Saddle for an arab?

[JustJas]

I need a new saddle for Jazzmyn- she is fairly stocky arab (is that the English type?). Every saddle I have tried off the peg has been proud on her high withers and the panels are too narrow across her back which gives a nasty pivot to her saddle.

I am sitting on the fence about treeless- I have spoken to a master saddler who can do me a bespoke one with a cut back head in a VSD or working hunter style. She is coming on Monday to measure her.

What does anyone else do on for saddles on arabs? (Sadly the arabian saddle company are out of my budget at the moment:mad:)

[Crystal Fire]

I'm doing treeless at the mo, I have a Sensation and Freeform.

[coss]

i have a keiffer and a fusion saddle. both mine are fairly stocky for arabs...
although dawn is fairly high withered and dippy backed (due to age). harry is quite sensitive in his back but seems ok with the fusion.
my RI has tried some treeless saddles but said she felt out of balance so i have stayed clear of them.

[lor]

I dont think you should rule out treeless, They are different to riding in a treed saddle, and you have to adapt, when i first tried a freeform i felt a little insecure as was used to wedging my knees into knee rolls (not good) I think riding in a treeless can highlight your weak points as a rider, quite a wake up call.

It really is a case of trying things and keeping an open mind. I have an exmoor pony who has the same shape back/shoulders as an arab, I have had a great deal of difficulty, had saddles made. I have a large budget so wasnt restricted in that way. Ultimately, my saddler said that he honestly thought a treeless was the best option. I have ordered a freeform, having had another ride in one. They were designed for and used by the italian endurance team (all arabs)

As i said, keep an open mind. Good luck

[JustJas]

I am not against treeless. Just never tried them- closed stirrup bars do worry me having been dragged by a TB when younger. Jazz's wide barrel and high withers are the problem- you are right.
What would you say is best type of treeless?

[sammyantha]

Try the Arabian Saddle Co http://www.arabiansaddle.com/ They make GORGEOUS saddles specially made to fit arabs :D

[Tots N Dots]

I had a smilar problem with trees being to curved front to back
I now have a Saddle Company saddle and its great, also you have to bonus of the tree being adjustable :D

[JOJOBA]

Ooo how co-incidental that you are in South Yorkshire.

I have a saddle for sale that may suit - was made for my oddly shaped cob. It's a black english leather dressage saddle, cut back head for lots of wither clearage, fairly curved tree for a cobby horse saddle but also very wide at the back in the panels for a wider, flatter back. Big knee rolls but straight cut (obviously) for bigger shoulders and more freedom of movement. Very wide apart point straps mean it doesnt budge (though these could be converted back to normal straps fairly cheaply). Comfiest, safest feeling saddle in the world, my only concern would be the tree being too curved (assuming the width etc is correct he was a lightweight cob but I cant remember the measurement across the D rings off the top of my head). If you like and are fairly nearby we could meet up and you would be welcome to try it / have your saddler take a look. It needs reflocking (quite a lot!) so has the scope to be flocked up correctly for your horse. I will be sad to see it go but need the money and really cant see it fitting any future horses!
Anywho, just an idea :)

xxx


Edited to add - and Ive got a pretty wide brand new GP saddle that's got a good wither clearance and is very flat and wide in the panels - but it may not have enough clearance for an arab or may be too wide because it used to sit low on my big (though admittedly VERY withery) middleweight. Depends how stocky 'stocky' is I suppose :p. Havent measured that one at all because I havent officially tried to sell it. Could be worth a try at least, though the other saddle I was specifically advertising as an ideal saddle for a withery warmblood or arab :).

xxx

[lor]

I am not against treeless. Just never tried them- closed stirrup bars do worry me having been dragged by a TB when younger. Jazz's wide barrel and high withers are the problem- you are right.
What would you say is best type of treeless?

That was a worry of mine, there are toe stoppers, safety stirrups (not the ones with elastic tho) and barnes buckles, which are an added bit of safety.

It may help you in your search to look at this site
http://www.freewebs.com/alternativehorse/treeless.htm

I have also heard very good reports re the saddle company saddles

[mayoguinness]

Mayos a fairly stocky arab, he's always been treeless, at the moment he's in a cashel soft saddle but theres not enough contact for us so trying a total contact at the moment which is brilliant so far:)

[4_white_socks]

We've tried a Torsion treeless saddle on Fly, our Arab X Welsh.
It's a lovely saddle but he hated it - no idea why. He bucked with it - very unusual for him.
The pommel is made from wood, so it's not flexible and quite restricting. We've put some rolled up tea towels in there instead and for the first time he seems to like it.

It fits him perfectly and it's ever so comfortable!

Just be warned that the occasional horse doesn't like going treeless, but there can be ways round the problem.
Fortunately for us, if he continues to get on well with it, we won't lose out on hundreds of pounds re-selling it.

(I've also discovered that cats prefer sleeping on treeless saddles!)

[mayoguinness]

(I've also discovered that cats prefer sleeping on treeless saddles!)

A useful little fact:D

[Lucy J]

my friend rides her arab in a reactor panel saddle and loves it. she does a lot of endurance, so it has to be comfy.

http://www.reactorpanel.com/

[HairyCob]

Saddle Company all the way for me with my Arab. She was very hard to fit, came to me with horrible back problems and wither atrophy, and I did wonder if I'd ever find a saddle that suited us both. Treeless didn't suit either of us by the way!

Saddle co saddles are as close to 'made to measure' as you're ever going to get without paying massive amounts and the best thing about them is they can be re-adjusted to fit when your arab (inevitably!) gains weight, looses weight, or simply muscles up!

PM Poohsmate on this forum for more information- he's a saddle co saddle fitter and one of the least pushy salesmen I've ever met:D

[kerenza]

How about a Thorowgood Endurance saddle? Especially designed for Arabs and sounds comfy! Haven't tried it myself - so just a suggestion:)

http://www.thorowgood.com/uk/celebrity/t6_endurance.htm

[suneanarab]

i use the ideal saddle company ramsay show saddle on most of mine (as do alot of us who do ridden showing) but i have started to sell quite alot of the arabian saddle company saddles. they did have a bit of a bad rep at one time with some saddlers but those who have them now love them. i'll be going for one the next time i need a leather saddle.

for synthetic i have the wintec pro dressage 2000 with cair fitted. they all love that one! i must say that odin is very true to his crabbet nature and very wide!