saddle suggestion (yeah, I know, I know....)

[lorilu]

I currently have a Custom Wolfgang Solo II. The first time I rode in it I could actually, almost, sit Bravo’s trot. (he does not have the easy Iberian trot…). Now as I have moved up the levels (and getting better at sitting the trot) and are doing harder and more collected things, I find that I have a hard time keeping my seat towards the pommel, and the balanced place for me seems to slightly put me behind his balance point and so my legs get forward. I am definitely a work in progress but… I am open to a different saddle. (Yes its been fitted as a matter of fact she is coming next week again to be sure… one trainer suggested a bit more fluffing in the rear panels… not sure about that at all.)

So, any ideas? Well sprung baroque body, has withers, very forward girth groove, wider behind the girth than in front,…

thanks all!! Wisdom of the hive!!

(Girths!, finally found a few girths that pretty much work - a ProLite (synthetic Fairfax), a mohair girth (wish I could keep the sheering buckle covers I bought for it ON the girth), and a soft stretchy anatomic one I can’t remember the name.)

[CanteringCarrot]

I am in the same boat, so I’ll pay attention to this thread. My PRE has a long withers, uphill build, and short back. Many saddles put my weight too far back/in the back seat on him. My saddler did take some wool out of the front of my Fairfax and put more in the back of the panels and the balance felt better for a month or 2. I’ve actually been considering trying a WOW, but I am really on the fence about it. The whole air thing.
”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹
I am picking up a Bliss of London saddle in the next few days, so I can report back about that one as well. This horse has had many saddles and many shitty fitters over the last 3 years. It’s so frustrating!

[islgrl]

I have a morgan built the same way, I am in a semi-custom Frank Baines Pirouette. Its fits us both well and I find myself able to stay near the pommel which can be a challenge with him. It has an extra wide channel to accommodate his very wide spine and has upswept panels because his back is so short.

[Sue_B]

Same boat as well only my horse is a TB. He has an ultra-short curvy back, massive withers and huge barrel. I’ve been riding him in a County Perfection with a 3" rear gusset, wide tree. It fits him adequately but puts me in a chair seat, making it difficult to go much past 3rd level, and so I bit the bullet and started yet another saddle search. So now I’m waiting for my custom Trilogy Debbie to arrive because Rudy loved the demo and I found it way easier to sit correctly in. Wish us luck!

[IPEsq]

You need a more forward balance point saddle. Unless your saddle is currently unbalanced for the horse, then if you raise the back or lower the front, you will disrupt the fit trying to get yourself more forward. It could also cause you to roll onto the front of your pelvis, which is not comfortable or what you are trying to do. You can find a more forward balance point and narrow twist more often in the French and Italian brands. I would lean towards trying Italian from a tree angle/width perspective for an Iberian horse. Like Equipe or Amerigo.

[no.stirrups]

A lot of Iberian horses have quite round backs, and so need a more hoop-shaped tree.
It sounds to me as though he has filled out as his training has progressed and, while it may have fit him at one time, it is now too narrow in front and therefore sitting pommel high which is effecting your balance. I would suggest exploring brands that have hoop options such as Black Country, Frank Baines, and Harry Dabbs. Since many Iberian horses also have quite short backs, the upswept panel of the Harry Dabbs may be particularly suited. They even have an IB tree that a lot of Iberians, Arabians and Friesians find really comfortable.

[lorilu]

thanks everyone. @no.stirrups , I’m pretty sure it’s not too narrow, it’s jsut that the “pocket” for my seat is too far back, not forward enough. (Fitter was out about 6months ago, so pretty sure about the fit). ANd @IPEsq , yes a forward-balance saddle. THanks for the brand ideas.

[ladyj79]

At the upper level dressage barn I was at, most went in customs, a couple in dresch, one in an Albion, but the three PRE horses (different owners) went in schleeses. Might be worth trying, and they can often be found second hand and in excellent condition, like 1/3 or a 1/4 of their crazy new price.

[mychestnutvalentine]

Love my Equipe!

[lorilu]

@ladyj79

At the upper level dressage barn I was at, most went in customs, a couple in dresch, one in an Albion, but the three PRE horses (different owners) went in schleeses. Might be worth trying, and they can often be found second hand and in excellent condition, like 1/3 or a 1/4 of their crazy new price.

I had a schleese Obrigado for my Andalusian… while it fit Bravo, I found it impossible to find my seat in it… it went with him when he sold… but I am open to them. I understand the schleese reps are coming thru in September.

