Small pony saddle fitting tomorrow - any tips?

Fiona

Fiona

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I've a registered saddle fitter coming to fit a saddle to our welsh lead rein pony tomorrow.

Unfortunately he has no second hand saddles in stock to fit, so is bringing a new Kent and Masters pony saddle and hoping that with a nice wide gullet plate it will fit.

I like to think we are experienced horse owners but this is our first small pony so don't want to make an expensive mistake.

I'm assuming the saddle should be quite close fitting for a round pony with not much wither. Is there anything else?

Many thanks

Fiona
 
Anybody?

I'm quite worried that he doesn't have a selection of saddles for us to try (as he did when he fitted my mare) so really hoping he is nice and doesn't pressurise us if the saddle isn't quite right.

Is a round pony very difficult to fit a saddle to?

Fiona
 
Fiona said:
Anybody?

I'm quite worried that he doesn't have a selection of saddles for us to try (as he did when he fitted my mare) so really hoping he is nice and doesn't pressurise us if the saddle isn't quite right.

Is a round pony very difficult to fit a saddle to?

Fiona
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We've got a fat, no withered section a and are struggling with her saddle, it was fitted in her previous home (I suspect when she was in regular work and therefore slimmer). She was out of work for a year before coming to us and has piled on the pounds :(

I'm looking at a thorn saddle pad for her instead and maybe revisiting her current saddle when she's slimmed down.

I can't offer much help I'm afraid! Hope it goes ok tomorrow and be sure to post an update ;)
 
I've given up on my son's shitland/heinz 57 11.2. I must have tried over 25 saddles and the saddlers in this area say small very wide, low withered saddles are about as rare as hens teeth!

We have a pad now which does the job nicely. :)
 
On no ladies :( Oh deary dear...

We have a wintec cub which is fine and doesn't move at all, but as doing more pc this year I wanted a proper saddle. ..

Anyone tried a Native Saddle Co saddle?

Fiona
 
When I had my Welsh A fitted for a saddle the saddler bought a van full. I had a gift voucher from my saintly brother for the value of a decent saddle but the only one in the whole van that fitted was a Thorowgood Pony Club saddle so I settled for that and whilst not beautiful it is a really good fit and looks neat

The Kent and Masters was physically too big, the tree fitted fine but the flaps covered most of the pony's sides!

The Thorn Deluxe saddle pad is as close as you'll get to a saddle if you go down the 'pad' route

I also have a half panel 13'' lead rein saddle which fits a treat but has no knee rolls, the old traditional half panel saddles seem to fit most ponies but kids nowadays can't seem to be able to cope without knee rolls!

Fylde and Black Country saddles have a good handle on the small pony market

Not sure about Native pony saddles, I think there is some muddying of the waters as there are two or three companies with similar names one of which is very good and highly recommended by a lot of people but I forget which one it is!
 
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I think this series of short clips is an excellent guide to saddle fitting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2mKz0uP_K8 It'll give you a decent idea of what to look for. It's aimed at Dressage saddles but the exact same principles apply to any saddle. Far too many people including fitters - seem to think the only thing that matters is gullet width and clearance over the spine.
 
WelshD said:
When I had my Welsh A fitted for a saddle the saddler bought a van full. I had a gift voucher from my saintly brother for the value of a decent saddle but the only one in the whole van that fitted was a Thorowgood Pony Club saddle so I settled for that and whilst not beautiful it is a really good fit and looks neat

The Kent and Masters was physically too big, the tree fitted fine but the flaps covered most of the pony's sides!

The Thorn Deluxe saddle pad is as close as you'll get to a saddle if you go down the 'pad' route

I also have a half panel 13'' lead rein saddle which fits a treat but has no knee rolls, the old traditional half panel saddles seem to fit most ponies but kids nowadays can't seem to be able to cope without knee rolls!

Fylde and Black Country saddles have a good handle on the small pony market

Not sure about Native pony saddles, I think there is some muddying of the waters as there are two or three companies with similar names one of which is very good and highly recommended by a lot of people but I forget which one it is!
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We also went the pad route with ours until she had slimmed down.

We ended up with a very flat treed tekna show saddle. Sadly they don't make them now but I have seen they do a WH which looks similar.

If you want to try Native Pony Saddle then the ones to go for are Andrea Hicks... depending on where you are based, sbloom on here might fit for you. I am sure she would be able to sort something to fit. Wish I had known about these when I was looking for ours.
 
The best fit for broad section As in my experience is the Fylde Hayden. I have 2 for my flat backed lead rein ponies. You can pick them up very reasonably second hand, they hold their value well and the suede gives little jockeys a touch of extra sticking power!
 
Following with interest - Need something for my son's pony as he has grown out of his cub saddle. Does a pad offer enough stability have people found? I have had two saddle fitters both Master Saddlers try and sell me saddles that are 'not quite right' but will do. Um... this is my son's pony. It MUST be completely right!

If the pony is not comfortable it may not behave, with my son on!

Am waiting to hopefully try a Thorn pad from a local lady but would prefer a saddle.

Does anyone know anyone who will come out and be as fussy as I am about fit in the South East (Kent)
 
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I have an Andrea Hicks Native Pony saddle fitted by Sbloom and love it. She was very thorough with the fitting.
I believe she covers quite a wide area in the South of England (& poss Midlands?)
 
I do indeed fit for AH Saddles, Andrea was the long term designer of Native Pony saddles but went off on her own five years ago. I cover the entire south of England, Wales, Midlands, up to the Mersey-Humber line. TG/K&M can be a "bit much" saddle for some ponies, they're not the classic English close contact pony saddle, having changeable headplates does not only bring benefits...
 
Aww sbloom you're not the right area at all for me. What a shame. I'm glad I was thinking of the right company though. They popped up on my fb a while back and I thought oh this might be useful. .

Many thanks ladies for all your helpful advice. Hubby coming home in time for saddle fitter coming so there will be two of us. Also will try to get pics if any doubts..

Fiona
 
Thanks for everyones help..

After all my panicking, it was remarkably painless :D Firstly, he brought 4 saddles, none of which was the Kent & Masters one. Maybe when he saw the pics I emailed of the pony he realised it wouldn't suit...

Three of them were not wide enough (a Pessoa pony jumping saddle and a suede covered showing type one and another) but the one which fitted best was the one I liked best.

Its a tiny Barnsby saddle, sort of a show/WH one, and it believe it or not sat really nicely on his back without tipping or rocking. After a bit of drama when the longest pony girth I had didn't fit, we managed to get it caught on the bottom holes, and child walked and trotted without it moving one iota (my main worry)..

The only painful bit was paying for it lol :)

We did go out this afternoon needless to say and get a longer girth, and I've ordered a balance strap as its what he's used to on the cub saddle...

Thanks again

Fiona
 
Sheep said:
Hope all went well, was it by any chance a saddler with initials RG? Just a stab in the dark lol but I've always found him to be very decent.
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No it wasn't Sheep... We're in Co Down, though the fitter came from Co Armagh. Thankfully he had another client to see afterwards nearby, so it wasn't a long journey just for us...

Fiona
 
Oh I'm glad you're sorted :) I love my natives but they can be such a pain when it comes to finding a saddle! I've got a new highland x and think I'm going to try a thorn saddle pad with her too, she's only 13hh and I very much doubt she'd take a saddle large enough to accommodate my rather large bum ;)
 
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