WHATS THE BEST SHOW SADDLE FOR FLAT BACKED NATIVE

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Cori9819

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Hi can anyone give me any advice , I have just had a saddle made for my Connemara ..... Very flat backed and xxwide ... But it rolls when on unless you wear a gel pad , but I thought getting a saddle made would mean it fits correct enough to stop any slipping or is this just his shape ?? I am looking at the barnsby show saddle but don't want to go and spend a £1000 if it is going to do the same , or does anyone know any saddle companies that they would recommend for his type .????? .... He is not fat... just broad . Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated :D
 
I have the same problem Connemara flat back and xxwide he has a Kent and Masters cob saddle with an xxw gullet it doesnt move or slip with the xx wide gullet in but i was worried it was too close to his withers but saddler said its fine..


I have heard Silohette saddles are good for native flat backed no wither types.
 
native pony saddle any day of the week, Mine is 2yrs old and 2nd hand which cost £350 so they are around if you look. Alternatively I have found half panel saddles fit natives really well too
 
Thanks for the recommendations :D. I'll glady help if I can, we usually fit from stock which is a bonus, so you get a saddle on trial for 7 days and can really be sure of your purchase (mind you I will state again that that applies to any saddle sold from stock away from the saddle fitter's premises, Distance Trading Regs). Feel free to pm me if you'd like more info.

Generally Connies are flatter than most breeds, similar to NFs, that's flat from front to back. And although they can be wide and flat over the wither, they're not THAT wide in the ribcage, not like HIghlands, so they usually need a neater saddle that doesn't swamp out over their ribcages. So the saddle needs to be flat from front to back with a shallow seat, a nice flat panel, and a point strap to help keep the saddle back off the shoulder, as needed for most natives! I fit on average at least a Connie a week with a new saddle, I think it helps to be a specialist!
 
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Another vote for a Native Pony Saddle - my cob pony is round, short backed, no wither - very hard to fit! He has been nicely fitted in a NPS - and goes really well in it. Plus I like how it looks - very smart!
 
I have a Kent and masters cob just ordered from fitter for my haffy who is super flat backed and xwide. I wouldn't be very pleased if I had a made to measure saddle that moved unless he is really like a barrel!
 
sbloom - what are your thoughts on hoop tree saddles? I am having one made up for my cob ATM, My saddler felt that even with the widest saddle in a bell shaped tree it would be too 'perched' and would result in slipping and rolling.
 
Magicmillbrook said:
sbloom - what are your thoughts on hoop tree saddles? I am having one made up for my cob ATM, My saddler felt that even with the widest saddle in a bell shaped tree it would be too 'perched' and would result in slipping and rolling.
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It depends. Although I fit mainly natives and cobs only a small % need a true hoop tree (our "wide twist" tree) and I do see ponies like NFs fitted by other fitters with a hoop tree, when it is totally unsuitable. The suitable candidates need to have absolutely no wither, a real "mutton wither", be XXW at least and have a ribcage that is so well sprung that there is a real flat area on top all the way back under the saddle. Other hoop trees may be less flat than ours and so might suit horses with a slight curve in the back but ours suits flat backs.

I think some saddle fitters, who see fewer cobs etc, see a wide pony or horse and, with the saddle companies like Black Country promoting their hoop trees with enticing names like "Freedom Tree", think it must be the best option. I actually fitted that particular NF with our narrow twist tree, just as flat from front to back but totally different from side to side.

Even with our hoop tree you can still get a fair bit of clearance, there are so many other factors that lead to stability or not, a big clearance in itself may not be a problem.

And bell shaped trees are not the only other option - I don't like them at all, we don't want our horses to be concave so why would we use trees that shape?! None of our trees are that shape, a tree should have a head width on the outward curve at the pommel and then be straight down from that curve, not curved inwards.
 
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sbloom said:
It depends. Although I fit mainly natives and cobs only a small % need a true hoop tree (our "wide twist" tree) and I do see ponies like NFs fitted by other fitters with a hoop tree, when it is totally unsuitable. The suitable candidates need to have absolutely no wither, a real "mutton wither", be XXW at least and have a ribcage that is so well sprung that there is a real flat area on top all the way back under the saddle. Other hoop trees may be less flat than ours and so might suit horses with a slight curve in the back but ours suits flat backs.

I think some saddle fitters, who see fewer cobs etc, see a wide pony or horse and, with the saddle companies like Black Country promoting their hoop trees with enticing names like "Freedom Tree", think it must be the best option. I actually fitted that particular NF with our narrow twist tree, just as flat from front to back but totally different from side to side.

Even with our hoop tree you can still get a fair bit of clearance, there are so many other factors that lead to stability or not, a big clearance in itself may not be a problem.

And bell shaped trees are not the only other option - I don't like them at all, we don't want our horses to be concave so why would we use trees that shape?! None of our trees are that shape, a tree should have a head width on the outward curve at the pommel and then be straight down from that curve, not curved inwards.
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Interesting - my new cob is truly a table top. Our saddler has managed to fit all our cobs before, including a very wide Percheron x cob without using a hoop tree. Trust my Flyn to be special!
 
Total Solution saddle - the do a show saddle perfect for the flat backed native. Just got a dressage model on trial and I love it, only thing I don't like is the price tag though !
 
Another vote for NP saddles, I have the Glen WH for my connie, sent them wither profiles etc and saddle came bach mail order and fitted a treat, would love another for my Welsh cob now...
 
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