Saddle suggestions please, awkward to fit horse

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Wilbur_Force

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Hi folks, my horse is a bit awkward for saddle fitting and I wondered if I could have your thoughts please? He is flat backed, short coupled, no wither, huge shoulders and round in the barrel. No surprise that he's a Connie X.
He's currently in a cc luc childeric dressage saddle that has latex panels. If I need to find a new make of saddle, what's good for this sort of horse? Thanks everyone
 
Thanks. Main problem is I think its moving onto the shoulders. I'm always losing the pads a little from under it and it slips a bit, but it has nothing to anchor to! Its a great saddle for him generally
 
At the risk of sounding like a broekn record . . Don't think it's so much the brand, as the fitting/adjusting. Obviously different brands fit different types, but if the saddle's not well fitted it will still slip.

Beware that (imho) there are a lot of qualified saddle fitters that just don't seem to be able to fit saddles properly. Just look at all the saddle fit threads on HHO. The only one I use is www.nortonandnewby.com , in 10ish years of remedial saddling for difficult horses, for clients and me, they have always delivered an excellent fit.

Btw am not on commission! Just like to see horses in saddles that actually fit!!
 
Mine has a confo that sounds just like yours (also a connie cross!) and she has an albion platinum ultra with extra deep gussets on order - we tried a heap but this one fitted her like a glove and really allows her shoulders to use their power and free up. Saddler mentioned that this albion model has a tree that is particularly good for the broader backed horse.
 
My mare is VERY similar, and the only thing we found that fitted was an Equipe. Everything else got pulled up her shoulders/neck, or was too narrow. :) She has a MW (+1) and I have been really pleased with it.
 
Wilbur_Force said:
Thanks folks. I just feel that he's got much more to give but the saddle seems to bunch up on to his shoulders - my fingers can't get under the front when I'm on board. Lots to think about :)
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If you want extra help to free up the shoulder then you could consider getting flair (not cair) put into just the shoulder area of the saddle. If your saddle fitter is flair trained they should be able to do this. Keeping the rest of the saddle with traditional flocking will avoid the sea sickness prob, while still keeping the shoulders free and it is also adjustable so that it would be perfect for each horse. Because it deforms and reshapes infinatly with minimal pressure then it helps encorage shoulder freedom.
 
Ah, don't know about that then, have only seen it done on wool flocked panels. The latex can be a firmer or softer kind - can you get the front area done in a softer latex at least so that it deforms more easily from the movement of the shoulder?

You have my sympathies, big shoulders and flat wide backs are the bane of my life! I could not belive the difference when I tried the saddle I have on order. We just powered around the school, a wonderful feeling!
 
Beans1 said:
Another vote for WOW!! :-)
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And another - sister has a nightmare of a pony to fit (huge barrel, flat back, withers to rival my tb, very narrow infront, growing as a baby, short coupled with a 5'8 rider.... you get the jist!)

After 4 different saddles we bit the bullet and got him a Wow (having been through a similar saga and coming to the same conclusion with my horse 2 years before!) and haven't looked back. Fantastic saddles BUT make sure you get a really good fitter as this makes a huge difference!
 
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