Help fitting saddle

[jennifer]

I need help finding a saddle to use while I am having a custom saddle made for my 4 year old filly.

She is foundation bred qh, wide, flat, mutton withered and her saddle does not fit. She needs something with full qh bars.

I have bought 2 saddles that were advertised as full quarter bars, spoke with the owners and was assured that they fit large, mutton withered, animals. I am now the proud owner of 3 saddles that fit my 3 year old, who is probably going to outgrow them.

They are the same width as my semi-qh, 6 1/2 in gullet, saddle that I already owned.

Willing to spend $500 - $1500 for used, older saddle that is a better brand production saddle or well made, mid-range custom saddle. No Trophy saddles, no synthetic saddles and please don't try to sell me something that sells new for less than the asking price.

If anyone knows of someone who has saddle that will work I would really appreciate the help. I only need it for one summer of riding while the custom saddle is being made and if it is a decent saddle I may keep it for when my 3 year old outgrows her three saddles.

Thanks
Jennifer

[Sue]

The saddle fitting blues... I feel your pain. Mine are hard to fit, mostly because their backs are so short, and the bars on most saddles tend to be too long. (they're midgets in some folks opinions... 14 handers.)

Its hard to go by just qh bars and gullet size. Its not consistant from saddle to saddle. Theres alot better people on this board at explaining saddle fit than me, but I can say is if you are getting a custom saddle for a young horse, plan on her back to change with age and more riding. What's mutton withered right now probably won't be in 3-4 years under saddle.

Oh... and trophy saddles... if its just engraved with trophy info on the fenders, don't pass it by right away. You might get a good deal on a saddle and can easily get new fenders.

[jennifer]

Thank you, I did go to the leatherworker.net site and get a pretty good education about saddle fit, and it was through the advice of the many saddle makers who responded that I made the decision to get a custom saddle for my horse, but I hate letting her sit for six months when she only has 6 months under saddle, so my search for a used saddle continues.

[COIN]

Have you tried swapping your pads or just using a wool blanket or no blanket at all for short rides especially if the sheepskin is good on your saddles? It may be a cheaper and more long lasting investment. There are some great 1/2 inch wool pads that work well on colts with little to no withers.

[Excess]

I went through about 5 saddles before I found one that fit my foundation paint horse. If you can, I'd recommend saving up before you buy another. I spent about $4000 buying 5 different saddles that never fit when if I just waited and saved my money I could have bought a real nice saddle for $4000. What I ended up doing is calling Brighton Saddlery and spoke with them extensively on the phone about what I do, what my horse is, how he's bred, what saddles I've tried, what I'm looking for, etc. They then picked out 4 saddles and sent me detailed pictures. They were fabulous. I got a saddle that works great. I do find that I need to use something very thin and no thick pads with my horse though since he's so broad shouldered. Sometimes just a blanket. I'd give Brighton a call if I were you and talk to them to see what they have.

[jennifer]

Thanks, I'll call them!

[jennifer]

Even with no pad they are too tight. Sit up on top of her shoulders

[Scout]

I've got a mare that is very mutton withered and saddle fit was a challenge. One of the things that helped is a pad with pockets in it to pad different areas. Someone mentioned Brighton Feed (was it Exy?) -- anyway, they sell a "pocket pad" with three compartments -- one by the withers, one right behind and the third at the back part of the saddle. I have pulled the pads out of the wither area and that has provided a bit of relief up front. It's not perfect, but it's better. Dave Genedek also makes a pad with pockets for shims -- it's a really nice arrangement too -- affords many options. I don't have his web address any more, but bet you could search on his name.

I've swapped out saddles over the years for fit and have ended up with a wider tree (93+ degrees) and a narrower one.

The one thing I'd caution about ordering custom is that you're trying to describe in words a feel that you like. If you order it and it's not just right for you -- often times, it's yours. Many years ago, I found a saddle that was just right for me and had to sell another saddle to afford it, but bought it. When the time came for me to need a second one, I sent the one I'm riding to the same builder to get the same groundseat for me, but on the wide tree. Because this mare's weight and condition changes depending on the season and how much work she's in, even a saddle that was built for her width isn't always just right.

[doma vaquera]

I personally have found Wade tree saddles to fit most horses. Especially the mutton withered. I have one mare that I can't even FIND her withers! can we say barrel?

As far as pads, I only use the 5 star wool pads anymore, found them to be the best for my horses.

[Scout]

lol -- barrel here too! Both of mine are wades too and once my round body's a little fit, fancy padding's not needed. I like the 5 star pads too. Another one that I've had good luck with is a woolback pad - toklat makes them.

[ponygirl]

Jennifer,
I have a full QH bar wade (93/92 degrees on the bar angle) with a 7 inch gullet. I love a full QH wade tree for mutton withered horses. If you're interested I've been pondering parting with it... I bought a new wade from the same company with a 90 degree angle and 6 3/4 gullet that fits most of my horses better... though this one fits a lot of my training horses great. But I figure, if you want me to start your colt, bring me a saddle that fits em!

