needle in haystack saddle - wide, short backed horse

[rubygirl1968]

I hate saddle shopping. Ok, now that I’ve got that out of my system, I’m looking for some brand advice for a hard to fit rider and horse.

I have a Fjord with a very short back and I don’t have a small booty. I am currently riding in an Arabian Saddle Company Solstice but the pommel is too high for my comfort and pushes me too far back - I feel like I’m riding the cantle.

I’ve had a Thorowgood Cob - it bridged. Duett Rondo 36cm - a little too wide, it rocked slightly and the saddle fitter said the panels didn’t fit his back as well as the Solstice.

So I’m on the hunt for a better fit for me. I like open seats, low pommels and he needs an upswept panel. I know I need to go sit in some but was looking to see what brands might work before I waste my time bringing home saddles that won’t work. Local consignment shop doesn’t have a saddle fitter, you’re on your own with anything other than seat size and width stated.

[Rallycairn]

If you see a used Coventry, give it a try. That’s what works on my 14.1 light tank and my 14.3 Connemara.

[Bluey]

Stubben Siegfried have fitted practically every horse we put them on, even very wide small draft horses.

Pelham Saddlery has people that know saddle fit, have send out plenty and heard feedback on all.
You can order on 7 day trial, have you tried that?

Those models fit fine most anything you may want to do but show and train at the highest levels.

I have my old Stubben Rex I used to show jumpers with, a Siegfried that we use for everyone and a more banana shaped Roxane that fits our older horses well.
Our horse’s backs change as they mature and gain weight and those saddles still fit better than most.

The only humans they may not fit well are the stick figure, very long leggity ones.
Those need a longer flap than those saddles have.

[fjordmom]

@Bluey

Stubben Siegfried have fitted practically every horse we put them on, even very wide small draft horses.

Ditto. Both my children used my childhood Stubben Siegfried on our Fjord. It is a 16.5 seat, so it no longer fits me. I am currently using a Stubben Tristan 17.5, that is built on the same tree if I am correct, on two Fjords. One is rotund and short backed, the other taller, sportier and longer backed. Both change shape somewhat throughout the season (depending on how lush the pasture is) yet continue to go well in it. I am 5’9", long legged, and well enough endowed in the seat.

[Ruth0552]

http://www.hastilowusa.com/

Phone/Email consultations are free. Since you’ve tried a Thorowgood and it didn’t quite work they might be able to point you in the right direction.

They have a number of brands at different price points.

[ddashaq]

I have a wide tree (34)Thornhill Germania for my wide backed Arabian. His back is not super short but he is only around 14.2 so it isn’t exactly long either and the saddle has worked for us for years now. The only complaint I have is that being a lower end saddle, it only has one flap option and I could use it being a wee bit more forward. They are not very expensive and mine has held up well for the last decade of heavy use.

[cayuse]

My roundish short coupled pony mare comfortable in both a Pessoa and Stubben Siegfried.

[rubygirl1968]

I never even thought about a Stubben, I thought the widest would be way too narrow for him.

Thanks for the ideas, at least I have a place to start. I don’t know what Pelham has in stock at the moment but I think I’ll re-do his tracings and send them to a couple of places.

[Bluey]

@rubygirl1968

I never even thought about a Stubben, I thought the widest would be way too narrow for him.

Thanks for the ideas, at least I have a place to start. I don’t know what Pelham has in stock at the moment but I think I’ll re-do his tracings and send them to a couple of places.

They have all kinds of saddles, new, used, several old cheaper ones and you can try them and return them if they don’t fit:

http://www.pelham-saddlery.com/tack/saddlesforsale.html

Two of my saddles came from there and I tried a couple more that didn’t fit.
They were very easy to work with and are a good place to start.

An email with pictures of your horse and it’s back sure will help them tell you what you could try.

There is a reason that so many riding center lesson saddles are Stubben, they just fit most horses and riders well for regular lessons.

[no.stirrups]

Try any saddle with a Harry Dabbs Hunter tree or Black Country Freedom tree. Both are shorter than most and designed for broad backs. The Hunter is especially nice for horses with little to no wither.