Hi, I’m a new horse owner. I’m having trouble finding a dressage saddle to fit my quarter horse. She has a very short, flat back. Does anyone have any suggestions of where I should start?
I had a hard time finding one for my wide, short, flat-backed horse, and ultimately ended up with a Bates Innova with the wide gullet. Most saddles we tried were too curvy for her flat back.
1 Like
Niedersuss Symphonie works great for my fairly wide, very short- and flat-backed mustang. My fitter also suggested Albion SLK and Black Country (with a hoop tree). Found the Niedersuss first.
1 Like
I second Albion. They just seem to work better for a flat backed horse that runs wide.
1 Like
Thank you to everyone for your advice. Now I have a place to start. I have tried the Albion SLK but it was too long for her.😕 I wish it would’ve fit her, as I already have that saddle!
I had a similar problem when I got my Friesians. Ultimately I found Laser 747 saddles (they have since been discontinued) probably findable on eBay They are built for that type of back and have key-adjustable gullet, which is great for how the back changes shape with fitness. Another positive point is that they have gel ‘flocking’ that conforms to my horses’ backs. To me they were and are worth their weight in gold. I suspect the Laser people still make similar saddles for wide body horses.
Get some top notch saddle fitting (and biomechanical) information on Youtube – look for Equitopia and sort through their videos.
My gelding has plenty of curve/length but for the other folks at the barn that fit for the baroque, flat and shorter backs (Mustang, PRE, Friesian) Custom, also MacRider, Husbelos.
Padmavideo Equitopia for saddle fitting topics, nutrition, biomechanics is awesome!
