In the age of the deep seats and the giant thigh blocks I find myself at a loss to find a saddle that both my horse and I like. I’m a tradionalist (think old stubben with flatter seat/minimal blocks). Horse: short backed, minimal low withers, flatter back with a slight curve and well sprung ribs. Level to slightly downhill. Me: 140#, longer femur and a bit over the hill and less supple than I used to be. I’ve come to the conclusion that my horse needs short points because a longer pointed saddle interferes with her shoulders. I love the French saddles but haven’t been able to find one that’s quite right for both of us that also allows me to ride a hole or 2 shorter than a traditional longer leg.
I tried a compact and my horse seemed to like it and it fit me like a charm in a size 3. The horse was able to lift the shoulders, but I feel like her shoulders may be restricted although it may be from the different inappropriate saddles I’ve been trying. When I dismounted from a saddle I’d tried the day before the horse’s withers were level with the top of her shoulder blades. In the compact, the withers had grown by 2+ inches! Has anyone else witnessed such a dramatic change in their horse’s withers? Anyway, looking for feedback from people who either have tried the compact or own one.
I tried the compact as I am of similar build and preferences, but I wasn’t 100% on it and it wasn’t as “compact” as I hoped. The horse it was for has a very short back.
I am also quite sure that my horse’s withers will always remain above his shoulders. I do not think it possible for said withers to grow 2+ inches and literally have no idea what you’re talking about. I’m a bit confused here. Photos would maybe help?
The shoulders are attached only with ligament and muscle, so a horse can learn to carry himself higher in front. I wouldn’t expect 2 inches in one ride, though.
The video repeatedly shows the compact saddle having a smaller seat than the regular model, though they claim the seat is larger. Not sure what that is about.
I have the best results on short-backed horses with Black Country and Harry Dabbs saddles. Black Country has a normal panel that is shorter than the “Compact” models offered by some other companies, plus they can shorten the panel further for custom orders. For the rest of your preferences I would suggest the GPD with a forward flap. Harry Dabbs has an upswept panel and you can get whatever block you want, a forward flap, and an open seat on any model.
I’ve never ridden in one, but someone at my barn had one in to trial. I did not find it appealing - it sat very high on the horse’s back, and overall seemed like the panel had a strange design.
I also don’t quite see how a horse’s withers could drastically change after one ride.
Also all questions of fit an effect on the horse’s back will be specific to that particular horse.
This, and withers are a tangible that technically will stay the same (unless growing) and that’s why we use that for horse height measurement.
Horses will develop more muscle mass at the shoulders and all, and will appear to have grown taller, and with more engagement, will feel more uphill, but withers don’t « grow », and not by 2 inches.
Well, The horse’s withers were 2" higher as fter I dismounted. I dismounted from a saddle the day before and her withers sat level with the tops of the shoulder blades. After riding in the Compact the withers were 2" above the top of the shoulder blades. I’m seeing this with my own eyes. The horse has no collar bones therefore the rib cage and sternum can elevate and fall between the shoulder blades. For whatever reason my horse liked this well enough to pick herself up between her shoulder blades. Just like people say that when a horse is in work they grow taller in their withers. I’m not sure why it works but the 2nd ride was even better than the 1st. For those that are skeptical of a horse’s ability to bring the withers up through the shoulder blades try this. Use the pointy end of a hoofpick or something similar even finger nails and press along the midline from the center of the horse’s chest through the front legs to just behind the girth area. Push hard enough that your horse lifts its sternum. Look at the withers and you will see what I mean. My horse is very flexible in that area and I feel like this saddle will help her to finally develop the muscles to carry her withers and base of her neck up hence growing taller. Google it. I have decided to buy the saddle as it disappears underneath of me and my horse is moving better than ever.
Ok, actually, I think this kind of happened to me, but I just chalked it up to my young horse growing. So I don’t know if his withers and front end developed more from proper work, or from the natural growing and filling out of a young horse. Either way he’s more uphill now and seems to have a stronger wither/shoulder/base of neck area. This also coincidentally happened shortly after he got a new and well fitting saddle.
If the saddle works for you and your horse, then heck yes buy it!
Just wanted to add in that I’ve had great luck with the BCS Kur model with my very short backed horses. My horses are well sprung so mine are all built on a hoop tree with upswept panels. The cantle is lower with a flatter seat on the Kur so the seat size relative to the panels is maximized. (As in a 17 inch seat with this configuration has shorter panels than a typical dressage saddle model like the BCS Eloquence or Eden for example.)
http://www.blackcountrysaddles.com/product/kur-dressage/
I have three Kurs - MW, W, and XW to accommodate the range of sizes in my various horses.
For any individual horse, that saddle that fits best is the best choice for that horse. The Passier Compact seems to be working well for the OP.
