Other than ordering from the UK or getting lucky in an antique store can anyone recommend a US source for basket saddles? I saw a few photographs and thought this would be an adorable baby shower gift for a fellow hunter. If anyone has used one can you offer suggestions on care and maintenance or how to attach a girth (the photographs looked like they had two canvas straps vs. a modern billet set up).
What a sweet idea! I think every parent has a right to decide what is best and safest for his or her children. With my own and my granddaughter, we had/have a āruleā or āpolicyā that the child must be old enough to get him/herself out of harms way should things go wrong. Therefore, I never rode double with a child in a back carrier, or a front carrier, or holding a child in my arms. I know some do --their choice --but if the horse does anything: trips, spooks, stung by a bee the rider may need to have both hands to address the situation or need to be able to dismount quickly --not always possible or safe with a child on oneās back, front, or held. Even when driving --and we drove a lot around out rural area with a lovely rig and driving mare, children could not ride in the carriage (actually it was a springboard, not really a true carriage) until they could get in and out by themselves --and we practiced that before the horse was hitched and while she was standing still. We also practiced emergency dismounts and one rein stops for riding. While a baby in a basket saddle may seem delightfully sweet --Iām not sure I would do it for the simple reason that horses are unpredictable.
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The design allows the child to experience riding with the familiarity of being seated in a chair.
āDee Equestrian (Sussex) website
My only problem with this is that you cannot experience riding while seated in a chair. If youāre in a chair on a horse or pony, youāre not riding. Iād wait 'til the child is old enough to sit up, get a little length of leg on the pony, and hold the reins. Then Iād get her an 11-hand pony and a leadline saddle.
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Back in the 1950ās my aunt had a wicker basket āsaddleā. I had pictures of her in it, all bundled up and cosy.
Nowadays people are scared of everything; I would imagine that a tiny tot riding in a basket saddle would come under the heading of āunsafeā. But many babies had their first experience on horseback that way and there did not seem to be a plethora of mass deaths because of it.
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To answer the question you actually asked OP, I looked a few years ago and could not find a US supplier. Iād order one from the UK early enough that you can get slow shipping. UK airmail is relatively expensive, so for a box that big would be expensive.
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Thanks to all for the information and opinions.
tangledwebāwe were right about the shipping. Iāve left this a bit late and the shipping is certainly not inexpensive!
For the others who shared thoughts I see your points. This was really meant to be more of a ācoo and oooā gift from a group of us that could be brought out for photo ops with the wee one. I know my friend would love to prop her bundle up for those first mounted pictures.
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Those are adorable but of limited use. By her second birthday my daughter could keep herself in the saddle at a walk by gripping the strap at the front and pressing her feet into the stirrup. Baby canāt even sit up until around 6 months. And she wants to do everything just like mommy!
As cute as that sounds, I think probably not worth the $$. It would probably get used for a couple of photo-ops and thenā¦? And yes, there are some safety issues for using it for anything more than that. Those safety risks would be considered acceptable in other cultures/countries, but are not considered acceptable in ours.
For photo ops for tiny kids, a regular childrenās saddle and an adult standing with or hidden behind the horse/pony discreetly holding the kid usually works beautifully. No, itās not the same as trying to reproduce an antique type photo, but I think that itās not hard to get great photos of kids and horses/ponies using tack and equipment people already have on hand.
You sound like a wonderful and incredibly thoughtful friend! Best wishes to your friend and her new baby!
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Most of the new ones you see, with the two leather billet straps, are made in China !
http://www.globalsources.com/si/AS/Bā¦1130249649.htm
Maybe a rocking horse ?
My friend, Small Change here on COTH may still have one. You could send her a PM.
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Can anyone please help me find a basket saddle for my daughter who is 7 and is in a wheelchair she has cerebral palsy and can not open her legs wide enough to ride on a western saddle. Any help would be greatly appreciated. It will mean so much to her to be able to ride her horseā¦
They are mostly available from the UK;
http://www.basketsaddles.co.uk/
They are very much better quality than those made in China.
Check out the Mulryan Saddlery RDA saddle that has been used by various UK Riding for the Disabled (RDA) groups.
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The place I use to volunteer at used this saddle for kids with tight hip flexors and/or particularly delicate skin as itās very soft https://www.horseloverz.com/english-saddles/pony-saddles/jorge-canaves-hobby-therapeutic-saddle?gclid=CjwKCAiA8P_TBRA9EiwAJrpHM4YsowKcq9ex2PWYxMbIShJ3PvbkRsp_K5GppQOO9-FU2beOiS2XmxoCyaIQAvD_BwE
For adults/older teens I also have seen these used https://www.smartpakequine.com/pt/wintec-pro-endurance-saddle-16885?utm_source=cpc&utm_medium=google&utm_content=shopping&utm_campaign=nb_shopping_catch_all&utm_term=Shopping%20-%20Catch-All&gclid=CjwKCAiA8P_TBRA9EiwAJrpHM3o_WRdEVeab9mg46_0-oiDP2_LbcGG5rX9hCt4qmvt6DiuumdpCwBoChuQQAvD_BwE but they are probably just to big overall for her
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