Saddles and kids - advice needed

[Ponyplusaninch]

My two cents: the junior programs are good only if you then intend to stay locked into that brand. That’s not a bad thing–your daughter may find one of those brands fits her brilliantly. I know at least two adults who has juniors did the Voltaire program.

FWIW, I am only now–into the third decade of my life–considering going full-custom. As a kid I had a saddle that sort of fit me but fit both my junior hunter and then my AA hunter. Now I have a saddle that fits me but not my horse. LOL.

Anywho, have you checked out the FB consignment groups? There may even be some local to your area! Example: KY has a KHJA FB page, OH has an Ohio H/J page… Especially if you’ve got an idea of measurements/what would fit the hony, and ISO ad with all the details might yield some leads for you.

And remember: because this is not the horse your daughter is going to have forever, and hey’re not doing anything too strenuous (I’m presuming 2’ and under?), you can probably get a way with a saddle that needs a half-pad, shims, etc. Sometimes that good-enough-fit is in fact a fine arrangement.

[Tha_Ridge]

@Limerick2017

Has your child sat in a CWD? I ask because we had one and both my daughter and I hated it. It was heavy and had a wide twist. She did not tell me she hated it until her horse started complaining about it after jumps. We got them a Butet and he never reacted after a jump again.

I don’t think generalizations like these are helpful. Two years ago, I would’ve told you I hated CWDs and never would’ve bought one… Then I tried one after having not sat in one for a decade and decided it was the saddle for me, once the unabashed flat-as-a-pancake saddle lover. It is no heavier than my trainer’s Butet or my barnmate’s Devoucoux.

Every so often there’s a rumor that goes around Butets/Tad Coffins/whatever are bad for horses’ backs and it’s all just rubbish. Different saddles work for different people and horses.

[Paisley_Pony]

If the saddle isn’t causing the horse any discomfort, and if it still fits your daughter, I would be inclined to wait until she outgrows her current mount and/or the saddle. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a basic saddle, especially at her age, and there will be plenty of time to reassess her needs and your budget in the future.

[Ponygirlmom]

The chiro had flagged a bit of back soreness, which is what prompted the saddle fitting. Nothing major, but also not nothing, and unfortunately hard to fix a narrow channel with padding. The current saddle seems to have an unusually narrow channel - no more than two fingers and less in some places.

I think the conclusion is that it doesn’t require an immediate change, but I’m starting to keep my eyes open for used options, and our trainer is going to also keep his eyes open for things that might be worth a try. I’ve seen a couple of options online that look like they might work but am reluctant to go down that path without a much more specific description of what we need, given the shipping costs (possible two ways, if it doesn’t work).

[Renn_aissance]

@Tha_Ridge

I don’t think generalizations like these are helpful. Two years ago, I would’ve told you I hated CWDs and never would’ve bought one… Then I tried one after having not sat in one for a decade and decided it was the saddle for me, once the unabashed flat-as-a-pancake saddle lover. It is no heavier than my trainer’s Butet or my barnmate’s Devoucoux.

I agree with your basic point that horse and human geometry are individual factors and influence love or hate of a particular saddle, but do want to note that I do find the older CWDs to be heavier than other saddles. My mom has a 2012 and my sister a 2008, both SE01s, and both of them have a pound or two on my Devoucoux and other saddles of comparable seat size (Antares, County, Stubben, Butet, etc.) I don’t know why that was or if that has changed over time, but Mom and I do notice the difference when we carry each other’s saddles.

OP, I’m not a huge fan of expensive custom things for children who are going to grow several feet and 50-80lbs over the course of the next 5 years. I’m not a parent, just lucky my own mother didn’t kill me for outgrowing a pair of field boots every year from age 10 to age 16. The average child will not be done a disservice by riding in a Pessoa Pony or an old Beval Stamford or something like that- those flaps often have a forward cut, no blocks, and a relatively long working center, all of which combine to give kids a couple of different cracks at finding the sweet spot as their bodies are changing and their seatbones and leg angles going in different places. The pony might be harder, since ponies are really good at being roly-poly, mutton-withered, short-backed, downhill, or whatever else, but again, those old Pessoa or Beval saddles tend to be patched up and sold on to the next kid for 20+ years for a reason, and that’s because they suit roly-poly mutton-withered short backed etc. pretty darn well, plus or minus a riser pad here or there.

If kiddo has barnmates who will allow this, sit everything in the barn on the pony. Sit the kid on the pony in anything that fits the pony. Peruse Facebook Marketplace and saddle consignment shops. Plan that you will be able to get most of your money back in several years when she outgrows it. As far as I know, my kid sister’s pony saddle is still being passed around the same farm for $100. Mom bought it easily 20 years ago for $150 and a new set of billets, so that’s a pretty good rate.

The used saddle market is especially hot right now because new saddle production lead times have gotten to be quite long between COVID, materials shortages, etc. That’s why you look in your own barn first so you can know what suits her and be specific about going to get it. It’s also useful to know that CWD, Devoucoux, and Voltaire all either have or used to have multi-week trials and free shipping both ways for used saddles in their inventory, both their own and other brands.

[Paisley_Pony]

Oh, I see! I didn’t know he was sore. That definitely changes things.

[Ponygirlmom]

It’s pretty minor - a slight soreness noticed by the chiro after about six months with no bodywork. Chiro wasn’t sure if it was caused by saddle, so recommended the fitting. Getting on a regular bodywork schedule may solve it. But also checking out saddle options.

Looks like there may be a Childeric M in the right size available from a connection. I’m waiting on channel and flap measurements to see if it might work. And possibly a Voltaire or a CWD…awaiting confirmation from reps. The Childeric is about half the price of the others, so I’d love if it was an option that worked. I don’t know much about Childeric, though…

[Limerick2017]

I had a Childeric and loved it. I think they aren’t popular like the Voltaire’s etc because they are a narrow fit. I think they are similar to the Butets and the older ones do not fit the big chunky WB’s.

[PonyPenny]

My daughter rode in a Ian Miller Collegiate saddle until we sold her pony. I believe my daughter was 14, but petite. We started with a 14” and then bought a 15 3/4”. Both were bought on EBay in the $500 range. I sold them for what I paid for them. Her first saddle was a used CWD for $3,000. She then rode in a older model Butet which we bought for $1800. She qualified and competed at medal finals in that saddle. She still has the Butet and she bought a Antares Spooner for the wider Warmbloods. She is 27 and is the same size as when she was a teenager. Here is a ad for a Collegiate pony saddle. Looks like an Ian Miller. https://www.ebay.com/itm/403396522768?hash=item5dec4e7310:g:-JQAAOSwsG1h1z~7

[Ponygirlmom]

Okay, all, a follow-on question. How old would you go on a Childeric M? As far back as 1999? Looks to be in good condition (better than the 2014 Voltaire the same reseller has, actually), but that old makes me nervous.

[Bristol_Bay]

Have you seen pictures of the underside of the saddle, or seen it in person? That old of a saddle likely has a narrow channel like the one you’re replacing.

[Ponygirlmom]

Awaiting that photo tomorrow…they forgot to send it today.

[js]

If this the panels have foam you need to have them checked, as old as the saddle is I would be concerned about the condition of the foam; if it’s not foam then no problem or at least you could get it reflocked. Agree with checking and comparing the channel, saddles have changed a lot since 1999. Personally, I wouldn’t pay much for a saddle that old regardless of the condition, but if it’s a bargain might be worth it.