SADDLES!!!

mrsjcmking

mrsjcmking

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I have a 2 1/2 year old gelding and am currently trying to save up so i can afford a well fitting saddle for him! I have a few questions.

First what is a good age to get him measured for a saddle (looking to break him next summer at 3 1/2)?

Secondly would you suggest a good fitting second-hand saddle or one made for him (bearing in mind he will grow)?

And finally, as this is the first saddle i've had to buy I want to know rough price guide for a new saddle fitted to him? I live in West Yorkshire and would be looking for an all-purpose saddle for him, nothing fancy!

I just want to point out that I am not wanting to fit a 2yr old with a saddle, this is purely so that i can discover how much I am going to need to save for when he does need his first saddle!
 
Get a saddler out, dont compromise a young back. They will advise whats is best. Ideally you need as cheap as possible as it will need replacing a few times before he is grown. It may be that a synthetic is best as they have gullets that can be changed, however they do not fit all horses (including mine when he was 3). I bought a second hand GP leather saddle of my saddler for £450. He outgrew it and as he was a pain to fit he got a new one bought at 4yo - not ideal, but fortunatley at 7yo it still fits like a glove! Some will chuck anything on a young horse as they are not working for long stetches, I disagree, saddles should fit no matter what age and especially when bones are still growing. Saddle checks at least 6 monthly.
 
I'm going down the adjustable synthetic route. I'm getting a Thorowgood but a Wintec would be fine if it's shape suits your boy. Both of these can then be adjusted as the horse grows (changable gullets). I've budgeted about £400 including the saddle and the initial fitting. If I win the lottery before she's 4, I'll get her a WOW saddle instead. :p
 
Adjustable saddles sound good! He stands at 13.2ish now but if he keeps growing at his current rate I think saddles buying wil become a giant pain in the buttocks! I'm hoping by the end of next summer his growing will have at least slowed down!

Thanks for the great advice!
 
Echo what the others have said really, it's good advice, I always say to customers get a good fitting secondhand or new adjustable if the tree fits the horse as mentioned by previous posters adjustable saddles don't fit everything despite some of the manufacturer's claims I have seen over the years!
I suggest no one gets a brand new expensive permanent saddle until the horse is at least 6 (sometimes more like with Highlands as they can continue to grow until 8 or more)
Get the saddle (whatever you choose)checked regularly, it's surprising how much a youngster can change in a few months.They go croup high, then wither high, then back to croup high like a see saw, then when they have decided how tall they are going to be they fill out!
It's enough to make your hair fall out when you are trying to fit a saddle to them!

Alot of youngsters and even some older horses, get on the forehand which brings the trapezius muscle up too large, this can be a pain to fit a saddle round, so I always go wider to allow freedom of the shoulder and add a wither pad and flock it up quite alot if necessary until the horse balances themself up and then get a narrower tree. It's important to remember this as I have seen saddlers and saddle fitters fit saddles that don't allow enough freedom of the shoulder and allow for an over developed trapezuis so keep a close eye on these muscles.
Your saddler should be able to advise you on all this.
Just take your time and get everything checked regularly !
Oz :)
 
Thanks Oz!

I always appreciate others advice - especially when it comes to something as important as good fitting saddles! I don't want to damage him and obviously don't want to pour lots of money into something that wont fit him. I'm not the sort for fancy things anyway, he's only going to be a leisure pony, I may show him at some point in local shows when he's a fair bit older but I have no desire to pay a lot of money for a fancy saddle that he doesn't need! Will defintely look into adjustable saddles!

I just told my husband how much a saddle would cost - his reply was "Thats more than you paid for the pony!"
 
Another thing while I think of it, make sure ANY saddle you place on him has enough width clearance down the channel ( underneath saddle that sits over the spine) I like to see about 3 fingers widths down there (2 1/2" to 2 3/4" width), any less and it will pinch his spine making him saddle shy.
EVEN new saddles can have this problem of the channel being too narrow and it is a common thing for leather panelled second hand saddles to have this problem.Good luck with it and let us know how you get on.
Oz :)
 
unicornleather said:
Another thing while I think of it, make sure ANY saddle you place on him has enough width clearance down the channel ( underneath saddle that sits over the spine) I like to see about 3 fingers widths down there (2 1/2" to 2 3/4" width), any less and it will pinch his spine making him saddle shy.
EVEN new saddles can have this problem of the channel being too narrow and it is a common thing for leather panelled second hand saddles to have this problem.Good luck with it and let us know how you get on.
Oz :)
Click to expand...

This is why the Wintec didnt fit my (then) 3yo. He's an Anglo and very deceptive! and wide.
 
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