Saddle ? ? ?

[ThePinkPony]

Does anyone have any tips on what saddle to use whilst backing a 4 year old.

She is lunged with quite a posh leather GP saddle at the moment, which is used on two other horses also so she cant send it with the horse,
id love to get similar but theres no way I can afford that at the moment (I could, but i really dont want to be paying out loads for a saddle that i may well have to change in the fairly near future).

I have seen a Shires synthetic saddle. 'Shires Hi Lite Benefit Self Adjust Synthetic GP Saddle'.

its not that costly and the fact that its adjustable is quite helpful, her owner says shes fitting a 'quite wide' but is changeable.

any help here???

 

[Wagtail]

Does anyone have any tips on what saddle to use whilst backing a 4 year old.

She is lunged with quite a posh leather GP saddle at the moment, which is used on two other horses also so she cant send it with the horse,
id love to get similar but theres no way I can afford that at the moment (I could, but i really dont want to be paying out loads for a saddle that i may well have to change in the fairly near future).

I have seen a Shires synthetic saddle. 'Shires Hi Lite Benefit Self Adjust Synthetic GP Saddle'.

its not that costly and the fact that its adjustable is quite helpful, her owner says shes fitting a 'quite wide' but is changeable.

any help here???

Buy a wintec off ebay (but avoid the cair ones as some can be hard). You can get one in good condition for £80 ish

 

[ThePony]

I understand you not wanting to waste £££ on a super fancy saddle now, esp when it is likely that she will change shape enough in the near future to require another one. However, this is her first introduction to a saddle andthe weight of a rider on her back, you owe it to her to make it as positive experience as you can.

No need to go mad on a saddle, but a well fitting one is essential. Wintecs don't tend to fit alot of horses well as they have quite a banana shaped tree (though if they fit your horse then all is well!). As well as a wintec, there are thorrowgoods which are v good adjustable saddles. Also worth considering a second hand leather one too - being second hand even if you need to sell it back to your saddler to get another, if it has been looked after well, then you really shouldn't loose much on it.

I would get a saddler out that you have had a chat with about your budget and requirements and get them to fit something to your mare. Unless you are a saddle fitter it is not a job you should be attempting yourself, your mares comfort and back health really is just too important. Some saddle fitters will fit what you buy elseware, if yours will then get them to suggest brands that will have a tree that will suit and then you can take it from there.

Good luck, sounds like very exciting times!!

 

[ThePinkPony]

thanks ThePony,

This isnt her first introduction, shes being lunged with her owners saddle at the moment, but that cant come to me. once we are at the stage where she'll be being ridden then i want to get a better saddle.
thats why i thought the adjustable one would make more sense for the short term.

 

[ThePony]

I do think adjustable is a very good idea, even if it doesn't fit forever (which of course is likely!) it does give you some scope to keep it fitting for a little longer. I would just get a saddler to sort the fit out though as it really is so important. Wintecs do suit some horses very well, but it isn't so common for a horse to have a back shape that suits them. A thorrowgood can still be picked up for very reasnoble £ second hand, but their tree tends to suit more horses, and they also have a cob and high wither version so within their range you have a better chance.

I would get some recommendations for saddlers near you and call a couple with your requirements. The ones who have only £1k plus dressage albions etc you can pass on (for now!), just find someone who is a good fitter but who also stocks a reasnoble selection of second hand saddles that you can try on your mare.