I think I hate saddles (XW, short back, tall rider)

[RJC]

After having a semi-custom Barnes put together a few years ago, my boy has packed on so much muscle that the MW tree has become unusable (channel just too narrow and not enough shoulder room). This will be his 4th saddle in 5 years.

We’re a hard pair to fit off the shelf. Horse is on the short/stocky side with a short back for supporting a saddle (does not look short). His ribs end about an inch before being able to support a full sized panel. We had a Trilogy rep recommend he stick to XW trees. He looks a bit curvy in the back just standing there, but he gets really flat through his back when he lifts and works correctly.

I am 5’9" with a long femur and can go in a 17.5 or 18’ seat.

I sat in a Trilogy Verago and loooooved it, but it will take three months to be put together and $$$ and some recent life developments make it not a good idea to spend $$$ right now. I can get used XW tree Verago for half the price, but I can’t find anything with pony panels.

I’m about to go on a goose chase, but wanted to see if anyone has recommendations of where to start looking for a saddle model that may work. Do any saddles naturally have slightly shorter panels than others? My usual fitter has not been wildly forthcoming with help on this.

[joiedevie99]

Yes. Anything with an upswept panel instead of a gusset will naturally use up less real estate. There are lots out there at varying price points and degrees of other in style features: Equipe, Amerigo, Passier, Roosli, Spirig, and most of the French brands that are generally more well known for jump saddles made at least a few models in that style.

You can also find pony panels on some used saddles - Schleese makes a lot of them, Custom Saddlery makes some. That said, some brand’s pony panels may still be longer than another saddle’s regular panels. It just depends.

[GreyDes]

Several of the English brands offer this configuration. A few to look at include Black Country, Bliss, Loxley, and Chunky Monkey.

[outerbanks77]

I was on this search a couple years ago and ended up finding a Patrick Leggero on a cob tree. I actually am now selling it, but it is going out on trial here shortly. My horse’s aren’t super short-backed, but the cob designation makes me think it might work for a shorter horse? I will say that it rides a lot wider than my Black Country, which I also find doesn’t take up too much real estate on the horse’s back (I ride in an 18"). BC would be easier to find used than a Patrick, and for less $$.

[RJC]

I had never heard of chunky monkey but cool! Thank you! It looks like they make cob saddles which is pretty much what I have. I need to find one to try that is already state side.

[Warmblood1]

I’m 5’11, all leg. I’ve always sat well in Prestige saddles with their extra forward, extra long flaps and are affordable enough to customize and have ordered. That, and I can have the tree adjusted +/- 2 cm for developing horses anytime. They also fit my short backed dressage horses.

[islgrl]

I have a horse similar to yours from the sounds of it. We were in a Baines, he outgrew it and now is in an Amerigo Vega

[ChocoMare]

I had a short-backed, HUGE shouldered Clyde-X. Nothing else fit properly but a custom County Perfection. Saddle nirvana. After she crossed the bridge, I consigned it and it was bought by a gal with an Andalusian. Fit him like a glove with minor reflocking.

[RJC]

Well please let me know if it comes back from trial!

[RJC]

Thanks, all. I’ll spend a lot of time this weekend looking for these suggestions.

I sat in a Black Country a while back, and it was not a good fit for me, but maybe other styles would be good… I’ve never sat in anything Prestige or Amerigo, so I’ll learn more about them.

[outerbanks77]

@RJC

Well please let me know if it comes back from trial!

Sent you a PM!

[SaddleUp158]

I had a hard time finding the right saddle for my curvy short backed Morgan mare. Eventually tried a wide Takt TSD-37 saddle and she loved it. It worked very well for her. She has since been retired and is packing a young kid around so I have listed her saddle for sale. We tried Trilogy Amadeo first but it was way too long and bridged terribly.

[RJC]

I’ve never heard of that brand! Checked it out and too curvy of a fit for my guy but I’d love to sit in on of those saddles if I get the chance

[SaddleUp158]

The most incredibly comfortable saddle! It kills me to have to sell it but I have no horse for it anymore and won’t have another for many years most likely.

[Displaced_Yankee]

My fitter is an independent fitter but has access to Trilogy, Frank Baines, Albion and a few others.

My pony is a Connemara Cross, 14.3h and I am 5’7".

I find Trilogy saddles very comfortable but my fitter said there is no way one will ever fit his back. The panels are just long.

We ended up in a 17.5" used Fairfax Cob dressage. I don’t think they are made anymore, but they are the higher end of the Thorowgood/Kent & Masters/Fairfax conglomerate. I think Thorowgood and K&M still do the cob models? These have adjustable gullets depending on how much work he is in (or not in). It does not have the deep seat that the Trilogy has, but it puts me in a nice position and is balanced well. My fitter says that a “deep” seat will be hard to achieve comfortably because he is so wide. I believe that my fitter said the Thorowgood/K&M/Fairfax group keeps their panels pretty minimal (in terms of length)

Good luck!

[SolarFlare]

@Displaced_Yankee

I think Thorowgood and K&M still do the cob models?

K&M doesn’t for sure, because a saddle fitter recommended that model to people at my barn and they had to track down used ones as it’s not made any more. One of those people ended up getting an independent fitter who had access to K&M come and measure, and her horse was able to fit into the S-series instead so that may also be an option.

[RJC]

I rode in a demo XW Trilogy Verago with half sized knee blocks today and it was just…so lovely. The panels were too long. But gosh, did we have a phenomenal ride.

It’s really challenging to assess the saddle models I’ve never sat in that require shipping investment + trial coordination with the saddle fitter and our biomechanics coach… This is not the most fun. But I appreciate the thoughts from everyone! I’ve learned about new makers and the entire concept of a cob tree!

[RJC]

ok stay with me

Would it be the behavior of an insane person to buy a very affordably priced 17.5" XW Verago with standard blocks…and then butcher the standard knee blocks to try and create a half block, then have the flocking worked a bit by my fitter to reduce the pressure from the very back of the panel?

[GreyDes]

A saddle fitter can likely replace the blocks but you’ll have to do the math to see if it’s cost effective.

[suzyq]

My guy is wide not xw but flat and short back. I use equipe elegance. I fought buying that one because it’s foam flocked but he loves it. The knee rolls are very minimal.