Saddle For a Very Short Backed Horse

[CanteringCarrot]

I love Black Country Saddles. I’m hard pressed to find one that isn’t comfortable! However, I am no where near a rep and no one in this area knows of those saddles. However, I am in Europe so I keep an eye on ebay.co.uk and other UK sites for deals.

I am so hesitant to work with a rep long distance again. I shipped a saddle back and forth 3 times and still it wasn’t right. Which, I get that you are working long distance and it’s not as good as in person, but I have missed SO MANY MONTHS of riding due to saddle fitting. I’m about done and ready to not have my own horses here. Finally got the WB squared away…just in time for a nice offer to come up and for me to sell him, of course!

/rant

[CanteringCarrot]

@kashmere

A gal at my barn has a wildly short backed Friesian, and she recently bought a Hulsebos that is working wonderfully for him.

I must look into this brand, I’ve never heard of them (I think an earlier poster said that brand too). Something to consider!

[kashmere]

@CanteringCarrot

I must look into this brand, I’ve never heard of them (I think an earlier poster said that brand too). Something to consider!

https://www.hulsebossaddles-usa.com/

To assist in your shopping

They really are gorgeous saddles. I drool over my barnmate’s all the time!

[RedHorses]

My short backed horse ended up with a Ridgemount Custom - which actually isn’t a custom saddle, but is an off the rack model. The first thing my fitter said when she brought the saddle (plus two Jeremy Rudge saddles) for me to try was “You weren’t kidding! He has NO saddle area!” And he has hysterics if the thing slides forward.

I don’t know if it would work for you with the seat depth and (to me) large blocks.

I too use a Total Saddle Fit girth. My drama king has a neoprene lined StretchTec, though we did use an original leather TSF before that. The girthing up dramatics dropped off (dare I say it?) dramatically with the StretchTec. I love the StretchTec and have just ordered one for my other (exceedingly sensible) horse who currently uses the original TSF. Your photos make me think your horse would like a TSF or similar offset girth.

[CanteringCarrot]

I have definitely been considering an anatomical/shoulder relief girth of sorts. I’ve seen advertisements for the TSF girth. Good to know that others like theirs. Not sure if I’d splurge for the stretch model or not. Hmm.

[CanteringCarrot]

On the plus side, Hulsebos also has a European base so I was able to find a good selection of used ones here in Holland. Not any that are the model I’d probably my need, but many to search through. I can also see if there is a rep somewhere.

There is an abundance of Kieffer saddles too. The Lusitano and Inzell are supposed to be good for this type.

Still keeping my eyes out for a suitable BC too. They are always so comfortable.

[Gloria]

Albion has short panel models. That is what I use on my Morgans (they are famed for short backed…). Look for those marked as short panels, SLK for curvier back and Platinum for straighter back.

I recently purchased a used Albion SLK on eBay that is standard panel. The panel exceeds the last rib but I decided to get it regardless because it is just about impossible to find used saddles with short flaps. I have had to go for custom route for my other saddles. It is right now in the shop to get reflocked for the horse I’m going to use it for. My fitter is going to flock it in a way that the weight bearing will be within the acceptable area. Not ideal, but it should work.

[starsandsun]

Two things. My horse (GOV) is short-coupled, and my County Perfection (Lisa Wilcox model) fits him perfectly with plenty of room behind, and is cut back enough for his shoulders to move freely. You might want to try one.

Also, I recently saw a Hulsebos that came from the factory that was put together entirely wrong. The top was not correctly attached to the tree. If you looked at it from the front, you could see the saddle nails were not level - they were about 1.5 inches out of line. And, that meant the flaps were uneven, and the gullet was pressing on one side of the horse’s spine, and falling off on the other. Not saying other saddles in this brand would not be perfect … but the problem is saddle rep and the company will not take the saddle back or fix it, and they won’t even admit something is wrong with it!!!

