Asking for ideas for saddle to fit 17.2 big shouldered 1500 lb gelding. I was told short panels with a straighter flap (as opposed to a forward) . Looking for used. Any experience /thoughts with this are appreciated.
Thank you
I think the flap is irrelevant as the shoulder moves under it? By short panel do you mean depth or length? The length of panels could be dictated by length of back not the shoulder per se.
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I have a smaller mare with huge shoulders. (she shops in the Misses dept). Have a CWD thatās got shoulder relief and cutback design.
The saddle that fit my beefcake 16.3 young horse didnāt cut it.
Youāll know when you find the right one. My horse moved incredibly once we put the right one on her.
Meyer Act 2. They have the best cut out shoulders Iāve ever seen
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This can be a great saddle if your horses back is strong. I had a horse go really well in it. I agree youāll know pretty quickly if it works.
With big shoulders, it can be really helpful to have an independent saddle fitter help you. You are going to have some complexity making sure the tree fits (not just tree width but headplate width as well) and it may be helpful to do wool flocked? I have a wool flocked Renaissance for my horse with big shoulders and a tall withers that I think does a pretty good sitting balanced and not restricting too much. His back just isnāt strong enough for the Meyerā¦ yet. Hopefully one day.
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My horses tend to be a similar build to the OP, and my Voltaire Palm Beach has given them more freedom of movement in the shoulder than my CWD SE01 did (and I bought all of mine new/configured for me because of the flap/seat combination I need, and the CWD was made with pro panels with extra room for the shoulder). So, the Palm Beach might be an option to look at if you can find your configuration. I also agree that you donāt have to avoid a forward flap - my Palm Beach has a 3AAR flap on it, which is extra forward, because my leg is long from hip to knee, and it hasnāt been a problem for any of the horses Iāve used it on. You need something that the shape fits your horse and has room for the shoulder, of course, but it has to work for you too - I would not be comfortable in straight flap, and no saddle fitter or rep has ever suggested it is necessary. I donāt follow what they mean by short panels so no opinion on that.
I believe the panels are the cushy things that the flaps are on top of. Some are longer and thicker than others I guess as Madison referred to -.extra room for shoulder would be the correct description The flaps on some jump saddles appear to be really forward while others not as much. Maybe has nothing to do with panel. Thanks everyone,for taking time to reply
Verhan. I will have my Verhan saddle till I die. It has huge cut outs for the shoulders. Itās a lesser known brand but Iāve had mine for going on 8 years and it still looks fabulous and is so comfortable.
I also agree- my fitter put me in a Voltaire Palm Beach for my horse with a big shoulder (and high withers). I do have a forward flap on mine as well because I have a long femur.
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My Stubben Portus Elite with the flexy shoulder tree fit my giant horseās shoulders and made all the difference - so I bought one for the other horse too- made a huge difference - after trying all the french saddles made on the same trees they use that did not fit- he wouldnāt even take a step in them
I had a HUGE shouldered, tricky to fit pony and he clearly preferred my Stubben to some other saddles that ātechnicallyā fit his back better, because what he really needed was shoulder room. This video shows how flexible the saddle is around the shoulder: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=329223500969400
You might look into Arionās āshoulder freeā panels. As an aside, everyone I know who have Arions seem pleased. Used may be tough to come by, as they are newer.
I have an Erreplus as opposed to an Arion but I have their shoulder-free panels on my monoflap and they definitely help with range of motion for my TB with one heck of a shoulder on him (and they give me the room to have the extra forward flap that I need for my leg without compromising fit for him). Definitely a fan if the horseās conformation allows for it in terms of tree point length and whatnot.
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Errplus is completely customizable and wool flocked. The tree can also be widened or reduced and the flaps can be changed out if you donāt like the position they put you in. Iād highly recommend contacting your local rep!
