I know this gets asked a lot - but I am looking for suggestions about budgetfriendly* ideas. (aka below $1000 tops, new or used). This means non-gusseted, or short panels, or built on compact frames. No big fat gussetts like are all the rage these days. Thanks everyone!
Neidersuss Symphonie would be my first guess.
How is the pony built? Little curvature? Low wither? Hoop tree contender or probably not?
Good quesions! He is not curvy. just has a tiny area from behind shoulders to 18th vertibrae. Medium wither. Definitely not low wither, mutton wither, or cobb type. That being said, maybe he could work ok with a hoop tree, but doesn’t necessarily need one? He’s a medium-wide fwiw. But for some brands, he would be a wide. Only becuz his withers spring out around the barrel, not cuz he’s built like a tank. thanks!
The Ideal Jessica or Jessica Pony might work. They’re not so common in the US, but I think quite popular in the UK. A new one costs about $1k (or at least it did a few years ago), so you can probably find a used one for less. I had one out on trial a few years ago and remember liking the way it felt.
While I have true welsh cobs, mine are both of the section C and D variety and only one has truly required a hoop tree. I have found Niedersuss to work very well on those not so curvy and well within budget. The unfortunate part to the Niedersuss is that the shortest seat is 16.75 inch so may not be short enough in the panel for your pony. Albion SL or SLK, one of the 16.5 seats or larger seat built on a pony/shorter panel without gussets (they exist) may work better. I will also say that I have found the wide Passier GG without gussets and in the 16.5 and 17 inch seats to work well too and also be very affordable when purchased used. Hope this helps. Of course I must add that the best deal and affordability is to put the money into a saddle that fits you both even if it may stretch the budget a little. In the long run it will save you the most money on many fronts.
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I had a Prestige Lucky at one point for my short backed PRE. It’s technically a “youth” saddle but fits ponies well and a smaller adult. I’ve found decent prices on them used. Here, anyway.
In general Prestige doesn’t have long or gusseted panels.
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I guess I should add that if you can ride in a 16 inch saddle that would also be an advantage as others have indicated. I have a 16 inch saddle which works perfectly on my Cs. It’s an old Albion Style. Not many can which is why I didn’t mention it before; but, if you can go that route, all the better. I have/ride in a 13 inch western saddle for the same reasons.
how about the wintec 500? does it put you in an ok position? what about the wintec 250 dressage saddle?
I have a 14.1 Welsh Cob who needs a wide to extra wide tree depending on the saddle. We use a Wintec Isabell, flocked, with the wide tree and have no issues. It puts me in a great position and fits my mare like a dream. The biggest issue I have with it is that the overgirth strap is a pain in the butt.
Previously, we were using my trainers Thorowgood T4 Cob and adored that saddle. But I couldn’t find it in my budget range.
I also have a Prestige Lucky for my 13.2 hand pony and I love it. I’ve already had it adjusted twice and it’s worked out so well for us. I bought mine new through VTO and it’s more than your budget new but not significantly more so.
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Have you considered a Lovett & Ricketts arabian type saddle ? They are probably easier to find used than a pony saddle with an adult seat size.
Another vote for the Prestige Lucky.
My 13.2 fellow and I love it, as does my 12 yr old granddaughter.
Thorowgood makes a nice synthetic dressage saddle for a good price - and even better if found used (I think I paid $300 for the one I have).
Agreeing with looking at the Thorowgood, they make a COB panel and are affordable. No issue with Wintec’s either, certainly worth a try.
I have a Hastilow pony dressage saddle for my Connemara and love it. I was told that the British Dressage Pony Team uses this saddle. I really like it and it fits my pony very well. Here is a link to new and used ones:
http://www.hastilowusa.com/#/product/903
http://www.hastilowusa.com/index.php?sef_rewrite=1&mobile#/category/38
I have a Connemara pony. I’ve had two saddles that worked. One was a very flat older fashioned Crosby dressage saddle. I loved that saddle. It worked from years 3-5 but then her back changed too much. I bought it off eBay for like $350. Fantastic saddle.
Then I spent lots of money shipping saddles back and forth. Really had trouble fitting the her back and my seat. I’m 5’4 but have a long femur. I’m most comfortable in a 17.5. Most I tried were too long for her back.
I went with a custom Michael Stokes saddle and have been super pleased! I got a short flap but in a 17.5 and it has a short pannel that for her back no problem. Plus it’s wool flicked and the tree is adjustable up or down one size. I have the fitter oro once a year to check it. It’s held up beautifully and I rode 4-6 days a week. I love that saddle. Worth the extra. I really didn’t want to spend that kind of money either.
Lovette and Rickets was recommended to me but was really hard to find. My trainer had a stubben all purpose saddle that worked but it also was a unicorn saddle that I couldn’t find another of. Can’t remember the model. Good luck!
Another option would be an older Stubben in a wide. The panels tend to be upswept, which means they are a bit shorter in the back and allow your seat to be as long as necessary. The Thorowgood Cob saddle I had (with the older FISH system) had shorter panels also, and the cantle was a bit longer above the panels, again accomodating a larger seat. Wintecs are nice saddles and work very well for some people’s conformations. My lower legs are shorter, so I need a stirrup bar a bit farther back than the one on the Wintecs, so I wind up riding in a chair seat in them. The T’goods are just about perfect for me as far as stirrup bar placement goes.
