Hello! I just recently had 2 fittings (stubben and hastilow) for a 4 yo sport pony of spanish breeding. Very short coupled, flattish back, small shoulders. The first fitting Stubben was quite confident they could order me a custom saddle to work well and they let me test one that seemed almost great. I was ready to go with that, then I was told by someone that stubben rail width is always too narrow especially for my flat round pony and that I shouldnt go with that as it would make her sore. Stubben said the back muscle is thicker a bit closer to the spine and if you go too wide you are then riding on the thinner muscle over the rib cage. Then a hastolow fitter fit her for a hastilow new pony model that I rode in and she came round pretty well, and it felt pretty good. I now have the hastilow on trial, and need to decide to order that or stubben. I will know more once i ride in it more, but curious if others had heard that about stubben rail width. The hastilow has rails that spread with pressure, also the hastilow has changeable gullet plates to make the front wider or more narrow as she grows. Would be grateful for any thoughts on the topic! THANK YOU!!
Go with the hastilow. They are adjustable and your pony will change a lot. I agree about the stubben rails and not fitting wide horses.
The part about the muscles does not make sense to me. You want to get away from the spine and the connected tissues as much as possible. All the new scientific research is proving it.
2 Likes
What is a “rail” on a saddle? Do you mean the gullet?
The gullet is the space between the panels. The rails are apart of the tree.
In the diagram, they have mixed western and English terminology. Bar = rail in it.
OP just private message you for more saddle details…
