Saddle fitting the young horse

[Lunabear1988]

I have a 4 year old QH that I bought in March. He injured his stifle end of May. He is now in work and doing great with an event trainer. But I’m trying to figure out my saddle fitting dilemma.

I had a fitter out in early May. I was not riding at the time, just ground work. She said my current dressage saddle fit in many ways but that it was slightly too long. Honestly the balance is weird on it too.

She looked at a friend’s thorowgood and quickly stated it was too wide. But I think it was a cob, extra wide version. She did say an old Prestige fit but way too huge for me and not for sale. She suggested an Ideal saddle. But it was a little pricey for what I hoped to get a 4 year just starting work.

I scheduled with another fitter who deals with a bigger range of brands and used saddles. Unfortunately I’ve had to reschedule twice because of the injury/pulled shoe. The fitter told me she wouldn’t want to fit him until he’s in full work since he will change a lot.

So the barn has been using a thorowgood on him and seems to fit fine (different type than the first one mentioned.) Otherwise it’s bareback strolls.

He’s now coming back from his training there. Do I try to get the fitter out? I don’t think he will be in “full work” as in 45 minutes of w/t/c for a while. Or should get a thorowgood or something while we are doing this light rehab then have the fitter out for a nicer purchase/fitting? Or do I borrow something from a friend?

I’d prefer to have the fitter out now so I’m not paranoid but she seems to think that’s a waste of my time at the moment…

[Heinz_57]

If the old Prestige fit, I would look for one with the same specs but a smaller seat size. There are quite a few out there and the older ones are pretty reasonably priced, the trees can be adjusted 2cm up or down by an authorized shop (VTO is one, Olson’s is another). Just beware of old, hard foam ‘flocking’, not much can be done to fix that except redoing the entire panels ($$$).

I have two for my curvy Quarter Pony - a Top and a 2000D I just bought last month. Neither cost more than $400. I don’t know what seat size you need, but note that they run ~.75" larger than stamped. Both mine are 16’s but measure at 16.75" and 17" respectively.

[Lunabear1988]

My only concern about finding an old prestige is the saddle fitter said that particular one fit very differently than most of the others and was pretty hard to find. It was definitely a much older model. I think I would only be comfortable buying one from a good tack shop, not off eBay or something. The fitter also said while they can be adjusted should be very cautious about adjusting one that is older.

Thank you for the tip on the seat sizing though that is very helpful. It also means that the advertise 18-inch ones would be ginormous for me! I usually ride in a 17 to 17 and a half inch seat.

[RedHorses]

It really depends on the horse. You might be best to see if an economical saddle like a Thorowgood with adjustable/changeable gullets would work as this could get you through until he’s finished growing and into regular work.

Another option would be a shimmable pad of some type to fill in the slightly too wide at the moment saddle. That’s a bit of a crapshoot though as the angles of the tree points are fixed.

I went with a string of used saddles on my 3yr old QH. There was a tack shop in town that had a very good used selection and I don’t think I spent more than $600 on any of them. Most resold for the same price I paid. That horse was exceptionally sensitive to saddle fit in that he would develop white hairs within a month ( three 20min rides a week) under any pressure points. I learned a lot about saddle fit from him!

[Heinz_57]

@Lunabear1988

I think I would only be comfortable buying one from a good tack shop, not off eBay or something.

I can understand that. Do you know what model it was, or what was different about the way it fit? Thorowgoods are generally much less curvy trees than Prestige, so I might be worried about bridging if you decide to go that route?

It is frustrating to try and figure out on your own, the horse still deserves a saddle that fits, so if you can get someone out that has broad knowledge of used saddles in the budget you have, I would do that. I don’t have that available locally, which is why I’ve ended up playing used saddle roulette everyone here is a brand rep and you need $3k minimum to buy used.

Alternatively, you could take tracings and send them to one of the reputable saddle shops that can help recommend something that should fit.

[Lunabear1988]

That’s what I’m thinking right now. Although I still would feel more comfortable for saddle fitter checked out any saddle I get to make sure that the tree shape and everything is correct. Maybe I’ll see if I can get her out regardless of what changes lay ahead with work.