The wade I'm talkin bout fits foundation horses nice and I've ridden draft crosses with it as well as Fresian horses, which have pretty wide backs and low withers. Its a JC Martin custom wade in london tan 14/16 oz hide on a bullhide bound wood tree. I think these jcm's are great saddles for the money. I searched high and low looking for something decent and it came down to jc martin and corriente saddle co. The leather quality is real nice with 7/8th montana rigging. I bought this one in March so its pretty new.
Most of my own ponies are little thin mustang lookin QH and paints... and some mustang crosses, so the fulls bars dont fit em at all.

It's a one of a kind and I'm looking to get $1300. black buckin rolls not included.

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g49/ohstar007/NIGEL.jpg
If anyones interested I'd be happy to ship the saddle on trial. If it doesnt fit, send her back, and I'll refund the money, you pay shipping both ways though, which would probably run 40 bucks each way. Saddle would have to be returned in the same condition it left me.

[rsandi5218]

At the bottom of this web page is instructions on how to properly tie that rope halter on to your horse....... if you are interested.

http://www.naturalhorsesupply.com/tiehalter.shtml



Randy

[FrancaV]

Good eye, Randy. Two issues with the way the halter is tied in ponygirl's photo: it could pull loose because it's tied above the loop, and the tail is coming out toward the horse's eye. It's really not unusual to see rope halters tied this way.

[reata]

LOL I noticed the halter tied wrong too... I would like a dollar for every time I have shown somebody the correct way.. But look at the length of the stirrups. I think a little tacker may have gone out to catch the horse..But still, even little tackers can learn the right way!! :)

[KnightRider]

Hey Reata...I noticed the stirrups too, but my first thought was, "that rider must have short legs like me!" I had to send the fenders on my McCall back to be cut down and was told that I should consider ordering "youth" fenders in the future.

[Excess]

Hey! Those stirrups are Sarah-sized! SARAH!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good-eye on the ropehalter. I didn't catch it!

[ponygirl]

man no matter many times i tell the kids to loop under, over and back it never happens. so bust away!
all these vermont kids are used to flat nylon with buckles...
I had one girl come up to me today holding my 5/8 bosal and asking what type of halter it is...

i'm so misunderstood in the northeast =P just got a job offer in california... maybe i should take it!

[Excess]

Ponygirl: understandable. I'm in the northeast too. In prime cross country/dressage queen country. Rope halters? Turnout? Paint horse? Quarter Horse? They never heard of them! I think Speedster might be the shortest horse within 50 miles. There's some people that I've shown how to tie it and have them tie it after me 7 times in a DAY and they still don't get it. Sigh.

[FrancaV]

Trust me, you can be in California and be misunderstood as well, LOL. But come on out! :)

[ponygirl]

Excess - where in the NE are you located? perhaps us noreaster folk might get together for a clinic eh?
i'm also thinking of heading to equine affair in MA this fall. never been but i hear its a good time.

yeah where i am is dressage queen central. "my horse wont drop his head, put a tie down on him! my horse opens his mouth... tie it shut!" i see it all day long.. it bums me out...
people think i'm insane for taking first rides on a youngster in a rope halter...no bit?? how dangerous indeed!

[Excess]

Ponygirl - I am in New York. And I'm planning on going to Equine Affaire in Mass this year and possibly participating ;)

[ponygirl]

ooh participating... nice! with this speedy pony i've been reading about? i look forward to seeing you guys there..

[Titania]

Ponygirl i have one for you...Had a woman come out to the barn the other day a family memeber of a boarder. She was a "big" rider. Road them there TB's and warmbloods. they were all huge, 10 handers.

The horse had a patterned flat halter on and she said, "what a lovely rein you have on that horse. Do you need help riding them? I'm a good rider, once when I was sitting on my horse with no rein (I assume she means halter) my brother came up and slapped him on the butt and he took off. I rode him all the way down the road till finally I fell off. But don't worry the leg healed."

poor horses.

I will most likely be at EA also!!! especially if Exy is there with the speedster.

[marlana80]

I have a full QH bar wade (93/92 degrees on the bar angle) with a 7 inch gullet. I love a full QH wade tree for mutton withered horses. If you're interested I've been pondering parting with it... I bought a new wade from the same company with a 90 degree angle and 6 3/4 gullet that fits most of my horses better...

It's a one of a kind and I'm looking to get $1300. black buckin rolls not included.

If anyones interested I'd be happy to ship the saddle on trial. If it doesnt fit, send her back, and I'll refund the money, you pay shipping both ways though, which would probably run 40 bucks each way. Saddle would have to be returned in the same condition it left me.

If that saddle hasn't been sold yet, I'd be interested in seeing if it fits my arab. I've tried a LJ saddle & it broke my heart to see that it wasn't quite wide enough. When I spoke with John he said that his saddles don't have the bar angle and length for Arabs. I'm bringing my horse back to Allie's Tack in RI to try a McCall & see if the LJ might fit a bit better now that he's in riding shape and with a different pad.