Side saddle

[bugsbunny]

Hello one and all,

I have finally gotten around to having a few side saddle lessons, before I become too old and unable....Anyway, I am HOOKED!
The instructor has a very handsome school master that knows and does his job perfectly.....................I have a 14hh native fell pony who is a 100% reliable little chap, both myself and my son ride him who does not know anything about being ridden under side saddle.

I wish to progress and ride side saddle on him....................He is as round as he is tall.
I have taken the measurements of his custom made native pony saddle.Can anyone hazzard a guess as to what size side saddle he would need?
20 1/2cms D ring to D ring crease.
16 cms length of seat of the saddle.

I have looked on ebay.................Most of the side saddles are med fit.

I am a member of the side saddle association, I have contacted a couple of members who lease out side saddles, I do not have transport to get me to where they are located.
Does anyone know of anyone who travels to the horse to fit/lease a side saddle?
I live in Kingston upon Thames, Surrey.
I have tracked down an instructor who can come to me for lessons...................BUT I need the saddle!!!!!

Please any suggestions.

Thanx in advance........................................Bugs bunny.

 

[sidesaddlegirl]

Welcome to the highly addictive and EXPENSIVE world of side saddle riding!! My OH moans that why can't I have a cheaper hobby like knitting.

Unfortunately, fitting a side saddle isn't as straightforward as an astride saddle. It is slightly easier if your horse is in the narrow to medium/wide size range as their is more choice in saddle fits if you go the vintage saddle route. For any wide horses, vintage wide saddle area round (I saw one at the National show this past August) but most people go the custom route if they have a barrel built horse.

Another problem too is the seat length and the saddle must not come past the horse's last rib so if you are tall on a small horse, this can be a problem although some brands like Owen and similar built saddles, a taller rider can get away with a smaller seat size if they ride a short horse.

I'm 5'9" and used to ride my old loan horse, a 14.1 Arab side saddle and the longest saddle she could carry was 17 1/2" (this is the measurement from cutback to cantle). The actual seat length from the front of the fixed head to the cantle was 21 1/2", my thigh length is 21" so it was a good fit for me. I've got short thighs for my height though and I've known other riders my height to take 18" or 19" seats as their thighs measure around the 23" mark! It all depends on YOUR particular conformation if you have short or long thighs and a big butt or not! Some saddle seats aren't very wide as well.

Likewise, there have been some shorter riders with longer legs than me so it just depends.

Your best bet along with your wither tracings, would be to measure your thigh length. You do this by sitting in a level flat seat and measuring from the back of your knee to the back of your bum. Then there is approx 4" difference between your leg measurement that you've just taken and the cutback to cantle seat measurement that most saddles are sized by but this can vary by maker and other factors.

I don't know any that lease out saddles but if you go to my profile, there is a link to my blog and I have a bunch of links on there of UK saddlers who make, fit and sell vintage saddles. They also may know of where you can lease one.

Whatever you do, DO NOT buy one of those rubbish cheap saddles you see on ebay for £200. Sometimes they labelled as "German" but they are made in India and stuffed with old carpet and fit no horse due to poor construction. Anything Hilason is rubbish too as they are built on plastic trees which break.