[Lunabear1988]

I thought it was a prestige 2000D But I could be mistaken. I will have to take a look at the saddle again. I don’t know why she said but it fit differently than a lot of the other Prestige saddles But she’s adamant that that specific one would work better than most. Her other recommendation was an ideal Susannah. But I think it was $2,500 and not very adjustable I believe. I know that’s really not much but it was just more than I wanted to spend for the first saddle as a 4-year-old going into work. If that is the best one for sure but I would like to explore used options first.

She did take some wither tracings but she did not give me the wither tracing. I did ask her for just a general description of his shape or what he needs and she told me it does not work that way and it is very subtle dependent?? But I might be able to still get the wither tracings.

I’m going to be honest I felt like the saddle fitter was pushing certain brands more than anything. That’s why I’ve been trying to get the other saddle fitter out.

That’s good to know about Prestige vs Thorowgood tree shapes.

[Horselove5]

@Heinz_57

Thorowgoods are generally much less curvy trees than Prestige, so I might be worried about bridging if you decide to go that route?

Thorowgood has some models that could make a perfect fit for a growing high-withered horse. This T8 is one of them for example.

[Lunabear1988]

[Lunabear1988]

Photo from a few months ago but gives a general idea of shape. Please excuse the mud!! Lol

[RedHorses]

Have you ridden the horse much? My younger horse (just turned 13) is a nightmare to fit, partly because of his shape but more because he is super sensitive to saddle fit. I have a good saddle fitter who can adjust his saddle as needed, but I have to be the one to say how he feels when in action.

This requires a knowledge of how he moves, to what degree he moves (ie. it’s not just “will he lift his back” but “how much and how easily will he lift his back and keep it up in various gaits”), how willing he is to do what I’m asking, and so on. This takes time in the saddle to learn, and over time I have learned his subtle signs indicating the saddle needs to be adjusted - which takes even more time and multiple adjustments. Add to all of this a deep suspicion and automatic objection to anything “different” about his saddle (yes, he objects even when going from really not right to right on, and must then be persuaded to relax and think about how it actually feels) and you can imagine how much fun adjustment day is.

Knowing how your horse moves and responds with the current saddle gives you a baseline to compare. Best case the fitter will have 2-3 saddles that look good in the barn that you can then test ride to compare to your baseline and then to each other. The fitter will hopefully be watching to assess and compare how comfortably and easily the horse moves with each saddle. This multiple saddle test rides will tell you a lot even if you don’t have the knowledge of how he goes when everything is really good.

When I was buying a jumping saddle for my older horse I test rode two out of the 10-12 brought by my fitter. One looked like a custom fit to his back and the other looked okay. He chose the “okay” saddle. The “custom fit” wasn’t even an option once he got to jumping.

I will admit that my fitter brought three saddles (and three trees) for my younger horse mentioned above. One was rejected within a minute of placing it on his back, the second within 5 minutes on the longe, and the third I got to ride in. My horse had done something to himself and was off at the trot making my test drive walk only. Fortunately the fitter let me keep the saddle for a week to ride once my horse was okay, and I did end up buying it.

The upshot is use a fitter but don’t rely 100% on the fitter’s assessment, especially if your horse doesn’t agree.

[outerbanks77]

I bet a 17" Kent and Master’s S series dressage would work well for him. They have regular (I think synthetic wool), so they can be flocked to fit, plus you can change out the gullets. I’m sure there is a Thorowgood equivalent if you want to go synthetic. Then I would get a shimmable pad to tweak the fit as needed, because he is going to change a lot the next couple years! K&M’s are $1600 new, and $1K used.

For an Ideal, if you know just what you need, you might check used in UK saddle shops. That is one of the brands that seems to sell for MUCH cheaper over there, so I bet you could grab one for ~$1K US. Albion and Black Country are two other brands that I find fit a range of horses well, and sell for pretty cheap from the UK.

