Section D. Saddle question.

I too have a rising 4 section D.
She's currently in a 17" wide thorowgood, but I also have a 17" T4 adjustable thorowgood for her that now needs the gullet changing. From 3 to 3 years 9 months she has gone up 2 saddle widths.
She's never take bigger than a 17", thats really the max.
 
14.3hh-trying to pretend she is bigger as is slightly too small height wise for me,has 17" winter but my old lads 18" saddle company saddle also fits her,as she has reasonably long back and the bigger saddle does not sit past last 3 ribs.
 
My Sec D is now 8, she's 14.3, takes 6ft3 rugs. She has the typical welsh big front/shoulders and long hipbones.

The longest saddle her back can take is 17 inches IF the panels are not too long and extended behind the cantle - she needs a straight cut at the front too (dressage or working hunter style).

You may find that yours will change back shape considerably from 4 years old to maturity as well.
 
I too have a rising 4 sec D!
He's about 15 hands.
He's in a 17" Bates Caprilli with the medium gullet in. It's not perfect but padded up a bit it's fine. I'm not forking out for his own until he stops growing, but when I do it'll most likely be 17" too.
 
My Sec D is now 8, she's 14.3, takes 6ft3 rugs. She has the typical welsh big front/shoulders and long hipbones.

The longest saddle her back can take is 17 inches IF the panels are not too long and extended behind the cantle - she needs a straight cut at the front too (dressage or working hunter style).

^^^^ this is exactly the same as mine
 
My 4yr old sec D is in a 17" Kent and masters with a wide gullet. He's 14hh and a 5'9" in rugs but I reckon he'll end up taking a 6' when he fills out a bit.
 
My mare is one 14.3hh. Takes 5' 9" rugs in length. 17 inch seems to be the comman saddle size on here doesnt it. Will try a few sizes on and see what fits and she goes well in. Thanks for everyones advise so far.
 
My 4 year old sec d is also 14.3hh and in a 5'9 rug. My other mares 16.5inch fits him a dream..... Hebis cery short backed. I would think a 17inch would look fine on him though too. Hes going away to be broken soon so will be getting his own spangly nee saddle when hea proved he can be a proper pony :)
 
Spent a while having a look online and Im definately more keen on the WH style of saddle, especially the Jeffries 'Stamford' - looks beautiful!
What I need to do though, for the first year or two, is stick with a saddle that is easy to adjust before making a hefty investment. Im not a great fan of synthetics but it does seem as though the Thorowgood T4 is a sensible starter saddle.
 
My old boy was a Welsh cob. He had to have a saddle for a curved but wide back. For the last year's of his life I struggled to get a saddle to fit as was told I needed a 17 inch saddle for me, which was too long for him. I now have a 13.3 :) fell mare. Strange to say saddles now are happy for me to be in a 16 inch saddle and one who told me 4 years ago that I needed a 17 saddle has now said I would never need bigger than a 16 inch although I'm fatter now than I was! Go figure.
 
My old boy was a Welsh cob. He had to have a saddle for a curved but wide back. For the last year's of his life I struggled to get a saddle to fit as was told I needed a 17 inch saddle for me, which was too long for him. I now have a 13.3 :) fell mare. Strange to say saddles now are happy for me to be in a 16 inch saddle and one who told me 4 years ago that I needed a 17 saddle has now said I would never need bigger than a 16 inch although I'm fatter now than I was! Go figure.

saddle length isnt to do with you weight though, its related to your height and more specifically the length of your thighbone. I think you can get away with some more than others depending on style as well. Id be fine in a dressage or WH 16.5 but GP or jumping and my knees end up over the flaps as soon as I got short.
 
I have a section D. 4 in April so still some growing to do. What size are your Welsh Section D's in. Mine seems very short backed.

My D is 3 in May, he too is short backed takes a 5'9/6ft rug. He's around 14.2/14.3 but only measured him roughly!
I have bought him a wintec pro adjustable tree saddle in 17.5", don't plan on backing him till late summer/autumn (if he's ready) then turn away till 4th year. :)
 
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