Need saddle with short panels

[OceansAway]

Hello,

I know this has been asked before in various ways, but I can’t find the type of answer I am looking for. My saddle fitter told me that the usable space on my horse’s back is only about 14 inches. I am currently using a Prestige Lucky, but it does not fit me at all. I am constantly fighting for my position in the saddle, and I find it puts me in a chair seat. I don’t know what it is about the saddle that doesn’t agree with me, or if it is a combination of the saddle and my horse. Needles to say, I really need to look for another saddle. My saddle fitter said he thought Schleese is probably the only other brand that has panels short enough, but I don’t know if that’s true. I have also heard these saddles can be bulky and heavy, and my horse does NOT do well with that type of saddle. Does anybody have suggestions for a horse with this little area to work with? Thank you!

[CanteringCarrot]

I was in the exact same boat with the Prestige Lucky and everything. I actually ended up with a Fairfax saddle that is technically too long. It does go just a smidge past where it shouldn’t. Oddly enough, my horse was more sore with the Lucky. He has zero soreness and it’s been 6+ months with this set up. The saddle fitter noticed he looks better than ever.

So I may have taken an unconventional approach. I think all of my weight concentrated in a small area was not so great. In this saddle I am balanced.

I know that Harry Dabbs/Jaguar make saddles with very upswept panels. Many other makers can do “pony panels” if you order new/custom. It all depends on your budget, really.

[kashmere]

I ride in a Schleese. They are very adaptable and have lots of options for large seat/short back combo. They’ve also got great panels for shoulder freedom.

They are not featherweights, that’s for sure; however, I haven’t found them to be particularly heavy. I’ve ridden in mono and dual flaps and found the monoflaps heavier (which seems odd!)

My mare also has quite a short back (not 14", but short!) and I ride her in an Obrigado with a relief wedge (shortened panel). She’s very comfortable in it. If you’re able to get one to trial, I would recommend it. A panel to fit a 14" back is likely going to be pretty tough to find on the used market (though I did see one with an insanely short panel not long ago), so you may end up needing to go new, which is $$ - but you did not state your budget, so if it’s an option for you I would go for it.

[sheltona01]

I would try Black Country. I use them a lot on the short backed horses. Fairfax as the previous poster mentioned is another good idea.

[tempi2007]

I don’t understand the 14 inches of usable space that Schleese talks about. If your saddle’s seat is 17 inches, then the panels would have to be at least that long to support the seat. I’ve never seen a saddle where the panels didn’t at least start close to the front edge and end underneath the cantle.
Is Schleese measuring from a different spot, like from the back of the tree point or the middle of the stirrup bar?

A Schleese Wave and Schleese Pony Prelude might work. Verhan saddles are really short because they’re so curvy, upswept and non-gusseted, but I would think it would rock on a flat back. I’ve had some very short backed horses and found the Detente H&C, Passier Compact, some Frank Baines models with short gussets, Spirigs, Rooslis and Black Country have worked the best.
French saddles also have short panels but are mostly foam.

Hope you find what you’re looking for!

[OceansAway]

Tempi, it wasn’t a Schleese rep who told me about the workable space. It was my regular saddle fitter, and he measured his back, not the panels of my current saddle. I don’t understand how 14 inches is possible either, for the reason you stated, but that is what he said.
The Lucky actually fits him great and he exhibits no soreness whatsoever. It’s me who just can’t ride in it. It’s the worst saddle I’ve ever ridden in, when it comes to struggling with my position.

[tempi2007]

Oceans Away, what do the panels on your Lucky measure?

[ToN_Farm]

OceansAway, Schleese now has the Bi-Nate line and a Prolight dressage saddle that uses a PSI panel. This is a lightweight saddle and the panel distributes weight better. And yes, there are various panel configurations and rear ‘wedges’ to help fit the short backed horse. We are, however, talking about a very expensive saddle.

If you are now using the Prestige Lucky, you must be in a small seat size. My problem is much more complicated because I also have a horse with only 14 inches of saddle space and I need a big seat. It’s a real problem. Also, as you know, there are many more issues than panel length when it comes to getting a good fit for both horse and rider. That is the problem I’ve encountered. You find one feature you want, but other features are not there.

