Saddles for ponies

[mad9449]

I'm currently saving up to get myself a Kaimanawa as a project and am wondering what I should do for the saddle sizing. I've never worked with ponies and am used to fitting in a 17-17.5' saddles, but I know that it would not fit the pony. We have no idea about anything about the ponies when they come to us except their gender, so their size can range from 12.2-14hh, so am wondering what size would be the general best to get?

 

[planete]

Hi! Your post made me look up Kaimanawa as I had never heard of these horses. It would seem that they come up up in all sizes and types so deciding on a saddle before getting the horse is probably not advisable, best wait and start the gentling process until you are able to take proper measurements of the horse you get. I found an interesting site in my search: https://rivervalley.co.nz/taken-from-the-wild/. It might be worth your while picking her brains if this is your first adoption. Best of luck with your project.

 

[mad9449]

Hi! Your post made me look up Kaimanawa as I had never heard of these horses. It would seem that they come up up in all sizes and types so deciding on a saddle before getting the horse is probably not advisable, best wait and start the gentling process until you are able to take proper measurements of the horse you get. I found an interesting site in my search: https://rivervalley.co.nz/taken-from-the-wild/. It might be worth your while picking her brains if this is your first adoption. Best of luck with your project.

I'll be doing the initial 4 week taming process with Kelly Wilson, a well known and respected trainer in New Zealand, which will prepare the pony for halters, loading, touch, fencing and general bombproofing. I've been thinking on it for a while but never had the cattleyards to do it and only recently found out beginning of this year that a trainer I follow does workshops.

 

[sbloom]

Can you find a good saddle fitter to work with? The tree shape, panel shape and seat length will be individual to each pony, and your effect on it must also be assessed.