Saddle Recommendation for Short Rider with Big TB

[Jealoushe]

Hi all, I had so much help with bit advice I thought I would get some saddle advice from the fine crowd here.

I have a 6 year old OTTB mare, who has finished 17.1h and she has a massive barrel/shoulder. She is very uphill, and has withers with a then widening shoulder and ribs. I was riding her in a med/wide Prestige but it was too wide and I hated the position it put me in and was causing me SI pain after riding. I just sold it so looking for a new saddle for my girl.

I prefer French type saddles but open to anything. She is going to start eventing next year so something we can event in. I ride my other mares in a Butet CC and they are by far my fav. I like less between me and the horse because of my body type and height. The flater the seat the better, and prefer comfy to hard. I am 5’2 and have short legs and a long body, basically the worst riding body ever.

Pics attached of her to show her shape, these are last summer so she has filled out even more since then. The one free in turnout is from a few days ago.

[Hawks_Nest]

I’d strongly suggest looking into stubben. Their tree shape is unique in that you can have a wider tree while still allowing good clearance for the wither. Plus they are super customizable for the rider too.

[Jealoushe]

@Hawks Nest

I’d strongly suggest looking into stubben. Their tree shape is unique in that you can have a wider tree while still allowing good clearance for the wither. Plus they are super customizable for the rider too.

I would love a Stubben monoflap, unfortunately they are a bit out of budget at the moment, and I never see them used anywhere sadly! I find the other models a bit too slippery but I do love the monoflap and they seem to know how to fit horses.

[Highflyer]

Agree with the Stubben recommendation. My guys all seem to have really high withers and wide shoulders and I am 5’3 and it has worked well for us-- I have a MW Roxane.

[Jealoushe]

@Highflyer

Agree with the Stubben recommendation. My guys all seem to have really high withers and wide shoulders and I am 5’3 and it has worked well for us-- I have a MW Roxane.

ok well I guess I better start looking for some used ones! Thank you!

[Hawks_Nest]

I actually find the portos to be more grippy (their dual flap), the monofalp saddles tend to make me want to pinch with my knee and the dual flaps help me to not. If you get in touch with a local rep, they can sell their demos that are over a year old so you might be surprised at what you can find!

[Highflyer]

Also keep an eye on the Stubben North America webpage and FB-- they sometimes have some deals. Right now there is a well used 18" Zaria monoflap with a 28" tree listed for $450 (sadly too narrow for my fatties!).

[endlessclimb]

I’ll give the opposing opinion, as someone who has your body type - I hate stubbens.

I had an Adam Ellis that fit me but not my horse. I really liked the balance. Now I have a Black Country that is a mix of the Dante and the Wexford, and I like that one too.

But again, stubbens and me don’t get along. So uncomfortable, IMO.

[Mocha0303]

You might want to consider Passier… I have one that fits my big withered and substantial barreled TB. It has a be bit of a cut back pommel. I bought it used and it is not fashionable.

[Jealoushe]

@Mocha0303

You might want to consider Passier… I have one that fits my big withered and substantial barreled TB. It has a be bit of a cut back pommel. I bought it used and it is not fashionable.

I would love to sit and one first and see how it feels, I never see them around though. I had a nice older Passier dressage saddle that was lovely, but it was honestly the most uncomfortable saddle I ever owned! Put me in a good position so I sucked it up but I really can’t do the hard and uncomfortable jump saddles. Are the jump saddles similar?

[beowulf]

@Highflyer

Also keep an eye on the Stubben North America webpage and FB-- they sometimes have some deals. Right now there is a well used 18" Zaria monoflap with a 28" tree listed for $450 (sadly too narrow for my fatties!).

Wow, that is a steal.

FWIW, my 17h TB who is very wide, is in a 28cm Stubben Zaria. I tried a lot of saddles with him - Prestige, Devoucoux, Antares, Kieffer, Passier, Ainsleys, Niedersuss – and felt he went the best in the Stubben.

I’m going through my own saga right now WRT saddle fit, but I think structurally the saddle worked for him for a time. Right now it is causing some wither/shoulder soreness, but my rep doesn’t think it is related to the tree size being too small.

I haven’t had luck getting french saddles to fit my TBs… usually because french saddles are foam, and most TBs have very wide shoulders (or at least, wider than people realize) and hollows behind the wither – which can be hard for french saddles to accommodate.

The other TB I have that resembles your mare better than my sausage TB, is in a Black Country Vinici.

[Jealoushe]

@beowulf

I haven’t had luck getting french saddles to fit my TBs… usually because french saddles are foam, and most TBs have very wide shoulders (or at least, wider than people realize) and hollows behind the wither – which can be hard for french saddles to accommodate.

The other TB I have that resembles your mare better than my sausage TB, is in a Black Country Vinici.

My Butets fit my other girls, and actually they fit this one OK too for a temp solution, but they are both older like 1998 so I want to keep them in the best condition as possible by riding in them on their specific horse only. I got them at such steals, I doubt I will find another deal like that.

I have heard a lot about the Black Country, just wondering how comfortable they are?

[beowulf]

@Jealoushe

My Butets fit my other girls, and actually they fit this one OK too for a temp solution, but they are both older like 1998 so I want to keep them in the best condition as possible by riding in them on their specific horse only. I got them at such steals, I doubt I will find another deal like that.

I have heard a lot about the Black Country, just wondering how comfortable they are?

For you, or the horse? It must depend on anatomy because I have loved every BC I’ve ever sat in, but other people complain. I’m 5’6 and fit in a lot of saddles without any complaints. I actually was very sad the BC we have didn’t fit my #1 guy, as I wouldn’t mind it being my “daily driver” lol…

My only complaint with the BC Vinici is a purely superficial one - it’s a PITA to clean compared to my Zaria!

[Jealoushe]

@beowulf

For you, or the horse? It must depend on anatomy because I have loved every BC I’ve ever sat in, but other people complain. I’m 5’6 and fit in a lot of saddles without any complaints. I actually was very sad the BC we have didn’t fit my #1 guy, as I wouldn’t mind it being my “daily driver” lol…

My only complaint with the BC Vinici is a purely superficial one - it’s a PITA to clean compared to my Zaria!

For me :lol:, has to be for the horse too but that’s a given! LOL