I have one suggestion for you. I am currently riding in an older Amerigo Classic. It’s just a tad too long in the panel. However, because the Amerigo saddles are very forward balanced, you aren’t placing so much weight at the back of the saddle. I would be ok with the Amerigo for my horse, but like you, it doesn’t work for me. You might try one because there is no way to get in a chair seat in this saddle.

It is also pretty easy to find a used Schleese Obrigado and some places allow a trial.

[OceansAway]

I will measure the panels tomorrow. Yes, I am really small. I fit in a 16.5-17 typically, and I so wanted the Lucky to work. My budget is not huge unfortunately, and I know Schleese saddles are pricey. I really would struggle with spending more than 3k. I feel guilty because my horse seems to really love this saddle, but I am miserable in it.

[tempi2007]

Here is a Pony Prelude. The panels look pretty small and curve up in the back.

http://www.pelham-saddlery.com/saddles/schleese22373used.html

[Farys]

I have a very short coupled, short backed, mutton withered, downhill, Cleveland bay cross with a huge shoulder, and I just purchased a Custom Advantage R with pony panels and the billets off the point to allow more shoulder movement.

I couldn’t be happier with my purchase. It fits him unbelievably well and the narrower twist allows me to really sit into the saddle and get my legs around him. The Custom Advantage R is fully adjustable as well by a qualified fitter.

I was riding him in a Schleese HK (same seat/tree as the Wave) and the issue that I had was that the saddle seemed to sit on top of his back instead of wrapping around him. It was essentially like trying to balance a saddle on a beach ball. My Custom sits very close to his back and just wraps around his wide body.

The pony panels on my custom are fantastic for his short back. And he is very short. I can turn around in the saddle and touch his tail without really leaning back at all if that gives you an idea.

[js]

You can also look for saddles with upswept panels, a few Stubben’s are like that as are Harry Dabbs and other’s, some of those you can find used for very good prices. You could also look at Kent and Master’s or Thorogood T8’s or Tekna they make a saddle for shorter backs, they are reasonable even new.

If your horse doesn’t like heavy or bulky try a synthetic. The Kent and Master’s synthetic has a leather seat so the ride and block so it still has a leather feel for the rider.

[2tempe]

I’ll second Custom as an option: i have a short backed Lusitano, ride in a Custom Wolfgang Constanz which comes with shorter panels… It works very well. They also have pony panels as an option. New they are above your budget but maybe you could find a demo.

[Dune]

You absolutely can have a horse/pony with only 14" of back space to place a saddle! I owned one, and one saddle fitter actually laughed and said, “Good luck with that one!”. Said horse was also super wide and mutton withered, which complicated things and I’m fairly tall, with a long femur so I really need a 17 1/2" to feel comfortable. What ended up working was a 17" Black Country Eloquence that had upswept panels. Was it ideal for my long legs, no, but its roomy seat allowed me to fit my bum and the knee roll is not so restrictive. Pelham Saddlery always has a couple in stock used, and they’re great to work with…

[KyrieNZ]

Have you tried a WOW?

[myhorsefaith]

to those with Custom’s built on pony panels (or for that matter, anyone who has a saddle specially built w/ pony panels)- how long do they actually measure - and would you be willing to update w/ photos? I’m interested in seeing what they look like!

[chantal]

I’m looking at a Custom Advantage R for my guy with a shorter back. Many saddles are too long for him, this one, in an 18 seat works.

[Mallard]

My 13.2 rotund fellow and I both love love love our Lucky!
I rode my 14.2 Connemara/QH in a 17" Schleese JES Elite and it was fine for both of us.
I know a couple of people with 13.2/13.3 ponies who had that saddles too, but had the panels ‘uplifted’ and it worked great.
Sadly that saddle has been discontinued, but they can be found used.

[OceansAway]

Thank you for all the suggestions! I forgot to measure the panels of my current saddle while I was at the barn, so will try to remember tomorrow. I don’t do well with old models with hard seats and small blocks due to my bad back. I do need a bit of support or my hips and back get very pained.

[Moon_River]

@KyrieNZ

Have you tried a WOW?

I recommend Wow to everyone when they ask about tricky fits, but their size 0 panels are 16" standard sizing. I can’t imagine a 14" back on an animal above 13.2hh!