I have a new OTTB: big wither, flattish back, VERY short back – aka saddle fit nightmare. What saddles has everyone used on such horses? Looking for options that I can find used, but looking like we may need to go custom. Harry Dabbs Jaguar fits horse decent but not my favorite. I prefer a deep seat and big blocks over the flat, open style dressage saddle.
I’d try Amerigo.
Look on their website for more info re their tree profiles. I had a Cortina on a horse with a prominent withers and short back. Would also meet your other requirements, I think.
I just escaped from Saddle Fitting Hell.
My horse has huge shoulders, curve to his back, and is very short-coupled (he’s a 16.2 hh Westfalen).
I ended up getting a Schleese Obrigado (used from a third party) because my trainer has a Scheese Rep come to the area. It’s made for short-coupled horses and is cut-back at the shoulder to give room to big shoulders. It’s been fit to my horse.
I like it OK and like my previous saddle better. But my horse seems to definitely like this saddle better so I just adjust a bit. It has big thigh blocks that are on velcro under the flap and are adjustable to your leg. I tried less large blocks on this saddle. But with the way the saddle was fit, I definitely need them. I tried riding without them and I got all over my horse’s shoulders.
A consideration if there is a Schleese fitter that comes to your area. I had them come fit my horse first and tell my how awful my saddle fit was (you know that’s going to happen). They suggested a correct model and then fit that demo model to my horse and had me ride in it. My horse did go noticeably better in that recommended saddle and I found a much more affordable model second-hand. The fitter did compare the serial number of the used saddle to my horse’s back measurements and gave a yea or nea. She also measured me for proper seat size at the demo. All together, the demo was really worth it and the fitter helped me find a saddle that would fit me and my horse and has since fit it to my horse and me. I complain about the hard sell but she really has been helpful and my horse seems to really go better in this saddle rather than the saddle that I like. It was a reasonable price for me.
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My ASB is built like that plus big ole shoulders and is doing really well in a Kent and Masters. Hastilow might be a good option. I went with K&M due to mine being young and growing wider. It is very adjustable.
He also loved a Takt saddle we tried, so saving up for one now.
We tried Schleese and but the 3-4 models the independent fitter had on hand didn’t work for us.
I did a Custom Saddlery with a cut back pommel and it worked like a charm. Had it fitted to my horse and I. My fitter was Takt.
We should start a club! 
Mine is a Dutch Harness Horse, so probably not quite the same, but similar back structure - decent withers (but they fill in when he lifts his back so needs room for that), very flat back (almost no curve from base of wither to SI) and about 19.5" of saddle support area!
So far, my horse’s preference has been a Stubben Serenity. It fit my friend’s TB perfectly and it’s pretty comfortable for me, although no big blocks. The balance might be too far forward for your comfort depending on your horse’s overall conformation and balance. The others that were recommended to me were Frank Baines Reflex or Piroutte and the Borne Sankey Barracuda but I haven’t been able to get to a tack shop or find one to trial.
I also am trying to find an Amerigo for trial, as that has been mentioned a couple of times to me. I wish you luck in your journey!
Fichtbauer. So pleased with how it fits my big shoulder/big moving short backed horse.
Since parting ways with Jaguar, Harry Dabbs has greatly expanded their range of options. You can choose your seat depth, twist width, block size, flap size and degree of forwardness, and more, to make you comfortable. Since you know it fits your horse, it may be worth another look at their current range. As far as fitting the short-backed horse they will be tough to beat.
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Black Country, Fairfax or Takt saddles are shorter and work for short backed horses. I have a large pony who is compact length wise. I need and 18" saddle with a forward flap. All three saddle brands fit him length wise. It then just depends on the tree shape.
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I have an old as dirt Albion that fits the flattish and short back part of that description. Definitely not modern but it worked for me and fit my very short backed QH. You might have some luck shopping for something similar.
For reference it’s an Albion HR MW 17.5.
Weight bearing panel length of 16.5-17 depending on how you measure.
Someday I will get my act together and sell that saddle now that himself is retired to pasture status.
Hennig would work and a stubben. Block size is tricky with them both as stubben has small blocks and hennig each saddle is so different you really have to try them.
If you can deal with a forward flap for yourself you can usually go down a seat size which can work when you have a very short backed horse in all saddles. A neat “trick” if your body is ok with your knee a little forward.
Thank you everyone for all of the suggestions! As a rider, I haven’t found anything I liked better than Custom Saddlery but I would definitely need to get one made with pony panels as those are hard to find used. I actually have one that I had made for my other short backed horse but he is a W/XW and ROUND so can’t really get away with using it on the new one as well - who is very much a typical OTTB.
I’ll have to keep an eye out for some of the others mentioned on here! Also, interesting on the Harry Dabbs. I looked at their website and they have a few models that seem interesting - specifically the Allure, Grace, and Mariella.
The smallest I can comfortably go seat wise is a 17.5 but normally better in an 18 which doesn’t help and I have a pretty long femur so definitely more comfortable in something with short blocks. I am also hesitant to buy something that isn’t adjustable as the horse hasn’t been off the track long so is sure to continue to put on weight and some more bulk as we progress in our training. Decisions, decisions, and stalking facebook and ebay…
I have an 18 Custom with short panels so they are around. You have to get what fits for you and your horse.
