Used the same saddle for years, no probs

The saddle I have I bought 20 years ago for a 14.2 pony. It has since been on a 16.1 TB and my shire x TB 17h mare I own now. It has been refitted for each of them and gets checked/ reflected periodically. Recently I have had their backs checked (it was unheard of when I was younger). It is very comfortable for me and they seem to like it too. Recently I was quoted the same to sell it secondhand as I paid new back then. I don't think it owes me anything!
 
hoggedmane said:
The saddle I have I bought 20 years ago for a 14.2 pony. It has since been on a 16.1 TB and my shire x TB 17h mare I own now. It has been refitted for each of them and gets checked/ reflected periodically. Recently I have had their backs checked (it was unheard of when I was younger). It is very comfortable for me and they seem to like it too. Recently I was quoted the same to sell it secondhand as I paid new back then. I don't think it owes me anything!
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I have one like that too, presently on a 13.2 "cobby" pony; has been on a 17.1 warmblood in the past, and everything in between. I was given it nearly 30 years ago.
 
My theory is that many British made saddles are designed for natives - but many of us are riding wbs or ish. Ime stubben/keifer/etc fit these generally "off the peg".

My current boy came with a made-to-measure English - my two old stubbens are a far superior fit.

As for bridles - this is an odd one. When I bought him he came with Indian crafted leather (stamped UK - very sneaky!) and I just don't think it fitted quite right as he practically puts on the old supple stubben himself which fits in a totally different way and is IMO far kinder along the cheekbones.
 
Mine do get the physio once or twice a year though no issues ever crop up. Most my saddles are self fitted or I do have one that was fitted over 5 years ago, to a pony, which then got passed onto a 17hh 4YO :p and is now back on the pony. I trust myself more than most of the saddlers I've had, most of whom have proved themselves totally incompetent. Generally mine always have strong, free moving backs, I don't jump much but they jump well when asked, and they pretty much all go better than I can ride :)
 
I've had my horse 6 years, have used the same two saddles (that he came with) for the whole duration, not had them looked at by a saddler. He's had his back done twice in the time I've had him.

This is a horse winning at be100 unaff, upto novice dressage and 105 sj. Not had any ill effects and back lady didn't find any issues!
Horse also lives out 24/7 :)
 
I have a lovely Ideal GP Classic that I've been using on various ponies and the odd horse for the last 15 years. Never caused anything any problems
 
tda said:
I have a lovely Ideal GP Classic that I've been using on various ponies and the odd horse for the last 15 years. Never caused anything any problems
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Snap. I got an ideal saddle 2nd hand for Benji when I backed him 17/18 years ago. It's since been reflocked, stitched and put on lots of different backs. :)

I'm not using it at present but won't ever part with it, it'll hopefully fit something of William's in the future.
 
I have always fitted my own saddles but out of curiosity had a Balance saddle person come out. Not overly impressed, and confirmed my suspicions.
I had a pony out on loan and the girl needed a saddle to ride her in, so she booked a saddle fitter, but they were more like a salesperson. Some of the saddles she suggested in no way fitted the pony, one she insisted we try was so tight the pony almost bucked the girl off. The experience was quite informative of how little knowledge the some people have and what some sellers will do to get a sale.
I have an old GFS which fits a lot of barrel shaped ponies, I tend to have the same type of animal so I have about 5 saddles in various lengths and only slightly differing widths. I had a saddle made instead of an engagement ring, medium width, the saddler never saw the horse. I used that saddle for years and hunted in it, it was reflocked a couple of times, both me and the horse were happy with it.
 
I posted re this on a breed page on Facebook only the other day. There seems to me to be an abundance of people saying the specific breed is difficult to find saddles for and plenty of suggestions for custom made saddles costing up to £1000. This makes my eyes water.

I ride current pony in a saddle which is 44 years old. My dad bought it brand new when he was 18. It served him for all five of his horses before I began using it on my first pacer. I've also ridden my (now sold) gelding and one of OH's geldings in it. All these horses have varied in height, shape and build and yet I have had no problem with any of them. The saddle fits me perfectly, which is why I keep riding in it.
 
Personally I'm not sure why anyone would be bragging they don't have their saddle fit checked and they don't have their horses back done either.
 
wench said:
Personally I'm not sure why anyone would be bragging they don't have their saddle fit checked and they don't have their horses back done either.
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I have to agree. I have a fairly stoical horse and feel very much that if I'm going to ask her to carry me, the least I can do is make sure she's comfortable.
 
wench said:
Personally I'm not sure why anyone would be bragging they don't have their saddle fit checked and they don't have their horses back done either.
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I don't know why anyone would brag that they need someone else to tell them a saddle doesn't fit, or their horse is lame!
Many of us on here have more experience than some so-called 'saddle-fitters'.

