would an 18" saddle fit a 16hh horse?

Depends on the horse. Mine is 16.00 and I have a 171/2 GP saddle but it is a man's saddle as apparently I have a long thigh bone, although not a big backside. I have tried some ladies' fit saddles and find I am sitting right at the back uncomfortably.
I also have a 18" dressage saddle of the same make and it is OK on my horse as he has a longish back. I can't really tell the difference in the fit.

But if your 16hh horse was a short, compact chap, the 18 might be too big.
 
thanks, my legs are too long for a 17.5" saddle. I wonder how William Fox Pitt gets on and what size saddles he rides in. Im not sure if horse is long backed. However, I did ride my 16.1 short backed middleweight gelding in an 18". Its a pain this looking for horses depending on whether a big saddle would fit and also whether Id look too big for him. Oh to be a short legged person.
 
depends a lot on the horse and the saddle.

Pilfer is 15.3hh and wears 6'3ft rugs and his Jaguar dressage saddle was an 18".
his jumping saddle was a 17'5" and Millie who is also 15.3hh wears 17" saddles so really does depend on horse/saddle.
 
penfold said:
thanks, my legs are too long for a 17.5" saddle. I wonder how William Fox Pitt gets on and what size saddles he rides in. Im not sure if horse is long backed. However, I did ride my 16.1 short backed middleweight gelding in an 18". Its a pain this looking for horses depending on whether a big saddle would fit and also whether Id look too big for him. Oh to be a short legged person.
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Hee hee, I seem to be short legged and long bodied so anything smaller than 16h I look top heavy on tho I'd like a nice compact 15.2 to wrap short fat legs around!! As if there aren't already enough probs trying to find a new horse! Good luck, looking forward to hearing how you get on
 
Your height shouldnt determine the length or the saddle, its more the size of your bum :D My horse can only take a 17 inch saddle, he is 16.2 but short coupled, Im 5'7, mediumish build and I had to have one made, to try to fit us both, I have longer flaps but a shorter seat. I have a 17 inch with a flatter seat to give me more room. I need a 17.5 inch.
 
I think it depends on the 16hh horse's length of back. As long as the saddle doesnt sit on the loins then it should be fine. I'm hoping an 18" will be ok on my 15.2hh. He is quite compact so i'm not sure. My fat bum needs the 18" though!
 
My daughters horse is 16hh, she is quite short in the back and "just" gets away with a 18" saddle, it has been checked by 2 saddle fitters and is a good fit. It can be done.

You need to let us know how you get on with the viewing.

Liz
 
My boy is 16.1, short coupled ISH and I am 5ft9 with a long thigh bone so I'm told, and I have absolutely no bum whatsoever. I ride in an 18" Albion K2 GP which fits up both fine. The same saddle fits my helper who is about 5ft5, with short legs, but a much more 'curvy ass and thigh' - and I know she'd be much more derogatory about herself!
 
Louby said:
Your height shouldnt determine the length or the saddle, its more the size of your bum :D
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it's a combination of both really... especially in 'off the peg' saddles - it depends on leg length/thigh length/bottom size etc.

if you have a made to measure saddle (you can get very competitively priced ones nowadays) you can get a shorter seat length with longer flaps made for you.

i've literally just come back in from a fitting where i have fitted a 17.5 to a girl who is about a size 6/8, but has very long legs. hers is an event saddle, so she needs to be able to go really short. in a smaller saddle her knees would pop off the front of the knee pads. an alternative would have been to get her a smaller seat size with bigger flaps, but her horse is big, so we decided to stick with the 17.5 as anything smaller would have been a bit pea like on his back.

happy horse hunting! and then, happy saddle hunting! see what size saddle he's in when you try him, and if you feel like you fit in it. xx
 
clipcloppop said:
it's a combination of both really... especially in 'off the peg' saddles - it depends on leg length/thigh length/bottom size etc.

if you have a made to measure saddle (you can get very competitively priced ones nowadays) you can get a shorter seat length with longer flaps made for you.

i've literally just come back in from a fitting where i have fitted a 17.5 to a girl who is about a size 6/8, but has very long legs. hers is an event saddle, so she needs to be able to go really short. in a smaller saddle her knees would pop off the front of the knee pads. an alternative would have been to get her a smaller seat size with bigger flaps, but her horse is big, so we decided to stick with the 17.5 as anything smaller would have been a bit pea like on his back.

happy horse hunting! and then, happy saddle hunting! see what size saddle he's in when you try him, and if you feel like you fit in it. xx
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I cant afford a made to measure saddle. I would love one though! My knees are off the knee roll on a 17.5".

I know one saddle maker does longer flaps for tall riders. I think its Ideal not sure though.
 
penfold said:
I cant afford a made to measure saddle. I would love one though! My knees are off the knee roll on a 17.5".

I know one saddle maker does longer flaps for tall riders. I think its Ideal not sure though.
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have you tried different makes? deep seats/shallow seats/round cantle/square cantle etc all make a difference.

see how the viewing goes... his saddle might fit you! and then you'll be worrying about nothing! :D x
 
penfold said:
I cant afford a made to measure saddle. I would love one though! My knees are off the knee roll on a 17.5".

I know one saddle maker does longer flaps for tall riders. I think its Ideal not sure though.
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Have you asked the price of a made to measure? my dressage was made to measure and was only a bit more than my off the peg Albion K2 SJ saddle..
 
My made to measure was the same price as off the peg but then it was an expensive saddle :(. Didnt have much choice due to short backed, big bummed me :D
 
penfold, jumping the gun! try the horse! do you like? do you like his saddle? negotiate it into sale. if liike horse not saddle buy horse then find saddle. as long as it fits horse and is balanced, and fits you fron thigh to knee buy saddle. not an over comeable problem in any circumstance.
 
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