Dreaming of a new Saddle

[arabiansrock]

I finally have a horse that I adore and look forward to riding. I have a Kent and Masters (also have a thorowgood T8) that seems to fit him pretty well and that he hasn’t complained about. BUT, he has high withers and it is a standard wither model. I need to use a half pad to make sure I have enough clearance. Also the panels are quite long on him (he is very short backed for a big boy). And the flaps are almost 17 in and I am 5 ft 1. And lastly the flaps are not terribly grippy leather. So I am dreaming of getting a saddle for him that would fit him and I perfectly. He deserves it for packing me around.

My needs: shorter flap say 16 in or shorter, very grippy leather - I really like the double leather saddles, don’t have to have that but it does need to be grippy. Deeper seat and fairly big blocks (they don’t need to look like elephant ears off the side of the saddle tho). I do like the way the KM rides/way I feel in the seat re: balance.

Horses needs: HIgh withers, hollows behind shoulders, very short back, med to med/wide tree. I have been riding him in the red gullet with a sheepskin half pad, totally forgot that I owned a blue gullet. So I am now going to try the blue gullet with a thin prolite pad. My saddle does seem to want to creep up on his shoulder which I don’t like. I have a TSF girth on him right now but it doesn’t seem to be helping that problem.

Any suggestions of saddles I should look at?

[outerbanks77]

You might take a look at Trilogy saddles. They are deeper with big blocks, and seem to be popular with shorter people. Someone who used to board at my barn rode in one on her OTTB, who had pretty considerable withers.

Another thought might be an Albion of some type. I find them to be very nicely balanced, secure-feeling saddles, and I’ve seen them in a thoroughbred tree as well as models with shorter flaps.

[atlatl]

Second the suggest to consider Trilogy. You can get a Debbie Special, designed for shorter people, and I know they can do bigger gussets in the back for the horse with prominent withers.

[PaulaM]

I got my mare a Custom Saddlery Laguna XR a couple years ago and love it and the customer service.

what I’ve learned over the years is that you really have to find a saddle fitter you trust and try out a lot of saddles your find the right one…

[arabiansrock]

Paula I agree a good fitter is invaluable. Unfortunately we don’t have any good fitters in our area. I would consider Trilogy but I have seen our local fitter sell my old trainer a saddle that in no way shape or form fit her horse. And, the fitter told me her philosophy (actually she claimed it was Trilogys philosophy) was to find a saddle the rider loved and MAKE it fit the horse. Custom might be an option but it would have to be used. Do they make any double leather saddles?

I was hoping to narrow things down to a few brands that should be able to meet both my horses needs and my desires, so I can find a fitter (even if its long distance) who works with those brands. I will keep an eye out for a used Debbie Special, I have heard good things about them.

[SonnysMom]

I would contact Aiken Tack Exchange or Pelham Saddlery. Pelham does a lot of remote fitting and has a huge selection of dressage saddles. I have worked successfully with Aiken Tack Exchange for selling two saddles and buying a dressage saddle.

[SonnysMom]

@arabiansrock

I finally have a horse that I adore and look forward to riding. I have a Kent and Masters (also have a thorowgood T8) that seems to fit him pretty well and that he hasn’t complained about. BUT, he has high withers and it is a standard wither model. I need to use a half pad to make sure I have enough clearance. Also the panels are quite long on him (he is very short backed for a big boy). And the flaps are almost 17 in and I am 5 ft 1. And lastly the flaps are not terribly grippy leather. So I am dreaming of getting a saddle for him that would fit him and I perfectly. He deserves it for packing me around.

My needs: shorter flap say 16 in or shorter, very grippy leather - I really like the double leather saddles, don’t have to have that but it does need to be grippy. Deeper seat and fairly big blocks (they don’t need to look like elephant ears off the side of the saddle tho). I do like the way the KM rides/way I feel in the seat re: balance.

Horses needs: HIgh withers, hollows behind shoulders, very short back, med to med/wide tree. I have been riding him in the red gullet with a sheepskin half pad, totally forgot that I owned a blue gullet. So I am now going to try the blue gullet with a thin prolite pad. My saddle does seem to want to creep up on his shoulder which I don’t like. I have a TSF girth on him right now but it doesn’t seem to be helping that problem.

Any suggestions of saddles I should look at?

I would contact Aiken Tack Exchange or Pelham Saddlery. Pelham does a lot of remote fitting and has a huge selection of dressage saddles. I have worked successfully with Aiken Tack Exchange for selling two saddles and buying a dressage saddle.

[arabiansrock]

No other ideas for brands that have double leather, short flaps, and fit a high withered shortbacked, fairly flat horse? I know I am looking for a unicorn, I wish I could stretch my legs a bit, lol.

