I’m glad to read your post, I’m looking for an English saddle with a deep seat in size 14.5”, or 15” for my 6-year-old daughter. Her pony is 13.2 hands high. I have been recommended the Hero Jumping Junior Saddle by Antares. She is using a 14” HDR, could you give me more information on how the saddle helped your daughter? It is a bit expensive and I know that the quality of the leather and materials is good, but as for the position and balance, did this help her? My daughter does not have a good balance and she goes too far forward and the trainer recommended me to change to a deeper saddle and well, I really don’t know much about saddles, I would appreciate it if you could help me with more information.
Not sure if you’ll hear back on this because the thread is quite old but I’ll chime in. A saddle that puts her leg in the right position and has stickier leather will indeed improve her position and make her more secure. However, a six year old isn’t really building muscle at that age and their leg security is only going to go so far. So if it’s a financial burden to drop $5k on an Antares I would wait a year or two. At her age, the most important thing is to have fun and gain confidence so when the leg gets a little longer and stronger she’s happy and confident. Others may disagree but that’s my two cents. The Pessoa is a great option for much less. But if it isn’t a huge financial hit for you the Antares will hold its resale value especially if you find a used one. It will probably be quite helpful in a year or two
I’d definitely look for something used, it will be broken in and easier for her to feel secure. Pessoa pony saddles are great, and the Voltaire Welli seems to be another popular one for little kids. Both will hold their value, with the Welli being more in line with the Antares price wise. Some of the national used saddle places are really knowledgeable, I’d call them to discuss options. Make sure the flaps are short enough for her legs. And don’t forget- the saddle has to fit the pony as well as the rider! A local independent saddle fitter can also be a good resource if they have pony saddles in their inventory.
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