saddle worries opinions please

nixxyz

nixxyz

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needing some advice about my girls saddle, it has been fitted by a master saddler although i personally think its too long for her. im really worried that its giving her a sore back. im going to ring another saddler on monday to see what they think as she does has a dipped back so its really important that the saddle fits really well.

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m638/nixxyz1/27032011518.jpg

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m638/nixxyz1/27032011519.jpg

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m638/nixxyz1/27032011521.jpg

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m638/nixxyz1/27032011520.jpg

opinions please as im really in 2 minds as to whether it fits :(
 
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Oh my god. Did you actually pay money for that saddle and for someone to fit it?!!!! It's genuinely the worst fitting saddle I've seen in a while. It's several inches too long for her. Your horse is a saint for not decking you every time you sit on her in that saddle. It most ceratinly will be causing her pain and discomfort. Who the hell was the supposedly SMS fitter?!!
 
i personally dont like it i hate it, and im really no expert on saddles hence why i got a saddle from my saddler (mcnabbs saddlers in kelso) he came out and fitted it. this is my first horse although ive ridden for many years and well i thought that because it was fitted by a suposed professional it would be ok. i know its old but im not out for looks, i just want one that fits. :(
 
I think that when there is a doubt about a saddle fitting it is a good idea to get a 2nd saddler in to have a look. I agree that fit is paramount and as you have posted you must have doubt.
 
I wonder just how old that saddle is?!
Have a look at Balance International. As you say, your horse has a dipped back, and they will be able to help whether this is a conformational thing or a posture that the horse has adopted due to past discomfort from the saddle.
 
i dont see why this is a joke?

the op has asked for opinions, you put your trust in a master saddler and its not really an area that most horse people know about properly, so if this is her first horse she has every right to ask opinion

Well anyways,

yes its too long for her and doesnt look like it gives enough room for her spine, ie the gusset? is too narrow
 
Kirsty+Java said:
i dont see why this is a joke?

the op has asked for opinions, you put your trust in a master saddler and its not really an area that most horse people know about properly, so if this is her first horse she has every right to ask opinion

Well anyways,

yes its too long for her and doesnt look like it gives enough room for her spine, ie the gusset? is too narrow
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i actually asked him about this at the time and his answer was that because her spine isnt raised it doesnt need to be wide. i honestly dont think this is true. i am deffo going to ring another saddle tomorrow morning. as for her dipped back i belive it is posture as her previous owners rode in a saddle that was far too narrow for about 7 yrs!!! so the poor lass canni win :(
 
nixxyz said:
i actually asked him about this at the time and his answer was that because her spine isnt raised it doesnt need to be wide. i honestly dont think this is true. i am deffo going to ring another saddle tomorrow morning. as for her dipped back i belive it is posture as her previous owners rode in a saddle that was far too narrow for about 7 yrs!!! so the poor lass canni win :(
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Definitely have a look at Balance then - if you fit a traditional saddle to her current posture, she won't have any way of improving. Balance can supply a saddle/ pad combination that will allow her the option to change her posture if she chooses to. I haven't put that very well, but she looks like she needs a lot of help and they will be able to give it!!
 
In the third photo, it looks as if the saddle isn't actually straight, either that or your horse is standing very crooked.
 
nixxyz said:
i actually asked him about this at the time and his answer was that because her spine isnt raised it doesnt need to be wide. i honestly dont think this is true. i am deffo going to ring another saddle tomorrow morning. as for her dipped back i belive it is posture as her previous owners rode in a saddle that was far too narrow for about 7 yrs!!! so the poor lass canni win :(
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even if the spine isnt raised surely there is still no fat there and it would really hurt her!

My horse has just got a new saddle after a saddler didnt fit it right, i was quite upset at the time as i didnt realise i was hurting him until one day he had had enough and threw me off and ran back to my mum!

Luckily now I had a second saddler fit a different saddle which fits beautifully apart from his old saddle caused muscle wastage so he has to have extra padding over his withers

my first pony who i got when he was 13 (now 22) had had a badly fitting saddle for years and has an extremely dipped back and it took years to find one that fits comfortably and even now it doesnt look normal but does fit its just his shape!
 
soloequestrian said:
Definitely have a look at Balance then - if you fit a traditional saddle to her current posture, she won't have any way of improving. Balance can supply a saddle/ pad combination that will allow her the option to change her posture if she chooses to. I haven't put that very well, but she looks like she needs a lot of help and they will be able to give it!!
Click to expand...

I second Balance :D
 
have you ridden in that saddle? How did you find it?

Not only has the saddle got to fit the horse (and Iid get a 2nd opinion if I were you) but YOU have to like it and feel balanced and comfortable in it.

It isn't long ago a client of mine bought a new horse and came with a saddle like that. The fit wasn't horrendous BUT it was horrifically uncomfortable and it was near on IMPOSSIBLE for the rider to have a half decent secure position in it. The saddle pulled her lower leg really far forwards and sat her at the back of the saddle. I would imagine this saddle would do the same. You can see that by the shape of it.
 
I hope you don't mind me asking but how much did he charge you for that saddle. i suspect it is over 30 years old. I also suspect the panels are rock solid. it looks seriously uncomfortable for you as a rider, and the rear pads look over flocked. The fit is too long
 
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