update - short backed arab, pic last night...

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alison_oliver

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Reason for post was from what people had said about him.. being too short in back, these ppl were not qualified so i didn't listen! however i have now been struggling for 3 months to find a saddle that suits us both.
Does anyone else have an arab with high - ish wither and short ish back? What saddle have you gone with? Anyone suggest anything? I have a fitting booked for when i have my xmas money - however special made is my last resort as i dont earn mega bucks! but want him to be comfy!!
long one sorry
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Umm not sure if you would be interested but I have a little used Thorowgood High wither GP for sale.

I bought it new last year for my 5 year old WB who is very close coupled with a decent wither to boot. He and I have outgrown it but it's a 17.5 inch with changeable headplate. It comes with a medium and medium wide headplates, also has the 'Phish' system and a flock panel so better for adjustments. PM me if interested and will send a photo.
 
I had the same problem, my horse isnt an arab but has a short back, biggest saddle he could have was a 17 inch and I needed a saddle 17.5 inch to fit me! I know its only half an inch but it makes such a difference. My saddler said the only way round it was to get a saddle with a sweeping back, like the amerigo, jaguar type and yes Im afraid the expensive ones
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Hubby nearly fell on the floor when told him the price but its done now and Ive had it 5 yrs without a problem, its been altered to fit a couple of times and its still going strong.
 
I work at an Arab stud and all our Arabs are in Marjorie saddles. Arabs are hard to fit because as you said they generally have high withers and short (often straight) backs and generally need a wider fit than you think.
Pointless fact of the day-Arabs one less rib bone than other horses (hence the short back) and often one less vertebrae (hence the high tail carriage)

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Plus if the Arab is bred out of show line it's girth grove is probably right behind it's elbow so even if you can get a saddle the fits the girth ends up yanking it forward up the horses neck
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I have an Arab but she's about 15.1 and has a relatively long back for her breed but I still chose the Free'n'Easy saddle, the saddles distribute the weight more even over the rib cage
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http://www.fnesaddles.com/why-buy-fne.shtml
 
I've got four arabs - and yes they are very hard to fit saddles to, as Gigglepig says they have one less rib and one less vertebrae than other horses meaning short backs but most also tend to be very wide fitting too. My 15.hh gelding is an extra wide in saddle fit - not that you'd ever know just by looking at him. People don't believe me until I take his saddle off and show them that it is indeed extra wide!

How is your boy bred? He's lovely btw - I went and looked at your other post with his photo. From his markings I'd hazard he has lots of Crabbet blood in him which should make him an excellent riding horse. Many modern show bred arabs have such poor conformation that there literally is nowhere to put the saddle - but they're not bred with the intention of them ever being ridden.
 
I have either Arabian saddle Company saddles or THOROWGOOD synthetics for my arabs. I have to say that the Thorowgood saddles are excellent, fitting the arabs and me really well.
 
at the mo he is in a 17.5 wide gp, fits width wise but i'm not convinced it fits length wise, i am not riding him until i have had someone out, dont want to hurt him!
he was bred in scotland by a kathleen innes his sire was Darost and his Dam Rethana. i'm not sure if he has crabbet lines a few of his ancestors have (PL) and (DE) next to their names polish german?? he is a lovely ride but nervous and sometimes stubborn as soon as he has a saddle we're happy with will school him some more and see how he turns out.
thanks for all ur help, i will be looking into a few suggestions.
 
He's got a very interesting pedigree - lots of Crabbet and Old English blood in there through his dam Rethana. Darost also has plenty of Crabbet/Old English blood as well as Polish through Grojec (one of my favourite arabs of all time) and Argos.

It made me
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when you mentioned he was stubborn. I don't know if you've had arabs before but they can be a challenge - you've got to out think them rather than tell them to do something. Make them think it's their idea and they'll do anything for you!
 
I'm still learning really - only been into arabs for the last three years. I started with one and now have four - they're that addictive! Wouldn't mind at all if you wanted to PM me - I can chat about arabs all day long. Have you also visited the forum on www.arabianlines.com? That's where I've learned what I know - there are some incredibly knowledgeable arab people on there.
 
I have a saddle company for my anglo (and not just because I fit them!). He has a typical arab back (short, flat, wide and barrel shaped and then high withers). I just about squeezed a 17" on him and he is 15.3hh ish.

The person who designed the Thorowgood created the SC which is why the fit is very similar - although the SC is adjustable with a machine and the Thorowgood have FISH and the new ones have interchangeable gullets.

I have fitted SC for quite a few arabs - the trick is to get the right panels for your horse as cobs saddles are good but dont account for the high withers and high withered saddles are usually too narrow across the back.

The Arabian Saddle Company are designed specifically for the arab breed - they are expensive but you can pick them up second hand as well.
 
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