Saddle brand suggestions for young wide horse

[Demerara_Stables]

I have a 4-year-old mare that needs her own saddle. A County innovation stamped medium-wide is too narrow for her. I also will be trying a Solution stamped wide on her this week but I have a feeling that will be too narrow as well. I’ve reached out to Stubben because I like the way they fit me but I haven’t ridden in one in years so I have no idea if that will be the right fit for her. I have heard that they are on the narrow side so I’m not holding out much hope. She does not have a super tall wither but she is quite broad.

I really like County saddles as I like the close feeling to the horse. I love the way the horses go in the Horobins, but I just hate riding in them. I feel like I’m sitting on a stack of mattresses. This is a personal horse that will be hopefully doing the upper level jumpers (1.60m I hope) and while I don’t need something perfect for me right now, I would like something that I feel secure in, to at least get me through her first couple of years under saddle until she’s finished growing and I can get her something custom. I do not like any of the French brands and doubt that they would fit her well anyway.

She has had some growing pains and recurring tightness in her low back (resolved with acupuncture, chiro, and massage, just pops up every few months) so I want to be particularly careful that the saddle fits her as perfectly as it can. Even if I have to buy something used that only lasts her a few months and then I swap it out for something else used as she grows, I am fine doing that.

What brands should I be looking at? Bonus points if you know of a fitter Northern California that might have some in stock that I can try out.

[Simkie]

Oh hey I have one of these too. She’s just so round.

I have a 32 cm stubben I’ve been meaning to pull out of the loft and try but I’m super dubious it’ll come anywhere close. It’s a lot narrower and more “A” shaped than the wide County I used to have (which I’ve been lamenting selling!) I’ll let you know how it goes though with the stubben

I’m curious to hear what options you get here in this thread!

[StormyDay]

She sounds like she needs a hoop tree. Round and not much wither. Can u post pics?
You can usually pick up one used; I’d suggest that as I bet you she will grow out of it. One of my horses started out as a 34cm duett hoop tree and now he goes in a medium wide regular saddle.

[Demerara_Stables]

Yes I can take pictures and post them later. What brands have hoop trees? She definitely has more wither than one of my quarter horses but not as much as a thoroughbred (she’s holsteiner).

[NoSuchPerson]

You might look at Black Country. They are available with hoop trees. Fineline Tack (finelinetack.com) carries used Black Country and, I think, new, as well.

I have dealt with them buying and selling and have been very happy with my interactions.

[luvmyhackney]

Try a British brand like Kent and Masters or Black Country. Hastilow has saddles that fit the barrels with withers.

I prefer adjustable saddles for 4 year olds. They change so much every time they grow.

[Demerara_Stables]

I haven’t been a huge fan of adjustable saddles because in my experience just adjusting the front of the saddle doesn’t always solve the problem. I am happy to have the fitter out as much as necessary to adjust the flocking or buy and sell used saddles as frequently as needed.

[Demerara_Stables]

Her naked back and also the medium wide innovation that is a touch too narrow for her, for reference. Interestingly, I think the innovation looks pretty good on her left side, but on her right it looks a touch too narrow and I think the channel is too narrow as well.

[Ponyplusaninch]

Man maybe it’s just that second pic but either she’s got a fairly rising wither or she’s got a shapely back. If it’s primarily withers I’m seeing, Amerigo or Equipe would be my first go-to because I think you’re going to need some help with that wither clearance, and both of those brands offer a solution for that. Plus they do wide saddles.

I’m thinking a Basso or Octave when I look at the topline.

How close are you to Chapel Hill? Highline Tack usually cares a great array of used and new saddles for trial!

[JB]

Prestige and Black Country are 2 I’d investigate. Prestige isn’t a hoop tree exactly, but has more of a wider opening at the top of the A shape, sort of between an A and an H, if that makes sense. So it fits horses who are wider at the top of the shoulders. I had a horse who wore a 39cm Prestige, but could also wear a Quantum X (hoop style of the Quantum) in an XXW

Both of those brands should work well with her shorter back so the rear panels move out of the way of her loin. Both work with higher withers

Amerigo may also work. It’ll definitely work for higher withers, the question is whether it works for her shoulder conformation. My TB mare almost got an Amerigo because it was great for her wide shoulders, but she’s not wide at the top of her shoulders, she’s wider farther down.

At 4, she’s still got widening to do, so I’d get something that’s 1 to mayyybe 2 sizes too wide, and use pads and shims. Her shape isn’t really going to change, so you’re not going to have to totally switch brands (99.999% sure), but she’ll widen. 1-2 sizes too wide will let you work with pads and shims to fit whatever size she’s in based on work and growth, without having to get a new saddle in a different size.

[Demerara_Stables]

@Ponyplusaninch

How close are you to Chapel Hill? Highline Tack usually cares a great array of used and new saddles for trial!

I’m in NorCal But I did buy a saddle from highline once and had a great experience so I wouldn’t mind shipping one out for trial. Although I would prefer to find someone local that has a few different options for me to look at.

@JB unfortunately I have sat in a few prestige dressage saddles they and wasn’t a fan of them so unless that would be the perfect thing for her. I don’t think I’m going to go that route. Unless you think that the jumping saddles are significantly different. I would rather not get something a few sizes too big, even if I have to swap a saddle out in 6 months, I’d rather do that than have something on her that isn’t just right.

