English Saddle Fit for Quarter Horse

[Cloverbug]

Hi! Unfortunately I’ve entered into that dreaded saddle search. I have a young quarter horse who I’m trying to find a saddle to fit. My paint gelding passed away last fall very unexpectedly due to colic and I was using a Collegiate Convertible extra wide tree with him and it fit him great. He was a tank. The new guy does not seem to be as big bodywise as the paint was but we are having English saddle fitting trouble and I’m not sure where to start looking for a saddle that may fit him. The collegiate convertible with a wide tree fits him in the front probably we are having is the back of the saddle picks up. I’ve tried a variety of pads and it’s still not a good fit just seems to emphasis the problem. I’ve put the extra wide tree in the saddle and it sits down on his wither too much. My question is what saddles out there are a good fit for the bigger bodied quarter horses? I’m at a loss on even where to start this search. He’s young and I know is body will be changing with additional work and growth so I hate to spend a small fortune but understand it may be necessary. I’ve looked at the thornhill pro am. Are they they a decent saddle? I read they are wool flocked is this true? Would like to find one that is wool flocked so it can be changed if necessary. I’ve also looked at the HDR Quarter Horse Pro but know nothing about these saddles. Both of these came up on a google search for English saddle to fit quarter horse.

Thanks in advance!
Amy

[GoForAGallop]

Collegiates are actually kinda well-known for fitting the QH types.

Why did you put the XW gullet in if it was lifting up in the back? To me, that would indicate going down from the W gullet to the MW gullet, and see where that gets you. Although not sitting on his withers, it may still be too wide in the front with the W, hence the back raises up.

Or, it could just be the wrong shape for him. This isn’t something that anyone can help you with here, unless you post pictures of his back, and the saddle on his back. A call to the saddle fitter might be in order.

[jaybird660]

I know I say this all the time but it is hard to make a suggestion without seeing a couple of photos. Under this link you will find what kind of photos are helpful.
http://www.trumbullmtn.com/saddle-fitting/helpful-conformation-photos-for-saddle-fitting/

Many QH are very round and do best in a hoop tree which has an upside U shape versus an A shaped tree. It could be that the tree shape or panel shape is just wrong for this horse.

[Dewey]

The Crosby PdN came in a QH-specialized model called the Prix de World. Lynn Palm endorsed it. The one in this link is brand new, but I am sure you could find a very reasonably-priced used model.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lynn-Palm-Crosby-English-Saddle-/151301670838?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item233a4847b6

[Cloverbug]

The extra wide gullet was in the saddle from my paint gelding. When I started fitting him for the tree I sat the saddle on him before I changed the gullet. No use changing it if would have fit him. We tried the medium, the wide, and the extra wide. The medium did not sit down on him, sat too far up on him. I’m not looking for advise on fitting the saddle. I’m looking for suggestions on brands of English saddles that work for the bigger bodied stock type horses. Yes I’m looking for a U shaped tree and not a V or as you mentioned an A. The brands that have been suggested to me so far are HDR QH Pro, Thornhill Pro Am, and the Crosby Palm.

[gumshoe]

I think you should be looking for a saddle with a generous space between the panels. If your horse has a wide wither, it’s probably pinching/tipping right behind the wither. I’ve had the same saddle you have and it doesn’t work on mine either. The panels are too close together for the broad back, wide shoulder that also has a wither.

[GoForAGallop]

[QUOTE=Cloverbug;7579968]
I’m not looking for advise on fitting the saddle. I’m looking for suggestions on brands of English saddles that work for the bigger bodied stock type horses. Yes I’m looking for a U shaped tree and not a V or as you mentioned an A. The brands that have been suggested to me so far are HDR QH Pro, Thornhill Pro Am, and the Crosby Palm.[/QUOTE]

Right, but THIS is a QH: https://www.aqha.com/Museum/Explore/Hall-of-Fame/Horses/Z/~/media/Images/Foundation/HOF%20Inductees/Zan%20Parr%20Bar.ashx

And THIS is a QH: http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs45/i/2009/159/5/8/Quarter_Horse_263_by_FantasyDesignStock.jpg

And those backs are going to need two very different saddles.

Hence the reason for asking for photos. There’s no point in tossing out generic saddle names if they aren’t even going to be close to fitting your specific horse…

None of the saddles you listed have a hoop/U tree, just FYI.

[rizzodm]

Last night I pulled out a QH heel horse that is on loan to the barn I ride out. I put my Duett(hoop tree) on him and it fit like a glove.

[ToTheNines]

GoforAGallop is right. I have two Quarters and they have completely different backs. And their backs could be backs of any of the WB’s or TB’s I have had.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/t31.0-8/10014952_10203008601090402_3082220808043029636_o.jpg

Horse on right very round. Tad Coffin with basic thinline half pad fits him. Horse on left, thin right now, but much narrower and needs shimming behind withers. Tad Coffin with shimmed fleece half pad I devised fits him. With quilt “baby pad” for both.

[Hunter_Mom]

DD rides her mare in a county, which fits her well. Of course, I’ve ridden both my QH (very, very different builds) in my Collegiate convertible. I did a thinline with small shims when the second had slight dips behind his withers.

[SarahandSam]

My QH seems to have a similar build to what you’re describing; I have him in the wide tree in the Collegiate Diploma right now, but have to shim it up in the back with a Mattes pad to fill it out, which is at least acceptable and doesn’t pinch him anywhere. I have heard Smith Worthington saddles tend to fit QHs well, and they will ask you to send tracings and pics and measurements to try to get the best fit possible without a saddle fitting, so I’ve been thinking about trying one of those when I have some money saved up.

[Soaponarope]

Ovation

[QUOTE=SarahandSam;7582251]
My QH seems to have a similar build to what you’re describing; I have him in the wide tree in the Collegiate Diploma right now, but have to shim it up in the back with a Mattes pad to fill it out, which is at least acceptable and doesn’t pinch him anywhere. I have heard Smith Worthington saddles tend to fit QHs well, and they will ask you to send tracings and pics and measurements to try to get the best fit possible without a saddle fitting, so I’ve been thinking about trying one of those when I have some money saved up.[/QUOTE]

There is an Ovation jump saddle made for quarter horses. We had one for our large pony and it worked very well. Better than he deserved:)

[ladybugsbw]

I ride quite a few quarter horses, and while they are all different, my bates and county have fit the majority of them (depending on the horse). If it is possible, I would just try a ton of saddles on and see what works best for both of you!

[Cloverbug]

Okay we are into the saddle fitting a little bit more. Can someone please tell me how to post pictures and I’ll post them of him with his sketches. The saddle fitter was out today after trying a few saddles that did not fit him and he left me know they did not fit him. Now we are at the point of do we chance an “off the rack” saddle in hopes it fits or do we just bit the bullet and buy a custom (gulp!!). The saddle fitter recommended a Loxley? Anyone know anything about them? She said definitely U tree or hoop tree.