Saddles for a veteran

[Box_Of_Frogs]

Any advice/experience valued.

My 22/23yr old 15.2 cob is a little croup high, too porky and is developing the typical dipped back that veterans tend to get. At the moment he has a GFS wide 17.5 saddle. But it is now bridging horribly. His good quality numnah always shows sweat at the front and back but untouched in the middle. There are obvious rub marks beginning to develop on his back where the back of the saddle is moving and pressing. I always use the 1st and 4th girth straps.

The problem is, is there a saddle out there that can fit a veteran of this shape? I had a conversation a year or two ago with a saddle fitter who said some horses just can't EVER be fitted for a saddle. Equally, at 22/23 I have to ask myself whether paying up to £1,000 (?) for a made-to-measure is viable. I've thought about a treeless but not sure if that would actually help since I don't know enough about how they spread the rider's weight on the horse's back. A local master saddler goes pale whenever they are mentioned and says they are the work of the devil.

Is it possible to adjust the tree in a decent quality saddle (eg my GFS) to follow the dip in my neds back? Is there a synthetic one which would? Could I ride him in one of those sheepskin pads with bars for stirrups? Anyone got any ideas? Any info greatfully received x

 

[dozzie]

Have you thought about a Korrector pad? Or something along those lines?

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

Thanks for that idea DM. I've rattled off a query to Korrector Pards. Never heard of them before! The problem with most pads is that they cover the whole saddle area and what I need is a pad that would "fill in" the area that is being bridged, ie the middle bit between pommel and cantle.

Any other veteran owners out there got a saddle that is brill for a dipped back????

 

[CrazyMare]

My mare fits into the veteran catagory, the croup high catagory and the round barrel ribs catagory, however she isn't dipped in the back really, but Ideal Saddles fit her really well.

Can send you a photo of her if that helps?

 

[dozzie]

Sorry couldnt rememder the name of the other pad I had seen when I posted earlier!

It is called Suber pad. I havent used one as I have a Korrector but it might be worth a look.

http://www.davidahnequine.co.uk/

 

[shazza283]

The thorowgood lot do a high wither option for TB's - it might be worth a look as they are very lightweight which is a big help for old backs - may find shape better for his back - they also do a fish thingy now to help with fit - I have an oldish one of these I use with our youngsters and it's worn brilliantly and is still comfy despite being old.(only cost me £190 but that was a few years ago in a sale !)

 

[Kallibear]

As much as I hate Wintecs, a wide but dipped back is something they would probabaly work well on. The tree curves quite dramatically as the gullet is made wider. Terrible for flat cobs but may suit your old lad.

The only problem would be the camber of the panels. If he's flat side to side the outside edge at the back may dig in. However, if you bought a flocked saddle (stay clear of the cair ones!) you could have the flocking adjusted.

I would also investigate the more expensive treeless. I've seen and ridden in the cheap ones (basically a felt pad with pommel and cantle stuck on) but also ridden in the expensive ones (Heather Moffett, Fitform) and they were way better. Traditional saddlers hate them but there are plenty of horses who don't agree

 

[catembi]

My old mare is 35 & she's outlasted a wintec & a thorowgood & she's currently ridden in a Heather Moffatt dressage saddle (treed) which doesn't seem to bridge even though she does have a dipped back. She seems very happy in it & will still kick up her heels & go for a gallop.

 

[Theresa_F]

Cairo did very well in later life with the Barefoot treeless I bought for Chancer to grow with. It really suited him and he schooled nicely.

Not saying it is the way to go, but personally I found my Barefoot very good on both the boys and may use in on the new clydie when she outgrows her saddle for schooling and hacking in the western.