Saddles for native ponies - thoughts please

Ive had a couple of Native Pony saddles (AH)... the first was an old 2nd hand one and it was a really nice saddle but bl**dy hell it was like a brick to sit on. The newer one was gorgeous for a short while and then also went very hard in the seat.

Ive never had an issue with BC. They do a standard tree and a freedom tree, which is the one that suits native types more). Your fitter will measure up and send everything away to BC and it is them who decide which tree to build your saddle on.
 
Somebody did say to me that if I went for AH a seat saver might be a good option! I do have a fairly well padded behind so maybe that would help...

Does sound like black country could be a good option. My problem will be finding a decent fitter who will measure up properly. I think I'm going to email BC and ask them for a recommendation.
 
Sorry I haven't been able to contribute but some lovely person reported me for directing someone to my Facebook page. If I can answer any questions about about our saddles I will of course.
 
I ordered a working hunter saddle earlier this year, my mare sounds similar shape to yours. Spent over a year trying to find a saddle, various tree'd saddles, Solution Saddle and Heather Moffat. Had been recommended Stephanie Bloom by another saddler that didn't think she could find a standard saddle that would work, unfortunately at that time I was at the end of my tether with the whole saddle search & thats when I went down the treeless route. Obviously that also didnt work out for us either so I got Steph out. I sent pictures and also spoke to her on the phone & she came out with a van full to try, once I decided on the one I most preferred I had trial run with the saddle before ordering (I wanted it in black so didnt want the brown one that was in stock). In the first couple of months in new saddle I got the most consistent work out of my mare that I'd ever had! my mare has changed shape since and we have had some issues getting the saddle 100% perfect (Mare still working well but i am extremely picky with saddle fit after all the problems I had!) BUT Steph has not hesitated to try and help get it right, and has visited me free of charge - unlike other companies, one being Solution Saddles that after one wk was not interested in helping in any way! the original saddle I had (before the search) was checked by 3 "qualified" saddlers, I had that saddle for a couple of years checked regularly and not one of them picked up it was pinching her shoulder, it wasnt until my instructor said she wldnt teach me any more and I got a 4th person out I realised there was a problem so you cant really rely on the qualication alone! Also that "4th" saddler has seen me ride in my AH saddle and actually said he'd never seen my mare move so well!! Based on my experience I would definitely give AH saddles a go, you have the trial run so you can be sure you're happy with it before commiting to it and Steph is very good if you have any concerns - I think I emailed and phoned several times before buying!!
 
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