I’m trialing a 17.5” Antares ‘Skylla’ AO1 saddle on my 17h Warmblood mare. I’m concerned it might be too small for her — it feels tight behind her scapula and sits pommel-high. I’m wondering if trying an AO2 might help. However, from what I’ve read, the AO2 is designed for horses with very round backs and little to no withers, which doesn’t really describe my mare. Has anyone had experience with this? Would switching to an AO2 likely help, or is there another adjustment I should consider?
I can’t weigh in on the Antares specifically, but in addition to being pommel high, I personally don’t think she’s got enough wither clearance.
What does her back look like without a saddle typically?
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It might just be the angle of the photo, but it looks like you might have the saddle placed too far forward on her? I’m not seeing how it’s pommel high either… I’d be concerned that the AO2 would be too wide.
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Scoot the saddle back some. It’s pommel high to me, and sitting on the shoulder. If you press back and down on the pommel it should slide back and “lock in” where it wants to sit. It may look funny at first (I’d say 80-90% of h/j riders put their saddle WAY too far forward), but you can’t tell if it fits in this position.
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Ok! I’m head out right now and will snap some new pictures and update when I get home. Thank you all!
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This is something that drives me CRAZY
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My horse wouldn’t like this fit but what does it look like when she is moving?
My horses back changes significantly moving vs static. He likes a roomier fit and sheepskin directly on his skin.
My mare is pretty stoic. With that said, I think it’s too tight. Her back seems a bit sore after a few days in it, and she feels tense in it.
Would an AO2 be a better fit or should I be looking for something with shoulder freedom panels (Antares evolution, Meyer, etc)?
Idk anything about Meyer but the Antarès evolution seems to make a lot of horses happy. There’s a ton of them in my barn
I think you should have a saddle fitter out and help them find you a saddle and a tree that properly fits.
If you look at the angle of the tree and the angle of your horse’s body, they don’t match up. Thats why the top of the tree isn’t laying flat and the bottom of the panel isn’t laying flat. It looks like you’re trying to put a tree shaped like an A on a horse that needs something rounder. Either way, you should have at least 3 fingers clearance above the withers and you definitely don’t, a big sign that the saddle doesn’t fit.
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I probably sound like a rep the number of times I preach amerigo, but I would absolutely put that mare in an amerigo with an iron horse head that will give her proper wither clearance. Yes she needs a better tree size but the way her wither goes up, I think you need that extra clearance.
That aside, if you can find a fitter, they may have other ideas for brands/styles that would fit her.
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Thanks for the feedback! Actually, there is plenty of either clearance (3-4 fingers). The picture doesn’t accurately reflect this. Even riding, wither clearance is fine… the issue is the pressure behind the scapula. The pressure improved with sliding the saddle back, but is still not ideal.
Unfortunately, we’ve got a very limited selection of saddle fitters where I live. I’ve had a saddle fitter in my area out, and she deals with wool flocked saddles. I’m interested in French saddles presently. My old Antares fits my mare well, but I’m hoping to upgrade it and cannot justify $7-8k+ on a new custom saddle.
Trying to figure out if going up to the AO2 would be an option—or if that wouldn’t actually solve this issue I’m having.
I’m open to hunting for a used saddle vs a semi custom, but hoping to become more informed before trialing saddles.
I’ll look into the Amerigo! I really love the balance, stickiness, and security I feel with Antares/Devoucoux/Meyer/CWD/etc saddles, and my goal is to find something that I feel comfortable in that also fits my mare well. I cannot justify spending up to $5k for a saddle that feels less secure than what I’m currently riding in.
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If you like the ride of CWD, I think you’ll like amerigo (or Equipe—they’re foam flocked but also have a wide range of trees).
That was what led me on my saddle quest and ultimately land on an amerigo. I loved how secure I felt in a CWD but it was a wither crusher for my guy, and CWD only really does one size tree (that works for a lot of horses, just not mine!).
And I also feel the same about spending $5k+ on something—like it better fit so good I want to be buried in it. Otherwise why buy it?
This. The saddle is in a much better spot but that tree is completely the wrong shape for this horse. In my Not A Fitter opinion.
There are some good shops that do remote fitting, and I’d look for one that carries Amerigo. I think you’ll like the ride and they have some good options for a shape like this. Maybe an Equipe, too. I love my CWD and liked my Antares, and I have liked the Amerigos I’ve ridden in. I think a County could fit this horse too, but you’ll need access to a fitter that can check and reflock every year or so (the price you pay for the adjustability).
ETA: I don’t think the AO2 would work for this horse, you’ve got a pretty significant mismatch in shape going on. The AO2 is wider, but not necessarily a more open head.
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