Personally I'd rather trust my own judgement, thanks. One of my rising 4's filled out so much in a month recently that his previous saddle (we had been hacking him out lightly, but he hadn't been out for a few weeks) was nowhere near right. I could see before it even went on him that he'd changed shape, and sure enough it no longer fit, and shortened his stride in trot. Fine thing it would have been for him if he'd had to wear it until the 6-monthly saddle fitter check, instead of me getting out a different saddle for him right away.

As for backs, as a previous poster noted, if they're riding sound, and rolling like a happy warthog, it's fine!
 
pennyturner said:
I don't know why anyone would brag that they need someone else to tell them a saddle doesn't fit, or their horse is lame!
Many of us on here have more experience than some so-called 'saddle-fitters'.

Personally I'd rather trust my own judgement, thanks. One of my rising 4's filled out so much in a month recently that his previous saddle (we had been hacking him out lightly, but he hadn't been out for a few weeks) was nowhere near right. I could see before it even went on him that he'd changed shape, and sure enough it no longer fit, and shortened his stride in trot. Fine thing it would have been for him if he'd had to wear it until the 6-monthly saddle fitter check, instead of me getting out a different saddle for him right away.

As for backs, as a previous poster noted, if they're riding sound, and rolling like a happy warthog, it's fine!
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I would have to agree. There's four of us working with our horses, with combined experience of over 60 years and different strengths that we bring to the mix. We can all see the slightest changes in our horses' gaits, behaviour, movement, attitude because we work with them every day and know them inside out. We know if those changes are brought about by tack, teeth, backs, feet or diet, and naturally call upon a professional when necessary (vet, dentist, back person or farrier) but 9 times out of 10 we resolve problems ourselves.

I wouldn't ride in my saddle if it didn't fit my mare. I also have a bareback saddle (essentially a pad) and I am able to compare Star's movement in both saddles. I don't need to pay somebody to tell me that a saddle that is comfortable for both of us isn't suitable and I need to fork out hundreds for a new one. People tell me keeping horses is an expensive hobby, but it's not costing us to keep 17 what it's keeping some people to keep one (and ours are very well looked after before I get accused otherwise!).
 
Cortez said:
Perhaps it is a new breed of owners? I'm quite old and come from a time when people were taught to see and feel if a saddle fitted or not themselves. It is largely a matter of common sense.
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Exactly!

I saw someone advising a poster on here to check the underside of the saddle for lumps and bumps, in case that was why she was having problems. I do that as a matter of course and was amazed when the saddler, that I got out to reflock one of my saddles, commented on the fact that I knew that it needed reflocking. I do wonder why some people think they are ready to buy a horse when they obviously know so very little about correct management.
 
wench said:
What a load of old crap.
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Really? Quite apart from being excessively rude, this is simply not true. SOME of us are not entirely brain dead and can asses saddles, horses and their backs without the assistance of someone who has launched themselves on the world with several hours of spurious "training". Does anyone actually know what "master saddler" means? Or what training a "saddle fitter" receives? I do, and I'm not remotely impressed.
 
My saddle is at least 20 years old and has been my girls saddle for the past 8 years. It's never been fitted by a saddler, and I do not use a saddle cloth/numnah under it.

I work hard to keep her weight consistent, though at times it fluctuates but not enough to cause fit problems.

I've had the back man to her just once in 11 years after I saw her slip over in the paddock.

I believe a lot of saddle fit problems are caused by the crazy amount of saddle blankets/numnahs people use under their saddles.

I did my training in the yard owned by a master saddler and he taught us that the kindest thing for our horses was to have well conditioned leather against the skin. As it allowed air to flow through the channel keeping the horses back cool.

I have had a couple of numnahs over the past 40+ years but currently don't even own one.
 
Its time that owners started to examine critically ,the fit of their saddles. For too long ,this has been handed to the almighty saddlers. If you cant tell whether your saddle fits ,basicly you are an absolute beginner. I absolute;y concurr with Tnavas. Come summer ,we loose the numnah to increase air circulation.
 
Cortez said:
Perhaps it is a new breed of owners? I'm quite old and come from a time when people were taught to see and feel if a saddle fitted or not themselves. It is largely a matter of common sense.
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Agree, I glance over my horse and saddle every time I tack her up. As I don't use numnahs I can see at a glance how it is sitting.

