Jump Saddle For a 15 Hand Draft Cross (Also, Naming Help + Photos!)

[CatchMeIfUCan]

So I made a questionable life decision today and bought a 15.0 hand adorable 4 year old draft cross (and am currently waiting for the new 4 year old OTTB to get here!). I have only ever had thoroughbreds, so I have no idea where to start in my saddle search. I want to use it for both dressage and jumping. I’m not particularly out of the ordinary in any way but am 5’3" and prefer shorter flaps. I used to ride in a Stubben Roxanne S and have ridden in a Prestige monoflap. Draft cross is typical too - short, flat back, no withers. Also adorable palomino colored!!

Update:
I am having the hardest time naming this guy. Calling him Barbie Pony is not a good long term solution! I like to name my horses after movies. Need something cutesy of course, but not barf worthy cute. So far I have:

Over the Hedge
That Thing You Do!
The Fantastic Mr. Fox
Up
The Emperor’s New Groove

I am not in love with any of these. Someone suggested Johnny Bravo, but I don’t know if I am keen on naming him that if I sell him to a little kid at some point. Clearly I need COTH help!

Here are some photos! He follows me around too much to get good ones, and we spent the rest of the time squealing about how cute he is. I will try again tonight and get some of his back.

Someone will need to stop me from braiding daisies into his cute, long mane for dressage. This was the horse I never had as a kid!

[boosma47]

My Tad Coffin A5 fit both my 15:1 draft cross and my late TB. Pricey, but it’s worth it. Very flexible, adaptable with padding. They are built wide. Comfy for horse and rider.

[eponacowgirl]

My 15.2 draft cross has a very average back and fit in every saddle I ever put on her.

[gr8fulrider]

Questionable Life Decision is a mighty fine show name.

[CatchMeIfUCan]

…I think all mine need to be named that.

[rhymeswithfizz]

I just fit our new haflinger to a 32 cm stubben. Maybe similar build there?

[Ceylon_Star]

I find that my 14.1hh draft pony is best suited to an AP vs a CC for jumping. He has a very short back, mutton wither, his shoulders come back ridiculously far, so anything with a forward point sits right on his shoulders and bugs him. Of the saddles I’ve tried on him, the best fit were Wintec/Bates, older Collegiate (his jumping saddle now is an early model Collegiate Event), Passier, and County (with a hoop tree). I’m not entirely sure how to measure tree size in cms, but he fits an Extra Wide in the collegiate and passier, and 2XW in bates/wintec.

I prefer long billets with a short girth on him, but the Collegiate has short billets so I use an anatomical girth to help reduce slippage and keep the saddle in the right spot/off his shoulders. If I didn’t have the anatomical on him I’d likely need a crupper.

Beware oversize panels! My guy is so short-coupled that some 17.5 seat saddles are too long for him and dig into his hips. I can’t use Duett or Forrestier on him because of it (even though they’re made for drafty builds).

Good luck! I feel your saddle-fitting pain!

[jaybird660]

Conformation shots would be helpful.
http://www.trumbullmtn.com/saddle-fitting/
Depending on what your draft is crossed with and which of the breeds is more prominent would influence what type tree would be best. Some crosses are more round and some more angular. A hoop tree is often needed but sometimes needs accommodations such as wither gussets or full front gussets. If more angular, an A shaped tree would be best.

[CatchMeIfUCan]

His barn name is now Happy. Still need a show name though! His sire is Oldenburg. I tried to take a few photos of his back, but he was very interested in what I was doing so kept turning towards me. The forward flap County I rode him in was definitely up on his shoulders and the medium tree was too small. I will need to get him something sooner rather than later. I ride in a 17.5".

http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/ifeturner/Barbie%20Pony/2A579D4A-A668-46B3-A957-27E60DB22F1A.jpg

http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/ifeturner/Barbie%20Pony/F62217AC-587E-45DC-83A5-03FF941845F0.jpg

http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/ifeturner/Barbie%20Pony/55826A2D-C65D-459C-A507-749F2F7A7406.jpg

http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/ifeturner/Barbie%20Pony/DF7269DE-AF8F-4B6F-92B2-7EDFFF8AA8F7.jpg

[2DogsFarm]

Sorry, no help from me re: saddles

But a trainer friend used to show a palomino under the name Malibu Ken.

