Curvy back saddle fitting on a budget - success!

[Texarkana]

Updating: I have an Albion SLK Ultima on the way. Let the Princess & the Pea games begin.

[pony_baloney]

Another vote for an older Passier. A decent saddle fitter can make the cantle more upswept; this was done to my new-to-me circa 198? Baum dressage saddle for my very short backed pony. The saddle was from ebay for $300+, and the customizing plus the saddle brought me to about $1500.

[Texarkana]

Updating again: I have a saddle fitter coming next week for the Albion SLK. It took forever for us to find an appointment time that worked. I’ve only ridden in it twice because the off side billets are in such bad shape that I feel like they may snap any second (fitter can replace those). But my mare feels really, really good in it the little bit I have rode in it. Her canter was better than ever. And I feel comfortable enough. I hope the fitter agrees.

Because I have poor impulse control, I scooped up an older Kent & Masters jump saddle. So much for not buying two saddles! I’m super curious to try it out when it arrives. Maybe it will arrive before next week and I can tack it on to the fitter appointment (doubtful).

[eightpondfarm]

@SaddleUp158

Perhaps a bareback pad for now?

Please don’t ride her bareback. *or bareback pad or even one of those flextree saddles. It will compress her discs faster than anything else you can do and hasten her decline.

[Texarkana]

@eightpondfarm

@SaddleUp158

Perhaps a bareback pad for now?

Please don’t ride her bareback. *or bareback pad or even one of those flextree saddles. It will compress her discs faster than anything else you can do and hasten her decline.

This is an old thread I bumped up. I’ve picked up both a new dressage saddle and jump saddle for her since. But no worries of riding her in exclusively a pad. I do hop on her bareback for variety from time to time, but she’s never been a horse I ride bareback often as she can have a wicked spook and I don’t bounce anymore.

[eightpondfarm]

[Texarkana]

Hopefully the conclusion to this thread (10 months later):

Yesterday I had a master saddler out and got a “thumbs up” for both of the new-to-me saddles. We were able to tweak the fit with a shim pad.

I want to thank everyone for the suggestions! I was able to snag not one but two quality saddles that work with my horse’s conformation at very affordable prices within my budget. And because of the knowledge you armed me with, it seems like I got it right on the first shot.