[Heinz_57]

@Lunabear1988

I thought it was a prestige 2000D But I could be mistaken. I will have to take a look at the saddle again. I don’t know why she said but it fit differently than a lot of the other Prestige saddles But she’s adamant that that specific one would work better than most. Her other recommendation was an ideal Susannah. But I think it was $2,500 and not very adjustable I believe. I know that’s really not much but it was just more than I wanted to spend for the first saddle as a 4-year-old going into work. If that is the best one for sure but I would like to explore used options first.

In a world where it seems like everyone is buying $5k+ new, custom ordered saddles, $2500 may not seem like much but it IS a lot of money. Especially for something you may only use for a year.

What is your location? You are welcome to try my 2000D if you are anywhere near OR, if it’s close to the specs of the one you tried. I actually prefer to ride in the other Prestige I have (blocks are different, seat is slightly different) and may sell it on.

I know there are some excellent fitters out there with broad knowledge of a variety of older saddle models and brands… Just not near me, that I’ve been able to find. Hopefully some of our resident fitters can chime in with ideas.

[Lunabear1988]

Unfortunately I haven’t been able to ride much since this saddle debacle and he’s currently in full training 45 minutes from. But I’m going up on Tuesday to watch the trainer work with him and hop on a bit too. Also want to check out the thorowgood that they have been riding him in.

Good point about letting him choose too. The saddle fitter wants to do test rides but again she wanted him farther along in rehab work too. He’s just doing walk trot right now. The problem is is my time is up with this trainer and he is coming back down towards me. We are continuing on with a different trainer so hopefully I can borrow a saddle but I personally don’t have anything that I can ride him in.

[Lunabear1988]

Great advice!! Thank you!

[Lunabear1988]

Totally agree! $2500 is a lot to possibly only use for a year! I would totally pay that in a few years if I thought I last us a while. But I do think he’s going to change pretty dramatically in the next year.

I’m in Colorado. We have a few saddle fitters here although many are tied to brands. But the one I’m wanting to use is a lot more independent. Maybe I just need to email her and tell her my dilemma right now.

[netg]

I wish you were closer! I have a young horse saddle I lend out for the price of leather care and repairs if it gets damaged (a billet got chewed and replaced last time it was borrowed.) Since I don’t need it right now, I figure regular care and use is probably better for it - and it has been beaten up and held up well, so I’m not overly worried about it.
What I like in the young horse saddle is a more forward balance and more open seat with no single sweet spot. As young horses develop and change balance it’s super forgiving and doesn’t throw the rider off. I’m not sure what kind of saddles you can order which fit that!

[B-burg_Dressage]

I was going to offer the same thing as @Heinz_57. I have an old Prestige that is just gathering dust I’d be happy to let you try (it’s a 17 seat). Heck, I’d just about give it away if I found someone to pay for shipping.
I understand not wanting to buy from an individual or ebay, but these days if you want to spend less than $2500 it’s hard to find. Which majorly sucks. I have had luck buying used from individuals while working with my saddle fitter, but it can be a crap shoot. It seems to just be trending more and more expensive while an individual selling a used saddle is SOL.

Good luck in your search!

[exvet]

It’s a tough conundrum that a lot of us share. I too am struggling to find a saddle that really fits my 4 year old but having already seen his body change significantly since I bought him as a just turned 3 year old makes me very hesitant to buy any dressage saddle for him right now. While I have two dressage saddles that were purchased for my now 7 year old, neither fitting Brandon ideally, I keep going back to my western saddle which has fit him throughout his body changes relatively well. I have my daughter’s Passier that I am trying on him and am also trying another Passier which I used to own but sold (fortunately the person I sold it to is interested in selling it - seeing if it’s appropriate to buy back). I know that whatever I end up for him is just another piece of tack to get us through his growing phase/transitions in development. I will likely wait until Brandon is 6 or 7 before I purchase a “keeper, more expensive” saddle fitted to his back. In the meantime like most, I’m making due. At least I can work him in the western saddle without causing any damage or injury to the gangly teenager.

[endlessclimb]

A new thorowgood is dirt cheap, and they make great “trail saddles” if you aren’t riding the sandbox with them because you can beat them to death and it doesn’t really matter. That’s what I’d go with, if it agrees with him well enough