Saddles for very round ponies?

[OldNag]

Hello,

Having a bit of trouble with our new Welsh A... she is quite round. Saddle she came with is not a good fit, and I'm looking to replace it.

Having had the mobile saddler out, we've currently got one on hire to try for a month but it looks like that's tending to slip too...

Anyone with a similar pony - some pointers about makes/models that might be suitable would be a great start.

Basically she is 11.2, she definitely has "well sprung ribs" (and we need to get some of her belly off her) and her withers aren't very high.

Thanks in advance,

 

[sbloom]

I fit natives as my main focus and we (Native Pony) have several options that would work. Otherwise the two trees I know of that are similarly flat are the Haflinger tree (Jeffries and GFS I think) and the H&C from Ideal which is used in a couple of other saddles as well.

You need to fit a flat tree with a short seat length. They look like they need a scoopy tree but anything with a curve to it will rock, and bounce at the back. You need a wideish head to the tree (upside down U rather than V) although they don't need as wide a head as say a Highland, flat panels with a rear gusset (flocked, not foam) and as many girthing options as possible, we always have four.

The Welsh A usually has a wide rear rib cage and narrow shoulders, coupled with an active croup and a forward girth groove so saddles can really ride forwards! This is why you go for as short a seat length as you can- you get a little further from the active croup. And the flat seat reflects how much the ponies lift their backs in work.

 

[OldNag]

I fit natives as my main focus and we (Native Pony) have several options that would work. Otherwise the two trees I know of that are similarly flat are the Haflinger tree (Jeffries and GFS I think) and the H&C from Ideal which is used in a couple of other saddles as well.

You need to fit a flat tree with a short seat length. They look like they need a scoopy tree but anything with a curve to it will rock, and bounce at the back. You need a wideish head to the tree (upside down U rather than V) although they don't need as wide a head as say a Highland, flat panels with a rear gusset (flocked, not foam) and as many girthing options as possible, we always have four.

The Welsh A usually has a wide rear rib cage and narrow shoulders, coupled with an active croup and a forward girth groove so saddles can really ride forwards! This is why you go for as short a seat length as you can- you get a little further from the active croup. And the flat seat reflects how much the ponies lift their backs in work.

That is incredibly helpful, thank you. Yes wide ribs, narrow shoulders... that's her! Saddle she came with has short seat but rides forward and has a deep seat so it just bounces.

The loan saddle is better but still not completely right. On plus side, it's got a fairly flat seat and does have 4 girth straps so I've got it on the point strap and the 4th..

Wish you were nearer!