Saddles to break in horses?

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rowy

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What saddle do you use to back a horse?
One of the last horses I backed I used a old wintec GP that was sooo uncomfortable and I really hated it.
then the next I used a treeless but that was only because she was mega wide.

Now I am getting a 3 year old to back who looks like she has a relatively normal back for a change. I am pondering on getting a thorowgood T6/ T8 dressage second hand to back as they are comfy and you still have benefits of interchangable gullets. I just really really hate GP saddles and as a main dressage rider I figure this would be a good idea but interested to see what all you use.
 
I've only broken in horses at a busy yard so we had an entire container full of saddles and we would use what ever fitted best, we had about 40 saddles to choose from so it all varies.
 
I have a wintec GP synthetic that i used to back my cob last year - it fitted good and we used it for the initial process and for around 2 weeks then moved on to something a little more substantial. Hoping to use it on my section D next year and do the same if it fits :) Its nice and lightweight and doesn't matter if it gets thrown about etc
 
I just don't much like synthetics so for my youngster (bought just after backing) I got through a succession of Ideal Jessicas - they are relatively cheap on Ebay and you get back what you pay for them. They seem to suit high-withered TB/Irish sorts quite well and are comfy to ride in and fairly secure. I go for the ones with suede knees and seat - they are unpopular so cheap, and they stick you on really well! I haven't spent more than £240 on any of them.
 
I use an old (probably at least 50 years old) flat saddle for the initial work, lying across and getting up and down and the first day riding and then swap to a general purpose/jumping saddle that I use all the time on everything. The flat saddle is used first as its less valuable if a youngster decided to take a dislike to a saddle instead of a roller and try to bash it (hasn't happened yet but you never know with horses) and then because of its flat seat and cantel its easier to lie across and to swing your leg across when leaning over and sitting up. My mother used to hunt and jump in the saddle and its always been looked after but for the last 25 years or so its only used on the babies like this although I have used it instead of a roller on the odd occasion.
 
Abacus said:
I just don't much like synthetics so for my youngster (bought just after backing) I got through a succession of Ideal Jessicas - they are relatively cheap on Ebay and you get back what you pay for them. They seem to suit high-withered TB/Irish sorts quite well and are comfy to ride in and fairly secure. I go for the ones with suede knees and seat - they are unpopular so cheap, and they stick you on really well! I haven't spent more than £240 on any of them.
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I absolutely love ideal jessicas!! There was a horse at the old yard I worked at and I used to love riding her as the saddle was sooooo comfy! I think it really suited my shape as it put me in an ace position. Im just worried that I will have to change it a lot as it isnt adjustable. I may have a chat to my saddle fitter to see what she says.
The new horse I am getting is a connie x ID/TB and I would said she is gonna be around medium width. I haven't had the opportunity to choose saddles before as my other two are xxwide and the other is narrow with a dippy back. Both very difficult to fit!
 
We run a breaking yard and ALWAYS break in using a half tree race exercise size saddle. They fit literally anything, a great example is that we have a 17hh Percheron mare and a 12hh Dartmoor pony to break, saddle goes on both. They are lightweight, comfortable for both horse and rider, close contact, so one can feel every movement and it doesn't matter if they get trashed! They then progress to a GP/Dressage saddle after the initial riding away stage is done, we've got a 'magic' GP saddle that amazingly fits pretty much everything, but could never break in anything with it ;).
 
As most above, have a couple of v.old saddles and a couple of half tree race exercise saddles that literally fit everything!

Brilliantly flat as pancakes, can feel any movement underneath, very important when backing the babies, and on the plus side of being so flat you have nothing to get 'caught' up in if on that odd occasion about to become airborne! Plus doesn't matter too much if they get trashed.

Most of my own tend to stay in these type saddles as that's what I prefer anyway, but the owners will often prefer to upgrade to a jump/dressage style once ridden away.
 
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