Saddle suggestions please

[Marigold4]

My young horse has been in a treeless saddle so far but it's causing him to have a sore back. Please could I have suggestions for a horse with a fairly high and quite wide wither, flat back, XW. He has a short back that only takes a 16.5 ins although he is 15 hh. Oldenburg x tb x Welsh.

 

[milliepops]

I know people like to get suggestions but for a young horse that is already sore, IMO the best suggestion is to get a good fitter with a range of saddles to choose from and go from there.
you are setting him up for the rest of his life at this stage, so it's important to get it right.

 

[Zuzan]

Have a look at HT (German) and Hidalgo saddles .. I have a leather tree'd Hidalgo Venice (dressage)... they have velcro on panels of different sizes so can have a shorter and wider panels on a bigger seat.. My horse has high wide withers that are also quite long and a flat back and a forward girth groove so not dissimilar from yours. They give enough structure to effectively distribute pressure / weight and have some flex which enables the back to move and muscle up.

 

[Marigold4]

I know people like to get suggestions but for a young horse that is already sore, IMO the best suggestion is to get a good fitter with a range of saddles to choose from and go from there.
you are setting him up for the rest of his life at this stage, so it's important to get it right.

Don't worry, I'm not about to sling an ill-fitting saddle on my beloved young horse on the suggestion of a forum! Saddler is booked; physio has been. I'm not an idiot. Just asking for suggestions so I can be well-informed for saddlers's visit.

 

[Marigold4]

Have a look at HT (German) and Hidalgo saddles .. I have a leather tree'd Hidalgo Venice (dressage)... they have velcro on panels of different sizes so can have a shorter and wider panels on a bigger seat.. My horse has high wide withers that are also quite long and a flat back and a forward girth groove so not dissimilar from yours. They give enough structure to effectively distribute pressure / weight and have some flex which enables the back to move and muscle up.

Thank you. Yes, my horse's withers go a long way into his back too. That's very helpful. I'll have a look.

 

[milliepops]

just checking, plenty of people lurch from one bad saddle to another by buying second hand and hoping for the best.

 

[Marigold4]

just checking, plenty of people lurch from one bad saddle to another by buying second hand and hoping for the best.

Poor horses, and poor owners then. Saddle fitting is a minefield! I've spent a fortune on this treeless saddle thinking it was the kindest option and now I find it is causing him pain. I couldn't have taken more trouble to find what I thought was the best saddle for him - even had it customised for him. It cost a fortune. Grrrr. Reason for my post is simply to arm myself with best knowledge - I'm not convinced all saddle fitters do a good job - and I certainly don't want to make another expensive mistake. Sorry to be snappy!

 

[Xmasha]

We had the saddle fitter out to our 4yo who also has a high wither and is quite compact. Shes suggested Amerigo, so is coming back with one of them for us to try

 

[Zuzan]

My young horse has been in a treeless saddle so far but it's causing him to have a sore back. Please could I have suggestions for a horse with a fairly high and quite wide wither, flat back, XW. He has a short back that only takes a 16.5 ins although he is 15 hh. Oldenburg x tb x Welsh.

Just to add another consideration is the flat back and being wide... my GP (a Semi Flex / slightly more conventional) Saddle is fine for fast work and jumping but totally useless for flat work as has no twist at all so I find it quite hard to let my knee drop and have my heel hanging under my hip. So be careful that whatever you go for also allows you to have a correct seat (doesn't put you in chair seat etc) and gives you enough leg room should you wish to rider with shorter stirrups etc)

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Poor horses, and poor owners then. Saddle fitting is a minefield! I've spent a fortune on this treeless saddle thinking it was the kindest option and now I find it is causing him pain. I couldn't have taken more trouble to find what I thought was the best saddle for him - even had it customised for him. It cost a fortune. Grrrr. Reason for my post is simply to arm myself with best knowledge - I'm not convinced all saddle fitters do a good job - and I certainly don't want to make another expensive mistake. Sorry to be snappy!

Would it be better with more/different shimming under it? That is the usual way to adjust the fit of treeless saddles and young horses change shape very quickly, so what you were recommended might have been outgrown by now.

 

[Marigold4]

Would it be better with more/different shimming under it? That is the usual way to adjust the fit of treeless saddles and young horses change shape very quickly, so what you were recommended might have been outgrown by now.

Thanks for replying. I have tried various different shims, but in order to get it over the wither I have to shim in front and then the saddle tips back. I have tried two sets of pads stacked on top of each other to get it over wither and level but then its quite high, not very stable and he doesn't seem to like it. I've tried different thicknesses of shims. I think he's sprouted a wither and now it's going to be tricky.

Here's a photo - not looking his best - still in winter woolies!

 

[Marigold4]

Just to add another consideration is the flat back and being wide... my GP (a Semi Flex / slightly more conventional) Saddle is fine for fast work and jumping but totally useless for flat work as has no twist at all so I find it quite hard to let my knee drop and have my heel hanging under my hip. So be careful that whatever you go for also allows you to have a correct seat (doesn't put you in chair seat etc) and gives you enough leg room should you wish to rider with shorter stirrups etc)

A good thought, thanks. I think whatever happens I will struggle with a 16.5 - I'm only 5'3 with shortish legs but have v big bum!

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

He does have a high wither, we had an Appaloosa that shape, she had a tear drop shaped saddle which was then loaned and later sold to a friend. I will ask sister if she can remember the make. It was an 18" saddle though.