Is the black country British made? Would I be lucky enough that it rides similar to a county? I’ve never seen one in person let alone sat in one so I don’t know if it would be worth shipping one from fine line or the like.

[JB]

@Demerara_Stables

unfortunately I have sat in a few prestige dressage saddles they and wasn’t a fan of them so unless that would be the perfect thing for her. I don’t think I’m going to go that route.

Totally understand, a saddle has to fit you too Jumping vs Dressage is different for sure, so I wouldn’t rule out the other just because one didn’t suit you

@Demerara_Stables

I would rather not get something a few sizes too big, even if I have to swap a saddle out in 6 months, I’d rather do that than have something on her that isn’t just right.

I also get it. I’ve done it both ways, , and personally, I really loved the “too wide” way of doing it. The problem with “just right” on a growing horse is that it can quicky become just a bit too snug and hinder muscle development, or cause a “princess and the pea” issue. Pads are more forgiving than even wool flocked panels. Balance International works on this principle. At one point, many years ago, I was reading articles how more and more Dressage riders especially were choosing saddles “too big” for this reason. 1 size too big isn’t much. It’s the difference between a thin pad and a thick pad, or a thin pad, and a thin pad with shims, depending on specifics. Something to think about as you try saddles, just to see

@Demerara_Stables

Is the black country British made? Would I be lucky enough that it rides similar to a county? I’ve never seen one in person let alone sat in one so I don’t know if it would be worth shipping one from fine line or the like.

Yes, British, but lots of US dealers

Find a Dealer - Black Country Saddles

Of the few BC and C saddles I’ve tried, it just depends on which models you’re trying to compare. County didn’t fit my WB at all. Not in any way shape or form, so it wasn’t possible for me to really feel how it would have felt (this was a CC saddle, I like my mare’s County Dressage saddle). I only tried the BC Quantum and it was very comfy

[Demerara_Stables]

@JB

The problem with “just right” on a growing horse is that it can quicky become just a bit too snug and hinder muscle development, or cause a “princess and the pea” issue.

Ya that makes sense. I’m going down this route because despite that county looking narrow but not terrible, I got a very clear “no.” When I asked her to walk under saddle the other day on our third ride. I thought it would be ok for walking but she feels otherwise. Now the question is, can I find something that’s a size larger than she needs?

Good to know about the prestige jumping saddles!

[Posting_Trot]

Smith Worthington, which has recently gone out of business, made some of their saddles with hoop trees. I have a cc saddle from them, an Altair model, that is on a hoop tree, and that fits my Irish Draught mare. You might be able to find one used, and probably for a good price because it’s not a “name.” But they’re well-made saddles.

Balance Saddlery, which also has recently gone out of business, also carried cc saddles that were all hoop trees. Balance’s saddles were made for them by Frank Baines, a British saddler, and I think Baines still makes saddles with hoop trees for its own brand. I also used to own a Balance saddle. Again, you could find some used saddles out there (either Balance or Baines).

I think Duett makes cc saddles on hoop trees, but I don’t have personal experience with the brand.

[IPEsq]

I don’t think that’s a hoop tree shaped back. And she has a rising croup which means a longer panel and flatter tree should also be avoided.

I have a +2 Equipe EKGO for sale. I could connect you with my rep if you’d be interesting in trialing that (we’d have to ship to you). I’d be afraid it still wouldn’t be wide enough even though the overall shape looks promising. I bought it for my growing horse, and he did wind up growing out of it. But it got me through till I could order something specifically for him. It was hard enough to find that tree size used. A +3 would be very rare to find, which is what the horse measures now.

The wood tree model Equipe with more shape, is the Evolution which also might be interesting for this horse. But difficult to find wide demos also. Amerigo has a couple of models that would suit this topline like the HC. World Equestrian Brands are the main contact for both of those brands, and they may be able to connect you with a local fitter.

[StormyDay]

I don’t think she needs a hoop tree, seeing photos. I think she needs a saddle with shoulder cutouts/relief. Almost every brand offers that, it can just be hard to find. My recommendation is look at brands geared towards warm bloods and not TB’s. I personally like Verhan shoulder relief saddles.

[IPEsq]

Also meant to say that Erreplus might be a good option also.

[JB]

@Posting_Trot

Balance Saddlery, which also has recently gone out of business,

what? Oh no! That’s so sad Yes, Frank Baines-made saddles which are also great saddles

@Posting_Trot

I think Duett makes cc saddles on hoop trees, but I don’t have personal experience with the brand.

They do, I trialed one, and outside of the fact that the saddle was too flat for my shorter-backed horse who needed the panels to sweep up (different from a curvy tree, but still this was too flat also), the twist was SO WIDE it wasn’t comfortable.

I also don’t think this horse needs a hoop tree. Something maybe with a more open A frame, maybe just a wider version of what’s sitting on her now.

[SimonSays]

I love my Smith Worthington saddles too- 2 hunter saddles and a dressage saddle. Corey McDonough of Silver Tree Saddlery bought out the remaining stock so theres still some available.

[Posting_Trot]

Yes, I have a Smith Worthington dressage saddle too–I bought it from Pelham Saddlery that bought out some of the stock as well. Pelham still has a few left.