Those of you with Irish Draughts

Slave2Magic said:
As an aside, can I ask which adjustable saddles you all use on your growing youngsters?
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My boy will be 6 in April and currently stands at 18.2hh God help me! We have a lovely Fairfax saddle which has been adjusted a couple of times, but fits him and me really well. Really hope he stops growing....though every inch is adorable! lol
 
Wow! Your IDs are huge! Bought my boy at just 5 and 15.3hh, now rising 7 and 16.0hh so he hasn't grown much and hasn't changed shape really. My saddles haven't needed replacing. He is by Dunkerrin Grey Mist (grand sire Carrabawn View) who were smallish IDs as far as I know!
 
I started with an expensive Kieffer that was adjustable width wise (was recommended to me by someone who forgot to mention IDs keep growing and changing, silly me only ever owned TB's before so had no idea). It was great for the first year until my horse changed from a curvey shaped back to a very straight one and it ended up with the saddle rocking back and forth. Now have a Kent and Masters with changeable gullet that fits my horse well so far. Extremely comfortable, horse is much happier and about half the price of the Kieffer.
Fingers crossed he doesn't change shape again which I'm told might happen and to be prepared to change saddles again at some stage. 
Also mine is already in 7'6" rugs and threatening to grow out of these too. Does anyone know if you can get bigger or should I invest in a marque?
 
Gusbear said:
I started with an expensive Kieffer that was adjustable width wise (was recommended to me by someone who forgot to mention IDs keep growing and changing, silly me only ever owned TB's before so had no idea). It was great for the first year until my horse changed from a curvey shaped back to a very straight one and it ended up with the saddle rocking back and forth. Now have a Kent and Masters with changeable gullet that fits my horse well so far. Extremely comfortable, horse is much happier and about half the price of the Kieffer.
Fingers crossed he doesn't change shape again which I'm told might happen and to be prepared to change saddles again at some stage. 
Also mine is already in 7'6" rugs and threatening to grow out of these too. Does anyone know if you can get bigger or should I invest in a marque?
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Just had a quick look and no one seems to do over 7'6". Maybe try a different brand as some are more roomy than others. Have a look at Blue Horse Equine. There's is up to 7'6" but designed for broader horses.
 
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I have had 3 pure Irish Draughts from aged 4, each one a different type and stamp. Each of them has stopped growing height wise at about 5 years and then started to fill out after that. I would say that they finally mature physically at about 7. I also think that mentally they mature late, something that's easy to forget when they are so big and seem to be so laid back, but they can be worriers deep down.
 
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