As for the back man, are those newer to riding aware that this sort of care only started towards the end of the '70's with the vet Stuart Hastie. I sent one of mine to him after she had a fall. Then there was at least a decade or so when the majority of vets poo pooed the idea that horses could be manipulated. Back treatment has come on in leaps and bounds, though there are a few charlatans around. In the 90's here in NZ we were still working on convincing vets it was possible. I had one of mine manipulated under General Anaesthetic and he never looked back.

It doesn't take much to learn to fit a saddle. Even in your good old Pony Club manual it gives you the basic knowledge to fit your saddle, and to recognise when it's too low, bridging or lop sided. Anyone that mounts from the ground should have a saddler check the flocking a couple of times a year as each time you mount you compress the flocking on the opposite side. Eventually your saddle will no longer sit straight and level.
 
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I think it a matter of personal choice what you do. I have used a saddler for a number of years and he always made sure I knew what he was doing and I feel comfortable mucking around with my saddle now he has retired. Just as well, as I have never found another saddler who was as good. As for a "Back man" I think you pay for what you get, I only use qualified people. Currently I use a Chiro vet. We all know what it feels like to have our shoes rub and I want to insure that my horse is comfortable and happy. I am sorry if anyone thinks this is sentimental or soft but there you go. It's my horse and my money.
 
We ALL want our horses to be comfortable and happy, and some of us are quite capable of ascertaining that without the input of the so-called "professionals". Those who are not able to figure out if their saddle is wrong, or their horse's back is sore should either educate themselves or call in outside help. I feel that it it is part and parcel of basic horsemanship; sad that it doesn't seem to be any more, that's all.
 
Cortez I am fully capable of telling when my saddle is wrong, my horse tells me. In my opinion the best fix is gained by having a professional help. Them on the ground me in the saddle. It worked for me, what you guys find best is up to you , as long as your horses are happy. I was unlucky to have a sensitive horse but lucky to have /had a great saddler. Now I am treeless!! (Sorry it's Christmas Day.....no dinner in sight, half a bottle of wine gone!)
I like to have my horses checked out........we have a Chiro vet in Kent , she does hands on and she is a vet! So I have the best of both worlds, why not use it. She is also an expert in acupuncture . All I say is if you can do it yourself......really do it......great....but how many people can!? I look back and see how much my first pony must of suffered from my ignorance, the ignorance of a child. Now I want to give my horses, my lads, the best. I am sure that's what you do. You are just cleverer then me!!! ;)
 
RRRebecca
Sukistokes2 said:
Cortez I am fully capable of telling when my saddle is wrong, my horse tells me. In my opinion the best fix is gained by having a professional help. Them on the ground me in the saddle. It worked for me, what you guys find best is up to you , as long as your horses are happy. I was unlucky to have a sensitive horse but lucky to have /had a great saddler. Now I am treeless!! (Sorry it's Christmas Day.....no dinner in sight, half a bottle of wine gone!)
I like to have my horses checked out........we have a Chiro vet in Kent , she does hands on and she is a vet! So I have the best of both worlds, why not use it. She is also an expert in acupuncture . All I say is if you can do it yourself......really do it......great....but how many people can!? I look back and see how much my first pony must of suffered from my ignorance, the ignorance of a child. Now I want to give my horses, my lads, the best. I am sure that's what you do. You are just cleverer then me!!! ;)
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I don't think any of us on here would not get a saddler out if we felt our saddle was not fitting well. I would!

However, EVERY time you put a saddle on your horses back you should be running an eye over it as to fit. I can do this easily as I don't use numnahs. For those that insist on putting several inches of unesessary padding between the saddle and horse it's much harder to be sure the saddle actually fits.

Chiro's, physio's and the like are a recent addition to horse care. Before that we'd spend up to an hour each day massaging muscles in the form of grooming. One physio told me she wouldn't be needed if people took the time to groom properly.

It does not take much time to learn how to fit a saddle, and every horse owner should endeavour to learn as much as they can about caring for their horse.

I find it incredible that people will pay big money for riding lessons but don't want to learn about horse care. I run the horsecare part of our pony club and getting the kids keen to look after their ponies better is really hard. To me having this sort of knowledge is as important as learning to ride well.
 
Interesting comments.

I have been out buying horses a lot this year for various people. Only one horse out of a minimum of 30 that I looked at moved in a straight line, had the saddle in the middle of it's back and tracked up evenly. I saw horses wearing good, bad, indifferent and downright alarming saddles.

So many horses were crooked due to never having the diagonal changed, saddles hanging off the side of them. Saddle fitting would be much less of a minefield if owners could recognise a crooked and unschooled horse's way of going before blaming the saddle.