[Rainier]

Have you mentioned how old Barbie pony is? I had a draft cross that changed dramatically between 4 and 6 years old, from being sausage shaped with no withers to having huge withers with a very uphill build and requiring a much narrower saddle

[jaybird660]

Although there is not a photo looking down on the back to confirm; I do think the general conformation suggests a hoop tree or at least one with a generous pommel arch and gullet channel. What price range are you looking in?

[Kitt]

Without seeing a conformation shot of your horse, it’s not possible to make really detailed recommendations. In some shots, his back looks a little dippy, in others, not so much; in some he looks like he might be croup-high, and in other pretty level. Overall balance and conformation figures hugely in saddle fitting, so photos like these are invaluable: http://pantherrunsaddlery.com/conformation-photos/.

[asterix]

Yeah, how old is he? My first draft cross (OldxTBxBelgian) grew DRAMATICALLY between 5 and 6 (bought him at 5), although he didn’t really change underlying shape - he already had withers by then.

My newer one (Perch TB) was 6 when I bought him, and STILL grew last year. Had the saddle fitter out 3 times in 9 months and need a new saddle altogether (to be fair, we started with the saddle from the previous draft cross and figured we’d see how he did until he stopped changing so much).

Not to say don’t get a saddle that works now, but don’t go whole hog custom or anything, as he may not be done growing. They can be late bloomers.

[CatchMeIfUCan]

He is 4, so I would expect him to change a lot. The breeding of his mother is not clear - hoping I do not end up with a 17 hand beast on my hands in 3 years! Definitely want to keep my search to something used off of the rack that can be ridden in by different people. He is really level and balanced - I will take conformation shots this afternoon when I have someone to hold him.

[scubed]

Possible names (sticking with movie themes):

Happy Feet
My Minion
Happyness

[GutsNGlory]

I’ll let the two pros help you with the saddle fit part… but I can suggest some show names running with the ‘Happy’ theme.

Movie/show titles:

Pursuit of Happiness
Happy Gilmore
Mr Happy Pants (okay, this one could be taken the wrong way! :lol:)
Happy Together
Happy Endings (again, mind in gutter…)
Happy Days

Songs:

Come On Get Happy
Don’t Worry Be Happy
Get Happy
Happy-Go-Lucky-Me
Happy Whistler
Oh Happy Day

Other:
Happy Hour
Drink Special
Birthday Boy
Celebration

… There really are a lot of choices for tying in Happy as a barn name!

[RockstarPony]

There’s an indie movie from a few years back called Happy Go Lucky.

[ellebeaux]

Oh Malibu Ken or Mr. Happy Pants get my vote!

Stinkin’ cute, he is!

[CatchMeIfUCan]

Happy was very patient tonight and stood semi-well without following me around while it was thundering and lightening. Not the best shots though!

http://s1178.photobucket.com/user/ifeturner/media/Barbie%20Pony/CF84DF98-5821-4C99-8649-E47C4AD46B8F.jpg.html

http://s1178.photobucket.com/user/ifeturner/media/Barbie%20Pony/0AF0FFE0-EFB8-4380-BCD5-CA066DFA81C0.jpg.html

http://s1178.photobucket.com/user/ifeturner/media/Barbie%20Pony/877B6891-0A1E-4AD6-8678-6E5918D23CD4.jpg.html

http://s1178.photobucket.com/user/ifeturner/media/Barbie%20Pony/EA9E6ED7-8A38-4754-AAF0-B8E478916B1C.jpg.html

http://s1178.photobucket.com/user/ifeturner/media/Barbie%20Pony/CA7D730B-30BB-4FBF-A372-6CC55478CEAB.jpg.html

http://s1178.photobucket.com/user/ifeturner/media/Barbie%20Pony/4AFBD65E-518C-4FC8-BFEC-94DAD1E9A61F.jpg.html

He really is level, but the pictures don’t show it so well.

I really like Happy Hour and Happy Feet but there are a lot of those that are USEA registered. Afternoon Delight may be in the running? Gah, this is so hard!! It doesn’t necessarily have to be Happy related, either. Thanks for all the suggestions so far!