Saddle suggestions

[atomicfriday]

Hi guys, I’m having a hard time finding a saddle to fit my horse. He is an 8 yo grade Appendix gelding, 15 hands, and as of now not much in the form of topline. I bought him just over a month ago and he was not worked much at all previously. He has the typical, prominent TB wither, a medium to narrowish build, and his back is pretty straight. I’ve tried all different kinds of saddles on him, most are too wide and sit on his withers, others barely clear his withers but the bar angle is wrong, and ALL of them pop up in the back. Even my dam bareback pad pops up in the back! The one that fits the best is a medium tree older Crosby close contact, but there’s no way I’m doing any sort of distance in that thing lol.

Here’s a picture of my horse. I can take more if that is helpful, just let me know what you’re lookin for! I was thinking about going treeless, however I do not have the largest budget (about $500) and with our saddle fitting history worry about wither clearance.

Thank you in advance!

[TWH_Girl]

He looks a lot like my TWH in confirmation. I show him ina cutback but I trail tide in a dressage saddle. I have purchased both used off eBay and both fit him well- Albion SLKK dressage- wide tree, and HDR Pro Lexus (not sure but I think it’s a wide). Best thing is to take measurements or a wither tracing and try a good place lime Classic Saddlery for suggestions. It may be worth having a saddle fitter in your area come out too. Otherwise, it’s very frustrating and lots of trial and error.

[Hampton_Bay]

Straight backed horses are a pain to fit as most saddle will rock. Most saddles are made for horses as they are standing still, and once the horse moves the saddle will rock. It’s worse with a flat backed horse. I have 2 of them built a lot like your guy. I have a lauriche with flair panels that I picked up for $500 that I love, but they are about impossible to find. We have an abetta that fits both horses with that shape. The English wintec and bates saddles work, but their customer service sucks and their saddles have been known to crack at the tree points. I don’t know anyone who has owned one who hasn’t had that happen actually.

We’re you wanting English or western?

[atomicfriday]

Honestly I’m not too picky about saddle type, however if it is an English I want one with a deep cushy seat and secure knee rolls. Mostly I want something lightweight and of course comfortable for us! I tried an Abetta semi QH, the serenity model on him and it did not fit. Mostly the saddles I have tried are too wide and just the wrong shape and angle, sometime this week a friend of mine is going to let me try her Thorowgood so hopefully that may be an option.

[Hampton_Bay]

Was the abetta too wide? Can you get a wither tracing? If he has no topline, you may be better off to pad the saddle a bit until he develops a topline. If you fit the saddle to the lost topline you can pinch the muscle at the withers so it doesn’t develop, if that makes sense.

[atomicfriday]

I did do a wither tracing. Number two is the lowest part of his back, I didn’t have anyone to help me and got him as squared up as I could. Of course I forgot chalk or tape. But I hope it’s better than nothing.

http://i59.tinypic.com/2lizjut.jpg

And yes the Abetta was too wide.

[Guilherme]

Stubben makes a variety of saddle types, all of excellent quality. They are not cheap. They do offer a fitting service.

Go to http://stubbennorthamerica.com/

My wife and I have ridden Stubbens on Walkers and Marchadors for more than ten years. We vote with our dollars.

G.

[ChocoMare]

Look into a Timberline…

[atomicfriday]

Timberline look very nice, also probably very out of my budget! Thanks for the suggestions everyone.

[Hampton_Bay]

It looks like there is some muscle to be rebuilt, so I would straighten out the wither tracing and fit to that. Make sure the tree points fit the straight line that connects the withers with the barrel of the horse. Make sense? Then you can use a sheepskin or extra pad until muscle is built. If you fit to any other angle, you’ll create pressure points that will prevent muscle regeneration.

A thorowgood may work. I’m not terribly familiar with how much curve those trees have. Unfortunately, many cheap saddles are older and may not be flat enough front to back. A kieffer with gusseted panels may work ok, but some riders hate them. You’ll almost certainly need a lower cantle and gusseted panels in an English saddle.

A wintec would probably fit perfectly, I just hate them and their lack of customer service.

[atomicfriday]

With all my issues (and yes he does not have much at all in the form of topline) I’m really thinking I’m going to try treeless. I realize they are not a one size fits all in every situation but I think it is worth a try. Does anyone have a recommendation for one with adequate clearance for withers?

Not sure if it’s helpful at all but here is a recent picture of him. As you can see he was not terribly impressed.

http://i62.tinypic.com/2s8i9ao.jpg

[bossmom]

I recently changed – upgraded – from my english saddle to a Tucker Equitation Endurance on my crazy shark fin withered TB. And it’s ridiculous how comfy the saddle is for ME as well. Found my saddle used on a Facebook tack trading site, I couldn’t have afforded new but I sure do love it!

[Hampton_Bay]

Treeless isn’t often the best option for a horse with high withers.

[Guilherme]

[QUOTE=atomicfriday;7635648]
With all my issues (and yes he does not have much at all in the form of topline) I’m really thinking I’m going to try treeless. I realize they are not a one size fits all in every situation but I think it is worth a try. Does anyone have a recommendation for one with adequate clearance for withers?

Not sure if it’s helpful at all but here is a recent picture of him. As you can see he was not terribly impressed.

http://i62.tinypic.com/2s8i9ao.jpg[/QUOTE]

Treeless would be a Very Bad Idea for a horse with no topline. I’m not treeless fan under the best of circumstances. They do not effectively distribute weight and cause serious concentrations of pressure. If the horse has a well muscled back that can be absorbed with discomfort but might not result in injury. With poor muscling injury is highly probable.

Ground work can build topline. When you’ve done that you will have a much better idea of saddle type and fit.

Good luck with your program.

G.

[cowboymom]

I had a BMSS that I used very successfully for years and years but I will warn you against their western style treeless for high withers, my saddle didn’t have a deep gullet and high withers would have had contact.

G has very strong opinions against treeless but some very capable horse peeps here on the board have had a lot of success with them.

[atomicfriday]

I appreciate all opinions and insight. His withers aren’t crazy but they are there, I’m wondering if my issues with them have had a large part to do with the fact almost all the saddles I have tried were too wide. I know every horse has something different that works for them, take in mind I have no personal experience with treeless but my attraction to them is that they are not fixed like a treed saddle and conform to the horses shape as they change. I read an article about how a skilled bareback rider actually creates less pressure points than a treed saddle as the points never change and while you are bareback you are constantly adjusting and sit lightly at the faster paces. I’ve also spoken to a lady who has done some serious miles in training and competition, purely bareback. She has a medical issue with her ankles and cannot physically use stirrups, she has never had a sore back. Not to say I am going to do this but it is interesting. I realize treeless do have stirrups unlike a bareback pad and those can pose a pressure problem. But I also thought that some of the nicer ones have a more specialized weight distribution like Free Form? As I said I have a lot to learn and will experiment until I find the perfect one, treed or not!

[cowboymom]

If you could find that article I’d love to see it! I don’t ride a treeless any more, mostly b/c my horse is so wide that without a twist it was bothering my hip to ride more than 15 miles a day. And you are correct, a well-designed treeless is not a glorified bareback pad. Sometimes I can’t see how a flocked english saddle is so much better than a treeless on a skito…