Saddles - Sizes etc

[WishfulThinker]

My horse is currently on loan and when I get him back I will need a new saddles as I have lost over 4 stone, so I know it will sit differently as it does with his loanee and she is approx 10stone. Now we have been told that he needs a riser pad at the back to stop the cantle from pointing skywards. He is currently a medium/wide (he is shire x Irish Cob), 15.3hh and has a 18" saddle as I was a bit squished in anything smaller

. I am not sure what type to get. I plan to do more jumping than I did before, and when I first got him we used my sisters changeable gullet wintec which was a 16.5inch, and I have to say that for jumping I didnt budge!

I am 5ft 7, 31" legs and I have been told 'should' have a 17.5inch, but I really want a 17 or 16.5 again. Is this going to have an adverse effect on my horse?
And which type (leather or synth) woul be best for a horse that needs a back riser pad? He is croup high so I was surprised he needed this pad.

 

[JoBo]

I would suggest getting a saddler out and trying lots out, that’s the best way of finding out what exactly what you are comfortable in and also what fits your horse.

 

[Moggy in Manolos]

I am no expert here. If you have been advised to go for a 17.5inch from an expert then i would be inclined to go along with what they suggest. You could get a second opinion from another saddle fitter and see what they say.
But well done you for losing four stone,thats tremendous. Hope you get a nice new saddle sorted soon

 

[flyingfeet]

Out of interest why do you want such a small seat size?

At your height you should be feeling squished in these saddles, rather than secure.

 

[barneyandem]

I would prob go for a 17-17.5" as anything smaller looks out of place of a bigger horse(IMO). Im about 5ft 6 and a size 8-10 but i have a 17.5" saddle as anything smaller just looked ridiculous on my horse-like one of those lead rein 'cub' saddles!lol!
My showing saddle is however a small 17" and i dont particularly think it looks right on him, but then again it is designed to show off as much of him as possible!

 

[WishfulThinker]

This is him in the 16.5, with my sis riding and she is 5ft 6


And this is it 16.5

 

[barneyandem]

I cant really see the saddle in those pics as they are a bit small and i can just see the saddle cloth and the rider.
Go for whatever you want as you will be the one riding her!When the saddler fitted my saddle she said to go for one a bit bigger as i used to do alot of showing and so when the judge rides him they wont feel too squished..also it deistributes weight more evenly on a larger horse (mine is a 15.1hh cob)and as he had back problems in the past ,it i more wise. I find it very comfy though and so i hate riding in my show saddle which is smaller..

 

[Vix1978]

Echo above - get a saddler out and try a few. I'm small (5'42 and size 8-10) but I have 17-17.5 inch seats as I seem to have a freakishly long leg between my hip and knee and need that saddle size to take my leg.

 

[WishfulThinker]

The pictures open up bigger if you click on them. Yeah. Hope to get Kay Hasilow up when I get my boy back! I want an 'old' saddle - well one that doesnt have that visible knee pad on the skirts.

 

[Cobnut1]

Am a bit confused by your post...sorry!!!

Why would you want a back riser pad to stop the cantle pointing skywards? a riser pad will lift the cantle (back of saddle) even higher.... unless you mean a front riser to lift the pommel to bring it in line with the cantle.

My horse is also croup high, this doesn't make any difference to the fit of the saddle, unless your horse has a longer/shorter back?

On the new saddle issue...I have a saddle for sale... 17.5inch pm me for details if you are interested.

 

[WishfulThinker]

OMG - i'm mortified!! I meant POMMEL!! 12 years and none the wiser eh

 

[Cobnut1]

Now that DOES make sence....LOL!!!

I think you would be better getting a saddler out, as a riser pad is only a temporary measure, and can make things better for a while, but then it can also cause pressure points making things worse in the long run!

Have you ever considered a treeless saddle?

 

[WishfulThinker]

I did have a look. I am doing my research at the mo - hence the questions - and will be talking to a saddler. I like the sound of the WOW, and have read about the Torsion, but the feedback seems to sway more towards that they dont really benefit the horse, but the rider! My boy goes really well in a new saddle, then after a few months he starts to get 'stuffy' feeling and then it doesnt fit!! He seems to prefer a Wintect, but I know thats just the gullter thats changeable.