen it but you’d need a saddler that has right equipment.
 
Thanks for your replies :D

I have tried Thorowgoods on her, the T8 didn't work at all and I don't get along with the T4 or T8. I do have an old Wintec I will try, so maybe something like that would work. Its borrowed though so will need to get her a saddle anyway.
 
She’s cute!

On these types I always want the saddle fitted a bit wide and then I pad out - she will need the freedom to fill out into the saddle. The trick with doing that though is to keep the balance right.

She doesn’t look like she would be too tricky to fit.

She might even be a WOW/flair candidate - the sensitive ones tend to go one way or the other with those, they either love or hate! Wow do an air half pad.
 
For sensitive tricky shaped ones, I cannot recommend Solutution treeless saddles highly enough. Not to be confused with the treeless ones favoured by endurance riders, these look and ride pretty much like a normal treed saddle and I hunt/event/SJ in mine.
 
ihatework said:
She’s cute!

On these types I always want the saddle fitted a bit wide and then I pad out - she will need the freedom to fill out into the saddle. The trick with doing that though is to keep the balance right.

She doesn’t look like she would be too tricky to fit.

She might even be a WOW/flair candidate - the sensitive ones tend to go one way or the other with those, they either love or hate! Wow do an air half pad.
Click to expand...

This is what I’m tending to as well! Believe it or not, she liked my Haflingers jumping saddle which was nice and wide but not excessively so. Unfortunately that’s now been fitted to the pony! There is a WOW I’ve been eyeing off here 🤔
 
I had an OTTB a few years ago that did a lot of shape changing- I had a shires Optimus GP with a changeable gullet which worked really well and was mega comfy and not too pricey as a saddle to progress from. I’ve heard that they don’t suit many ‘types’ but my fitter was really pleased with mine on the TB. I’m not sure they make them any more but they come up on eBay with the gullet plates every so often.
 
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