Young Iberian Warmbloods - Saddle Fitting

[pryme_thyme]

Curious to know if anyone has or had bred Iberians horses or Andalusian types and what their build was like at 3/4?

Reason for asking, I have a 4 year old Iberian mare, we have gone through a dozen girth’s, gadgets, and now several saddles all to finally get one custom. All due to the fact of the forward girth groove and the saddle slipping up the wither.

Fitters say it’s the lack of chest, shoulder and wither.

When does the front end really develop in your young ones? It’s not causing her any discomfort but it’s annoying for me.

(At Two and three she was all toes out and now finally straight but still not much thickness but a ton of depth in the barrel and back)

TYIA!

K

[sheltoneb]

I have an Azteca gelding. He is mostly Lusitano. Between 4.5 and 7.5 years old, he needed a new saddle about once a year. This was due to as he was growing, he would narrow and then widen, plus his withers and butt grew at different rates leading to his back vary between flat and curvy.

At times I also had trouble with the saddle slipping forward over the shoulders. It doesn’t help that he is very sensitive to how the saddle fit.

[pryme_thyme]

@sheltoneb

I have an Azteca gelding. He is mostly Lusitano. Between 4.5 and 7.5 years old, he needed a new saddle about once a year. This was due to as he was growing, he would narrow and then widen, plus his withers and butt grew at different rates leading to his back vary between flat and curvy.

At times I also had trouble with the saddle slipping forward over the shoulders. It doesn’t help that he is very sensitive to how the saddle fit.

Ugh I really hope we don’t need a new one every year :lol:

Thank you for the reply. My mare is the same up and out etc.
Currently bum high and downhill which isn’t helping, the dams side is known for late growth spirts.

I am using the tapestry girth which helps some. But it really sucks to tighten once you get on…

[Equibrit]

My guys change shape month to month, largely depending on the weather/grass. I have Adjustable Laser saddles and elastic girths https://flexigirth.com/ (why do you think Andalusians etc are often seen in cruppers?)

[artisticgold]

I have a wide low withered Lipizzan mare, similar to many Andalusian. It took us 5 years and trying a couple of hundred saddles to finally find one we both can agree on. They are Verrry tricky to fit, especially when growing and most fitters are useless when it comes to them. I finally have a lovely hoop tree Loxley adjustable saddle that works for both of us as well as her slightly more uphill and refined full brother

[Kyrabee]

My mare (Andalusian/appendix QH) finally filled out between 6 and 8. I have used a treeless saddle. Mine is a Solution saddle.
https://www.solutionsaddles.com/why/about.
It looks fairly traditional (treed) and it has worked well. Right now she is 18 but she is suddenly fat (new batch of hay:uhoh:) so it is nice to have. At least I haven’t had to replace saddles frequently.

Susan

[pryme_thyme]

@Equibrit

My guys change shape month to month, largely depending on the weather/grass. I have Adjustable Laser saddles and elastic girths https://flexigirth.com/ (why do you think Andalusians etc are often seen in cruppers?)

Yes lol this actually makes sense!

I have just purchased the Tapestry Comfort girth seems decent. No noticeable change yet…

[pryme_thyme]

@artisticgold

I have a wide low withered Lipizzan mare, similar to many Andalusian. It took us 5 years and trying a couple of hundred saddles to finally find one we both can agree on. They are Verrry tricky to fit, especially when growing and most fitters are useless when it comes to them. I finally have a lovely hoop tree Loxley adjustable saddle that works for both of us as well as her slightly more uphill and refined full brother

It is interesting you mention Loxley. I have been trying to get a fitter out our way, with Covid going on her stock has been severely limited.

Did you end up buying a dressage model?

[CanteringCarrot]

At age 4-5 I had saddle slipping forward issues. Same thing, forward girth groove. The saddle fit him well enough, but moved a bit. I did use a thin Acavallo gel pad between the saddle and my square pad and this seemed to help for whatever reason. I was hesitant to put something like that with grip directly on his skin under the saddle pad.

Around 6-7 he finally started getting a withers. I’d say at 7 to 8 the front end really developed.

At age 8 (now) he has a tall and long withers. His front end is higher than his back end (which varied in his younger years). So I actually have a bit of a tricky issue fitting an uphill horse with sizable and muscular withers area, and his back is SHORT. Seeing as he’s now 8 I ordered him a new saddle that I’m hoping to be his last as it is a bit adjustable (Sommer). This will he his 4th saddle. Although the Prestige was short lived as it never really fit.

I’ve heard PRE’s can grow until 9.

Some people find the WOW saddles to be attractive for fitting options. You do need a good fitter though, and they’re not my cup of tea, but many people love them.

[artisticgold]

Pryme thyme, I bought my Loxley long distance from Aitken Saddlefitting. She was extremely helpful. I ended up with a Loxley LX dressage. It has changeable hoop tree bars, so if they gain or lose weight I can adjust myself. Shortened panels in the back. It rides like a professionals saddle and I can get the most out of my little talented powerhouses! I LOFF it!

[pryme_thyme]

@CanteringCarrot

At age 4-5 I had saddle slipping forward issues. Same thing, forward girth groove. The saddle fit him well enough, but moved a bit. I did use a thin Acavallo gel pad between the saddle and my square pad and this seemed to help for whatever reason. I was hesitant to put something like that with grip directly on his skin under the saddle pad.

Around 6-7 he finally started getting a withers. I’d say at 7 to 8 the front end really developed.

At age 8 (now) he has a tall and long withers. His front end is higher than his back end (which varied in his younger years). So I actually have a bit of a tricky issue fitting an uphill horse with sizable and muscular withers area, and his back is SHORT. Seeing as he’s now 8 I ordered him a new saddle that I’m hoping to be his last as it is a bit adjustable (Sommer). This will he his 4th saddle. Although the Prestige was short lived as it never really fit.

I’ve heard PRE’s can grow until 9.

Some people find the WOW saddles to be attractive for fitting options. You do need a good fitter though, and they’re not my cup of tea, but many people love them.

Thank you for this! Gives me an idea of development.

I do have the acavallo pad. I haven’t used it between the saddle and pad though. Mainly against the skin directly and it hasn’t helped. I will give your arrangement a try.

I have just recently heard of the Wow saddles. I am going to have to research these.

And thank you Artistic. This is great information. I might be in the market for a new dressage saddle too. This may do the trick until we develop a body 😂