would you buy a new saddle for a young horse? Opinions>

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EmmaJ

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Hi im looking to purchase a new saddle for my IDx 5YO mare. But im not sure wether i'll be wasting my money im willing too go up to £600max (brand recommended too) Shes been fitted twice since i've had her (just over a year) and is due again its not a bad fit (wintex 2000 gp sinthetic)sp! but want to go for more comfort for the both of us. But will it be worth it or shall i hold on untill "shes fully deleloped"??????
 
How about going for the Bates saddle. If it fits her now then it can be slightly adapted as she changes & they are super comfy saddles.
 
if you look after it, even if you need to change it again next year, you won't lose much, so it won't be a waste of money Best to have a saddle that is good for you both.

My friend has had about 7 saddles for her horse. She only lost money on 1 of them, which was the brand new one. All her good quality used saddles have done her for a while, then been sold for the same or more.

F x
 
You could also get a saddle with an adjustable tree if she is going to be changing shape drastically. ID do take longer to mature so potentially another 2 years of development.

I bought my youngster a brand new Saddle Company saddle - but then I fit them. They have adjustable trees so I can adjust it as he changes shape - I have actually lost track of how many times this has been since he has grown about 2 inches and he has been out of work twice losing all of his topline. I used to keep meticulous records (as with any of my other clients) but during one spell I was widening a fraction every other week and I just gave up trying to record it all in the end. But it has been adjusted out and in, out and in and the tree is still sound. I have actually seen one at the factory that has been adjusted over 500 times (its the one that you do the test on). The SC has also been a great saddle for my anglo who was in very poor condition when I got him and he has had his saddle widened from a MW to a XW.

Other adjustable saddles are Kieffers.

With respect to the wintec, they have really banana shaped trees so only suit tru TB types (and not many of them). ID usually have broad backs and so the tree is completely the wrong shape.

If going for second hand leather, consider Ideal, Barnsbys and Barry Swain. All good makes. I would get a saddle fitter out with a range and go from there. Important thing is the get the tree right and then a good saddler will be able to reflock it to your horse's shape.
 
I have a Saddle Co one as well for a young horse and saddler is coming on Wednesday to adjust it so I hope I'll be able to get away with it!!

The other horse loves his treeless saddle which is supposed to fit anything so would be another option, however not everyone likes treeless saddles.
 
I have a saddle co one too, leather all over expect for underneath. They are very easy to adjust and very kind to the horses back. Might not last as long as a full leather but great for horses athat are prone to changing shape or have sensitive backs. I had mine fittted professionally and have it re flocked and checked yearly. Noticeable difference the minute I rode in it. Highly reccommded.
 
I'm not a fan of Kieffers (always seem too wide in the twist and hard in the seat for me) but I had a Munchen when I first bought G.
It had a plastic (well non-wooden) tree that could be ajusted using a heat gun. He went from a NNM to MW in the 3 years I had it. I got about 2/3 of its value back when I part exchanged it for a new dressage saddle but it was worth it for the amount he changed as it always fitted him well.
 
I also got a saddle co saddle for my 5 yo..... had a wintec before , but it was not adjustable enough and it always sat too low at the front so I had to use a prolite riser pad, which wasnt ideal....

Really pleased with my saddle co one, comfy, light weight, looks great and he moves much better in it than he did with the wintec and is building up much more topline...
 
I would get a saddle thats adjustable, I was going to get a saddle company one for my 4Y/O (had one for last horse and it was great-she was a difficult to fit horse) , but when it to it the saddle didnt suit the horse or me. In the end we've settled with a barnsby club saddle (they are new) they can be adjusted and I love mine!
 
I have a Bransby which has been altered (widened). I was under the impression that saddles can be altered to fit. Am I wrong?
 
Barnsby's have more scope for adjustment with flocking than any of the other "traditional" makes. Bates are not adjustable to fit everything.
 
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