[LynneGalbreath]

See if you can try some of the saddles by MacRider. They carry several saddles that don’t overwhelm a short-backed horse. I’ve been really happy with the “Olympic”.

[Hayburner]

You may want to look at DP Saddlery.

[CanteringCarrot]

@DutchessBridleSaddle

Have you looked into Passier at all? They make a “compact” model so you can keep your normal seat/flap size but with a shorter panel for those harder to fit short backed horses!

Yes, keeping an eye out for one of those and others suggested here. It’s not a huge rush as I am slowly conditioning after a minor stifle issue, and we do a lot in hand, but I’ll up my ambition/price range in a few weeks if nothing is found.

As a side note, if you can sell that Stubben Genesis Deluxe for even close to that price, I’ll send you mine. :lol: I have one almost identical that I can’t get rid of for $800.00 on ebay! Great condition. Just no demand I guess.

[Dee-Vee]

PDS Showtime. Dover carries them. Works perfectly for my short backed appendix mare.

[UrbanHennery]

I’m selfishly bumping this for myself. I have a 15h QH with a short back. I typically need a 17.5" seat, tho in something more open I can probably do a 17".

His 17.5W County Connection has good panel length for him, but he tree is too wide and slightly too curvy.

He needs something in a wide-ish MW that is pretty straight. The Simatree saddles fit him well, but the panels tend to be too long. I’m considering ordering a Hastilow Flexibility for him with short panels, but before I do that thought I’d ask if anyone has other suggestions? Used is always better than new…

[Nojacketrequired]

Just purchased a Thornhill Germanica Klasse dressage saddle for my wide, short-backed horse. 15 1/2" of weight bearing surface for an 18" seat. Very comfortable to boot and he LOVES it.

NJR

[LynneGalbreath]

I’ve been happy with my MacRider (Olympic model) for my short coupled horse.

[CanteringCarrot]

Update: Still searching! I have tried a lot of the suggestions in this thread through various trials or purchases. I think we all have different opinions of what is considered a short back.

I did find a Niedersuss that fit the bill but I didn’t care for riding in it and my horse was absurdly grumpy in it. Length was good, overall fit OK, but I think the tree was to A shaped.

I still have one saddle that is ok, the on I started with, but it has a gusseted panel and is right on that last rib. Not crazy about it.

Found 2 Kieffer Inzell’s that I am strongly considering. Still hard pressed to find an Albion that has worked. Passier is “meh” for me as a rider. Still searching for a compact that could work. Could not pay me to own another Stubben due to resale being absolute crap.

Very close to finally convincing one of the better saddle fitters to actually come out here and not do this mail back and forth thing. I just want someone to physically touch my animal and saddle. To actually see. I guess that’s just crazy nowadays! No one adjusts on site here. Even if they are there in person, they take the saddle and send it back later. Wtf. Am I weird? I used to have saddle fitters that worked on site. Unless it was a very extensive repair of sorts.

[feuerkracher]

I agree with the suggestions to try a Passier Compact. Very comfortable for horse and rider. I have one on consignment that I’m really willing to negotiate on…
https://www.pinnaclehorseware.com/collections/dressage-saddles/products/used-passier-compact-dressage-saddle-17-seat-27-5cm-tree

[islgrl]

I have a similarly shaped horse and long femur. I settled on a Frank Baines Pirouette which is working out great!

[madams747]

absolutely, positively Schleese Obrigado.

I went through, literally, 13 saddles and thousands of dollars trying to fit my mare - I would have come out ahead to make the plunge on the Obrigado in the first place! Seriously. And that’s not counting the ER bills when she bucked me off due to the bad fitting saddles going forward onto her shoulders! My mare has a 15" saddle fitting area on her back (I believe average is 17"), and with the Obrigado I was able to get a fabulous fit for her in the 17.5" seat size that I need. It clears her big shoulders and will not ride up her forward girth groove. Best of all, we both love it. Big shout out to Natalie and Erica the fitters for making it all work for us.

[Gliderider]

Any Western trail saddle recommendations?