Not sure if this is really the right place to post this.
I’m looking into kids saddles for my 2yr old. I’ve been using a grab strap on my 17.5" dressage saddle with the stirrups tied up but this is obviously not a good set up long term. She’s much more comfortable in a saddle than bareback, has been using my dressage with the stirrups tied up and a grab strap.
Current pony is 14hh, uses a medium tree saddle.
I’ve been looking at western saddles but I’d like something more english-y.
I’ve found the hdr lead line saddle which for her age I’m thinking will last a few years and is pretty cheap at less than $300 (cdn) new.
I’m not opposed to but am unsure about synthetics like wintec.
Any other brand recommendations to look at? I’m based in Canada.
we got child size cutbacks for the kids, we wanted them to learn English but we also have child sized westerns
Our kids were pretty determined they wanted to ride so we spent the money for tack that fit since it was not going to be a one-time use.
As for Wintec, we have three endurance version that we have had coming up on thirty years… nothing has ever broken any of them and we have thousands of miles on them (youngest daughter most likely has around five or six thousand miles on hers)
here is youngest daughter in the child sized cutback with our trainer’s daughter at the head … [ATTACH=JSON]{“alt”:“Click image for larger version Name: IndianClassic.jpg Views: 1 Size: 10.5 KB ID: 10543630”,“data-align”:“none”,“data-attachmentid”:“10543630”,“data-size”:“full”}[/ATTACH]
closer to see fit
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I had a cheap synthetic leadline saddle for my son as a toddler. It worked fine for him until he was almost 7 years old. I started him out on it at 2 years old, and with his feet in the stirrups and holding the grab strap, he was very stable. The tiny seat and higher cantle gave him a much more secure place to sit than an adult size saddle. I led him on trail rides with that set-up and never felt like he was in danger of falling off. He learned to really ride in that saddle, at least through walk and trot. His cantering was delayed because of the pony’s tendency to throw in a little buck, but he could have cantered in that leadline saddle, too.
I had to buy a saddle for a fat little welsh, the pony in my Grandma, so I got the kids Wintec specifically bc it is treeless. https://www.farmhousetack.com/wintec-kids-saddle/ Tip: I don’t use the stirrups when the kids are so little. That way their legs hang down long and natural. I teach them a sit up straight seat by making them use one hand in front on the grab strap and the other hand behind them on the cantle. That way (bc with 2 hands in front) they don’t curl their shoulders forward. And we switch hands with directional circles. Now this seat has become a natural feel for them.
I urge caution with starting a 2 yr old child. Their heads are too heavy on their necks. And even more unwieldy with a helmet on. One snap can do damage. A little leadlining with 2 side walkers and for only a very short period time is more than enough. Myself I wait I’m not in a hurry, they have more real interest later. I do pony rides at 4,5. Then I wait and start short lessons when they have some length of leg and upper body strength at 7-8. A little period of time off brings them back with a renewed interest and more of an I can do attitude, and they’ve built confidence in trying/doing other things. More life experience under their belts. And they’re ready for whole conversations. A great age they soak up the horsemanship. Fear can ruin the whole thing for both of you if that happens.
I’ve had the Wintec 12+ yrs? it looks like new. (no pony has ever rolled in it ;))
As a riding instructor, we just would not take any kid under 6-7 for any kind of serious instruction and even then it was short and fun.
We did give short lead-line rides to younger kids, had kids doing things around the barn and with horses, maybe kids had their own mini to brush and play with, but riding was just careful supervised play, not really riding.
Now, I know plenty of ranch kids that by 4-5 may already have their own suitable horse and go help move cattle for long time horseback and love it.
One kid came home at 4 1/2 after spending all morning moving cows with dad and when mom asked how it went, he happily responded “dad and I got bucked off, it was lots of fun!”
Mom found out yes, dad’s horse bucked him off, kid’s old horse tried to buck too, stumbled and kid came off, no one worse for that, but a very scary thought for all but the kid, that was the highlight of his day.
Little kids around horses gives everyone grey hairs, so, so easy for things to go wrong.
A suitable horse, a comfortable saddle, a very close eye on all and everything and I expect the OP and kid will have a wonderful time and many pictures, may even share some?
I myself have a wonderful picture of myself on one at 2 years old, as so many of us have.
No saddle advice, but I feel like if they still can be in a rf carseat, theyre too young to ride besides maayybe on a mini, w helmet of course. Or like one poster said, sidewalkers for a small amount of time.
If theyre too young to sustain a small car accident without the 5pt harness holding them in and keeping them safe, they’re too young to sustain a fall safely, especially on a tall horse. 14h is tall for a 2 yr old.
Not trying to sound judgy at all and of course to each their own, but I totally agree with @Bluey. Before age 6 or 7 they really dont grasp how to fall safely or do anything besides panic or not brace themselves or think to move properly god forbid they end up caught in a stirrup or caught under a horse. Jmo. ♡
Can we please stay on topic. I asked for saddle recommendations, not parenting tips.
I’ve previously worked in a professional barn, gave beginner lessons. We didn’t do lessons for young kids either but occasionally would put young kids up on a small pony for lead line rides (usually a clients grandkids, or a visiting family member. We didn’t charge for pony rides or anything). I also definitely live in the area where I’ve seen 4/5 yr olds help move cows (not that I’d let my kid do that- seemed way too dangerous to me).
I obviously have her lead line with a side walker. She’s ridden maybe like 6 times over this last summer/ fall/ winter.
I am just looking for something to help her stay more secure that she won’t outgrow in a couple years.
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we bought tack specific to our kids, they started riding early, the youngest was riding properly with a double bridle by age five
the early saddles were leather English and Western child sizes
Regarding Wintec …we still have three trail saddles that we used in CTR, those saddles have many, many thousands of miles on them and Nothing Ever Broke… still in good shape after nearly thirty years of little to no care
we were able to find child sized tack that would fit even our wide backed very large pony (14.1+)
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I alternated between an adult saddle and a bareback pad when my daughter was little. She loved the bareback pad the most and most of her riding was done on that (the handle and it’s position in particular seemed helpful for the little ones). When she was 5 I bought her a 14” pony Pessoa saddle. I do wish I had bought it a year or two (or 4) earlier. It served its purpose well and I was able to sell it for what I bought it for 4 or 5 years later. I had a lead line saddle during that time too, but the balance was odd and neither of my kids liked it. Kind of reminded me of an “all purpose” saddle in that it was mostly a “no purpose” saddle! If I could do it all over again I’d buy that 14” pony Pessoa as soon as possible.
I have used my Stubben Rex I use myself to show jumping years ago for little bitty kids and they fit well in it.
Even the smallest kids, diapers and all, are rather large and fit in those saddles just fine.
I am not familiar with those pads with a handle, so can’t say if that would be better than a saddle, but those familiar with it are reporting they are, so that would be a good place to start?
Not sure that handle is safe, if a kid starts to fall and a leg goes thru it?
Then maybe that is not apt to happen, just a thought.
As little kids, my brother and I were hoisted up on our farm draft horse pulling the sled, kids sitting right behind the harness “saddle” and hanging to it, traces all around us, maybe not the safest either.
Our kind old horse would stop if we started to fall anyway.
I expect my regular 14 1/2" western saddle would fit a little kid just as well and it has a built in handle in the horn.
