Anyone have any experience fitting an abetta endurance saddle to a Tb? Any other suggestions for light weight, western style saddles that will fit an OTTB? Typical High and long Tb withers, dips behind shoulders then broadens out.
Any help is much appreciated 
For trail riding, not endurance per se.
well, if you can find the correct width for the horse then you can try customizing the fit with a pad that has pockets for inserts. You can work with foam inserts and smaller shims to fill the dips and improve the fit.You need to be careful that the shims that you add have very tapered edges. A used Skito or Haf pad would keep the cost of the pad down. This type of pad lets you experiment with adjusting the fit until you get it right. but the saddle fit still needs to be pretty close to correct.
chicamuxen
I tried several types of synthetic endurance saddles on my TB mare. They looked ok while she was just standing, but as soon as I got on her the pommel would be hitting her withers. I ended up getting a saddle from Crestridge saddlery that is leather seat with skirt and fenders of synthetic material. They had me do several measurements and actually made a saddle to fit my horse.
Thank you for both responses. I’m a little afraid of what you stated Simbalism, the pommel hitting his withers with an Abetta . I have looked at the Crestridge saddles and it’s great to know that they work on a Tb. They are nice looking saddles for sure. May have to go that route.
I am looking at getting an Abetta as well. I sat in a friends Abetta horned endurance saddle and it was very comfy. If you go to http://www.horsetackonline.com/
and fax them a template of your horses back, they will compare it to their saddles (which include Abetta’s) and will tell you which one is best for your horse. It is a free service, which I thought was really cool. Good luck!
Do you have a good local fitter you can work with? I’d highly recommend it. I don’t know of anyone in San Antonio, but there’s Carol Patty in Austin and Jenny Donovan in Houston; if neither will travel to you, they might be able to recommend someone. You can also send templates and photos of your horse to Nancy Okun - she’s a fitter who has years of experience and success in working long-distance. She’s also a competitive trail rider and has a good handle on what’s comfy for horse and rider for the long haul. Her email is nancybokun@gmail.com. She could give you some helpful input.
wyldesage, here are a few pictures of my TB mare and the saddle from Crest Ridge.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/simbalism/3565388967/
Thought I had a better confo shot of my mare, but this one kind of shows her withers. http://www.flickr.com/photos/simbalism/2949233708/
Pretty mare Simbalism, thank you! My gelding is probably more A framed than she looks to be, if that makes sense. Not really narrow, just a bit more slopey.
Nice set up too!