[Sue_B]

I just bought a Trilogy Debbie for my massively high-withered short-backed TB. The fitter brought 6 different saddles, first one horse liked best (actually LOVED), 2nd one (a monoflap) I liked best but horse hated. Guess which one I bought. She also did a beautiful job of reflocking his current saddle which is a County Perfection with a 3" rear gusset that fits him well enough and fits me poorly. When the Trilogy arrives, it will be the first time I can truly stretch my femur down and it will be the first time he can lift his back right off the mounting block instead of after 15 minutes of walking and stretching.

[arabiansrock]

Sue are you buying new or used? If new, dare I ask the approximate price range to expect? Do you know what it was about the saddle that made you and the horse so happy?

[AZ_TD]

@arabiansrock

Paula I agree a good fitter is invaluable. Unfortunately we don’t have any good fitters in our area. I would consider Trilogy but I have seen our local fitter sell my old trainer a saddle that in no way shape or form fit her horse. And, the fitter told me her philosophy (actually she claimed it was Trilogys philosophy) was to find a saddle the rider loved and MAKE it fit the horse. Custom might be an option but it would have to be used. Do they make any double leather saddles?

I was hoping to narrow things down to a few brands that should be able to meet both my horses needs and my desires, so I can find a fitter (even if its long distance) who works with those brands. I will keep an eye out for a used Debbie Special, I have heard good things about them.

Some saddle fitters travel. I am in AZ and mine comes from CA a couple of times a year with her van full of saddles. I tried tracing and ordering one, but it is a tedious process, much better to be able to try 5 different saddles that fit your horse to see if you both like it!

[Sue_B]

@arabiansrock

Sue are you buying new or used? If new, dare I ask the approximate price range to expect? Do you know what it was about the saddle that made you and the horse so happy?

A few minutes into riding him in the “love” saddle he raised his back, gave a big sigh and just started moving beautifully in all 3 gaits. Before cantering, he was even softly blowing as we trotted around the arena. I did not have time to ride before hand as the fitter was a bit early, so he had zero warm-up, and yet he felt the same as if we were well into a riding session. Price-wise it, brand new was about 4k and right now you get free customization, free shipping. Just to re-iterate, the fitter helped me select a saddle that fit him, then we checked my fit—not the other way around. Btw, I live in an absolute dressage desert with zero tack stores within 150 miles, so I am exceedingly fortunate that she agreed to stop by my place.

[no.stirrups]

OP, you are describing a custom saddle. If you order custom, the short flap is easy, as are the choice of leathers and block sizes. I suggest you focus on fitting your horse since that will be the harder part. Short backs do well with upswept panels, such as on Harry Dabbs saddles, and they can easily accommodate his withers and hollows, too. Fully custom starts at the ridiculously low price of $2995.

[fanfayre]

@no.stirrups

OP, you are describing a custom saddle. If you order custom, the short flap is easy, as are the choice of leathers and block sizes. I suggest you focus on fitting your horse since that will be the harder part. Short backs do well with upswept panels, such as on Harry Dabbs saddles, and they can easily accommodate his withers and hollows, too. Fully custom starts at the ridiculously low price of $2995.

Except Trilogies have an off-the-rack short flap option, so no need for a true custom saddle.

[mychestnutvalentine]

I have a horse with that back type. Withers, hollow behind withers, he is smaller at 15.1 and I am taller at 5’10. I tried the wool/wood tree combo with County and he used to shrink down in the x-ties when the saddle was placed on his back.
I tried a Equipe monoflap which knocks on wood he has not done his back shrinking for months and has been going better than ever.
I have owned the following: Custom Laguna (l loved it, he was ok with it), Devoucoux (back shrinking occurred), Wintec Isabel (created rubs on back), Prestige (he liked it, too short flap for me), 3 County Perfections (definite no go for him although I enjoyed it), and have demo’d other saddles.

Point being made: Sit in everything you can! Many consignment places offer trials which is worth it’s weight in gold.

[sonestra]

I was in a similar boat, minus the high wither. I am 5’2 with a medium wide short-backed horse. I will say, I do NOT recommend the Trilogy lines. They fit me great, but they are not for short-coupled horses. They have huge, honking gussets. I even had the Trilogy rep come out because I had my heart set on one and he said the panels are too long and would sit on the loin.

I ended up with a Prestige Lucky, which is basically a pony saddle, but is adjustable. The seat is small, so you do need to be on the smaller side, regarding weight as well. I am around 105lbs and I still wish I had a little more room, but it’s so very hard to find a good fit. Good luck!

[no.stirrups]

@fanfayre

Except Trilogies have an off-the-rack short flap option, so no need for a true custom saddle.

Except, as sonestra said, Trilogy is not good for short backs. It isn’t just the flap that I was considering, it’s the combination of horse and rider needs.