[Goforward]

The Obrigado has an open seat. I love Schleese saddles, but to ride in an Obrigado, I have to go half an inch down to find a good spot to sit. I normally ride in a 17.5 but in an OB, I prefer a 17)
Try something with some push in the seat (extra foam behind your butt) like a Quartet or an HK. They make a difficult trot MUCH easier to sit.

[Mersidoats]

Ryder Panamera, Albion Revelation or a Patrick all have trees that would place you in better balance. A Ryder wouldn’t break the bank as much as a Patrick or an Albion. Patrick saddles have the most perfect seat I’ve been felt - it’s really hard to ride in other saddles after sitting in a Patrick.

[joiedevie99]

My PRE loved his Black Country Vinici. Super close contact, comfortable saddle. Unfortunately, he outgrew it, and moved on to an Albion SLK.

[jonem004]

Love this thread because that’s how I feel in must dressage saddles. I want the low spot way forward above the stirrup bars. Or the stirrup bars way back under the low point of the seat. Or a riser pad to get it to all line up. There are so many dressage saddles that I can just look at on the rack and I know they’ll put me in a chair seat.
I’m currently entertaining the wintec or Bates Isabel because of the adjustable stirrup bars and the pocket seems well forward. I’ll also be looking at the suggestions in this post. I’ve got an Irish Draught colt coming 4 next year so I’ll likely go through different saddles to fit his changing back as he comes into work. I’d love it if at least a couple of those could fit my (evidently) weird pelvis shape.

[lorilu]

@Mersidoats

Ryder Panamera, Albion Revelation or a Patrick all have trees that would place you in better balance. A Ryder wouldn’t break the bank as much as a Patrick or an Albion. Patrick saddles have the most perfect seat I’ve been felt - it’s really hard to ride in other saddles after sitting in a Patrick.

well, I had an Albion… and it did not do me any favors… can you say chair seat? Thanks for the recommendations tho.

[lorilu]

I took two Prestige saddles out for trial from the local consignment shop. I think they are identical, but one looked like it had buffalo and the other smooth leather… but who knows. THey were 17 inch - and a bit small for me. BUt I do think it freed up his shoulders, the gullet was really wide, and it was easier to do the “stand up in your stirrups for a few meters” exercise… I think the store also has some Equipe saddles… the owner was very generous with her time, even tho I told her it was unlikely I’d buy a used saddle (I’ve been a customer for many years…).

[blue_heron]

Do you know what model of Albion you had? They are one of the few saddles that don’t give me a chair seat and the stirrup bar is set back on many of the SLK and the newer one (can’t remember the name). Custom saddlery saddles put me in a horrible chair seat. If the Albion gives you a chair seat, don’t go for Trilogy either.

Have you looked at the french made saddles, like a dressage saddle from Devacoux or Antares? If the Prestige was better, these are often similar.

[lorilu]

@blue_heron

Do you know what model of Albion you had? They are one of the few saddles that don’t give me a chair seat and the stirrup bar is set back on many of the SLK and the newer one (can’t remember the name). Custom saddlery saddles put me in a horrible chair seat. If the Albion gives you a chair seat, don’t go for Trilogy either.

Have you looked at the french made saddles, like a dressage saddle from Devacoux or Antares? If the Prestige was better, these are often similar.

I had an SLK.
Have not yet looked at the french saddles. NExt to try are Equipe, just have to get to the store. Thansk.

[eclectic]

I’m working through this just now, as well. Have started looking at WOWs. They have short and (I think) backswept headplate arms, adjustable gullet, swinging front section (for shoulder freedom), can fit short panels. Choices of panel filling (the Mark IIs sound perfect). Choices of seat shape. They also have seats with at least 2 stirrup hangers, and a seat with 3. You can hang your stirrups where they’re correct for you.

BUT … have just learned from an independent fitter there might be some problems with the head trees (she wasn’t entirely sure). They are separate from the seat … attached somehow, by some kind of joint, to the rest of the tree.

Have not found reference to this anywhere else - including British sites (H&H). So if anyone has heard or had experience with the WOW headpiece collapsing (the seat sinking down or spreading out such that the twist nearly disappears), breaking at the joint, or otherwise failing, please speak up!!
(I may post this separately as well).

[atlatl]

Interesting, I just bought an older Solo I that is helping keep my legs back because of the long blocks. I literally am locked in place. Normally, I would not advise this but given my crazy long recovery from injury, I need the help.

If everything else about your saddle works for the horse, maybe they could do something with the blocks.

Good Luck.