When did you have a proper saddle fitted?

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GreenEyedMonster

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At what age or point in your horses development did you have a "proper" saddle fitted/made to measure?

I posted last night whether it would be suitable at a young age and have received some great answers but now I'm asking at what point would you as individuals have an expensive/decent saddle fitted?

What age?
How far into their training?
How did you know they were physically developed enough that they wouldn't changed dramatically?

Thanks!
 
Last spring aged 4 as that was when I started wanting to take him out to a few short pleasure rides over the summer as well as short hacks round block, short schooling session. He was lightly backed the previous summer in an adjustable synthetic, outgrew that and got a different adjustable synthetic for twice-week hacking through autumn and some of winter, then around 3 months off Jan, Feb, March in a herd to grow and chill-out. He has another inch of growing upwards to do and will certainly fill out more so this latest leather saddle will continue to be checked every 6 months and replaced if/when needed. (It's adjustable but we'll have to see).
 
Always had proper saddles fitted but not expensive ones. When he stopped growing had dressage saddle at 6 and jump/event saddle at 7.

Now find myself with 7 saddles and 2 horses...... must get selling!
 
My young mare was backed at 4 and a half and she had her saddle fitted before she was ever sat on. I bought a Saddle Company saddle as they are adjustable. She had it fitted 4 times last year then she was turned away over winter. She will be fitted again before recommencing light hacking in Feb.
 
My friend had a saddle (£1100) fitted when her - reasonably lightly worked - horse was 4. Hes now 4 years and 8 months and she needs another one :(
 
I would never ride my young horses in anything but a decent saddle. The trainer who has started my last two insists that owners come and ride their horses at his place WITH THEIR SADDLE before the horse goes home.

Reason: he has sent too many well started horses home only to have them come back mis-behaving or worse becuase of a poorly fitting saddle. Not a great way to start the ridden career of any horse.

To answer your question - start with a decent saddle with an adjustable gullet that can be re-flocked. And accept the fact that you may have to change it as the horse changes.
 
Dex was 4 when bought him new fitted leather saddle (was hacking but no more) same saddle still fitted at approx 8 when I changed it for a jump saddle (frome same Company and on same tree) he is still in it now at 11, thinner numnah if porky. Be interesting how fits as has been off games for 8 weeks.
 
Shoot me down, but my mare has never had a 'proper saddle fitting'. She is nearly 19 now, and never had an issue to warrant it. I backed / broke her in aged 4.
 
Never had a made to measure. I have two saddles that I use on everything. Both fit slightly differently. So far never had a horse with a back problem. I think saddles that are made to fit spot on cause more problems when the horse changes shape
 
Had a good quality second hand saddle fitted before backing then a good quality new saddle fitted at 5yrs old as there were no second hand ones available that fit properly. Then this has been checked every 6 months and has needed minor adjustments along the way.
 
NZJenny said:
I would never ride my young horses in anything but a decent saddle. The trainer who has started my last two insists that owners come and ride their horses at his place WITH THEIR SADDLE before the horse goes home.

Reason: he has sent too many well started horses home only to have them come back mis-behaving or worse becuase of a poorly fitting saddle. Not a great way to start the ridden career of any horse.

To answer your question - start with a decent saddle with an adjustable gullet that can be re-flocked. And accept the fact that you may have to change it as the horse changes.
Click to expand...

Good advice except for the part about the adjustable headplate - it neither means the saddle fits now, nor does it mean that if it fits now a simple width adjustment will keep it working. There are plenty of shapes of horses out there that can't be fitted with a synthetic treed changeable headplate saddle, especially wider and/or flatter backs
 
I have had my new horse (5yo IDx) since end of September and have struggled to get a saddle fitted properly. My usual saddle fitter retired last year so i've been trying others. Bought a secondhand saddle which one company fitted only for my more experienced trainer to point out that it didnt fit at all. They took that saddle back and gave me a dressage one on trial but it doesnt fit well either.

I have considered getting someone else to do a made to measure saddle but I know she will change shape so am reluctant to do that. When another fitter came out last week my horse really liked a Semiflex GP but it didnt suit me as was too flat seat and no knee blocks so now i'm waiting for a fourth saddle fitter to come with a range of SemiFlex for me to try this week. Fingers crossed for that!
 
I'm having my new horse fitted in the next few weeks. He's 5 and WBxID so a bit of a unit. Also appears to be bum high at the moment and as he has been off work, he will definitely change shape. He is a project horse so I haven't ridden him yet....he is having time off until saddle fitted. I'm concerned about riding him for the first time for the fitting so have explained to the saddler that this is the case. Hopefully she will be able to fit him with an adjustable one that I can have checked as he changes shape. Once I'm on board properly, I can always have her back out if there are issues.
It did make me think though, saddlers must be used to being there when people first sit on their youngsters if people are having them fitted?

Also, she accepts part exchange so I'm hoping I can keep doing that if need be until he stops growing and is fully fit.

I can't wait to get on board!
 
I have 2 saddles. I have a narrow on my TB which wasn't made to measure, but is a nice barnsby and fits her lovely, and my 2 other horses share a med barnsby jump. Saddles fit them nice- wouldn't have made to measure as horses change shape all the time however i think a decent quality saddle is a must,and none of my horses have ever had back problems
 
I backed my 3 y o in a saddle fitted by me. She then changed drastically in shape and I had an adjustable dressage saddle fitted at that point 4 weeks alter... I don't like riding in crappy tack tbh so it's a good one and it will have a decent trade in price of I have to change again beyond its adjustable ness. Hope I dont though I love my saddle
 
On my baby I have an equipe Olympian. My cobs tack is all albion... Have been an albion girl since I can remember but I am a convert... It's lush and she's such a tight twist it wasn't cheap but it's fab to ride in...
 
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