Light weight saddle for Arab

[jawa]

I ride for a lady who has a pretty typically shaped Arab. She has several different saddles and none of them seem to fit him at all.

She was able to borrow a Wintec with Arab bars that seemed to fit better, but he had a larger, more pronounced sweat pattern near his loins. We used a very thin saddle pad/baby pad since she hadn’t brought anything else with her. I’m afraid it may be too narrow over the wither with a saddle blanket and the skirt at the back may be too stiff over his loin.

She needs something light as she has two bad shoulders, she wants a western or trail saddle (not comfortable trail riding in an English saddle) she would prefer used over buying new as she has a limited budget.

Is there someone in the central VA area that does saddle fittings?

Do you have a suggestion for saddles to try?

[Palm_Beach]

horsesaddleshop.com

There are templates she can download and put on the horse to get a feel for the kind of tree the horse needs.

[Villager]

Look up the new line by Wintec :–Wintec Lite or Wintec Lite D’lux . They Only weigh 9 pounds!
I want an all purpose one but can’t get the right size in Canada . Better luck in the States I would think .

[Edinborough]

I read that people are liking the Pandora saddle. I haven’t tried it myself so this is just hearsay.

[jawa]

Palm Beach, thank you for the link. I have sent her a link so that she can read up on Western saddle fit.

We have been given the name of a local western trainer that trains and shows Arabs. Hopefully with the information in the link and a person to take a look she will get some great advice.

[chicamux]

Galloping Grape in Warrenton. Owner is an avid trail rider. She stocks lots of used saddles and she is a pretty good saddle fitter. NOT a saddle snob, works with lot’s of trail/pleasure riders.

[enjoytheride]

I have a synthetic big horn endurance saddle. With my trail stirrups it gets heavier but it’s only 18 pounds compared to the 24 pounds of the leather version. Comfortable and secure. You can find them used quite often and if you move quickly you can get really good deals.

[imaginique]

I have and Abetta with an Arab tree that fit my old Arab gelding and my friend’s half Arab perfectly. It’s super light weight. You have to be careful with Arabs. Most saddles don’t have enough curve in the bars and so they bridge.

[paintedtrails]

I’m central VA too! Dealing with a very wide shouldered arab tho that isn’t fitting anything yet. I’m demoing a Ghost treeless in the next week or so (waiting on UPS).

I have researched a few fitters that come to to the barn.
Kim at Galloping Grape is great I know her from other times, I haven’t hauled there yet with my guy but planning to.
Mad Tack in Madison also has a fitter that you can bring horses to or she can come to you for a small fee. They have lots of consignment saddles and can order new stuff.

[tabula_rashah]

Have you looked at Podium saddles- super light-weight, designed for Arabs, semi-custom without the semi-custom price tag.