Saddle question... please help!?

Question

i hae a 15.2 thoroughbred mare and im looking for a new GP saddle for her. she is cold backed and has to be lunged before i ride her other wise it causes discomfort in her back, but i was just wondering if there was a saddle that would minimise back pressure (i was reading about treeless saddles but would they be suitable for a thoroughbred?) i was also wondering if anyone (in the UK, Norfolk area) knew any saddlers that would fit the saddles that would suit my mare?

thankyou!

http://s251.photobucket.com/albums/gg300/shesagem2662/?action=view&current=LPIC4674.jpg

this is her current saddle (the seat leather is ripping!) i thought id just mention this before i got any grief from some people- gem doesnt have pelam roundings on in this pic as she broke them :( lol

Answer 1

You need to get a qualified saddle fitter out to your mare. Look in the phone book and ask around for reccomendations. They will bring a load of saddles with them to try on. I'd recommend having your mare's back checked - cold backed horses are often prone to putting out their back/poll/ shoulder etc. My TB is cold backed and I have him checked every 6 months, more often if I believe there is a problem. As far as pressure - the Bay Jacobson back pad is a great remedial pad, it can only be worn for a few days at a time but I swear by it.

By just that pic I can't tell properly but your current saddle looks a little low on her withers. The pommel and cantle should be level and in this picture, they're not. I'd get a qualified saddle fitter out to her asap, and the backman to check her over. It's also worth getting her teeth checked twice a year too as I find that horses like this can be prone to dental problems due to incorrect head carriage when uncomfortable.

ADD: To Rosie M - that isn't a hunter clip, it's a trace clip. This is a hunter clip - http://www.dkimages.com/discover/preview...

Answer 2

Hi ! I have alot of horses with alot of problems with normal saddles. So i use the same treeless saddle on all of them it fit perfect and moulds to their backs. Even the Donkey has been ridden in it lol!

I have two these are the two i have...

http://www.equinewhispers.co.uk/hackabou...

It's really nice looking and the leather holds well and breaks in well too. The only thing i dont like is the fancy stitching!

http://www.equinewhispers.co.uk/libratre...

Love it!

The colours are gorjuss!!! I have it in the pink and mint green, They look lovley on balck and white horses, not so much on chestnut tho! But they fit really well and you don't have to clean it all the time because it's not leather!

And if you go to your local tack shop or farmers market they know of saddlers who fit it to your horse.

Answer 3

Nice hunt clip, BTW!  You said the seat on this saddle is ripped, have you checked the tree to see if it's solid?  You can do this by setting the gullet (Front of saddle) on your hip and pulling the cantle to you.  You're going to be looking for any sign of the leather in the seat rippling.

If your tree is broken, that might explain why she's so cold backed.  You'd be that way too, if you had something hard and metal let alone jagged pressing against your back bone, especially when you add 100+ LBS on top of that!

For a GREAT AP saddle, I'd look at Stubben Siegfried.  I know you're in the UK, so I won't post the link to Stubben, USA, you'll have to hunt for a store that carries them in your area.  I have one that will be 40 years old next year and has survived not only me, but my kids riding in it an is still in GREAT shape for it's age.

Answer 4

I am from the US and had considerable problems with finding the right fitting saddle for my show jumping 1/2 quarter and 1/2 arabian until I finally bit the bullet and went custom made. Here is the website for the UK Devoucoux Saddlery in your area. Our fitters in the US were excellent and thorough and love the saddle. It is pricey, but well worth the time/money/effort as my horse is content and I feel like I am riding in a glove . . . secure feeling.

Answer 5

Not to be rude or anything but if the saddle is causing discomfort it dont fit. You need to have someone experianced do it. I mean someone who fits just saddles. I had the same problem except my mare would rear and be horrible.. Try all kinds of different saddles.

Answer 6

Are Weatherbeeta products available where you are?  I sell these and I think they are very good saddles for their price.  They have a changeable gullet and Cair panels which can be flocked in certain places to make the saddle fit properly.  

If you have a dealer in your area that sells these, perhaps it's worth a check up on?

I must confess, I do not yet ride English but hope to.  I've grown up riding western.  My sister purchased a western tree less saddle and experienced some problems with her horse's back.  You see, the saddle at least spreads your weight out over the horse's back and disallows too much pressure centered on a small spot.  Her experience with the treeless saddle was that she really had to improve her riding technique before going back to one because her butt sitting on the horse's back caused soreness in the back muscles.  So unless you can keep all pressure off the back by riding correctly, maybe don't try this.  

Also - I suggest if it's possible to find either a rental saddle or a friend with a saddle like you might be considering to borrow it to see how it works before investing in one?  These opportunities are few and far between, but you never know...

good luck!

Answer 7

i would check in yellow pages for saddlers. if they are good then they will probably have an advert.  when you phone ask if they do saddle fitting.  but make sure you see the saddle fitting certificate they are issued with to authorise them to do so.   verbal say so shouldn't be accepted.

i always use a numnah for comfort to the horse, perhaps this will help your mare. also it keeps the saddle clean where it gets the most use.

has your vet checked her back as well as she might have a problem that you don't know about.

please only buy english leather saddle as the cheaper saddles will fall apart.

hope that helps.