 

[ycbm]

They are marmite saddles, but you can get aWOW that will fit him that can have a bigger seat on shorter panels to suit you both, which should be able to be adjusted with minimum cost to suit you both as he continues to change shape as he matures.

It sounds like you need a17 inch flat or shallow (size1) seat on a 16 inch (size0) panel.

If you don't have the budget for a new one, a fitter ought to be able to tell you which second hand parts to source and there is a good second hand market for them.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Sbloom on here from AH saddles fit a lot of that type they are very nice saddles, they do a upswept panel which is a good option for short backed horses.

 

[Marigold4]

He does have a high wither, we had an Appaloosa that shape, she had a tear drop shaped saddle which was then loaned and later sold to a friend. I will ask sister if she can remember the make. It was an 18" saddle though.

What is a tear drop saddle please?

 

[Marigold4]

Sbloom on here from AH saddles fit a lot of that type they are very nice saddles, they do a upswept panel which is a good option for short backed horses.

But aren't AH saddles designed for flat backed horses with no wither? I have loved their saddles for my connemaras but can they make a saddle combining a saddle for a high wither AND a flat back??

 

[Jellymoon]

What a lovely horse, how is he bred?
Re saddles - I use a well-known brand of treeless saddles and have an excellent fitter who sorts all my different shapes out with various pads and shims. I don’t know what brand you use, but they do differ, as do the fitters.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

But aren't AH saddles designed for flat backed horses with no wither? I have loved their saddles for my connemaras but can they make a saddle combining a saddle for a high wither AND a flat back??

I don't really know I would imagine they work on a lot of horses, I know they have different type trees to accommodate different shapes, maybe drop her a message and ask her.

 

[Marigold4]

What a lovely horse, how is he bred?
Re saddles - I use a well-known brand of treeless saddles and have an excellent fitter who sorts all my different shapes out with various pads and shims. I don’t know what brand you use, but they do differ, as do the fitters.

Thank you! He is indeed a lovely horse! I bought him and his mother when he was very young and he is a delight. He is Royaldix x Primitive Proposal on his mother's side and FS Moonlight (German Riding Pony) on his sire's. Treeless saddle fitter is coming on Monday, hopefully with a different base to try but I'm notbterribly optimistic. Thank you for replying.

 

[Palindrome]

I would try a Thorowgood high wither. They have a compact range which are for short backs.

 

[Marigold4]

They are marmite saddles, but you can get aWOW that will fit him that can have a bigger seat on shorter panels to suit you both, which should be able to be adjusted with minimum cost to suit you both as he continues to change shape as he matures.

It sounds like you need a17 inch flat or shallow (size1) seat on a 16 inch (size0) panel.

If you don't have the budget for a new one, a fitter ought to be able to tell you which second hand parts to source and there is a good second hand market for them.

Thank you for replying. I'll have a look at Wow saddles. The only thing is that I'm quite committed to close contact saddles - would that work? Main thing is to fit the horse. I'm prepared to compromise - most important thing is that it fits the horse.

 

[Marigold4]

I would try a Thorowgood high wither. They have a compact range which are for short backs.

I did have a look at these this morning and thought they might work. The smallest size I coukd find was a 17 though?

 

[Palindrome]

Thank you for replying. I'll have a look at Wow saddles. The only thing is that I'm quite committed to close contact saddles - would that work? Main thing is to fit the horse. I'm prepared to compromise - most important thing is that it fits the horse.

I think you would be better with normal panels as with a high withered horse you need a thick gusset at the back so the saddle can be balanced front to back and the seat level. The gusset is made larger by adding wool to the flocking at the back and thus giving a custom fit for your horse.

I did have a look at these this morning and thought they might work. The smallest size I coukd find was a 17 though?

The compact also comes in 16.5 according to their website, but they don't say anything about the panels being shorter.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

But aren't AH saddles designed for flat backed horses with no wither? I have loved their saddles for my connemaras but can they make a saddle combining a saddle for a high wither AND a flat back??

Send Stef an email, measurements etc, she will be able to advise x

 

[Marigold4]

I think you would be better with normal panels as with a high withered horse you need a thick gusset at the back so the saddle can be balanced front to back and the seat level. The gusset is made larger by adding wool to the flocking at the back and thus giving a custom fit for your horse.

This is exactly what I'm thinking! I can't see how I can get it over his wither AND level without a big fat rear gusset sewn in rhat can be adjusted.


The compact also comes in 16.5 according to their website, but they don't say anything about the panels being shorter.

Thank you. I will have a look. The only trouble with this one is, I think, is that the tree is the standard Thoroughgood one, so slightly "banana shaped" (so will lift off his back) - unless you use the cob version which will be too low on his wither. I hopevI am wrong though as TGs are nice and light and easy on the purse, so I'd love one!

 

[Marigold4]

Send Stef an email, measurements etc, she will be able to advise x

Unfortunately Stef doesn't do my area. Do you think she would still advise whether anything from her range would suit?

 

[Marigold4]

We had the saddle fitter out to our 4yo who also has a high wither and is quite compact. Shes suggested Amerigo, so is coming back with one of them for us to try

Thank you. I will take a look.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Unfortunately Stef doesn't do my area. Do you think she would still advise whether anything from her range would suit?

It's worth an ask.

 

[Goldenstar]

If the horse is not doing well in a treeless I would go for a light saddle with a traditional panel .
I might have in the back of my mind that a saddle that could take the flair air system would be a good idea just in case .
What type of saddle are you after dressage GP ?