Seeking saddle suggestions for QH type - pics

[summerfield]

Hello,

I’m hoping some of the saddle-fitting gurus out there can help me by making some suggestions, as, I am sure you all know, saddle shopping is not much fun!

This is a medium-wide (I believe- it’s 9 inches D-ring to D-ring) Black Country Eden on my quarter horse. I’ve had trouble finding something that fits both his shoulders (which seem deceptively wide- he’s 15hh and only about 1000 pounds) and his back. Saddles either pinch his shoulders or lift up at the cantle. And although it seems like his back is flat, one of the few saddles that doesn’t lift up (although it’s not quite wide enough for his shoulders) is an old Stubben Tristan close-contact. I am at a loss.

I thought at first this saddle was a pretty good fit. There was even pressure under the panels. And then he moved in the crossties, and I could see the cantle lifting with his movement, which I am thinking is not good.

I’m hoping those of you with some good familiarity with brands can make a few recommendations based on how the BC fits.

Side

Shoulder

Back

For good measure—his back

Back from above

[pluvinel]

A friend has a horse that is “wide of beam” and has a Loxley by Bliss
http://www.loxleysaddles.com/saddles/

Very comfy, both for horse and rider.

[jaybird660]

In the photos, the saddle appears cantle low. When mounted, that could change a little. You didn’t provide a photo directly from the rear. The Eden is a bit more angular laterally than some of their other saddles and made on their “dippy” tree. I would think the edges of the rear gussets might dig into the back when you’re in the saddle. I’m not sure your horse needs that shape.
Most QHs that we fit do better in a hoop or laterally flatter tree even if they need some support in front. Longitudinally flatter would help as well.

[LilyandBaron]

Maybe try the BC Eloquence?

[jaybird660]

or the Eloquence X

[Dee-Vee]

I am loving my PDS showtime on my Appendix mare.

[ebott2015]

My horse has very similar shape-big shoulder and long wither. I ride in a Voltaire Palm beach for jumping and the Schleese triumph fits him really well for dressage.

[IrishBirdcatcher]

There are plenty of 15 hand Paints, QHs, and Arabians with wider fitting shoulders than taller warmbloods.

Probably the biggest clue that my horse needed a hoop tree was not the front to back balance, but that more A-shaped trees were so unstable laterally. Even when the width of the A was wide enough not to pinch the shoulders, the saddle would roll easily. I ended up with a Lovatt & Ricketts model with a hoop tree and it is a thousand times more stable even when the girth needs tightening.