My big horse was scoring well and I was happy as larry in my Ideal Jessica dressage saddle, he was forwards and straight but there was wastage behind his wither. I had no idea the saddle was blocking his movement, he was a different horse after intervention from my saddler. The extended trot was so much improved I couldn't sit on one side of him.

I think a good saddler is crucial to ensuring the horse has a long and useful working life, but finding one is tricky. I am fortunate with the saddler I use as he has always been straight talking with his advice. He had the opportunity to flog me a brand new saddle recently but simply told me to reflock my ancient and much loved Farrington GP. The saddle is 30 years old and has fitted every hunter I have had and I feel so safe in it. £60 later it was on the new horse. I had told him I wanted a new one, he had every chance to get a lot of money from me.
 
I have had horses for a very very long time. I am quite capable of telling whether my saddles fit and if my horses are sore but having young horses means saddle fitting becomes a moving feast. I regularly use a chiro on my horse and at the moment, me. I am very aware that when I become wonky, it is quickly echoed in my horse. I ask a lot of my horse in terms of work and effort so like to ensure I am not missing anything and he stays comfortable so my choice is to regularly use my saddler and chiro. My saddler is brilliant and had worked with me for years. I am aware my horse is STILL changing at 7 so keep a close eye on it.
 
Think this depends more on the horse! I bought a saddle new and had a saddled to check it for my last youngster as a 4yo after borrowing saddles from a 3yo. He had no back issues and same saddle still fitted him when I lost him at 18. It had be stuffed n un stuffed twice in them years after box rest etc. Current young horse now 7 is difficult shape. He seend countless saddles had 5 saddles fitted to him and after a nasty foot abbess a very sore back ( holding him self funny to compensate for sore foot that took 3 weeks to clear up ) then saddle happened to sit on new sore bit hes seen 2 osteopaths over 5 visits and it took 2 months to get back on him. Shes now dropped shape but starting work again. My very old mare never saw a saddler and more often than not rode her with out saddle. She again was happily ridden in to her late 20s lost her at 33years. A much more normal shaped horse. All three were / are 1/2 tb x
 
Tnavas said:
RRRebecca

I don't think any of us on here would not get a saddler out if we felt our saddle was not fitting well. I would!

However, EVERY time you put a saddle on your horses back you should be running an eye over it as to fit. I can do this easily as I don't use numnahs. For those that insist on putting several inches of unesessary padding between the saddle and horse it's much harder to be sure the saddle actually fits.

Chiro's, physio's and the like are a recent addition to horse care. Before that we'd spend up to an hour each day massaging muscles in the form of grooming. One physio told me she wouldn't be needed if people took the time to groom properly.

It does not take much time to learn how to fit a saddle, and every horse owner should endeavour to learn as much as they can about caring for their horse.

I find it incredible that people will pay big money for riding lessons but don't want to learn about horse care. I run the horsecare part of our pony club and getting the kids keen to look after their ponies better is really hard. To me having this sort of knowledge is as important as learning to ride well.
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I am not sure if this is a general comment or aimed at me?! As you have included my comment to Cortez it might be aimed at me. So I reply........

No where have I said I pad my saddle.
No where have I said I do not check my saddle every time I ride.
In 35 years+ of horse ownership I have leant a lot, unlike some I just acknowledge you can't know it all.
My horses are well groomed...I even know how to strap ....my grandfather was a groom on a farm/estate before the war.
My horses enjoy a happy fulfilled life ,with good care, lots of turnout, lots of time just to be a horse and a sensible high fibre diet.
They live a long time before they leave me ,the last lass being 32, I had her from a 2 Year old , so I must be doing something right.
Just because something is new and wasn't done back in the good old days ,does not make it wrong, newfangled stuff can be an asset, sometimes the old fuddyduddys need to get there heads around it. Who wants to go back to those old canvas NZ rugs for example.
Just because someone does something different to me ,does not mean they are wrong and I do not think they are idiots, I allow them to think and do what they want, within reason, because luckily it's a free world here.
Just because someone chooses to consult a professional does not make them stupid, I think it shows common sense and a concern for the welfare of their animal. It is up to the owner to choose wisely and to know when they have reached the end of there knowledge. It's kinda like knowing when to ring the vet. There are some who would call out a vet for the slightest thing, well if that's what they want good for them.

Now maybe your thread was not aimed at me and was more general but it felt that way. You do not know me from Adam, so can not really have any knowledge about what I do and do not do or know about horses, saddles or anything. You have always seemed to have good advice for people so I am giving you the benefit of the doubt and staying well clear of this thread!
Happy new year.
 
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