What size saddle for Sec A

S

silverghost

Well-Known Member
Joined
15 March 2008
Messages
115
Location
Norfolk
Visit site
Have any of you got Welsh Sec As?

What size and width saddle do you use?

Also, do you think two and half is too early to back?

I have a gelding, two in Feb, he currently hacks out on lead rein off my cob, just walk and trot for up to four miles, he is so good with traffic etc now and doesn't bat an eyelid at plastic bags etc.

He also lunges and pops a pole on buckets.

Why the exercise so young? He has a locking patella which has now eased almost completely due to the exercise to build up his muscle on the advice of the vets.
 
I'll just comment on saddle size as I'm a fitter. You really ought to have a fitter out to see the pony as they can vary inlength of ribcage - on our saddles, which have fairly short panels unlike some, I will usually fit a 15" but often a 14" makes things easier (getting away from the shoulder AND the croup more easily) and get a better fit when the pony is moving. A too long saddle or fractionally too low at the back (common with a bigger rider) will make the saddle shoot forwards. You will also need a much flatter tree than you think - Welsh As and Bs especially can look much curvier in the back than they actually fit - they lift their backs a lot in work.

In terms of width I find the narrowest they go - with real withers - is a MW fit, and they are more usually a wide or extra wide. Look for a flattish panel, not overstuffed, to keep the fit close contact, and four girth straps so you can choose your girthing - I usually use the point strap and the third strap
 
Our Section A had a wide fit 16" saddle, but they're all different so I would get him fitted by a reputable fitter.

Two and a half is a bit young to be back - his bones are still soft and growing and you could end up with more damage than a locking patella. I presume you have been working him in hand to get the good results you have got so far - can you not continue with this?
 
I will get a saddler out, just after a rough idea, I thought many are wide just from their build, are there many 14" saddles around? Yes all work IH so far, he has also been shown by me IH with good results, reserve supreme foal for East, last yr, its just the exercise keeping his patella prob at bay in hope it will completely disappear once he matures.
He will not be ridden by adults, only sml children if/when I find him a jockey, but hacking out IH is preparing him to be a cracking pony. Initially bought as companion for my cob who is 21 as he has arthritis, made world of difference to him and little guy too good to be a field ornament, he loves getting out n about.

What age do most A's mature, I know it can vary.
 
My sec A is ridden in a 15" cub saddle by 6yo daughter.
Backing-wise...personally I favour leaving to mature BUT this particular sec A,(3 in April) this time last winter was a real early maturer - very stallion-esque until gelded...he was then sold and apparently took brilliantly to in-hand work once he settled after gelding..he went so well he was backed and ridden lead-rein by owner's 7yo sister...fast forward to Oct this year and I happened across him up for sale/loan...couldn't believe he was the same pony - he had gone from being a rather wild handful into a model citizen...kept telling myself this couldn't be possible...but have had him on loan for 2 months now with my 6yo v novice daughter on board lead-rein and he just is..absolutely fine.
Joint-wise however, he really is in v v light work (mostly at walk only the odd trot and ridden once a week at most)...no lunging and is out 24/7 with my 2.5yo Sec D to have plenty of 'young boy' time...so predominantly, he is pretty much turned away...just gets the odd reminder of what working is about...
I think if he'd have stayed with me I would have definitely left him to mature and not backed him...but he went elsewhere and they felt it was a good thing to do and he has not demonstrated otherwise...he just has an old head on young shoulders, as many sec A's seem to...just to reiterate though, I am very very careful with his joints, mouth and back...as though he may seem fine right now, I would hate to do anything that might give him long-term problems.
 
I had a fitter out,

first i bought a15.5 it was no good bounced around on her back,

then got another fitter who said an ideal 15 inch,
again no good to big on her and long


eventually i bought a 14.5 wintec and its fine, ironically the last saddle is the saddle i chose,
she is 12hh


i would say dont lunge a 2 year old often, damages their knees hocks and other bones. also no to hacking out yet till bones are knitted

By all means hand walk get them used to things but schooling a big no no unless you do straight lines teaching them the whoa and stand commands.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top