A junior rider rides my horse should i ask her to buy her own saddle?

Question

I am a junior too but i am 14-17 age group. She is 13 and under and is just tiny. I am 5'10 and she is maybe 4'8. She needs a 15.5 ish saddle and mine is a 17.5 long foward flap and her feet barely go past the end of the flap and she is swimming in the seat. She is going to be riding and probably showing both of my horses and they both take a narrow tree.

Is it unreasonable to ask her parents to buy her a saddle that fits her and my horses well? I give her free lessons after she helps me in the barn. She is very talented and will probably be a short stirrup champion. She rides fine in my saddle it just looks sloppy and wayyy to big for her.

Thanks for your answers. She will be showing on C circuit.

Answer 1

She will look better and ride better in a saddle that fits her. If it was only a little big I would say she could ride in it, but she will be much happier in one that is her size

Answer 2

Yes I find it unreasonable. Horses are expensve as you know andf if you are letting her ride in the saddle right now and the only reason your not is that you think it looks sloppy. If she's not really "into" showing yet give her a chance to see how she likes it. By asking her to buy her own saddle you are assuming that she will want to do lots of showing and that her parents have the money to afford it.

She's not going to embarass you in any way just let the girl be.

You might want to casually point out to her that a smaller saddle would give her a more streamlined apperance but I would stop there to end the risk of having to put your foot in your mouth

Hope I could help!

Answer 3

its certainly resonable.. & the parents should know that.. i have leased ponies for my daughter b4 we bought her her own, & i never got any gear with them & i wouldnt expect it.. she cant be riding well in such a big saddle... If you dont want to say it, tell her yours is getting repaired

Answer 4

I'm not an english rider yet, but isn't saddle fit a consideration in judgement when showing?

I know saddle fit has an effect on safety and performance when riding.

If this gal and her parents are going to seriously show rather than playing around for a couple years at fun shows, then the suggestion of a saddle that fits may be in order.  perhaps they just don't know.

I work in a tack shop, so I know the cost of new saddles vs. used ones.  Good saddles hold their value so if she cares well for one of her own, she will get her money back out of it should she decide to end her horse career or grow out of it.

also, weatherbeeta makes saddles of all shapes and sizes with changeable gullets.  If she's 13 and very slight, she might ride in a well fitting saddle for many years to come.  And again, if she grows out of such a saddle, one with a changeable gullet would be more valuable than one with a fixed gullet.  Additionally, if she decides to get her own horse, or you get another, or the saddle is to be used on other horses before she's outgrown it, she can buy a different gullet for $25 which is certainly cheaper than buying a whole new saddle.

If she's not certain about her desire to stay involved and/or cannot invest much in a saddle, at least the english saddles can be found quite inexpensively in children's sizes.  Tell her she can check with a local tack store and JT International provides some real leather saddles which are required for most shows, in small sizes for only a couple hundred bucks.

If she will show in competition where they can use synthetic saddles these are the way to go for ease of keeping - they rarely need conditioning and clean up easily.

I hope she continues and becomes the great rider you think she can be.  I also hope she realizes what a great thing she's got in a friend like you to teach her how - she's not just learning to ride a horse, she's learning much more from you than that.  Your enthusiasm and positive thoughts about her abilities are sure to help her learn well with confidence.  Wish I'd had a friend like you to hang out with and teach me the ropes when I was a 13 year old kid!

Answer 5

I would tell them it would be a good idea. Maybe say something like she dosent fit really good in my saddle so if she would like to get a saddle of her own that might be a good idea so she dosnt look sloppy and has the right posture.

Answer 6

yes bring it up to her parents

and see what they say tell them its best for safety reasons

if she is doing good in a poor fitting saddle imagine a well fitted saddle

magic

Answer 7

I would tell her that a smaller saddle you do her best but if she says she is comfortable riding in a large saddle then let her continue riding in your large saddle!

Answer 8

i would have her buy her own. having one that fits her, as well as the horse, would probably be more proffesional looking and safer. you could suggest to her parents to buy one and tell them it would be safer for her

Answer 9

you can SUGGEST it, but don't force it on her... just day something like "wow my saddle is way too big... a smaller size would fit you better" ... if she really wanted to invest in a saddle she would probably also invest in her own horse

Answer 10

If she cannot cope with your saddles then then I don't think it's unreasonable to tell her to get her own.

Answer 11

I've had to let my "horse kids" use my saddles a time or two and for the most part they managed to take care of them.  Then there's that ONE horse child!  You know, the one who doesn't appreciate equipment, borrows other kids boots so her's won't get scratched.  Takes a leather bareback pad SWIMMING, you know the kind.  

I've had 6 yr old kids ride in my 17.5" Stubben Siegfried and win classes, although it does look a little bizzare, the judge HAS to give points for the kid having such a good seat that they don't move.  

In your case, the junior rider probably would be better off with a rig of her own.  Number ONE reason, you're NOT a trainer and not making money off of lessons, etc.

Best of luck.

Answer 12

definately!tell her that she would prob be more cofortable i a smaller saddle and be a better rider in a saddle that fits her